I know that Cato's playing really well & gives us a nice 1-2 punch at the center position with Ming, but I'm still leery of the fact that he plays well every year just before the trade deadline. Even with his improved play last year, he still appeared to mail it in late in the season. Cato's trade value is at it's highest level since he became a Rocket & there are several teams that would (imho) line up to trade for him (Did I just say that?!? ). Cato's salary is in line with the other middle tier starting centers in the NBA, but is quite high for a backup center. Here's some trades I threw together that may, or may not, make any sense: Trade #1 Houston sends Cato to NY. NY sends Doleac/future protected #1 pick to Houston. NY sends Othella/Sprewell to Seattle. Seattle sends Brent Barry to Houston. Seattle sends Kenny Anderson to NY. Trade #2 Houston sends Cato/Mobley/Nachbar to Miami. (KT could be sent in place of Nachbar) Miami sends Jones/Caron Butler to Houston. Trade #3 Houston sends Cato/Mobley to NY. Houston sends KT/Chicago's Drew obligation to Sacramento. NY sends Sprewell/future #1 pick to Sacramento. Sacramento sends Turkoglu/Christie/Clark to Houston. Trade #4(Sacrilegious trade proposal ) Houston sends Cato/Collier to Utah.(Nachbar could be substituted for Collier, but, since we're taking oysterbutt off their hands, I wouldn't do it) Utah sends Kirilenko/Ostertag to Houston. Well, there it is. The results of me having too much time on my hands.
So NY is going to give up their two best backup bigmen, their best overall player and a #1 pick for Kelvin Cato and Kenny Anderson? Scott Layden is stupid, but not that stupid Why would Miami trade a 1st year player who is one of the early on contenders for ROY? I would take Jones over Mobley if he was a couple of years younger. Caron is a 3. We have 4 of them with Rice, Thomas, Morris and Hawkins (part time) who we cant all find playing time for. Also, this wouldnt work salary cap wise. You are really reaching. Why would Sacramento trade three of their best players, and major role players on a potential championship team for a cancer (Sprewell) and a guy who would be a backup to Webber and Peja? Why would Utah want Collier? He has zero trade value. Why would we want Ostertag in place of Cato? Cato is much maligned sometimes, but Id never want Ostertag as a backup 5 than Cato. Why would Utah want to trade their best young player? When Malone and Stockton retire, Kirilenko might be the best player on their team.
No. 1: No reason for Seattle to make that trade right now. No. 2: More interesting, but Butler's character would worry me. I did not like his statements about Dunleavy at all. Plus, I still think Mobley is the best player out of that bunch. No. 3: No reason whatsoever for Sacramento to do that trade. No. 4: My favourite, but I doubt they would give up Kirilenko for just that.
This one would still be my favorite, by the way: Houston trades: PG Moochie Norris (3.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.3 apg in 19.5 minutes) PF Kenny Thomas (8.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.8 apg in 29.1 minutes) PF Jason Collier (3.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 0.0 apg in 10.7 minutes) SF Terence Morris (2.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.3 apg in 9.0 minutes) Houston receives: PG Brevin Knight (3.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 4.1 apg in 17.0 minutes) SG Shane Battier (7.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.3 apg in 26.7 minutes) Change in team outlook: -6.7 ppg, -8.0 rpg, and +1.0 apg. Memphis trades: PG Brevin Knight (3.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 4.1 apg in 17.0 minutes) SG Shane Battier (7.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.3 apg in 26.7 minutes) Memphis receives: PG Moochie Norris (3.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.3 apg in 14 games) PF Kenny Thomas (8.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.8 apg in 12 games) PF Jason Collier (3.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 0.0 apg in 6 games) SF Terence Morris (2.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.3 apg in 3 games) Change in team outlook: +6.7 ppg, +8.0 rpg, and -1.0 apg. TRADE ACCEPTED I think we would have to give them a draft pick with it, since I don't really see how they would see this trade as making them much better. However, it would relieve them from a certain logjam at the swingman position. Moreover, Earl Watson has been quite a pleasant surprise for them at the backup PG position and they might be a bit fed up with Brevin Knight's frequent injuries. Also, they would gain some size up front with Collier and a potential fan favorite with Moochie. For us, it would give us the perfect backup point guard, imho - a guy who thinks pass first, shoot second and who can really set the other players up nicely. The only problems with Knight are that he is injury-prone and that he doesn't really have a three-point shot. Battier would be a nice addition at the SG/SF position with good fundamentals and good defense. What do you think about this one?
Leave this team alone! Now that Rice is coming along we don't need any help, let alone trading away our #2 scorer. We're winning despite not having our other 20 ppg scorer, not because of it, and it shows. This team just seems to burn out in games, and having Mobley would help that alot. Disrupting this team with crazy trades is just taking a step back.
Actually it wasn't until after the trade deadline that he started putting together some double doubles. It looked like he was relieved to not get traded and therefore played much harder.
