I'll say this much. Hopefully after this year, Yao will be able to play 25+ solid minutes without any issues. Hopefully, Eddie (or Mo T) will have developed such that he can play significant minutes at backup center. I want Eddie (or Mo T) to play significant minutes at backup center because I think we have a lot of talent at the PF spot that we shouldn't needlessly let go if possible. If Cato and Eddie can play the bulk of the minutes at 5, then Cato is a luxury we can't afford to keep. What we need then is a 3rd string center to play limited minutes who can occasionally fill in if one of our big men gets injured. I don't know if Collier is that guy, but I think someone with the same strengths as Collier is ideal. I think a lot of people have dissed Collier because he's slow and not particularly athletic (and white). But for a third-string center, we don't need athleticism. We just need someone who fits our offense (can set picks and hit the open mid-range jumper) and can play hard (and slightly effective) on defense. Collier has been disappointing because he's never really proven either of these things. He can set picks but hasn't been able to consistenly hit shots which he's supposed to have the range for, and defensively, while he's played hard, he's more often than not not been very effective. On the other hand, if he could do these things, maybe he'd deserve at least a primary back-up position, considering the lack of depth at center these days. Considering the limited minutes Collier or any other 12th man is likely to get, I don't see what difference it makes to dump him for someone else. But over the long-term, it makes more sense to me to keep him or someone like him on the roster than Cato. That's my two cents.
Yao Ming better be able to play 25+ minutes this year. Cato has already started talking like a reserve, he knows YM is going to start in front of him. Cato is a perfect second string center and he actually is good enough to start for the majority of teams around the league. What better practice dummy for YM? Any garbage minutes and bench space Collier would get should go to MT and EG. Is anyone here going to say Collier is better than those two for a few minutes every 3rd game or so? We are far better off keeping a guy like Mickeal and/or TMo for defense and motion offense.
I wouldn't call him a bust. I know you all didn't expect him to be a stud. He played the way I expected him to play.
I'm in agreement with Relativist & Gater, in regards to Collier. Unless Griffin really surprises us & is strong enough to play backup center this year, we need to keep Cato around for one more year (did I say that?!?). However, I believe that after this year, Cato will be relegated to third string on our team, & he's way overpaid for a 3rd string player. Even though Collier hasn't really impressed anyone yet, he has shown a strong work ethic & plays hard when he's on the floor. He'd be the perfect 3rd string center for this team. If nothing else, he'd be able to give you 6 fouls a game & could frustrate the opposition's center. Whether you like him or not, his size & hustle will land him on an NBA team. With the exception of the extraordinary athletes, most centers take 3-4 years to develop an NBA game, & that's with no injuries to slow them down. Compare Collier's first 2 years to Cato's. The only real significance is that Cato is a natural shot blocker. Collier's advantage is that he's a better offensive player & plays with a lot more energy. I say we keep Collier! http://www.nba.com/playerfile/jason_collier/index.html?nav=page http://www.nba.com/playerfile/kelvin_cato/index.html?nav=page
Not entirely true - there was a pick involved as well. If the Rocks passed on him, there must have been a reason since RT has been aware of him since at least the 2000 Olympics. Somehow, I'm going with RT on this one instead of you.
Not saying he is a great player, but that was a really bad draft. We could be caring how we spell Przybilla right now.
Heck naaaaa ... they need to let him GO so we can free up a spot and get someone that is WORTH somethin ...
No way Collier makes this roster. Out of the following players, who do you eliminate to make a spot for good ol J.C.? Francis Mobley Thomas Griffin Ming Moochie Nachbar Rice Taylor Cato Morris Maddox His only chance is ending up on IR with a strained oblique.
I agree! I don't see Collier being a contributor! And he has no chance with this roster listed! I say we just cut our strings with him and move on! We can have Griffin and Taylor bang some minutes at the Center position. So, chuck Collier! Cuz if Collier REALLY wanted to play then he should have SHOWED some game. But he doesn't! Yes, he is a BIG man! But what good is a BIG man if he can't play!
If you look at Prizism's numbers right now he isn't a bust like JC. Prozacilla is leading the league in shot blocks/minute.
Why are some here talking about Collier and 1-12 in the same sentence. Currently we have 15 players trying to make the team. Tierre Brown, Oscar Torres, and Collier are 13-15 barring injuries. Of these I expect Collier to remain on the team solely because his contract is guaranteed. One advantage maybe that if we do make a trade we may need his salary to smooth out the numbers. Or what if Cato gets traded and he fills in as the 3d string center after Yao and MoT.
I'd put TMo in that category based on Rockets roster needs. Torres is 1-12 because he is needed as a back up 2. IMO, Mickeal will replace Brown on your list (because he can get a deal elsewhere).
Off Welfare is correct. Why have that horsehead take up a roster spot when he can't contribute??? I'd rather have Serge Zwikker or whatever his name was on the team. Where is Chuck Nevitt???
Bold prediction: The day Yao Ming comes to Houston is the day Collier's hamstring starts to 'hurt.' And next year, '...And starting at Centre for your Moscow (insert mascot here),... JASON... COLLIER!'
You don't cut someone with a guaranteed contract unless you have someone else you actively want on the team. Why would we cut someone just to have an empty roster spot? That makes no sense. And why cut him to get a Serge Zwikker or other stiff who has the same chance as Collier at seeing any time on the floor? That makes no sense. And why pay another stiff money above and beyond what we already pay Collier (regardless of whether he's on the team) to do the exact same job, especially when neither job much contributes to the team's end goal? Besides all that, Collier can make contributions to the team besides playing in games. He can play in practice and give the guys who do play a sparring partner. Serge can do that as well, but Collier is already on the team, knows the players and the plays. And, if it should come to pass that we do need our 3rd string center to play in a game, would you rather have the 3rd string center who has been here for years watching and practicing or some other stiff of equal talent who is unfamiliar with the plays, players and coaches?
