We could easily pay Cassell if we really wanted to. We just have to offer him the MLE for longer than he is going to play for. In other words, if he is looking for a 2 year contract for 8-10 a year. We just need to offer him a 4 year deal at the MLE. Your joking right? Sarcasm doesn't translate well when written, I mean Sam is good but he's not that good and certainly not for much longer. I agree we need leadership but everybody has to get it through their heads that this team was bad because of lack of depth and injuries, he does adress sorry ass shooting but that's about it, but the real reason he won't be a Rocket is because he cannot play D in Van Gundy's system. Quit pipe dreaming you melon heads.
It will be nice if we can bring Sam back to the Rockets, but then again, if Sura will be able to join the rosters, I think i'll sttle with Sura!
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/marty_burns/05/09/cassell/1.html Cassell indeed has remained a very effective player. Plus, his game is not as dependent on athleticism as other point guards. He still kills as much with guile and cunning as he does that mid-range jumper. That's why as many as a dozen teams -- including the Lakers, Nuggets, Rockets, T'wolves and Mavs -- are said to be interested in his services.
Wicked. Nostalgia aside, I'd love to see Sam-I-Am vs. JVG. Sam's voice and attitude may pay dividends along with JVG's, but defense? JVG's defense? Holy crud, I thought we had enough problems...
he's better than all of our guards and his back isnt as bad as Tmac's. Cassell Helps Propel Clippers Past Rockets HOUSTON, March 20 (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Clippers continue to roll toward the postseason. The Houston Rockets are moving closer toward looking to next season. Sam Cassell scored 24 points and Corey Maggette contributed 20 off the bench as the Clippers won for the sixth time in seven games with a 99-91 triumph over the Rockets. One of the NBA's biggest surprises, the Clippers (39-26) are on pace to reach the playoffs for the first time since the 1996-97 campaign. "In training camp, I told everyone that this team could win," said Cassell, who made 9-of-16 shots. "We have a lot of talent in this locker room and now we are understanding how to play more and more each game. It's going to take more than one year to turn things around for this organization, but we came out with a vengeance. Los Angeles is a great town when you're winning." Rookie Luther Head, who scored 20 points, made 3-pointer to end the third quarter and spark a 9-0 run as Houston took a 76-73 lead 2 1/2 minutes into the final period. But the Clippers displayed some toughness as the Clippers responded. Shaun Livingston, Cassell and Chris Kaman scored on three straight possessions to help build a nine-point bulge with less than six minutes remaining. "We got a big lift from our bench too," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "Defensively, Shaun did a good job running the team. We did a better job in the second half of moving the ball around and then we were able to pull away." Rafer Alston, who had nine points and eight assists, pulled the Rockets within 89-85 with 2:22 left. But Maggette scored on a driving layup and Cassell drilled shot from behind the arc to help rebuild the lead to nine points. "We just didn't lock it in," said Alston, who missed all five of his shots from deep. "We didn't key in on their plays and on the sets they were running. They were getting easy buckets all of the sudden and we would just go back down and couldn't hit our shots." Elton Brand had 15 points and three blocks and Cuttino Mobley, like Cassell a former Rocket, scored 14 points for the Clippers, who shot 47 percent (35-of-73) from the field and are just three wins from clinching their first winning season since 1978-79. "We should be 19 games over .500 this year," Mobley said. "I am not surprised at all with what this team has accomplished this year. We're going for the big 50 (wins). I have been telling guys that we can do that from the beginning of the season." Yao Ming continued his stellar play after the All-Star break, collecting 25 points and pulling down 17 rebounds for Houston, which shot 42 percent (36-of-84) and fell to 2-19 without injured superstar Tracy McGrady (back). "For me, it's a breath of fresh air when we make a couple of shots from the outside," Yao said. "It takes a lot of pressure off me. Every time we go inside and go inside, it gets too crowded. It is easier to guard us when it's like that." "Yao is enormous, but he's skilled also," said Brand, who blocked two of Yao's shots. "I love playing against him. He is one of the best players in the league." Houston (29-38), which lost its fifth straight, is 4 1/2 games behind Sacramento for the Western Conference's final playoff berth. "It doesn't matter what you do offensively when you don't win the game," Head said. "This team is struggling and we need to find out."