My personal fantasy trade: Houston trades: SF Glen Rice (9.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.9 apg in 26.6 minutes) PF Maurice Taylor (7.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.1 apg in 19.1 minutes) C Kelvin Cato (7.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 0.5 apg in 23.9 minutes) PF Eddie Griffin (9.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.1 apg in 27.9 minutes) Houston receives: SF Kevin Garnett (21.1 ppg, 13.5 rpg, 5.6 apg in 40.9 minutes) Change in team outlook: -12.2 ppg, -8.6 rpg, and +2.0 apg. Minnesota trades: SF Kevin Garnett (21.1 ppg, 13.5 rpg, 5.6 apg in 40.9 minutes) Minnesota receives: SF Glen Rice (9.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.9 apg in 11 games) PF Maurice Taylor (7.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.1 apg in 9 games) C Kelvin Cato (7.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 0.5 apg in 8 games) PF Eddie Griffin (9.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.1 apg in 13 games) Change in team outlook: +12.2 ppg, +8.6 rpg, and -2.0 apg. TRADE ACCEPTED
Jon Barry's a free agent next season, correct? If I were the Rockets I would forget about any trades and just focus all my attention on trying to bring him to Houston next offseason. It's nice to dreamcast on some trades, but I can't do it unless it seem like a remote possibility. For instance, Rudy plays Cuttino 42 minutes a night. He barely even takes Cat out of the game, so does anyone really think he would be on the block? I think Jon Barry is a realistic option for the Rockets next offseason. I tried looking at a trade, but I didn't see any that both teams would agree on, where the salaries fit.
What the Rockets need to do is get rid of our salary prolems. Cato, Taylor, Moochie are all over payed. Here is a way we could get rid of there contract and still be able to have a good team after the trades and be in the free agaent hunt after the season. Trade #1. Houston trades Kelvin Cato Jason Collier New Orleans trades Elden Campbell Why we do this? Because it gets ride of Catos contract, and we get a vet in return who contract is over at the end of the season. Trade #2 Houston trades Mo Taylor Cleveland trades Tyrone Hill Why we do this? Same reason as before, we drop a big contact for a player who contact is over at the end of the season. Plus I think Tyrone Hill being a vet would be good for Griffin to learn from. Same thing for Yao, he could learn from Campbell. Our line up would be C-Yao PF-Hill SF-Rice SG-Mobley PG-Francis Bench Campbell Thomas Griffin Hawkins Nachbar Moochie If we did this trade at the end of the seaon we would lose Campbell's, Thomas's, and Hill's contracts. And would have a very good shot at one of these Free Agents. Tim Duncan Jason Kidd Kevin Garrnett Jermaine O'Neal And many more I just can't think of them right now. What you think? Should I become the Rockets new GM?
If Minnesota gets bounced in the first round again this year, a trade like this might actually work. They would need to start from scratch and would be receiving some quality players and a potential star in griff. Good thought. I don't see it happening anytime in this season but good thought.
Griffin may end up being about as good as Kevin Garnett. Not quite as good but almost. I dont think that would be a good trade at all.
This is hypothetical, but why not. We would have Garnett. We have yao at the five. T-mo and Boki at the three. The only problem I see is having three superstars and three superstar ego's. As it is right now we need more role players
A lot funny trades but I doubt if Houston will make a move. Les is more of 'wait and see' guy when our team is doing better than last year. O BTW, Houston can't trade Cuttino b/c SF will not stand for it especially when they have joint venture going on(clothingline). In addition the management and some fans have an illusion of Cuttino, Steve, and Moochie combo being comparable to Isiah, Joe D, and the Microwave.
I think making rediculous trades at this early point in the season is essentially just taking a huge step back in the progression of the team and its chemistry. No trade. Unless we trade KT for a backup2. (Battier, Artest, Posey)
KT AND Mobley won't get us Artest now. If you think about it, Artest is quite untouchable right about now. 17ppg, top 3 defensive player in the league. Rebounds, blocks, steals like hell, and he scores now. Indiana has the most legit chance in the league of beating the Lakers because of him. He can hold Kobe below his average, and the rest of their team is so offensively talented, that they can match Shaq and co.'s production. Very well built team. Rocketfan85 is a genius. I proposed both of those trades at some point in time, and I think they make our team so much better. I do think that Cleveland wouldn't do that trade anymore because Mo hasn't recovered yet. But Elden Campbell for Cato is a great trade. Cato is one of my favourite Rockets. I love the way he's playing. He's playing like a starter, and we're running out of minutes. I'd LOVE to keep him, but his contract is long (he's not overpayed AT ALL). Elden Campbell gives us one more veteran that we need on our team, can teach Ming some things, and can play big minutes when/if needed. Plus, his contract runs out. Hornets have done great without him this season, and it may be a good idea for them to get younger. Campbell and PJ Brown have expiring contracts, so Magloire and Cato could be what they stick with next year.If we throw KT in, they have a young PF now too. For the Cleveland trade, this would be nice: MoT Moochie Future protected 1st round pick (swap this) for TyHill Bimbo Coles Future protected 1st round pick (with this) We don't need picks with the young team we have. I can't even begin to imagine how good this would make us: Campbell/Ming TyHill(25 minutes)/Griffin/(throw-in or T-Mo) Rice/T-Mo/Boki Mobley/Hawk Francis/Coles Our defense would improve monumentally, and we don't lose much scoring. Campbell makes up for Cato's scoring, and maybe some more. TyHill, if he scores, will be scoring more than any of our PF's. Plus, he brings much needed rebounding and defense. If he can instill some of his qualities (other than whining) into Griffin, Griffin is a lock to become a star. Even if we do one of these trades, it improves our team big time. Downside? Cato's playing great AND going through a rough time. He's done everything better than we've told him to, and is improving with each game. I honestly believe it would destroy his career if we traded him. Almost the same goes for MoT. He worked so hard when healthy to get back into shape and while still reovering, we ship him off. Not good for him, and it's not too great for the organization either. But you know what they say. You have to give up talent to get talent.
