Chronicle says we still have a chance at Lewis

I agree. If their is a way to trade Maurice Taylor for Rashard Lewis, I say go for it. It would eliminate the log jam at power forward while helping to solidfy our weakest position, which is small forward. I just really don't really see how the Rockets are going to be able to keep Maurice Taylor for six more years with Eddie Griffin on the horizon. They're going to have to trade Taylor at some point or put him on the bench. Personally, I think Taylor will be demanding a trade if he goes to the bench. The Rockets might as well just trade him now if they have the chance. I think an eventual Maurice Taylor trade is inevitable. And obviously, I think Rashard Lewis would be a good fit for this team.

 

'T'would probably involve a third team. Hopefully CD is busy sending overtures to the offices of the Bulls, Clippers, Cavaliers (Tyrone Hill = expiring contract; Lamond Murray = West Coast wannabe, decent contract small forward), 76ers (Coleman = expiring contract), Heat (has a trade exception, unless it expired), et al.

 

Ockham's razor says this is all Poston's posturing. He needs leverage against the Sonics and doesn't want to be in a position where he loses all of it if Cuban, being Cuban, blabs to some reporter that the Mavs have decided to go another route or are offering Lewis only so much.

The Rockets are backup leverage. That's it.

Find me somebody besides Lewis's agent who's saying the Rockets are seriously in this game, or I'm ignoring the rest of his tiresome spin.

 

Very possible, Will, especially in the dead-news summer. Could be just a tidbit.

I think Rashard would come here if he could, but leaving a lot of money on the table---even if it's less than he wanted---seems dubious.

Still, there are a lot of teams out there wanting to move players, move out contracts, take on players, etc., so I'll hold out a grain of hope that something might happen....as long as (Jeff mentioned) it isn't for a grotesque amount (whatever that might be).

I mean, Rashard is Rudy's type of SF. 40% 3 pt shooter (and not too much else).

 

I think Lewis' #1 option all along has been sign-and-trade with the Rockets. He gets to play where he wants and still gets a good contract.

By the way, anyone subscribe to Insider? There's some notes about the Rockets re-emerging in Lewis Sweepstakes. Just curious what it says.

 

I think Poston is upfront about his intent... SEA is their first choice since they can get the most $$ from them. The interest in DAL and HOU is just a way to get SEA to up the $$$.

 

Here is the ESPN Insider paragraph commenting on Lewis but it is just a summary of what the Chronicle reported:

Rockets re-emerge in Rashard Lewis sweepstakes

Sure, Seattle wants Rashard Lewis back. Dallas wants him, too. But if you believe Lewis' agent, Houston-based Carl Poston, it's the Rockets who, again if you believe some reports, are back in the picture on acquiring the athletic free agent.

"Our options are still open," Poston said. "That includes Dallas and Houston. [The Rockets] are still in the hunt. It doesn't look good with Seattle. Houston is still in the picture. I think [the Rockets are] an option. They're not No. 1. What we'd really like to do is sign with Seattle. But if Seattle doesn't give him fair-market value, Houston is one of the options."

The Sonics' offer is believed to be in the neighborhood of $60M over seven years with the Mavs and Rockets able to only offer the mid-level exception of $4.5M. In order for Lewis to recoup his Bird Rights, he would have to play with another team for at least three years, meaning that if he wants anything near to what Seattle is offering immediately, a sign and trade is needed.

Base-year compensation matters cloud such a deal and a third team could very well be needed, which makes Seattle a bit uneasy about such a transaction. But the Lewis camp remains upset over the current offer on the table.

"Right now, we're just talking with Seattle," Poston said. "We met with Seattle. Although I thought it was a good meeting, it was below our expectations

 

I agree, I don't think there is any interest in Lewis coming to Houston at all, and that doesn't hurt my feelings. The Rocks will win 50 games and make the playoffs next year with or without him I think. The only reason Houston is mentioned is for bargaining leverage. It's easier to say "We're talking to Houston and Dallas" then to say they're only talking to one team. He isn't coming to Houston.

 

I don't think there's any way Seattle takes anything but Griffin for Rashard. They would be stupid to let us dump Mo Tay's contract on them regardless of how hard he's working. It would potentially set them back a few seasons in their rebuilding process. They're gonna want a stud for a stud. Griff for Rashard.

