I know this is speculation and that is speculation from the mouth of Mitch Beucher(sp?) of ESPN but I thought it would still be worth mentioning. According to Mitch: the Rockets are in pursuit of Croshere and are working to clear up as much as 4 mil as a starting point for negotiations (when they are free to negotiate). The thing Mitch focused on was the fact that Dan Fagan, Shandon Anderson's agent, is also Austin Croshere's agent. Mitch thinks that since Fagan struck a deal with the Rockets before, Fagan may be able to do it again. Bottom line: the Rockets are real players for Croshere. ------------------
Are you talking about Ric Bucher from ESPN? If so, after reading that, I'd say Ric knows what he's talking about. I'm glad he said it and not me ------------------ NOTHING BUT .NET CLUTCHCITY.NET
Yeah its Ric Bucher, he said Houston is interested in him. ------------------ President of the Moochie Norris FAN CLUB
One question I have on the article, how are the Rockets planning on clearing 4 mil in cap space or is that referring to the trade exception? ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
Can anyone say where Ric said this -- on the air (radio or TV?) -- or was it an online article? ------------------ NOTHING BUT .NET CLUTCHCITY.NET
I think that there is a good chance that we can get Croschere. Ric did say we could scrap up about 4 million dollars, which is what Austin will command. Plus, I think he would want to go to a successful, young team... like us. I bet Fagan can convince Austin to come here, especially after last season in which we took a lot of strides. ------------------ treasurer of the moochie norris fan club
Wouldn't the Rockets' ability to "scrape up about 4 million" put them in the ballpark to sign Rashard Lewis? If they could scrape up an extra mill, wouldn't that be enough to outbid the Sonics' ability to match? ------------------
If we land Croshere, who would be left off of the team(don't forget the #9)? ------------------ We need some meat in the post!
I'm not too sold on Rashard. That said.I am sold on a few things about Croshere. 1. He hustles like hell, and scraps (for boards...etc.) 2. He can shoot a set 3. 3. He is athletic and is a fit for the Rockets. 4. He is tough and kinda dirty (something we could use). If the price is right and it's a doable deal...I'll take him. ------------------
How can we get 4 mill under the cap? Last year, our total salary was over 52 million. We can chop off 9 mill for CB, but our only other FA is TMass, who made a little over a mill. That puts us as 42 million, not counting all the rising in everyone else's salary. But, that's also counting all the guys we cut the past few years, here's the list of them-Hamilton, Gray, Johnson, Shaw Maloney, Maclean, and Augmon. Their salaries were a combined 11 million. We may or may not be finished paying off some of them by next year (depending on the length of contract) But assuming they were, we're now at $31 million, below the 35.5 cap not counting the rising of everyone else's salary......We'll be above the cap, as Hakeem alone rises about 2 mill, and Cato starts his BYC, but we're a lot closer to the cap than I thought we'd be. If we could somehow dump the contracts of say Williams and Rogers (around 7 million combined) we'd be in great shape, but that'd be really tough. Perhaps the 4 mill they were talking about was the trade exception? ------------------ Rockets fans wanted at hoopsboards.com Draft Chat, NBA Chat, Team Chat, and more!
yeah , i really really trust ric alot, he was the first one to say that pippen would be traded like a month before it happened and was the first to say we would sign shandon too. so, i think what ever he says is usually the truth. ------------------ johnny "red" kerr:i'm glad the bulls did'nt draft steve francis. dan roan: why!!!!! johnny red kerr:because he would forever be compared to michael jordan.
This is purely hypothetical, but one person mentioned this to me as a random scenario and it makes sense (atleast for the Pacers): I AM DOING THE WORK OF THE DEVIL - PURELY HYPOTHETICAL Rockets send Bryce Drew + #9 pick + Trade exception to Indiana for a signed Croshere. Indiana: Let Mark Jackson go and can now move Travis Best to the starting lineup. Bryce Drew gets to go back home to Indiana and back up Best. Indiana now has the cash to sign both Reggie Miller and Jalen Rose. Smits may retire so with the 9th pick they can draft Tsakalidis and with Croshere (and Smits possibly) gone, Al Harrington and Jonathan Bender get playing time. Houston: They weight this simple question: Would you take Croshere if he was in the draft and available at #9? Drew is a throw-in with Francis and Mooch manning the PG and the trade exception must be used this season and is there to facilitate such a deal. ------------------ NOTHING BUT .NET CLUTCHCITY.NET
Hold it. Wouldn't we need 4 million under the cap? That would be all but impossible. Capologists, help me out here. Also, there has to be something else at work here- why would Croshere want to go from a title contender to a team climbing out of the lottery next season? Does he dig Houston or the Rockets? Does he have friends or family here? The agent connection I can see, but there must be something more. Is there going to be a logjam at the 4 in Indiana with Bender/Harrington/Croshere? The money issue is difficult enough to believe, but even if we did have the money, I still don't understand why the Rockets would have a shot at him. [This message has been edited by Nolen (edited June 13, 2000).]
