I'm all for getting rid of Moochie if it means we're getting frontcourt help, especially if it means Jackson, Mason, or White. Backup PGs are nearly a dime a dozen, and we really need the frontcourt help. My dream would be to get Mason. I think the addition of him and Rice would provide the veteran leadership this team sorely needs. Plus he'd scare the beejeesus out of Cato enough to get him motivated. Jackson would also be nice. He'd be a nice young player to have for the future when Mo does finally get healthy.
Which looks better? Projected starting five: PF-Marc Jackson SF-Glen Rice C-Kelvin Cato SG-Cuttino Mobley PG-Steve Francis The rotation (based on projected use): PG Moochie Norris PF Eddie Griffin/Kenny Thomas C Jason Collier/Jahidi White SF Dan Langhi/Terrence Morris or Starting Five: PF-Anthony Mason SF-Glen Rice C-Kelvin Cato SG-Cuttino Mobley PG-Steve Francis The rotation (based on projected use): PG Moochie Norris PF Eddie Griffin/Kenny Thomas C Jason Collier/Jahidi White SF Dan Langhi/Terrence Morris
thanks opie. I wonder if the Rockets would still do the Rice deal if they knew Mo would be out for the season. Just one of those "what ifs?" to ponder. If Rice has a 3 year window, and you're going to be missing a key component for the 1st year, what do you do? Maybe Mo/Glen's agent Mr. David "I have the commish of the NBA drooling at my feet" Falk can help throw us a bone here? Mason would be a great on court influence to Cato and Griffin. He was averaging close to 40 MPG last year. But, unless you plan on bringing Mo off the bench his first year back (which might not be a bad idea, as a backup center, coming off a dangerous injury), you couldn't do anything more than 1 year. I too would be thrilled to get 2 out of your list. Another option as a free agent out there, that could possibly be enticed by a small 1 year deal with starter's minutes, a la Mo last year, is Gary Trent.
Oeilpere: you said that CD has been very busy the last couple days, In one of your previous threads, you stated that the Rockets may just sit on what they have. NOw that Mo T has gone down, is it almost an assurance that a move will get done?
Anthony Mason would be the best pickup the team can get. Not only is he proven , but he is a veteran and knows what winning means. He can rebound and passes the ball well. If rockets can find a way to get Mason, then I wont even be thinking about Mo.
From bskball.com ( a reliable source ) ...word has it the Rockets are talking with Anthony Mason's agent late yesterday. ...There are several players left on the market, namely Golden Stat's Marc Jackson. the Rockets may do Jackson's a favor and tender him an offer, simply to see if Golden State will match it.
I always wonder if bskball get their stuff from us or do they kinda compile a representative amalagm of all availabvle stories and average them out?? LOL Here is a another tidbit. One that seems to not want to go away ...... If CD and RT have decided they will use this year as another "growing year" and another "giving the guys some latitude" or " moving in some growth peices" .... well .... do you think they will opt for 1. Getting a long term contract player to fill a spot for a year and "help" the regulars over the season? 2. Get another fresh new rookie to give him a training year with NO PRESSURE whatsoever. The noises I am hearing out of Greenway is they will short contract an available (that seems more like Jackson than Mason or White or anyone else) OR ... and this is seemingly the prevailing attitude ...... go after a premiere rookie and give him a year of NO PRESSURE experience to meld with the team/the NBA game, along with our present rookies and vets. I hate to keep bringing this stuff up because I can not, that is .... CAN NOT confirm any of this .... but we could be talking Curry, etc... Will keep in touch.
Padre Ojo, what would we possibly give up to get curry, in your estimation (since it CAN NOT be confirmed)? i have a hard time imagining them moving griff for curry, although it would make some sense. centers are the rarest of all commodities. but would they - in your estimation - move griff for him??? other than him, we don't have much to offer for curry. we did have mo to offer, but, K9 Thomas bit him on the back of his ankle. i know floyd likes cato, but floyd's not on crack. he won't move curry for crappo. so...who??? draft picks? nah. two vials of crank? nah. a couple of lines of white dust? nah. a quarter bag of hydroponic mari....? umm, i gotta go.
Please let us be talking Curry, etc... In the short term of things, Mo's injury is terrible. He's not replaceable, and it might hurry Griffin's premature development. But in the long term building of the team, this actually could give us the ability to add another piece (such as Curry), and develop/showcase KT to become a valuable trade piece later in the season or next summer, that can be packaged to get us another valuable Center for the long term. For instance, if he comes out strong this fall, and then is packaged with Walt before the trading deadline, he could fill someone's need at PF, and provide them caproom with Walt's expiring contract. Or, he could be traded straight up for somoene else's future potential, such as Cleveland trading us Diop in order to fill a need at PF, due to an injury to a starter. Also, if Cato comes out stronger, he could become a more tradeable piece, and Walt's expiring contract would be valuable for someone before the trading deadline as well. In conclusion, this is a short term blow, but perhaps a long term rebuilding benefit, depending on how everyone plays their part.
...... Without getting too carriied away with all the possibilities .... remember even mentioning **** like this walks a fine line between loss of any/all credibility and collectively causing an entire fan base to guffaw in unison ..... or both ..... but... 1. CD wiould have to unload some heavy salesmanship on some pretty wary GM's. Not impossible but not close to being run-of-the-mill tasks either. LOL The key is the word possible. 2. In my minds eye I see a three team thnig if it could be done at all. Ron Artest, Cato, Walt, Curry, at least two other players and tons of picks involved. 3. Don'T hang too many hopes on any of this - it is more likely that CD will get closer to signing Mase and either/or both Marc Jackson this week with a possible delay due to the league office dicking around.
