Freak-Bender can't play center. He may be 6'11'', but he's a rail, and he can shoot (where the KG comparisons came from) Harrington also is similar to that. Maybe Clutch meant sign as in cash wise. Not wanting to spend too much (such as the Clippers...they could sign Taylor for the max, but won't cause they're cheap.) I'm not comparing Sterling to the Pacers owner, but not all of the GMs in the league have the ability to spend like Whitsitt in Portland. ------------------ Rockets fans wanted at hoopsboards.com Draft Chat, NBA Chat, Team Chat, and more!
No, you're not. If we were to acquire Austin Croshere, I would hope it would be so he would start at the small forward position. True, he is a tough competitor, but I just can't see him matching up with Western Conference power forwards. These NBA Finals have NOT been a good indication of Austin Croshere's ability: [*]He averaged 7 points and 5.6 rebounds in 24 mpg, while shooting 37% from the field, in the first round of the playoffs, against a bad defensive Milwaukee team. [*]He averaged 8 points and 3.3 rebounds in 18 mpg, while shooting 36% from the field, in the semifinals, against the Sixers. [*]He averaged 7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 19 minutes per game, while shooting 36% from the field, in the conference finals, against an undersize Larry Johnson (and no, don't give me any of that, "well the Knicks play good team defense" BS. [*]He averaged 10.3 points and 6.4 rebounds in 23 minutes per game, while shooting 44% from the field, during the regular season. You're gonna open up the checkbook for a guy who shot 44% from the field?...you be the judge. [*]In the NBA Finals, Croshere has averaged 20 points and 6 boards while shooting 54% from the field. Too bad Lakers forwards suck. Let's now bring Austin over to the Western Conference, where he will meet Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Karl Malone, Rasheed Wallace, Chris Webber, Antonio McDyess yada yada on a nightly basis. It's not looking too good is it? Look, if the intention is to start Croshere at small forward, I'm all for it. At this point, it seems like nothing of value will be on the board at the #9 pick anyways. Now if Mike Miller is still there, thats a totally different story. ------------------ "Be like Dr. J, be like Dr. J..." - Shaq during NBC interview. [This message has been edited by thacabbage (edited June 13, 2000).]
aelliott must be on vacation. I stand corrected because he has posted today. I am surprised he hasn't posted in this thread. Mango ------------------ Live long and prosper. Donate blood! Now...back to updating The Serious Police Files. [This message has been edited by Mango (edited June 13, 2000).]
I agree with Cabbage and Nike, Croshere should be a SF here not a PF. If the Rockets make this deal, they still need to find a tall, athletic PF somewhere to go against the incredible talent the West is loaded with at the 4 position. As far as the Pacers end of the deal, I think it makes a lot of sense for them and think they make the deal assuming Tsakalidis is on the board. The question to ask is a lineup of Cato, Thomas, Croshere, Anderson and Francis with Mobley, Williams etc good enough with a few minor tweaks to be a contendor three yrs from now? If the Rockets make this deal, they will be committing the 4.5 mil exception along with an extra 1 mil (Bryce Drew) to Austin Croshere. Follow this with the re-signing of Mobley for 4.1 mil and that cap room from Hakeem's windfall has mostly vanished. The other option is to keep the 9th pick and take Moiso who would make much less than what would be committed to Croshere and still have cap space for 2001. However, if you feel that a lineup of Cato, Thomas, Croshere, Anderson and Francis with Mobley, Williams, Norris etc off the bench has a good enough future to contend for a championship then its worth it to make this move. The other question is which player do you feel has a better NBA potential, Austin Croshere or Jerome Moiso? ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net [This message has been edited by MManal (edited June 13, 2000).]
I think Croshere is versatile to play either PF or SF. The playoffs have not been a good display of his abilities. He is a tough defender and rebounder. Very scrappy. I've seen him defend SFs, PFs, and Centers very well. I'm uncomfortable penciling him in at the SF spot. He should definently play both. KT and Croshere would make a sweet one-two punch at PF. But any position he plays, as long he is on the court, I would be happy. ------------------ What do you get when you cross a dinosaur with fireworks?
Let me preface this by saying I'm neither an NBA statician nor an NBA historian. I can only offer opinion... ..and it is my opinion that Houston is better off venturing a different avenue than Croshere Blvd. From what I've seen of Croshere (and I must admit these occasiona have been spare and far between save the ongoing playoffs), I don't think he'll hold up against the forwards of the West for reasons already stated by the Cabbage Patch Kid. I would much rather us pursue athletic small forward or a decent center with what limited resources we've been afforded this summer and then after Hakeem retires next summer, look into an impact power foward (read:Webber). ------------------
MManal; Stone Cold Hakeem: I didn't even stop to think of next year's cap situation. Now that you guys mention it, Austin Croshere is NOT worth it. Would you rather have Croshere or the #9 and Chris Webber? exactly. ------------------ "Be like Dr. J, be like Dr. J..." - Shaq during NBC interview.