 

You wouldn't be taking Lewis over Odom based on those numbers you pointed out. Odom is younger than Lewis and has two 17/8 yrs under his belt and a lifetime average of 16.3 and 7.5 rbs...not to mention the fact he runs that offense with increasing assist per yr hitting 5.9 last yr.

The reason Lewis will not be a superstar is because he is largely one-dimensional on his ability to score, compared to your "average" superstar, young stud like Odom.

 

"So you're saying there's a chance!" - Jim Carrey, Dumb & Dumber

I still think Houston is being used solely as a pawn in these negotiations. Rashard and the Rockets know that despite Lewis's desire to play in Houston, there's no viable way to make that happen (unless Rashard decides to take a hefty paycut... which he won't). His agent is merely talking up Houston big time as a possible destination to scare Seattle (okay, influence them). There's seems to not be a whole lotta talking going on from the Rockets' side, so Poston feels the need to keep the RASHARDade up (geez, that was awful). The more suitors, the better. For Poston and Lewis, that is...

 

I don't think Lewis will ever be a superstar either, which is all the more reason I want him. No show-boating, no excessive dribbling, no low field goal percentage, no stupid passes leading to turnovers, just catch-shoot-swish. Exactly what the Rockets need!!!

...and did you just call Odom a superstar? When did that happen?

As far as the whole Rashard is one-dimensional thing, I'm having a hard time buying into that. I understand shooting is definitely his strong point, but some people act like he's Matt Bullard and all he can do is stand behind the three-point line and shoot wide open 3's. I know I've seen Rashard run the floor and dunk before. He's a good athlete. While there is some merit to it, I think the whole one-dimensional thing has been somewhat exagerrated.

 

"No show-boating, no excessive dribbling, no stupid passes leading to turnovers, just catch-shoot-swish."

Basically, you just said he doesn't have hops worth mentioning, no good ballhandling skills, doesn't pass much, and he can just catch and shoot.

Heypee said exactly what I was planning on saying. Odom might learn to shoot the 3-pter at a decent rate. But it's almost out of the realm of possibility that Lewis will gain Odom's ballhandling skills, creativity, post play, leadership, and driving ability.


I don't mind getting Lewis. But not for anything over an AVERAGE of 7M a year. For "No show-boating, no excessive dribbling, no stupid passes leading to turnovers, just catch-shoot-swish", I don't want to pay 70M over 7 seasons. Also, if we get him, it should be assuming Griffin and Ming will demand close to the MAX. Ming being a C, and if he's a top 8 C at the time of negotiations, then he will rightfully demand close-to-max money AT LEAST. Griffin will deservedly demand the MAX, but will probably settle for what Lewis is demanding now. You tell me, how you will fit those 2 contracts, Steve's, Cato's, and Lewis' under one salary cap?

When Lewis is 25 yrs old, there won't be the "he's only 21" excuse.

 

whoops

 

No, you misread. I said no <b>show-boating</b>. No <b>EXCESSIVE</b> dribbling, no <b>STUPID</b> passes leading to <b>TURNOVERS</b>. And yes, he can provide the one thing the Rockets really need: <b>players who can make shots</b>. But you did a good job of selective reading there. The Rockets get lots of turnovers...Odom gets lots of turnovers. The Rockets can't shoot...Odom can't shoot. The Rockets dribble too much...Odom dribbles too much. Odom would be perfect for us if we were trying to exponentially increase the current problems we already have.

Excuse me while I laugh at your inclusion of "leadership" and "Odom" in the same sentence. I couldn't get past that.

 

Do you guys remember what Chad Ford said in his chat yesterday? He said that in a dream world the Rockets would trade Maurice Taylor to Seattle for Rashard Lewis. Even though I would love to have Rashard, I do not want to get rid of Taylor. I would rather to keep Taylor than Kenny Thomas.

Reasons:
1. Taylor has been working hard all summer and has actually tried to help Griffin on his game.
2. Taylor has been very Loyal to us and has actually been very supportive of the drafting of Yao Ming.
3. Kenny Thomas is a free agent after this season. Who says that he does not leave after his contract is up.
4. Reports tell that Taylor has destroyed Thomas in pick-up games this summer.
5. Kenny is too undersized to play the power forward position and too slow to play the small forward position.

 

Yeah . . . .considering he does have the HELP Kobe had at his age
He got Payton . . . Kobe has Shaq

Rocket River

 

Bottom Line: Lewis would be a good addition but not for what you'd have to pay him OR who you'd have to give up to get him.