I agree. I like the team and as long as everyone is on the same page. Meaning to do whatever it takes to win then I say don't mess with it until we see what we got... the only spot I would even consider adding is the backup SG spot and that's only if we can find someone who is a definite upgrade over Torres otherwise I say leave it alone.
Steve moves to the SG when Mobley goes to the bench, and Mooch, or whoever the backup PG is, comes in. Then Mobley comes in and Steve goes out. That's why I say there are few minutes at SG. As for SF, we'll just have to disagree.
Seattle Sonics This Lewis thing continues to be a pain my donkey! SEATTLE Team Needs: Power forward, center, back-up point guard Cap Situation: Safe. They have $39.2 million in committed payroll Top 3 prospects: Rashard Lewis The Skinny: The cost-conscious Sonics are pondering exactly what to do with Lewis. The hope of the entire city of Seattle used to rest on this guy re-signing. But after another so-so year, the Sonics aren't so sure anymore that Lewis is their franchise player. They want him back, but at what price? Lewis has been pushing to land with the Rockets. To get to Houston, he'd have to sign for its mid-level exception. The only team with any significant cap room is the Bulls. Lewis would be a dream in Chicago, but he's probably unwilling to take a pay cut. If Lewis decides he really wants to bolt Seattle, would the Sonics be willing to work out a sign-and-trade for Jamal Crawford and Marcus Fizer? If the Bulls could pull off that deal, they'd make a strong run at the playoffs next season. The Wizards could also put together a nice package . . . would they part with Kwame Brown? If the Sonics could get Lewis to re-sign and bring back Jerome James, they'll hit the beach for the rest of the summer. But at this point neither seems likely. Expect them to also bring Earl Watson back.
Francis does move over to the SG spot when Mobley goes to the bench but having a player who plays good defense and get some points is a good idea.I wouldn't mind having Bucker on the Rockets but if we can't get him or Bowen we should keep Oscar Torres,because I think he can improve with some more experience. Forget Lewis,all he wants is big money.
TexasG--Bold prediction, especially since ESPN Insider already reported that Larry Brown and Billy King have flown out to Malibu, CA just to woo Buckner to the Sixers. Honestly, Buckner would NOT sign for the minimum. Notice that Chad Ford said, "IF the Rockets are willing to spend money, then Buckner would be a good fit" or something to that effect. He will command a portion of some team's MCE. Buckner is a physically stronger version of Mario Elie, perhaps without as good range. He's EXACTLY what this team could use as a final piece. That being said, I probably wouldn't overpay for him too badly, since there wouldn't be much playing time for him.
man i hope we do not get him now. But if Boki can play the 2 we should go for it, cause boki will back up mobley. So it could work out, but if boki Bosjan is a SF we should not get lewis, and we won't trade griff cause griffin is a stud, look how hard he works to get better. Especially this off season.
I think Rashard ends up in Chicago, where he can fill the 3, and also get paid. He is a natural fit in C-Town. If the Rox are considering anything, how about re-signing Walt for the exception to back-up the 3 and the 2? He has the handles, he has always been good at coming off the bench to hit some quick 3's, and I'd rather give the exception to a veteran rather than a relative newbie in Rashard. We need a couple of vets on the team to show the rooks how to act. If they follow Mobley's antics on the court, the Rox will be known as the crybabies of the NBA, especially since a lot of our games will get national attention. Having Rice and Walt will balance out this young lineup we have...
Having vets on the team. hmm. reminds me of Francis' rookie year. There were some funny Rockets ads on tv with barkley teeaching Francis a thing or two about the nba. those were some vets.. Hakeem, Barlkey...
Stylez, Whatever it ultimately ends up being, the MCE is the same for every team & I'm hearing that it'll be less than $5 mill.
Playing off of this article, if Seattle is reluctant to let Rashard leave without some compensation, Rashard makes it clear that he wants to play in Houston, & the Rockets really want him, then here's a trade scenario that works salary cap wise & addresses Seattle's needs, as indicated by the article. Houston sends: Taylor: $7,150,000 Moochie: $3,600,000 Collier: $1,369,440 T-Mo: $512,435 Total: $12,631,875 Seattle sends: Rashard Lewis: $10,700,000 (this is an estimated number) Shammond Williams: $1,968,750 (expiring contract) Predrag Drobnjak: $526,413 (team option next year) Total: $13,195,163 I realize that Rashard might not be worth the max, but in today's NBA, he'd probably get it, if teams had the cap available. If he just resigned with Seattle for one year, there'd be a lot more options next year. Assuming that Taylor is completely healed (all reports indicate that he is & is training hard to get back into game shape), this trade helps them address all 3 need areas that the article mentioned. The trade also gives Seattle an extra $563,000 in cap relief to use towards resigning Jerome James. Getting Taylor would allow them to trade Baker for any scrubs that they could get in trade, just to break up his huge contract into smaller ones. The trade still works if Seattle wants to keep Drobnjak, but I'd ask for him anyway to give us some depth behind Ming & Cato. Houston would be able to clear up the log jam at PF & upgrade the future depth at SF. What I mean by that is, Rice's contract expires in two years, which would leave us with Lewis & Nachbar at SF. Nachbar will be ready to play by then, if he's not already ready to play in the NBA. An opportunity to get a quality player like Rashard, without increasing your payroll & only adding one year to the length of the contracts being traded (Taylor/Moochie for 5 more years each, Lewis for 6 years), while reducing redundancy at other positions, is, imo, a smart move. http://www.nba.com/playerfile/rashard_lewis/index.html?nav=page By the way. For those that think Lewis isn't that good, here's a link to his career stats. He's improved his ppg, spg, apg, rpg, & mpg in each of his 4 years in the league. He's shooting 47-48% from the field, 40% from 3pt range, & 81% from the FT line. If we can trade for him, I say we do it. This could be our new lineup: C: Ming/Cato/Drobnjak PF: Griffin/KT/FA? SF: Lewis/Rice/Nachbar SG: Mobley/Torres PG: Francis/Shammond/Maddox Not a bad starting 5 & if Maddox/Nachbar turn out to be as good as the hype over them, then we could have some serious quality depth, as well.
Hottoddie if the Sonics would go for that trade I would do it in a hereatbeat. I gotta disagree w/ you a little though. Of course lewis is not worth the max but there is NOT a good chance that he will get it. The only team that will even offer it to him is the Sonics and they are seriously debating whether or not to do it. The Bulls can offer him more than the Rocks but I think he would choose the Rockets at 5mil (for one year) than the Bulls at 6.5mil for 4-5 years. I could have sworn that I read somewhere that the Rockets MCE is worth around 5.1mil while teams like the Knicks for example are sitting w/ a 4.7mil MCE, but I could be wrong.