Ok, I got in on this thread kind of late but here's some random thoughts: - I don't believe that we could get $4M under the cap without doing something drastic. - I totally agree that Croshere should spend the majority of his time at SF. He can play a little PF against certain teams, but not night in and night out. Think about what we keep hearing people claim the Rockets need at the 4 spot: low post game, good defender, shot blocker and rebounder. Croshere brings none of those things to the table as a PF. He's a jump shooter and a good rebounder as a SF. At the PF spot he's totally overwhelmed by the Western Conf. PFs. - I also agree that Bender isn't a center. He's really more of a SF or possibly a PF once he bulks up. - I didn't see Dale Davis listed in those post-trade Indiana lineups. - If the Rockets really could free up that kind of cap space (I don't think they can), then I say forget Crochere and go this route. If the Rockets were able to free up even $1 more than the middle class exception ($2.3m next year?), then we could land Rashard Lewis if he truley wanted to play here. Here's the logic: The most that Seattle could offer Lewis is either the Middle Class exception or an early bird deal. The loophole is that an early Bird deal must be for at least 2 years. So, if Rashard really has his heart set on playing in his hometown, then he just signs an offer sheet on a 1 year deal at just over the middle class exception. Seattle would be unable to use the early bird exception to match the deal, since the offer sheet is only for 1 year (and early Bird must be for at least two). If that happened the only way for Seattle to match the deal would be to somehow free up cap space, which they probably couldn't. A couple of months ago, I ran this idea by Larry Coon. He agreed that under these conditions, Seattle would be unable to match the offer. Truthfully, I don't think Lewis is willing to take that kind of pay cut just to play in Houston, but it's an iteresting scenario. ------------------
hmm...just to play a little devil's advocate, the problem is there aren't many other big FAs other than Webber. And I think Detroit may be gearing towards next year too....and Webber was part of the Fab 5. We may have some company in the Webber sweepstakes. Either way it'll be a gamble. Just gotta hope things fall our way. ------------------ Rockets fans wanted at hoopsboards.com Draft Chat, NBA Chat, Team Chat, and more!
NIKEstrad, Could Detroit get Chris W to come there without making some progress toward being a contender? That has been the rub with G Hill and one of the reasons why he might leave. Mango ------------------ Live long and prosper. Donate blood! Now...back to updating The Serious Police Files.
I disagree with everyone's assumption that Croshere would get TORCHED by the Wester Conference's PF's. I think if he got significant PT, with a PG that creates for him, he would be a GREAT addition to the Rockets. He can play PF and SF, we all know how Rudy likes players who can create matchup problems. I think Rudy really likes Croshere because he reminds him of a young Rudy T. Giving up Drew, the number 9 and the exception is giving up nothing for an emerging role player....better then Walt or KT ( Would nto mind seeing a front line of Croshere, KT, and Cato....yes...nice !!!) DaDakota ep ------------------
Something else to think about: If the Rockets make this deal, they will be a one star team with a bunch of role players and would basically be locked into that. Can Steve Francis single handedly carry this team to a title or would they be destined for the terrible land of mediocrity? ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
YES! YES! Dadakota sees the light! Are you scared now that Crisco agrees with you, in third person no less? ------------------ What do you get when you cross a dinosaur with fireworks?
I agree with MManal. Francis cant be the only star player on this team. I really think Houston could have a chance in getting Webber. ------------------ President of the Moochie Norris FAN CLUB
Just because the Rocks have a chance at Webber doesnt mean the Rockets shouldnt go after good players. Stockpile on good players AND go after Webber. But first get Croshere. Remember, good players can always be traded later on. CROSHERE! AUSTIN CROSHERE! ------------------ What do you get when you cross a dinosaur with fireworks?
MManal- our 1994 title team was exactly what you said might lead to mediocrity. One star and role players. And if you're asking if Steve can carry a team single-handedly, the answer IMO is yes. Stevie is special, and can have that kind of impact on that team eventually. And the role players we would have in place would most likely be better than that of the title team. But I think we will eventually get that complimentary superstar. We got Francis, Drexler, Barkley, and others through trades, not signings. And what did we give up? Several role players. If need be, there are opportunities popping up all the time to trade some of those role palyers for one star. Eventually with Rudy and CD you have to believe something will get done. ------------------ Cheaters never win. Unless you play for LA that is.
By the way, excellent points Crisco. Don't sacrifice good players now just for a chance at something later. Stockpile the good players and with them as trade bait perhaps go after someone like Webber if it is possible. I'm with you on this one. Let's bring in Croshere NOW. ------------------ Starting for the Rockets at power forward, 6'9 from Providence, #44 AUSTIN CROSHERE!! [This message has been edited by The Cat (edited June 13, 2000).]
You bring up valid points, however, you don't sacrifice a realistic chance at getting a superstar to add a "good" player. You have to have some sort of plan for the future. You can't just blindly go adding "good" players, while jeopardizing your shot at a superstar. You plan. The basic reality is that we have a very real chance at signing Chris Webber, and I don't want to do anything that would lessen that chance while having a lesser impact. ------------------ The above opinions were expressed by the founder of the "Anti-Croshere Movement".
cabbage- if anything, having good players increases our chances of landing Webber, rather than hindering them. We've brought in many superstars in recent years- Drexler, Barkley, Pippen, Francis- none of which were acquired by jettisoning players and doing everything possible to get under the cap. All of them were acquired in trades. Having good players in a trade situation helps. Even if Webber does leave Sacramento next summer, which is a debate unto itself, why the heck should they just let him walk out the door without at least signing and trading him? I don't see the logic in passing up good players in the hope of maybe having enough cap space to maybe sign Webber when he might leave the Kings next year. Get good players, win more games, make trades as opportunity comes.
Yup agreed Cabbage. Also we have become spoiled with the Rockets being able to convert role players to stars on a continual basis. This is a lot rarer than the Rockets make it look. Also, notice one thing, Barkley, Pippen and Drexler were all acquired in the TWILIGHT of their careers. Acquiring a young star is a lot more difficult; the Steve Francis move was a lot of luck on the Rockets side. I would much rather take my chances with the 9th pick than commit 5.5 mil to Austin Croshere. Eating up that much cap space for one role player and in that same deal losing the 9th pick which you suffered through a long, painful season (except for the end part), is just not worth it imho. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
