GREAT news! Saves us throwing money at Diop or another defensive minded C. I think the '3rd stringer' at C needs to be someone who can score - I'd be over the moon if we could add Chris Mihm now. That way we're pretty well covered even IF Yao gets injured!
I am suprised this thread doesn't have a 5 stars by it. Honestly having a young backup wouldn't be bad but Rockets have bigger problems than having a durable backup center. IMO there is no better backup center in the NBA than Mutombo. If you are asking for more production out of a rookie than what Mutombo did you are in for a rude awakening next season. IMO the Rockets have biggers needs at a starting 1 or backup 2 and 3 than at the center spot. Deke coming back helps clear a spot in a deep place of need. The Rockets have only have the MLE which some people want to spend on just one player like Ron Artest or Calderon. So that will lead to a pick in what the 25-27th spot to fill in one of our gaps. Do I think it would be great having a young talented backup for Yao, of course but the Rockets have a salary cap they have to deal with.
Deke and Hayes fill different roles. The Rockets need another (younger) big who can play C, with or without Deke on the roster. Assuming this happens, I think there will be plenty of games next season with Deke inactive. For Hayes, I imagine he will be even more of a pure situational player, with fewer minutes, next season. I have no problem with both guys on the roster. Deke definitely won't steal minutes from anyone worthwhile and neither will Hayes.
I agree with you on the scorer. But I'd prefer a young guy like Fazekas on a one year minimum deal. That way he can be traded if we need to and we get a chance to see if he will develop without committing to him fully as a backup for extended years. If I was Morey, and Deke does come back, I'd be going after Fazekas.
There were no 7ft Cs drafted outside the lottery that contributed to their team. There might have been four 7+ft centers drafted that actually played in the USA. All the other players are forwards masquerading as a C, undersized, or foreign player that never came over. Spencer Hawes Aaron Gray Oleksiy Pecherov Ian Mahinmi Cheikh Samb Kyrylo Fesenko Kosta Perovic Darryl Watkins Courtney Sims Deke outplayed all of them. No matter who we draft, we still need Deke. It takes time for centers to develop. Deke can toughen them up, also.
I also think we need another back up but then there are fans who don't think so. The reason is if Yao is around and we have Mutombo, we don't need a decent back up C but if Yao is out i.e. injured or others, we will not be contending so no need for another back up C. For me, I think having another big is always an advantage irregardless of whatever the situation is.
Fazekas is a great idea. We know Adelman loves to play his rookies and sophs. If Fazekas even shows a 2 min flash, he'll get 15-20 min a game. Look at Scola and Landry. Mihm misses more games than Yao, every season. I'd take my chances with Fazekas and Deke for back up. Fazekas is a great contrast to Deke, when Yao gets injured.
I'll just echo some of the other posts. This team still needs another big man to back up Yao. This team needs a true big man who can run the floor, finish at the rim and catch a pass (sorry but Deke has the worst hands and the slowest finish in the league). His size and shot blocking are nice to have as a change of pace but if he is playing meaningful minutes in the regular season it means this team is without Yao and looking at another first round exit. In a perfect world, Mutombo is only used as six good, hard fouls against the beasts in the West in the playoffs.
Deke could have played more minutes early on in the season, but I think since the Rox had not hit stride and were still searching for their identity Yao ended up playing more minutes. Next year now that Deke will probly be back they will make a concerted effort to limit Yaos minutes by way of playing deke more and going small as often as possible. Keep in mind that Scola and Landry will probly be improved defensively next year which should make it easier for the rox to absorb Yaos limited court time. Now on to priority number 1, a scoring wing to come off the bench.
You're right about Mihm missing games - but that'd be the only reason we could get him for the minimum. If we're just asking him to ride the pine in case of a Ming injury, then surely he can take that? And (worse case) if Ming goes down, we have a guy who could give us a decent 15-20 minutes a night who can crash the boards, block shots, and has a nice midrange jumper. I haven't seen enough of Fazekas play to make a call on him - but I'll admit he's probably a better offensive option! You're probably right - he's the one to chase first. He's not going to be a factor defensively, but if he's our 3rd string C, then that's not really the main issue is it!
Hopefully, Deke takes into account the very generous donations Les and the Rockets have made to his hospital in Africa. I think the guy is a terrific presence on the bench and in the locker room, not to mention his play on the court, given the right matchups. Like you, I hope we sign or draft a young center he can help groom as a replacement and as a backup for Yao. I'd like to add that perhaps we should start every game with Deke, so he can jump center and get us the ball, then take him out at the first opportunity and insert Yao. Deke usually wins those and Yao usually doesn't.
Great 1st step in our off-season ... ... love the Cookie Monster. Landry is next. Hopefully he takes the LLE. ... and hopefully, Memphis is still wanting to jettison salaries.
Sweet. He's such a key backup, with his defense and rebounding. Not having him next season would be a big loss. It's too bad he can't play more minutes, though. With Yao's injury history and the amount of work he has been required to put in, the Rockets really need a backup center who can cut his minutes and keep him fresher.
I'm not a big fan of this at all. I want to find a more long term backup for yao....and a guy who can play everyday.
Man, this is such great news for the Rockets This means we don't have to put our limited resources(ie MLE) on trying to sign a centre, as well as being able to trade our draft pick(which could seal a deal for the 3rd scorer). Otherwise we'd be forced to draft a centre as a backup to Yao. Mutombo = Ageless Entity Please let Mutombo leave with a grand majestic exit --- A RING! I can't stress how much this relieves us of having to "waste" our MLE on another centre. Now Landry's just gotta sign for the LLE(not likely but still, this is the precedent to that). Does this mean Deke only takes up $770,610 of our salary room? By the way its unlikely we will get Fazekas, because the Clippers snatched him up in a flash and since they are basically gonna rebuild they will want to keep and develop him. Lets sign Chris Mihm to a contract. I'm sure he wants to see minutes after all those injuries, and he won't be getting any in LA with Gasol and Bynum way ahead of him.