Nolen-Perhaps that could factor into it. Bender and Harrington are more naturally talented than Croshere. They both have superstar potential, which Croshere doesn't. Am I the only person who would prefer Croshere as a SF, rather than a PF? Clutch-Very interesting proposition. I'd do it in a heartbeat IF we got the Detroit pick, or somehow pulled out the Milwaukee pick, for the reason of being able to then get Etan Thomas. A little dreamcasting, but wouldn't this make a sweet main rotation- C-Cato/Hakeem PF-E. Thomas (#14 or #15 if we got it)/K. Thomas SF-Croshere/Walt SG-Shandon/Mobley PG-Francis/Norris (other: #38 pick, Rogers, Bullard, little exceptions). I like it....I like it a lot. ------------------ Rockets fans wanted at hoopsboards.com Draft Chat, NBA Chat, Team Chat, and more! [This message has been edited by NIKEstrad (edited June 13, 2000).]
Ooooooooh. Interesting hypothetical trade, Clutch. I remember the first interview I ever read of Drew, just after we drafted him, he said he grew up a Pacers/Bulls fan, since he's from Indiana. If anyone might be interested in Bryce, it would be Indy- bring the home hero back. His Valpo-saving shot is still legend. He could bring that old-school half-court pass-firt PG action that Mark Jackson brought, but off the bench. Also has the outside touch, which is what Indy has been all about. The clencher would definitely be getting a good young center to replace Smits at #9. If this were to hypothetically go down, it would probably go down on draft day- Indy would wait and see if the center they want is available at #9, and then pull the trigger. They also open some salary room with the trade exception, in the very summer they need it the most. A sign and trade is a lot more likely than us clearing 4 mil and landing him as a FA. There is no question I would take Croshere over anybody available at #9, unless Miles slipped there, which won't happen. I would take Croshere over Miller or Johnson or Moiso. But I would want Indy's late first rounder in the deal- at least let Rudy and Les work their diamond-in-the-rough talent finding action. Is it a sure thing that we have Moochie locked up for next year?
Nolen-Uh oh...that could be a problem. There's only 3 "major" centers-Pryzbilla, Tsakalidis, and Mihm. With the Cavs now high on IT, it appears none of those 3 will be available. Maybe they'd take Olumide, and try him as a center? Because the next best "true" center is Ernest Brown, and I don't think the Pacers will take Ernest Brown at #9, just a hunch On Moochie-I believe that his contract included a non guaranteed 2nd year, I'm near positive he's not a FA. If he's not, backup PGs are about a dime a dozen. Maybe a nickel. ------------------ Rockets fans wanted at hoopsboards.com Draft Chat, NBA Chat, Team Chat, and more!
Don't they already have that without trading away Croshere? Miller and Rose both have Bird rights, right?. I still don't see why Indiana would want to give up Croshere. Makes no sense at all to me. Bender can back up Davis at center for a couple of years, and Harrington/Croshere can play the 3/4 for many years, with Bender moving into the 5 slot. I don't see what they gain by trading with the Rockets, unless Croshere says he wants to leave. ------------------ Too-Rye-Aye!
TheFreak -- I should rephrase that ... they can sign all those guys to whatever they want -- I didn't say they were restricted by the CBA -- but I don't think the Pacers are willing to spend unlimited funds and probably have no interest in running with the payroll of the Blazers or Knicks. Miller and Rose will want the max. Why not trade Croshere, plug in a PF who has been compared to Garnett and you need to give more time to anyhow and fill your need at center? This is all hypothetical anyhow, but this makes some sense to me for the Pacers. ------------------ NOTHING BUT .NET CLUTCHCITY.NET
