I am curious to see how our depth chart is going to look for the rest of this season. One thing that has confused me - is Hilton Armstrong now a Rocket or not? I have seen conflicting reports where they say he is and others say he is with the Kings, still. If Armstrong is with the Rockets now, I count us having 16 players which also counts our inactive guys: Brooks Martin Ariza Scola Hayes Lowry Temple Battier Budinger Andersen Hill Jeffries Cook Taylor Armstrong Yao Doesn't NBA rules state that you can't have more than 15 players with 12 active on your roster at any given time? If Armstrong is on the Rockets, I am wondering who we release. We can't really release Temple right now since Lowry is hurt as it would give us no backup PG (I guess Martin could play it and we have both Ariza and Battier at the 2 and 3). For the time being, let's say that Armstrong isn't a part of this deal, then it is pretty easy to figure out (the depth chart): 1 - Brooks, Lowry, Temple (inactive) - once Lowry comes back from his injury 2 - Martin, Budinger, Taylor (inactive) 3 - Ariza, Battier, Jeffries 4 - Scola, Hill, Cook 5 - Hayes, Andersen, Yao (inactive) Can someone help me with the question of Hilton Armstrong...rocket or not?
Who would back up Brooks while Lowry is out? And wouldn't cutting Cook cost us a cap hit? I think buying him out would cause us to go over the luxury tax but I am not sure about those things.
we are already on the hook for Cook's contract this year. It expires at the end of this year. The trade got the Rockets under the tax this year(including Cook's current contract). Waiving him costs nothing extra than what they are already paying. It does however free up a roster spot we need. and yes...Armstrong is a Rocket
Brooks/Lowry/Temple Martin/Ariza/Budinger Battier/Jeffries/Taylor Scola/Hill/Cook Hayes/Andersen/Armstrong (Yao) They'll probably waive Cook or send Taylor down to the D-league (and swap him back when Lowry is healthy). I am more concerned about the rotation. We lost a rotation player in Landry and gain on in Martin. Will see how the bigs (Hill, Armstrong) we got are going to be used. Is Jeffries sort of a Hayes clone?
It will have to be either not signing Temple or waiving Cook. Sending Taylor to the D-league still takes up a roster spot.
If he allows us to buy him out for a little less than he is owed that will actually take us deeper under the tax hit. I see us buying him out next week. He won't likely see the bench again this season if not.
Agree Cook will probably get waived. CBud playing time will be reduced as KMart, Battier and Ariza will probably eat up the minutes between the 2 & 3 spots. Lowry's minutes will also go down now that we have a legit 2. I also see either Ariza or Battier will be playing some minutes at the 4. Hill and Armstrong will have to earn their playing time.
Now: Brooks / Lowry Martin / Budinger / Taylor Ariza / Battier Scola / Jeffries / Hill / Cook Hayes / Andersen / Armstrong / (Yao) Once everybody is healthy: Brooks / Lowry Martin / Budinger / Taylor Ariza / Battier / Jeffries Scola / Hayes / Cook Yao / Hill / Armstrong / Andersen
I would think Taylor will get sent down to the d-league. He has no possible chance at any significant minutes. Cook being waived is another option, but might as well keep him around till we definitely need the spot.
Thanks man. Yea, I think we will have to waive everyone's favorite cheerleader in Cook as we have got to keep Temple since Lowry is not ready to come back from his injury.
and the team collective bball IQ will rise a few points if he is waived we're under the lux tax and even if we were over it there isnt anything else the team could do short of a buyout to get under it and cook would never to agree to a buyout so waiving him is the only other option the team has. lowry is still out so temple is needed and armstrong is much better than cook
