You say he is fully guaranteed for 6yrs. I never disputed that. All I said is that he has zero incentive for selling out short to a fully guaranteed contract. There is almost no precedence for anyone accepting a buyout on their guaranteed years, so I don't see where your math is coming from. As your math was trying to dispute, Moochie is a serious luxury tax threat if waived. The only way that is not true is if he is not fully guaranteed, and accepts an amortized buyout for year 5 and 6, assuming they are not guaranteed. What are you arguing?
GATER, I was responding to this statement of yours: <b>Ironically, the length [of Moochie's contract] is a huge advantage when trying to "cut" [him].</b> That statement is not true, especially when he is fully guaranteed. Waiving him (assuming he clears waivers) is a huge luxury cap liability in your scenario. There is no "amortized" salary *unless* Moochie and his agent agree, and they have no incentive to do so in your scenario.
Doc sighting! Love hearin' this stuff, but... I'd rather take my chances on our dysfunctional but WINNING team than mortgage our future just to win a couple more games next season, especially if it involves some of the most wretched villany from other teams. Absolutely no Malone, Spree, or Payton if it costs us long-term assets. I dislike them anyhow. Let's please keep Posey, his shot was really coming around, and he provides energy and hustle. He is close to becoming a perfect role player for a championship team. Obviously, a big Yes to Brand, and also to Murphy and any other great role player that hustles and contributes in the same way that Posey tries to do. That would be the only reason to jettison our core, however. I agree with the posters who worry that trading Cat to put Steve there is risky because Mobley was a better 2 than Francis. Cat seemed to be more proficient at the catch and shoot this year. His quick corner 3's were pretty reliable, whereas Steve's best % shot was when he massaged the ball for several seconds first, obviously not optimal if you want a lot of ball movement. Another shooter is desperately needed, esp. if you want to ditch Cat. Also, like other posters have said, why would trading some of our best players to get some of the best Clippers (Brand, Miller, Odom) suddenly make us winners when they can't seem to do jack. It's not as if our system is gonna make them better over here. Brand and Jaric are the only ones over there really worth rescuing. (Odom= a tall Francis - good penetrator, gets some assists, too many turnovers, doesn't shoot all that great but OK, defense not stellar, but at least he gets some blocks. So do we want another Francis-type defender/ball handler on the team, plus the offcourt baggage/injuries he's had thrown in on top of everything? Miller= a rich man's Moochie, plain and simple) I'd be happy with this set of changes: a) Sign Posey at mid-level price b) Get a real assistant coach to "help" with the plays and be "bad cop" to Rudy's "good cop". c) EG declares he is really committed to the success of the team, adds the weight he's supposed to and we receive some sort of indication he will stop being a source of embarrassment off the court. If he can't commit, then cut losses now, get a Murphy-type player (Griffin + Boki maybe?), someone with enough youth to coincide with Yao and Francis's prime. d) Getting a real backup PG to reduce Francis's burden and reduce our turnovers when he is having one of those nights. Nothing special, just a competent player would be nice. The "cut" of Moochie would be just fine with me if we can't use him as a throwaway in a trade. Getting rid of Cato, Taylor, or Rice would be fine I guess, but each of them has helped us win several games for us this year. Cato is our GS destroyer, Taylor our K.G./Webber neutralizer, and Rice our Phoenix/LAC killer. These would put us back on track in our rebuilding plan without sacrificing long-term objectives. We were close to winning 50 games when you consider the giveaway games we had - free throw chokes early in the season at Phoenix and LA, the Chicago miracle shot after a bad luck bounce at the end when the Rockets knocked it loose, the Utah home game we gave away, the Cleveland heartbreak (we know about "the turnover" but I remember this game as the one where Diop continually had his prayers answered). The Kobe game that the refs took Yao out of, the Memphis OT, the New Orleans OT, etc. The incremental improvement of EG, Yao, and possibly Posey, could be enough to make us a 50 win team next year, and it is very possible that their improvement could continue beyond that, for the rest of the decade. And that's assuming we goofed on the Boki pick after all and he continues to ride the pine. Let's not panic. Rather, let's draw up a couple o' friggin' plays that will work when we're tied or down one at the end of the game. Please! (We have one for when we're down three already, but come to think of it, every team knows that one of ours already, so we might have to come up with another three point shot play.) Then, who knows, maybe we can work on some other plays that we can actually run at other parts of the game too. Sorry this has taken so long, this will be my only long-winded post of this type for the summer.
