As much as I love Deke, his usefulness took a hit when Adelman became coach. Sure he can still play situational minutes against bigger, stronger centers when Yao is out. But he doesn't really fit into the new offensive system well. I would want nothing more than for Deke to return and provide veteran leadership, particularly for Scola and Butler. But if he wants more than 2million, it's just not feasible. Too bad. I really like him.
He is a backup center......but frankly, it's very difficult to find a backup center as effective as Deke on the glass and on defense. I think he deserves a bit more money. But you can't always get what you want. Someone will give it to him. Boston perhaps? Dookie...
The minimum salary for someone with 10 or more years in the league is $1,219,590. Perhaps he was hoping for the Bi-Annual Exception, which would be $1.83 million. EDIT: Perhaps they can wait for the roster surplus to be resolved and then feel confident about offering the higher amount. Of course, someone like Boston might be offering it right now. If he's worth $1.2 million, he's probably worth $1.8 million as well. He's made plenty of money in his career, but I can understand him wanting to maximize his income given this hospital he just built. At the same time, I do not think the Rockets should be paying him more than they otherwise would just because Mutombo is a great guy and a humanitarian. Mutombo might be better off taking the minimum and maintaining good relations so he can hit Les up for donations later.
Considering that he saw the floor an average of less than 6 minutes a game against the Jazz, I'd hardly blame that on him.
Let's see....retire and get ZERO or accept 1.2 million to basically ride the pine all year. Hmmmmmmmm Or maybe he can go to the Celtics, they will give him more. Deke is an amazing human, but the reality is that he is not worth more than the vet minimum anymore. Age hits everyone..... DD
Deke's getting up there in age(especially if you consider how old he really is), but let's not forget what he did the Rockets last season when Yao went down. This team went 20-12 without Yao and it was in no small part due to Deke's contributions.
If Deke decides to retire or sign elsewhere, the Rafer for Doleac deal makes a lot of sense. I think they would still jump on it. After cutting Sura and dumping JL3 on the Hornets, we would have: Francis/James/Brooks McGrady/Head/Wells Battier/Snyder/Novak Scola/Hayes/Reed Yao/Doleac/Butler
I'm not so sure the Celtics are going to offer (much) more. They're trying to fill the roster with minimum salary commitments because of the lux tax. Kind of surprising to hear that their owner is getting stingy when he's in a position to lock up at least a couple Finals visits, but hey, Drayton went the same route with the Astros in the same position. At this point, anyone the C's bring in will cost them double because of the tax. The loophole with veterans is that the league pays half their salary when it's at the minimum. Evan
If the Rockets only offer the minimum as a favor, then I'd hate to say this, but I think he should go for the money somewhere else. Even if it is to Boston, because I can definately see the addition to Boston as an extreme help; wow that would be 6 fouls to give up on Yao "Not to mention those elbows flying everywhere". On the other hand I can see the Rockets position on the Luxury tax. Like it or not, the Rockets are a business to Les Alexander. And If the Rockets see Butler and to a lesser extent Jake Tsakalitis as an equal or similar option, then by pure loyalty; you offer the vets min, but hope he get the message and doesn't take it!! Mutumbo doesn't fit Adelmans system. He is more of a half court guy kind of like Yao; However Yao can pass the ball very well, hence starting the fast breaks. The writing on the Wall is that the Rockets don't want any more contracts before they get rid of some of the ones they already have. I'm sad because Mutumbo was such a gamer and an overall good guy; seen a lot by the missionary and humanitarian duties to his Country. But, Business is a nasty nasty world. Not much fairness.
Deke may only worth vet minimum this coming season, I think this is true. But what he did last season when YAO is down is worth way more than he earned last season. Don't you agree? I think an offer of 2m a year is enough to make Deke happy, is that too much for Rockets? And he only want to play one more year,not want a 5years contract! Give the old(and tough) guy some respect!
Deke desserves more plain and simple. He has been very efficient most of the time when given the minutes, and a huge reason why we finished in the 4th seed in the West, if it wasn't for his huge contributions like not many people expected we would of been around the 7th or 8th seed. Most people say that Deke can't play Adelman's style, aren't people saying the samething about Yao, and his 7'6 300+ body? Deke can run it with the best of them is the best rebounder and shot blocker on this team. He knows his role on the team and contributes. What is a few thousand to Les, the Rockets need Deke back, he is still one of the best backups in the game. Age or not, I don't give a damn as long as he is effective. People think that Butler will be the difference but ignore the fact that SAS didn't want anything to do with him from the start of the year, and their is no better big man teacher, and a guy to go against in Deke.
IIRC, for lux tax purposes, veteran's min are not calculated towards the tax. In other words, assume rox will exceed the threshold, they will not need to pay any tax for deke's 1.2M salary if it's the veteran's min; but they'll have to pay dollar for dollar if he is paid 1.8M. that's 2.4M expense in difference and I don't blame les for trying to avoid that...
Several things 1. If he a player coach . . .can he slip under the cap 2. Where does he fit in the offense? I've never known him to be a great passer and is parking him in the lane going to disrupt the offense? Just curious 3. I think they should park him next to Jack Sikma. Rocket River gotta keep the Cookie Monster around somehow
