i heard espn talkin about the big fa class in 07,who all is in that one and in this upcoming one,and do you think any of em will take less to play with yao and a healthy tmac?
No. If we're going to make improvements through free agency we'll have to find diamonds in the rough like Bob Sura. The theory that higher caliber free agents will take less to play with better players doesn't hold up any more like it did in the days of Barkley. We thought that by signing tmac it would attract those players and since then we haven't gotten one player through free agency that could've signed for significantly more elsewhere. So the sadly reality is we're going to have to make some serious trades to pick up a third option but I can't think of anyone enticing to offer in the offseason. Any ideas?
Outside of the two exceptions or trades, with two max players the Rockets won't have money under the salary cap. Don't hold me to these numbers but I believe the Rockets are around $54MM salary for 2006/2007 and the cap this year is just under $50MM - even if it went up some (which it should), probably not enough to help the Rockets out.
The Rockets have only the MLE to work with. And it is possible they will use some of it to bring over V-Span. But from the 2006 FA list from RealGM, IMO these are the guys the Rockets might be interested in AND be able to afford either with part of the MLE or the full MLE. These are all UFAs. (I didn't include RFAs since chances are the Rockets would be out-bid for them). Jumaine Jones Ronald Flip Murray DerMarr Johnson Devean George Bobby Jackson Rasual Butler Bonzi Wells Matt Harpring
I highly doubt fagency brings the rockets anything other than a good bench player, and I would be excited to even get that. Those 2 free agent crops suck for a team only armed with the MLE. Barring a major windfall, any significant roster upgrade will come from the draft or trade, imo.
I know that this is sacrilege but we need to tank and get a high lottery pick in addition to any FA we pick up with the MLE. We are a few pieces short of becoming a good team not just one piece away.
Why do we have to use the MLE on V-Span? I thought we drafted him in the second round, and can negotiate a rookie salary with him. Why would we have to dip into the MLE? Isn't this like Bird Rights, which are outside of the MLE? When did V-Span become a free agent?
I don't think we really need free agency to improve. We need, in this order: Health for TMac and Yao Draft a SG/SF Sign V-Span as our backup PG Sign Badiane and have Mutumbo groom him as his replacement Also, as soon as we are eliminated from the playoff picture, Head, Swift, and Lampe need to be given major minutes - Wesley, Howard, and Mutumbo should only be given about 15 minutes a game each. We'll need to find out what these guys can actually do - Head and Swift less so, but Lampe remains intriguing at only 21 years old. Remember that if TMac and Yao are healthy, this is at least a 50 win team - we saw that last year. Only health and minor adjustments are needed.
Believe me, I have low expectations. I think he can still be a good NBA backup, capable of bringing rebounding and defense for about 15 minutes a night. He may not be up to that level right now, but in another 2 years, after Deke has retired, I could see him as a legit rotation guy. I'm not saying he'll be Ben Wallace or anything.
Some guys I would like to see the Rockets look at this summer: Matt Harpring Jamal Sampson Loren Woods Vladimir Radmanovic Kelvin Cato Demar Johnson Keith Van Horn All are unrestricted free agents that could add depth to our team. Jamal Sampson is still just a kid with a lot of athletism that might even be able to play some PF along side Yao some day. The one on that list that I like the most is Harpring. He brings good shooting and a smart player as well. He likely will not leave Utah though.
Ewwwwwwww No to Van Horn. Ultimate choker and a softie. Those are the last kind of players Rockets need to add to Yao/Tmac core. I like Matt Harpring though. The exact kind of role players we need. Hardnosed, tough, and can make the defense pay for sagging on Yao and Tmac.
Looks like a better SF free agent crop this summer than one for SGs. Wish we could move TMac to SG and sign a middle tier SF, but I guess he plays better at SF. SG is the biggest hole on this team right now.
I agree with those, with Harpering tops of that list IMO. I would also add: Speedy Claxton Keith Van Horn
I dunno, i think bobby jackson would be excellent. Heart, passion, energy, hell even injuries!! He and Tmac still got beef? Harpring would be great too.
