My post about this is lost in one of the closed threads, but I just wanted to add that it would be terrific if we got either one of the guys... both, I hope. And lets keep our fingers crossed that they don't stop there. (if CD manages this!) These guys would be great to have. Lets get them. Still would want a further move for the front court, Jeff, so I hope your hunch is right. Got the appendages crossed.
The following article subtitle implies the Rox are among many teams chasing after Ollie... Wednesday, July 2, 2003 Sonics not alone in pursuit of Ollie Ten other teams enter the picture http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/129114_sonx02.html
Another article quoting Ollie's agent: Rockets interested in Ollie, Piatkowski Posted: Tuesday July 08, 2003 11:31 PM http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/news/2003/07/08/rockets_fa_ap/ << [...] "We know the Rockets are interested, but we don't know if they are willing to do the number of years and the money Kevin is looking for," Ness said. >>
How about we wrangle the Sonics into a sign and trade: Ollie for the Mooch? Keep some of the salary if necessary. According to the article, the Sonics have not vet PG. In fact, they have no PG besides Ridinour. Mooch played there before so they gotta love him, right?
What about a guy like Tracy Murray? He can still shoot and could replace Rice as the veteran shooter.
Well what if it was a throwback bowl of Wheaties from a Bruce Jenner box! Then they would have to do it.
NEVER . . . LONG LIVE THE MOOCH [Amazing how appropriate that nick name has become . . . ] Rocket River
Looking at the two links supplied by craguin, both indicate that Ollie wants more than the minimum and mostly a long contract. Considering how much we whine about the long contracts of Mooch, Cato and Taylor, how do you feel about making a pitch. Put on your CD gm cap. I am thinking about half the exemption for four to five years is what it will take to get Ollie. Too much, too long? What is your max? He sounds like just what we need, but at what price would you let him go to a competitor and stick with Mooch?
He's been getting one mill ayear right? For an upgrade over Mooch that can play D and has the top ass/to ratio...I would easily give him half the MLE..or even a little over...4 years would be fine. How much would it take to get Pike? Man, would I love to get both of em..
This does not surprise me. Those are the kind of people I expected the Rockets to target with their MLE. They would split the MLE for those two. I always believed that the Rockets main areas of need were in the backcourt in backing up Francis and Mobley. Here we would get a solid backup PG in Ollie who is a good defender. Someone more reliable than Moochie. Pike would give us a solid outside shooter. Someone to stretch defenses that are caving in on Yao and a "zone buster" for teams throwing zones at us. I think adding those players would be a solid move for the Rockets. I know that those two names aren't "flashy" but I think they would help the team.
I feel you Jeff, but................................ Neither Ollie or Piatkowski is as good as Super Mario Was.... I'm from Oakland, CA and I remember when we first got Mario in Golden State when Nellie was our Coach and we had Mullin, Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, Sprewell, And C Webb......Mario Was awesome offensively and defensively, a real live wire, energy in a bottle, type of guy Ollie and Pike aren't any of those things, though I do like the guys.....I feel we can get more for our mid level this year, the mid level seems very powerful this year and alot of bargain can be had with it, ala David Aldridge's article............. Look what the lakers nabbed for about 6 million bucks...... Watch what Dallas and other teams do with just their mid level.... I just wish we would at least try for a second tier player at a bargain first
Wow! Kevin Ollie and Piatkowski? Shoot, it's all over now. Nobody will be able to stop this duo. I'm sure Tim Duncan, Webber, and Shaq are trembling with fear.
Excellent point Jeff. Folks tend to overlook the importance of the role player acquisitions when building a championship team. These two players would be ideal acquisitions to the backcourt who can probably be had at a reasonable rate in this luxury tax conscious market. Ollie is good enough defensively for Francis to play more minutes at the 2 spot, and Piatkowski can swing between the 2 and 3 positions. This would also leave all the tradeable assets avail esp Mobley to pursue a player to fill the other need at the 4 spot.
