http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4958507.html Today is signing day. Like that magical day in February when high school seniors can apply cursive writing to the commitment they made before their junior years, today is the day NBA free agents can sign the under-the-table contracts they agreed to sign in the last week or so. As special a day as it is, it is not a holiday in Rocket land. Don't expect a breaking news announcement or a Chron.com hoops blog overload. Let's put it this way: If this were a domino-tumbling event and the Rockets a domino, they're not falling any time soon. The domino tumbling record is over 4 million bones, and they are at the back of the line. Wasted cell phone minutes aside — Rockets general manager Daryl Morey actually called Rashard Lewis' agent — the Rockets just don't have the money to spend on high-priced free agents. Desperate they are for a power forward, but at what price? And high-priced is relative, unless you believe that "buy one, get one free" really means you're getting something for free. The Rockets have a mid-level exception available, meaning they can offer a free agent a contract that could start at about a measly $5.5 million for next season. (It's disgusting, I know, but for a league with an average salary of around $5 million per year, 5½ mil is middle class.) The Rockets have wisely decided they are not willing to use that entire allotment on any of the players available, save maybe for Darko Milicic, who is expecting to receive a much higher offer anyway. Right strategy Say what you want about Morey's youth and inexperience on the job (he has been in Las Vegas at the NBA summer league for about a week, and pit bosses laugh every time he walks into a casino looking like a card counter who isn't old enough to be out at night), but how can you question his reluctance to spend much money on the crop of available power forwards? Yes, the Rockets traded Juwan Howard and his ridiculous contract to bring Mike James back to his adopted home. With Chuck Hayes now the only power forward on the roster, there is a need. But all that might be available in free agency are Howard clones. Does either Joe Smith, a 12-year veteran, or P.J. Brown, a 14-year veteran, excite you? Ever heard of Malik Allen? Didn't think so. And Mikki Moore. Oh, Mikki (yeah, it's pronounced Mikey, so what?), he's not that fine. His turning down the Nets' three-year, $10 million offer (according to New Jersey newspapers) puts him out of the Rockets' price range. Not to mention it's a test of NBA general managers' sanity. That leaves the Rockets as a domino not likely to fall any time soon. Their power forward "situation" is most likely to be addressed through a trade. A sign-and-trade is possible but not necessarily on the menu. With Morey in charge, no longer will the Rockets be the falling domino that provides for future generations of an average player's family. The last thing the Rockets will do is overpay somebody because of a perceived hole in the roster. Remember the Moochie Norris era, as hilariously described by Chronicle NBA writer Jonathan Feigen? Learn from the past The next-to-the-last thing the Rockets will do is overpay a youngster who hasn't shown he is worthy. See: Stromile Swift. If they could sneak restricted free agent Amir Johnson away from the Pistons, that would be interesting, but he isn't worth the full mid-level exception either. At the right price, would they be interested in a Chris Mihm, a backup center with power forward skills who has planned a workout for teams in Las Vegas? Is he even available at a reasonable price? That's the problem with NBA free agency. There are more bidding wars you would rather lose than ones you want to win. Sometimes you'd prefer that your domino is standing after all the tumbling. The dominoes at the front of the line could end up paying Anderson Varejao Kelvin Cato-type money. Who knows what type of general manager Morey will prove to be, but Rockets fans should at least be happy their domino isn't double blank anymore. Today might be signing day, but unlike in college football — and even with a hole at power forward — sitting out signing day in the NBA isn't necessarily a bad thing.
now that is just funny and sad at the same time. the rockets do need to make some sort of move to shore up the PF but i do agree with the article in that the team should not just throw money away that would restrict them in the future when more serviceable PFs are on the market
The free agent PF market really is terrible for the Rockets' needs... I'd pass as well. Let's get the trade proposals rolling though, Morey...
All because of the Luxury tax. Too bad, gonna be hard to get decent players to surround Yao and Tmac with.... DD
I agree with the article completely. Who wants to overpay for sub-par talent just to fill a hole? A trade will have to be the means of bringing in a PF, unless something out of the ordinary happens in the free agent shuffle.
I actually agree with everything that was said in the article. Morey is playing it smart and waiting till the dust settles to make his move. There's no point in crippling ourselves for the sake of satisfying our instant gratification.
I agree, except for Amir Johnson. I think we should go for it. He's the only one of the group worth the risk of our MLE. Agreed, he could be another Swift. But, most people would take that risk again too. We don't need just an old guy at PF, we need an up and comer too ... more than Landry and Hayes. I really hope we don't get an old vet at PF and be done.
Read him...or listen to him? I am out of area - do they stream (as if that's much of an option for a dinosaur like me)?
I think the majority of Rockets fans agree with the article, theres just a few really loud fans who complain constantly because they've gotten the idea in their head that the leagues GMs are lining up to have their milk money taken by Morey in a big trade. The Rockets might have to do the 'three headed monster' thing for a bit, but if they hold on to their cap relief pieces something significant should come along. I really see the Rockets getting their PF in part of a larger trade between two teams.
I agree with you. The likelihood of a trade is low therefore an old vet is more likely to end up with the Rockets.
many team owners like les do not like having to pay the exact amount over the cap. if a team is 20 million over the cap, they must pay the league 20 million as a penalty. makes it hard to get free agents because while owners are fans they are first businessmen and it would cut into their profits considerably. if the cap rule was pennies on the dollar you may see more teams willing to go over the cap a little if there was no cap at all then you'd the big market teams signing all the big players (like the yankees) without any consequence of course with the way the west is now there is a huge talent gap which was what the cap was supposed to prevent
I think you got the salary cap and luxury tax mixed up there, they are two different dollar amounts. You can go over the cap and not match, up until the Luxury Tax point.