Sam is at the end of his career.. we have an old veteran at 1 already (Sura). lets get him back (hopefully) healthy and get us some fresh legs at the 1 to back him up.. Mike James would be great, but well, too bad WE FREAKIN TRADED HIM.. .
I think Sam, could be our "little general" like Avery Johnson was to the Mavs. How about we bring in for 2 more years, and transition him to assistant coach.
I like his game and he would be great on this team but like some have already pointed out, the man is old. it doesnt matter if he's playing well right now. if we sign him, yeah it will be an upgrade and we'll be set but it will only last a few years, which im sorry to say is not enough time to be a hands down contender to stay. its a quick fix but he will retire soon and we will be right back where we started, without a pg. i do like the idea about making him a coach though.
Sam is so old that the Suns are double teamming every time cause they fear he'll score. i'll take a 50yearold CASSELL over a 18 year old SKIP2myLOU
that may be so, but REALISTICALLY, having cassell only does us good for a couple more years. when he retires, who will be at the point? we will have another hole to fill again. would u want to be a threat for contention for one to two years or have a guy that can put u in that same position for more years so u can add depth? wouldnt u want to fill a position for a relatively long term so u can concentrate on other possible gaps in the rotation? im not trying to knock cassell or anything, i just would rather have MANY winning seasons and chances at the championships with a solid pg than have a couple of winning seasons with a great one. obviously the MORE/LONGER we are in contention gives us MORE cracks at the championships. would u want 2 shots at winning 100 dollars or 5 shots at winning?
I'd rather have Sam for 2 years and make the playoffs for 2 years. We can have Skip and be in the lotto for the next 2 years too.
are you watching the game? notice how at the end, Sam gathers the whole team for a pep rally after a 20pt win. give me a 50 year old Sam any day.
that is based on one injury ravaged season he played for us. and u cant bring up when he was in toronto, he had no stars there (other than carter who didn’t play hard). we were close to makin the playoffs with our stars in and out of the line up and never being 100 percent before we lost them both for the season. Im not sayin that alston is the answer but to say we will be in the lotto for the next two years with him is a bit extreme. im not doubting his skills and leadership he still has at his age, I don’t think anyone is. Im just doubting how much longer he WILL play, im NOT doubting how much longer he CAN play.
Sam says he wants to play only 2 more years. read this article: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/marty_burns/05/09/cassell/index.html "I feel better in my 30s than I ever did in my 20s, when I was living that hard lifestyle. Back then a lot of days I felt awful in practice. I'd still perform in the games, but I felt awful at practice. Now I feel better than I ever have because I take care of my body. "I know I can do this for two more years at a high level. Put it this way: If a team says, 'We'll pay you the money but we will not start you; we want you to come off the bench,' ... I guarantee you there won't be more than two guys [coming off the bench] on other teams who end up averaging more points and assists. "There might not be one!" ... "If he's still got it. If he's still got it, I would. Yep," Cassell says. "I'm doing things that guys 22, 23, 24 can't do. So that should answer your question right there. You're not paying me for being 36 or 37. You're paying me for what I can do right now. And I'm still able to do it. "I'm still getting double-teamed on the pick-and-roll, aren't I?"
I hope we can abduct Sam from the Clippers but the chances of that happenning are low. I've always felt that Sam was our magic rabbit's foot. So Sam admitted to leading a hard life back in his 20's. That might explain why the Rockets traded him. Too bad he didn't have the attitude back then that he has now. One thing for sure, even if Sam comes off the bench, he'll probably still do better than Stevie who's doing the same.