More intelligence in T-2's post than all 4.5 previous pages combined. Minor Points: If they're insistant on getting a "veteran", get an inexpensive and big one. Think Malone might be too big a splurge, I'd rather have Rice as a shooter. He already serves as an inspirational veteran. Get someone who's cheap and dirty, like what Oakley did for the Wizards. The backup PG would also allow the Rockets to switch Franchise to SG when Mobley's having his soft nights against smaller teams; if nothing else, it will allow them to experiment with this (not-so) "great idea" of moving SF to the 2. Keep the starting 5, unless you're getting Brand (which I sincerely doubt). I think Murphy is even too little to ask for. Why give up on EG? How many years did Tmac/Jermaine/Kobe take to develop? Average age of the starting 5 is like 23-24. We're talking dynasty here; why bring in anyone over 28? Let the Lakers finish their run, the Kings have their day, and then it's all Rockets/Spurs/Suns from there. Why even make a move now? Wait for contracts on the "undesirables" to expire, do it in 2-3 years. After a few 50-60 win seasons, it will be a lot easier for the Rockets to quality players cheaply (see the Kings' Keon Clark and Jim Jackson). The Rockets were 7 losses against sub .350 teams away from 50 wins. Give me a break, trading Franchise? Trading 2-3 starters is going to stabilize team chemistry? While changing the coach? That will help them win the close ones... Agree on the new assistant coach. Do that instead of removing Rudy T, which would be moronic. The team is young, and very attached to him. Why pull the rug out from under them? Agree on incremental improvement. Rockets 3-10 in games decided by 3 points or less this year. Lot of gain from incremental improvement possible. And finally, get good looking new jerseys. I'd shoot badly if I had the visual confusion of seeing the other Rockets' jerseys out of the corner of my eye. 50-55 wins that way, next year, then no looking back. It's not the good teams the Rockets can't beat... In short, the answer? Play more games.
Payton and Malone ROCKETS . . . *shiver* Payton - Francis - Posey - Malone - Yao looks potent but rooting for payton AND KArla. . . I don't know. . I just don't know Rocket River
I don't see rooting for Payton as a Rocket any different than rooting for Barkley as a Rocket. I will never root for Malone.
The long-term goal of the Rockets should be to win championships. To do that, you have to amass a bunch of talent that peaks at the same time. Short of spending $100M on a superstar roster, you do that by developing young talent. I'd rather win 2-3 championships, then be in the lottery after a few years, than 5th seed in the playoffs every year for the remainder of my lifetime. Since when did we become a retirement home where great players come to give it their last? Haven't we learned this lesson already? What would having a 50-win season next year do if it involved Malone/Payton/Cassell? What do we do when they're over the hill, replace them with another overpaid 35 year old, and go for 50 wins and a 5th seed again? How many teams not named the Kings/Spurs/Lakers wouldn't want to be the Rockets right now? Why would we throw this away to be the Jazz, a 50-win team that's fading with nowhere to go? No to Malone, Payton, Cassell.
Thank finally someone said it, if you move Steve to the 2 then ideally wouldn't you want your pg to be a playmaker/setup man, ie pure point guard?
Why? The ideal situation would allow Francis to play off the ball more and still be able to make plays, he would now just have some help. Williams is a sound decision maker with size and good defense. He would help Steve both offensively and defensively, something Cuttino can't do.
Tito? The guy who had legal problems in college and possible "pot buddy" of Eddie's? No way! Let me tell you, I think Armstrong is pretty good as a PG. He's freaking fast! However, my dream PG from the East is definitely Kidd, who said he wanted to play with Duncan, but now as we all see Parker stepping up as a good PG, I doubt Kidd is moving to SA. And if we lose moochie, who is going to be our back up PG "spark plug"? It would be great if we had someone like a Bobby Jackson on our team, who is a lot faster than mooch (who seems to be a little sluggish this year)!
