I don't think the Rockets want Rashard

If I remember correctly, the Rockets didn't have the cap space or the mid-level exception (which they lost when they S&T'd Dream for the reduced salary). That dropped us below the total needed to keep the mid-level. They immediately resigned Taylor & even though Moochie wasn't signed, his salary counted towards the total team salary, which put us right back at, or slightly below, the salary cap.

We used the traded player option (from the Dream S&T) to acquire Rice & shortly there after, Taylor injured himself. Taylor was making about $6.95 mill & we were given a medical exception for half of Taylor's salary, about $3.4 or $3.5 mill. The offer of 6 years @ $3.5 mill for the first year was made in the hopes that GS wouldn't be willing to pay that much for him. The Rockets didn't have any more money to offer him. I doubt very seriously that they are just giving lip service.

However, I'm sure they are trying to get Lewis without having to give up any of our core players or recent draft picks. My guess would be that Francis/Mobley/Griffin/Ming & possibly Nachbar are the only untouchable players. Everyone else is fair game, with special emphasis on the big dollar contracts.

 

I hate to rant but what you typed DaDakota is well... wrong.

The Rockets offered Jackson the medical exception that they received for Taylor. It was not the MCE. The Rockets didn't have the MCE last year because they were under the cap when the free agency period started. Just because they went over the cap eventually in the summer, the still didn't receive it. And the money was 4.5 because it was a certain percentage of what Taylor made last year. The Rockets couldn't add any more money to the offer last year. They included the maximum percentage increase in the following years of the offer to try and get the Warriors to not match.
So the Rockets didn't try to just give "false love" to Jackson to just to make him feel "special or wanted". They offered the best they could and the Warriors didn't want to lose him.

Sorry the Rockets tried to add front court help to the team as it became obvious that Dream wasn't coming back. The injury exception was what the Rockets used to obtain Willis.

 

I think the premise is erroneous. The Rockets did want Dream, Jackson and they certainly want Lewis. This will be proven when we sign him.

 

Realistically, what does Rashard add to this team? Is it his shooting? His height? His rebounding as a perimeter player? This guy is a young Glen Rice without the ability to create his own shot. I fail to see how he adds more than he subtracts. He'd take a lot of time away from Nachbar and leave less shots for Ming, Griffin, Cat and Steve. He'll deamnd the ball and pout being a 4th option on offense.

This team has it's stars. It's time to let them gel, find the appropriate role players and resolve the jam at the power forward slot. This team does not play the inside out game anymore.

 

I think what you speak of is very true DaDakota...You have to know when speaking and doing is jiving or not...In the case of Lewis, I believe it is not.

In Ming's case they demonstrated speaketh coincided with doith...In other words, the Rockets REALLY wanted Ming (as well they should...) They talked, and walked (or flew to China...)

I am not hearing any Rockets doing the do when it comes to lewis...

 

to tell you the truth nachbar has the potential to create his own shot. But lewis is aproven GOOD role player which we need. But is he worth all the money he demands? Either way i would still be happy with pur off season.

 

But he doesn't view himself as a role player and would not be happy with the way Rudy would use him. It sounds like a lot of drama that is best to be avoided. There will be a hard enough time keeping players content with the number of shots with the additions of Ming and Nachbar, the return of MoT and a more experienced Griffin.

 

thats news nachbar is not a role player? that does stir up some bad things. I hop we can use him well. I still think he will be ok.

 

Misunderstanding. I was talking about Lewis, not Nachbar.

 

I have been a Rockets fan for "long enough". I have learned to read between the lines. That is why you are wrong. Why did we sign Jackson to an offer sheet? Just for fun. Just for exercise. No. We signed him because he truly filled our void. Right or wrong. Golden State matched the offer because they thought it would be best for their team. Now as for Dream, that may be arguable. But, the Rockets aren't under pressure to sign Rashard. It isn't something we "must" do. This isn't like the draft. Where everyone lies. GMs lie when it comes to the draft because it benefits their team. That is exactly the opposite when it comes to free agents. The more "love" you show the more "love" you get.

Rudy is not pressured. He wants Lewis. That is the right decision. Actually, it is an easy decision.

 

<i>We could have offered Jackson MORE then the amount that GS could match....the fact that we didn't showed that the Rocks wanted him, but were not concerned if GS matched the offer.</i>

All we had was the MCE, same as GS. I don't believe we had the ability to offer Jackson more than GS.

 

We didn't have the MCE. We had a medical exception base on Mo's salary which was less than the MCE.

 

We used the caproom from Dream on Taylor and Rice trade as we signed and traded Anderson with that money. We HAD NO Caproom to offer Jackson after taking care of these two players. That is why the Rockets were given the exception because the league allowed us to try and find a player to fill Taylor's roster spot which again landed us Willis.

 

DaDakota,

The information you're using to back up your belief that the Rockets are just giving lip service, is erroneous. Here's the CBA rule in regards to combining exceptions & available cap space.

http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#17

18. If a team has more than one exception available to sign a particular player, are there any rules regarding which one it has to use?

The team has the right to choose which of its available exceptions to use to sign a player. However, teams may not combine exceptions, or combine an exception with cap room, in order to sign a player. For example, a team with a $2.25 million mid-level exception and a $1 million in cap room may not combine them to sign a player for $3.25 million.

 

he sux end of story

 

I don't think Hakeem left because of money. COuld be wrong though.