Van Gundy isn't expecting Sura to return Rockets guard hasn't played since the 2005 playoff series against Dallas Damien Pierce Rockets.com Staff Writer HOUSTON -- Rockets point guard Bob Sura hasn't called off his comeback attempt, but his coach isn't planning on having him in the lineup this season. Before Wednesday night's game against Seattle, Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said he didn't expect Sura to return from his nagging knee and back injuries. Sura has been unable to practice and has not suited up for the Rockets in about 20 months. "He's tried his very best and to date it hasn't worked out," Van Gundy said. "Frankly, I don't think it will. He gave his best effort." Sura did not attend Wednesday's game. The point guard is on the verge of missing his second consecutive season because of injury. He has had multiple operations on his right knee since the 2004-05 season and has also been dealing with back problems. Sura was optimistic about returning to the team this summer. "We've had multiple conversations trying to chart the best path for him and us," Van Gundy said. "We have been trying, trying and trying, but I would say for the last month that we've come to the realization that it's probably just not going to happen." Van Gundy said he feels badly that Sura's comeback attempt hasn't had a better result. "We all feel for him because he has just given this thing a remarkable effort," Van Gundy said. "It's hard. I think in his mind he knew how difficult this thing was going to be to get back and I think he fought as hard as he could because he loved to compete. I feel for the guy." ______________________ URL: http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Van_Gundy_isnrsquot_expectin-203223-34.html
Jan. 4, 2007, 12:21AM ROCKETS SUMMARY Coach doubts Sura's return By FRAN BLINEBURY AND JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Bob Sura has not officially called it quits on his 11-year NBA career. But Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy is no longer expecting the 6-5 guard to return from the multiple knee surgeries that have had him in rehab for the past 20 months. "This is the second full year he's been out," Van Gundy said. "He's tried his very best and to date it just hasn't worked out. Frankly, I don't think it will, obviously. But he gave it his best effort. "He's had some ups and downs. But he's right now at the point that he gave it his best shot, he's proud of the effort he gave it, but I think he realizes right now it's probably not meant to be. I don't want to speak for him. "We all feel for him, because he gave a remarkable effort." Sura, whose expiring contract pays him $3.84 million for this season, was unavailable for comment. He has not played since the 2005 first-round playoff series against Dallas. "I thought he brought intangibles, but he also brought tangibles," Van Gundy said. "He gave you size in the backcourt, someone who could defend a big guard. He gave you great guard rebounding and there was his 3-point shooting. "I feel for the guy." I told him so many times as he's tried to get back to playing by working, working, working, it's also about living a healthy life (after basketball). "Initially, I think it's hard for him, like in any profession. You'd like to go out when you want to. But in the end, he knew how difficult it was going to be." .... URL: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4443228.html We will miss you Bob!
It's a real shame it's going to end this way for such a good guy. The Rockets did the noble thing though by giving him a chance to at least try to make a comeback.
That's the big news from this article - I always thought there was a chance that the last year was a team option. That would be great news - we could combine his salary with another player for a trade at the deadline.
sura will always be remembered as one of the top badasses in rocket's history. what a competitor. as if i didn't miss him already, watching rafer sometimes, well....
If Sura had the open shots Alston has now, he won't shoot the three. He will charge into the paint and somehow make the ball go into the hoop, regardless if seven Shaqs were there.
Sura should get a lot of the credit for the successful run beginning 2 years ago Jan -'05 leading to the playoff series with Dallas. T-Mac referred to Bobby as a "dog" for his dogged competitve nature and drive to win. I think this is the last year Rockets are obligated to this contract. 3.84 mil would rent or allow us to sign a decent -pretty good player. Props to you Bobby Sura- for about 1/2 of one season you led a remarkable run I will never forget. You were the heart of that back court.
seriously, you can't say this is unexpected. in spite of what most people here usually write, i bet the rockets knew it when they announced that he's working on another comeback that his chances were slim to none. it was a marketing thing. they had no other choice. you just can't cut a fan favourite in this kind of a situation. so for me it's a sad thing but it was predictable. i wish the guy best of luck.
Trade him and our first rounder to Toronto for Mo Pete. Or combine him and Bonzi to Clippers for Maggette. Then sign Haryasz. If we had Mo Pete, we could slide Shane over to PF and really spread the floor with McGrady, Shane, and Mo Pete.
Hooro0: "if sura retires, the exception gained will only be worth half that amount." I stand corrected Hooroo. Is the 3.84 mil obligation to Sura this current remaining season counting against the cap? If he retires or is traded - does that 3.84 mil come off the cap? I defer to your knowledge.
That's what I enjoyed seeing. He had a tough competitive spirit. I will definitely miss him and I wish him all the best of luck. It's a shame his career had to end when he still could play at a great level.
I'm not Hooroo but I'm trying to figure this out too. I found this which seems to say both that Sura's salary would and would not count toward the cap: "There is one exception whereby a player can continue to receive his salary, but the salary is not included in the team's team salary. This is when a player is forced to retire for medical reasons and a league-appointed physician confirms that he is medically unfit to continue playing. There is a waiting period of one year following the injury or illness before a team can apply for this salary cap relief. If the waiting period expires mid-season (on any date prior to the last day of the regular season), then the player's entire salary for that season is removed from the team's team salary. For example, in March 2003 the Knicks were allowed to remove Luc Longley's entire 2002-03 salary from their books (and since the luxury tax is based on the team salary as of the last day of the regular season, the Knicks avoided paying any tax on Longley's salary). This provision can also be used when a player dies while under contract. Teams are not allowed to trade for disabled players and then apply for this salary cap relief. Only the team for which the player was playing when he was disabled may request this relief. If a player retires, even for medical reasons, his team does not receive a salary cap exception to acquire a replacement player." http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#53 The 50% figure someone mentioned seems to apply to disabled non-retiring players like Grant Hill (see #19 at same link).
sorry about that. whatever the case, sura retiring opens up a roster space and there's still that 4.2 Mil TE.
Yes it does come off the cap. Also If they had retired Sura in the beginning of the season they would have had only 45 days to sign a player for half or less of SUra's current salary. But since the Rockets waited until after November 30 to consider retiring Sura they will now have until Oct. 1 to use their new exception. Nice move whether intentional or not. Remember it was a similar amount that got us Bonzi. It's higher than the LLE and might be enough to entice a decent player after all the mle money is gone.
Not a bad addition- but if Bonzi is in the dog house again, and we have little chance of signing him for the longer term- I would even consider including Bonzi and strengthen our Bench. I would doubt if Toronto would just take that straight up! Kirk is likley to start when he gets back. It is time we added some stability to our Bench- since form JVG's comments after the Seattle Game- Rafer does not seem to be going anywhere. Do we really need Scott Padgett now? Jan 10 is when we will know more.
What is better is the $4.9 million salary that we can trade Sura's contract for. It is an expiring contract and as such has trade value to other teams. This is much more valuable to the Rox than a $1.9 million DPE, especially since it could be aggregated with another expiring deal like Bonzi's for instance, unlike the TE which cannot be aggregated.
