New blog by Feigen. Enjoy. Time to play Match Game, Rockets Match the offer. It's not a no-brainer. It's not an easy call to make. But before media day on Monday, the Rockets need to send the offer sheet Carl Landry signed back to the Bobcats and say that they will be keeping Landry. He got himself a good deal, $9 million over three years, the last season at the team's option. The Rockets had offered about $5.4 million. The contract the Bobcats offered would put the Rockets' over the luxury tax line and adding Joey Dorsey will push them even further into tax territory. Do it, anyway. The Rockets have put together contender-caliber roster. It's time (a much better slogan than Get Red, by the way) to think short term. Daryl Morey can spend the next 4 ½ months trying to work his way under the luxury tax line as the Rockets did at mid-season each of the past two seasons. For now, adding Landry at $3 million a year is an expensive, but solid investment given the potential the Rockets believe this season holds. The hesitation, however, will not be the luxury tax. They knew they were heading past the line. If it was not Landry and Joey Dorsey it would have been Dorsey and Dikembe Mutombo. (If they sign Landry, Mutombo might wait a bit for the Rockets to work out some roster maneuvers and they sign later.) Either way, the Rockets had to know they were going to cross the line. The hesitation will be with Landry's right knee. Eventually, he might need more work. For now, however, indications are he will be ready to play this season. Since the third season is at the team's option, however, the risk is not too great. This is not a Moochie Norris contract. It's short term enough that the Rockets will not be handcuffed. Landry is far from indispensable. Luis Scola is the starter. Dorsey is as adept as a guy that can catch and finish. (There have been talks of three-quarter court passes sent from Tracy McGrady to Dorsey at the Toyota Center pick up games and McGrady is sold on Dorsey.) Chuck Hayes is still a better defender. But Landry can be valuable. And if the Rockets finally play deep into the playoffs, there is no telling what could be the difference. He can be a difference maker. The Rockets will think twice, and probably a few more times. But in the end, he should be there, at Toyota Center, on Monday. Link: http://blogs.chron.com/nba/2008/09/time_to_play_match_game_rocket.html
assuming we sign landry, we need to get mutombo signed. then our lineup will be complete. if luther must be dumped to get below the luxury tax, depending if les is willing or not, then dump him. but if les decides to sacrifice a few million for a potential championship run, i say keep luther despite his playoff woes. we know he won't play in the playoffs if we make it due to his inability to make shots and the shortened rotation. BUT he is a valuable regular season player because for some reason he can actually make shots when it's not playoff time.
Don't worry about LT now and get landry signed and like feign said we have 4 1/2 months to dump salary, been waiting all offseason for this
The biggest concern now is the point guard situation. Rocks having a look at Strawberry, Wafer, Stoudamire, and Armstrong suggests it is. It's possible, Alston and Francis, are both rehabbing come opening night. Worst case scenario, it'll be a PG rotation of Brooks, Barry, and Head or just Barry and Head if Brooks shows that he still needs time.
Even if Brooks hasn't improved from last year, I'd still want him playing PG out of those guys. Besides, he needs the court time to develop. Hand him the keys before Luther.
Landry is valuable....if we don't like him....we can always trade him for a better player. He has great market value so we need to retain him even though we have a lot of talents already.
I disagree with Feigen. It is a no-brainer and should be a forgone conclusion! Yes, the knee is a concern; but this is a medium risk high reward situation. DO IT
yes,we need an experienced guard position,sign one as quickly as possible! By the way,is anybody want to know his Chinese name?I can get it.
Are we really going over the LT with this signing? (Assuming we match) I thought we were about 4 million under the LT threshold.
I disagree. The knee was good enough for the Rox to offer 3 years/5.4 million. He just got a better offer. We are going over the LT no matter what, and the 3rd year is at the Rox's option. Do it.
There should be no thinking about luxury tax when you're on the threshold of a championship. If we're gonna dump someone it should be Head.
Yeah, I wouldn't read too much into that. Tmac is kind of a wimp and he likes Dorsey's enforcer body. Tmac is happy because he thinks Dorsey is someone to protect him from the bullies who have managed to scare him away from the lane over the years. Dorsey will contribute this year but he is not a starter in this league and it is very doubtful he ever will be.