HAHA! This post was HILARIOUS! It had me on the floor! Man Curry would be an AWESOME pick-up, and I hope there is a chance to get him. But if we can't get him (and that would be ultra tough to do), I would LOVE it if Houston could get Mason and an extra big man, Jackson, McCoy, or preferably Jahidi White. If the Rocks could get White and Mason not only are we going to the playoffs, somebody's in trouble in the first round!
I don't know if the Rockets would have done it or not, but if something as bad as Mo getting injured had to happen I'm glad it's AFTER the trade. Glen Rice gives us a veteran scorer and shooter and extra option, something we're going to need now that Mo is on the shelf. I'm assuming that Rice's doctors are right and he will be healthy. To tell you the truth, if the Rockets didn't have Rice and this happened with Mo wouldn't pick the Rockets as a playoff team.
Regarding Mason: My sources -- all one of them (not Chucky Brown or anything) -- from Charlotte say that Mason was a negative, pouting and malignant locker room guy. That, for all his excellent play and hustle and blue-collar work on the floor, he was a minus on that team because he went out of his way to hang black clouds all over the locker room. Bad energy, ill-humored, mean and narcissistic, selfish, bad judgement outweighed his occasional charm and great play. To me, this is especailly worrisome on a team as young and impressionable as the Rockets. I dont feel like Rudy T is a micormanager, which is good, but leaves room for strong personality guys -- good and bad -- like Barkley, Vernon, Hakeem to have abig impact on the team. I dont need Anthony Mason coming in a screwing with Eddie, Cuttino and whoever else. Cato is a different story. But I dont want to let some rabid bulldog loose on our young guys just to get us through a season and make the playoffs for the sake of short-term hopes. I'd rather get the young guy and see where it goes, let the chemistry and intangibles build themselves. Anyone know the insiders word on Mason? Does CD give a rats whatever? Am I off base? AM I EVER OFF BASE? cbfc
I am with CBFC on Mason, he is a force in everything he does and not someone we want to tie up any sizeable $$ to get. The Curry deal would be at the top of my list, and then a deal for Jackson or Jahidi.
Clarence: Don't know if this helps your fears or not but ... 1. Mason was definitely a strong personality. Petulant and brroding at times. But That appears to have been tenpered somewhat over the last couple of years. 2. From what I have heard, and this is mostly hearsay and second hand info (although I had one pretty reliable source tell me I was very close to it) CD has concentrated ... or let me say that differently .... is focusing on Marc Jackson for the immediate future. That is the main guy he is after. Assuming this to be true .... and assuming GSW continues to low ball him, I think at this stage Marc would take a 2 or 3 year deal in the 2.0/year to 3.0M/year range. Now GSW can match that if they want ... so you know CD has to get past that hurdle too. Question is: What would it cost us? 3. Mason is still in the running for a spot. mainly because his agent is getting keen and sees an opportunity. I still say the hurdles with Masion is he wants to play in the East, and he wants a longer term than most people are willing to give him. Add in that Riley would like to have his hand in there too ... and well, there is a, lot of work to do yet. 4. Our discussions over what CD will do will continue for some time as the disability exception, even if done quicker than ever before (and there is no reason to think that will happen), will still take weeks for conclusion. 5. The mind set around Greenway Plaza seems to be ... well we were going to attempt a stab at "the show" this year and we were excited about the season ... but now, well, maybe we stay excited but maybe we should call this a development year and try one or two things that we wouldn't have done if Maurice never went down. This kinda " Let's take advanagte of this and move some people around, position our selves for the 2002-2003 season. To me, this does not mean shuffling the depth chart because I think they were planning on doing that anyway .... but it may mean going after a key player and giving him a year to work with the team without a lot of expectations. 6. I read repeatedly somewhere that some posters were speculating on Griffin being traded. believe me he is not going to be traded. They want him. They are excited about him. he is a Rocket. I don't know where this stuff starts. Cheers.
If Krause trades Curry for Cato and Wiz, they will never find his body (Hoffa) The Rockets need a player who will throw people around in the paint (Mason). Not another player (Jackson) who takes jump shots. Mason is a perfect fit for this team. What good is a zone defense without an enforcer?
Oh and PS: Let me be the first to congratulate EGriffin on his rookie of the year award (low short-term expectations + heaps of playing time + a bunch of high schoolers in the draft = ideal atmosphere for ROY). And let Eddie be the first to thank Mo's ankle for the opportunity. Not that anyone should care or expect it ... And PPS: Screw Mase. Sign Chucky. I had not even thought about till right now. Lets sign Chucky Fricking Brown right now. Rebounds, defense, attitude, cheap one year deal for the 4. HE SHOT 54% AND STARTED ALL 82 GAMES IN 1996. Its done, sign him. He's 32, in great shape and ready. Even if we get Jackson, sign him.
Good idea, CBFC, but would not have an impact on a team trying to make the playoffs. Chucky is a good bench guy and cheerleader but litle else. OP, stop feeding us this BS about Eddie Curry. Wasn't Krause's whole plan to build around him and Chandler? Is he really that stupid....oh wait, it's fat Krause, nevermind. If it is indeed true that CD is targeting Marc Jackson, then we would probably have to take Mookie Blaylock or Sura off their hands to keep Golden State from matching our low ball offer. If indeed Marc signs for around 2-3 years for about 3 million per, it would be a damn steal considering the kind of money Booth and MacCullough received. Now tell me, who would you rather have: Jackson or Booth or Todd Mac? As for Mason, he would be a good short term addition for this year, but word is that he's seeking a long term deal in the East. Mo Taylor WILL return in 2002 better than ever. He's our PF of the future, not the statutory rapist, Anthony Mason. I don't know how well the fiery Mase would respond to Mobley jacking up ill advised threes and Moochie dribbling the ball for 22 seconds.... OP, how soon could something get gone?
