I think most of us would be all right with bringing him back but we're already at or over the luxury tax, and that number won't get any better next year. Sure, McGrady's coming off the books, but I would bet he won't be on the roster by training camp; will we trade him for contracts that do NOT expire this year?
And one major flaw could be his lackadaisical commitment to a team that trusted him. Ariza who had the same journeyman image did stay true to his word and initially flew to houston to sign. I appreciate those actions a great deal.
I think getting Wafer back is very important for the development of this team. He provided that spark that we needed pretty often. He brings a whole lot of energy to the team, and a little attitude is a good thing. He is extremely athletic, and still very young. The only thing that would prevent me from signing him is some of the shots he takes, and bad decisions, but other than that, he is a very talented player. Hopefully, if he signs, we can coach him to limit his bad shots and decisions. Young athletic guys like Von who bring tons of excitement don't grow on trees, so probably best if we sign him. We need a sharpshooting SG right now anyway, so that's just another bonus.
the problem is that Von doesnt average a "couple" of assists but I do understand that passing is not a strength for him I just wish for a guy who could possibly be the starting SG next year that passing isnt a weakness for him, which is the case with Von You will not get an argument from me about his efficiency especially compared to some of the alternatives from last season. But at the same time if he becomes a shooter only the offense becomes predictable (ala tmac in the JVG) as defenses can easily key in on his tendencies. Vujacic seemed to do that pretty well against Von in the playoffs. While it is harder to asses Taylor since he played in a smaller conference in the NCAA its harder to argue with his numbers considered that he was going to be keyed in on from opposing coaches. That is still impressive. I will reserve judgement on Taylor since he wasnt 100% in the summer league games but I guess "have faith in Morey" applies here. I wouldnt label him a bust yet when he has yet to play a game 100% healthy for the Rockets Chase played in a much tougher Pac-10 conference and fared pretty well despite not living up to some lofty expectations and he excelled at the summer league putting up some NBA 2k9-esque shooting percentages. Honestly he impressed me more than Taylor but I wasnt shocked following the Pac-10 as closely as I do Chase has always been capable of what he had shown and quite frankly I was shocked to see him slip that far on draft night. Taylor is a year younger and Chase is 3 years younger than Von. Of the two rookies if I had to pick one to pick the team I would go with Chase who is younger, just as athletic and efficient on the offensive end and tries much harder on defense than Von does. (jasonmellio --sorry cant remember exact username-- who also watched a lot of arizona ball can vouch that Chase does tries hard on defense and closes out hard on shooters) while it is a horrible year to be a free agent, its also a horrible year for Von and his agent to be thinking he is worth more than what the market so far has set for them. Iverson while former MVP and superstar is clearly in decline and is also in a way a knucklehead not being able to play any other way than the way that his early 00 sixer teams won. There are a lot of other FAs not just Von (even Ariza) who tried to proclaim their market value and got burned at the end of the day for it. Now I dont know how true those early reports about ~ a month ago about Von and his agent turning down a deal from the Rockets worth like 1.5 million/year for 2 years. If that is true than Von (or at least his agent) is truly bonkers for not taking it. I dont think I can disagree with this generally most smaller deals get done by mid sept just before the start of training camp. If Von hasnt signed with a team by the end of Aug/beg of Sept then I think he has to really start worrying. Like I said I have no issue with signing Von to the mininum I just dont want to go over that when we have younger and cheaper talent that plays his position available. Its not about me "hating Von at all costs" but more that there are other options available to the team and the Rockets have already have invested in Taylor and Chase financially already it makes no sense for them to not invest some PT for their development. the more money invested in Von the more unnecessary it seems to me when you have talents in Taylor and Chase that mirror Von's skills. Yes they are rookies but considering the condition of the team next season, it is a perfect year for the rookies to get a lot of playing time and development so that they become huge assets to the team their 2nd year (a la brooks and landry) when Yao and (tmac/or player he is traded for) is back you have to stockpile talents within reason, von was a center with the same set of skills i think everyone would want him back..there is a inbalance of talent on this squad primarily at the 2/3 spots where we have possibly too much and not enough at other spots. If the team keeps getting wing players all the roster spots will be taken up and you actually create a disadvantage when negotiating because other teams realize you have a talent deficiency at a certain position (this was the case right when Yao went down Feigan was telling me at SL how everyone who even knew a person that was 7ft kept calling Morey to try to get him to sign/trade their guy at a higher market value) I would love to see the 4 of them (von, white, taylor, chase) earn a spot at training camp, but will Von be willing to not sign a contract or at least a non-guaranteed contract until after a training camp like he did last year? something tells me he wouldnt be willing to do that. and of course I would rather have Von over Barry and especially Cook but the problem is that those guys have guaranteed contracts for next season Von doesnt. There are only so many roster spots open and the team is already at the luxury tax as is. I actually feel the injuries to Yao and of course the impending return of Tmac really hurt Von. If Yao was still around I think Von would have had more value to the team as the Rockets would be in a more of a "win now" mode and of course when Tmac comes back minutes at the 2 spot are going to be reduced drastically when he is back to as 100% as he can be.