Eastern PGSG? I want SAM I AM back!!!! He's expendable with Redd and Payton in Milwaukee! But most likely we'll end up with one of the Chicago PGs (Jay or Jamal). Eastern SG? This really depends on who wins the LebronJames sweepstakes. I personally like Voshon Lenard and Courtney Alexander (they're cheap), but Eddie Jones looks to be the winner here. Western PF? I'm personally for bringing in Danny Fortson or Charles Oakley, who won't cost much, won't demand to shoot, and won't stunt Griffin's development. Hell, lets bring back BIG GAME BOB!!! Horry belongs here in Houston! This is where his heart is! We need his clutch shooting if Moochie leaves!
Ideally you would want Kidd or Payton but how likley can we get them? Tinsley is good but only shoots 39% from the field. What are the Rockets really looking for in a PG anyway? Is it... 1. Someone who is a better PG than Steve Francis or 2. Someone who is good enough to allow Steve to move to SG without causing a defensive liability in the back court. I think it's #2. Alvin Williams was 6th in the NBA in assist/turnover ratio this year at 3.25 and was 2nd in the NBA in the same catagory in 00-01 at 3.95. He may only give out 5.3 assists per game but at least he doesn't turn the ball over.
I think Alvin Williams may be a distinct possibility if Toronto wins the LBJ sweepstakes. But then again, I think Toronto might be looking more for a big guy like Milicic?
If the Raptors got Lebron...maybe the would give up Carter. Then we could get Vince, Alvin, Morris, and Antonio. Muahahah. No. FIRST. We need to change. Because with this team that we have.....uhhh it's all right. But everybody really needs to improve. A bunch of other teams are also getting better. Spurs are always good. Kings are always good. Mavericks have a great team. Lakers are just dominant. Portland can always make the playoffs. Utah...can still be good if they sign some big free agents. Minnesota still has Kevin Garnett. That's all they need. Phoenix has Stephon, Shawn, and Amare. That's a good young group. Golden State has Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson, Antawn Jamison, and Troy Murphy. Earl Boykins as well. Seattle will improve. Memphis is improving. New Orleans is coming. Man...we really need to improve if we want to contend.
Late as usual. My guess based on the good Doc's predictions: East PG - Kenny Anderson (not happy in NO, veteran PG who could come on the cheap) East SG - Jon Barry (nice, affordable shooter & leader) West PF - Brand (this is where the Rocks make a splash, Brand is too good of a compliment to Yao for the Rocks to pass on. S&T with the Clips involving Mobley (Odom's bud), Griffin, & picks\throw-ins) The thing is, I really feel that Rice (expiring big contract) is also going to be traded, and that could alter things quite a bit. Should be interesting.
IMO, the reality is that three teams hold the balance of change in this summer's NBA, and ultimately what occurs with the Rox. The Clips because they have some excellent talent 'FREE" or 'Restricted' and The Bulls and Hawks because of the 'passing' of Jerry to Pax and Stan being Kast out of Atlanta. What will Sterling actually do and what will the new GMs do (with all their possible trade pieces).
Cabezon and T-2: Outstanding posts. Not something the instant gratification-craving masses will want to hear though. Having a REAL homecourt advantage next year will guarantee 5 more wins, easy.
What are you talking about? Apparently you weren't in town for the debacle that was Enron Field's first season. Nothing makes a good team like good players and good coaching. 5 wins, easy, is a lot to ask for from an arena alone, although it would make another good excuse for Kelvin Cato - Reporter: "Kelvin, why didn;t you guys make the playoffs this year" Kelvin: "If we were in the East, we'd be in easy, and don't forget the fact that we'll be in the new arena next year. That's five more wins, easy."
I wouldn't mind keeping Mobley, and I've not always liked the guy. Brand could make this team into a top contender instantaneously, and that would generate enormous buzz in Houston. Get Brand AND change the offensive system (new top assistant or new coach if necessary) and by the all-star break we'll sellout nearly every game. BRAND BRAND BRAND!!! I love Sam I Am, and Payton, but not for this team. Jamal Crawford can be gotten with a good contract, the right age, and good size. I haven't seen any other lil' guys that can do all this at relatively little risk. Berry would be a fine acquisition if gotten without giving up anything, but I don't know if he'd be a long-term solution. Plus, if we got Elton, do you think posters like roydelton or gettinbranded would come back?