I agree with those that are promoting the importance of role players (especially when those roles are needs of this team). I have been hoping the Rockets bring either Piatkowski or better Jon Barry as a backup SG (and Barry can even play some point). I know the team could also use a third PG but I question whether Ollie would be that interested in coming to HOU unless Moochie is moved... just not enough potential PT with Franchise and Moochie here...
you know, i NEVER start threads of ridiculous trade proposals and free agent signees. of the few threads i started last season, the only two transaction related ones were these: #1. Rudy needs to go. #2. Piatkowski would be a great little FA acquisition for this team. It's time for a little self promotion. I'm going back and finding my Pi thread. Boys, disrespect me now if you wish....I'm going to be Rockets GM within the next 30 years though .
This is a good good thing. Shooters and defense. This is what we need. I'd rather have these guys at PG than...well, I'm the one who keeps wishing we'd give up Steve for Caron Butler (we are looking for defensive-minded players, right?) Still, can't help wondering who the Rox are aiming to nab with Cat and EG as bait?
I like adding both Ollie and Pike. For the reasons below, I'd take Ollie first, and I think the Rox would focus on him first. We should not spend all that much on Pike. He's a 15 min per game guy on our team, that exists solely to shoot. For next year, he is not much of an upgrade from Rice. If push came to shove, I'd put money towards Ollie and forget Pike. 1. What to pay Ollie? His value to us is greater than his value on the open market because he has what we desperately need - a guard with a brain. Our offer to him should reflect a slight premium because of that need, which will exist so long as Francis is a Rocket. That's why I don't have a problem with giving him a 4-5 year deal. (The Rox should have thought of this issue before signing Moochie. Mooch does nothing to fill in the weaknesses in Francis' game). 2. Signing Ollie could have a domino effect. Ollie would give us the option of playing Francis at 2 b/c Ollie is a strong defender at the PG position. With all the frustrations of last year, I think it's a given that Francis' role, if not position, will morph toward scoring. That is something that CD and JVG probably discussed prior to JVG's hiring. 3. What about big guards like Kobe, Tmac? I think we will resign Posey because he is a signature Van Gundy player. Posey can take those defensive assignments when necessary. 4. The addition of Ollie makes it very possible for us to trade Mobley, but we would only do so to get either a quality PF or scorer back. I have beaten the Lamar Odom drum in another thread. I would love to see a core 8 man rotation of Ollie/Francis/Odom/Griff/Yao/Posey/Taylor/Cato, with Posey replacing Ollie in the starting lineup when we face bigger guards. Dammit, phone call. I'll be back to edit.
Look, I'd like to get Brand as much as the next guy, but I'll be real happy if we nab both of these guys. These are realistic moves that help the team without causing major disruptions. When I lived in LA I watched a fair amount of Clippers games (what, you think I'd spend my time watching the Lakers?), and Piatkowski is pretty solid. Don't let his low FG% from inside the 3pt line fool you. He's a great backup to come in and spread the defense. Think Matt Bullard with slightly better all-around skills. I agree with Rileydog, though. Ollie's the first priority. Solid backup at the PG spot is hude priority. What if Steve goes down? Anyway, Ollie will be harder to sign. Sounds like he has tons of suitors, and we'll have to sign him long term. I'm just glad to see us talking about bringing in the vets... As for the worries about who would play the 2 if this signals the intent to trade Cat .... How about a guy named James Posey? That creates a new problem, of course. Who starts at the 3? Rice? Nachbar?
lol...there's no need to edit! I agree with everything you that you have said! So you want to trade Mobley for Odom? I really don't think Ollie is good enough to start...and he can't shoot. Odom's a better shooter than Posey but not as good as Mobley... Ollie/Francis/Moochie Francis/Posey/Hawkins Odom/Posey/Nachbar Griffin/Taylor/Badiane Yao/Cato What I would not like is Boki doesn't get to play! The team would be average...unless Odom and Griffin get off the blunts and start improving! Well I still like... Francis/Ollie/Moochie Mobley/Piatkowski/Hawkins Posey/Nachbar/Rice Griffin/Taylor/Badiane Yao/Cato Anyways....can Lamar Odom play defense?