I'll feel for Wafer if he signs with the Clippers..... the clippers are probably one of the worst franchise in the NBA
You really took your time thinking about it. Well done. I have stated the same thing over and over again. He still claims we could have Von on the cheap....and he does want to return. There is no room for Von to prove himself and develop more in these two years
I don't think Von has had a 1.8 million dollar offer, I think he has had a minimum offer, and would easily settle for 1.8 million. Personally, I think it will go like this. Another team offers him the minimum or slightly above it. Morey adds a few bucks and signs Von....for around $1.1 million for a couple of years. DD
I agree with you here. Morey is just waiting to see other offers so Von and Morey get a feel for what offers can be made. If we were to sign Von for $1.1, I think that would be a huge bargain. He provides the energy and excitement. Also, he is still young and developing. He has a huge upside, and I feel we really need to sign him.
good the amount of money could be inflated but what makes you think Morey wants him back even that 1.1 m even if he is the better than JT and Chase and the others. What if Morey intends to develop the rookies and prefers them over Wafer? We are no longer in Win now mode. What makes you think SG is No.1 priority after signing the rookies.? Either move are pertained with consequences. You develop Wafer. Less minutes for the rookies. You develop rookies, might as well drop Wafer.
I think Wafer will produce more next season than that 2 million in unspent MLE money. You think a pile of dollar bills with a Rockets jersey slapped on top will produce more than Wafer. I guess we'll agree to disagree. I just wish you were confident enough to put your money where your mouth is.
Has anyone noticed this other than me? http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wafervo01.html http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smithjr01.html I mean other than the atts, this past year when wafer turned the corner, exactly alike.
In all the Morey interviews he talks about stockpiling assets that either can develop or be flipped for a superstar, if Von comes back and averages say 13ppg, another team might think he is becomming something more than he is, and we flip him for something like Granger etc..... A team trying to save money but rebuild with upside. I don't think Morey would let Von go if it is a CHEAP contract...if it is too much...sure.....but right now, it ain't. DD
DD, i think most rocket fans would love for wafer to come back. he brought something from a guard position, especially off the bench, that rocket fans haven't seen for a long time. and you're right about morey accumulating assets b/c we all know he's trying to acquire that "great star." that's why there is still a great chance von will be back, and again, we all love for him to be back. but i wonder how much minutes he's going to get behind ariza/battier and tracy when he does return. he didn't play that much when tracy played last yr. he has to improve his weaknesses i think if he really wants to continue to get big minutes from adelman.
I think what may help him if he really wants to return is to call Daryl, Rick & Les and again apologize for what happened during the playoffs. I know he already did, but it may help him look more like a team player. It couldn't hurt him not to talk to all 3 of those guys, it can only help.
Or just accept whatever offer is on the table. The offer is definitely less then what was offered last month. The longer He plys the market the slimmer the chance of him returning.
Tracy will be back earlier than most think. Thats the case, wouldn't moving shane make more sense because of the ariza factor? Ariza and shane makes 0 sense. I'm not saying wafer is better othe than offensively, but would the rotation be more effecient with tracy/von/ariza vs tracy/ariza/battier?
Get what you can. I'm not hoping for this, but shane will have his worse offensive year of his career. No yao, tracy , and ron, it will be rough on shane. I can give him a pass for being injured last year, but the road playoff performances was inexcuseable. I think you have to feel and see what you can get. Camby for shane and cook maybe. That will help alot this year and give morey another large expiring contract.
