The funny thing is, a couple of days ago I joked that I was going to be an Insider from now on...and this is sort of an insider angle, but not really. I don't have any sources inside the Rockets, but I do have some within the league in general, and I am friends with a couple of Toronto basketball reporters who do basketball talk shows on the televsision and radio. It isn't all that often that they know much about the Rockets, but I was talking to one today, who shall remain nameless, and he told me something knowing that I'm a huge Houston fan: The word making it's way around the NBA is that Cuttino Mobley is on the block. The Rockets have apparently made it quietly known that they are quite open to hearing offers for him, which is GM speak for trying to trade him. Now my friend went on to speculate as to why this is happening, but I won't pass that on, as it was only his opinion. But the general word is going around the league. I have no idea if this means Cat is gone...I have no real idea whether this is inspired by JVG, etc. I had actually thought that we would wait and see what Van Gundy could do with Mobley, and was watching an old game recently and getting a little excited about Cat's game again...but the 'word' around the NBA is that the Rockets are looking to shop him, or are at least seeing what he could fetch. I have never posted an 'insider' rumour before, as I have never really had one from a reliable source about the Rockets...but if this guy tells me that this is what's being said, it is. He makes his living off of knowing the NBA, and is very connected. Take it for what it's worth. It leads to interesting speculation...
If it's true i wouldnt be surprised if we try to packgage him and Rice or Cato to make our BIG SPLASH
Very interesting. Anyone know about what Cat's value is around the league and what we could get if we packaged hime Mo, Cato or Rice? I'll throw a trade out there...Cat/Mo/Rice/Moochie/possible #1 pick for Sheed/Derek Anderson/Jeff McInnis. Maybe we can use our Steve Patterson connections to pull a deal. I'd do it, don;t know about the Blazers.
Portland receives: Mobley--shoot first guard who is below all star level Taylor--a power forward who is unable to rebound but likes to shoot Rice--aging shooter who can no longer move Norris--nothing Houston receives: Wallace--all star talent in all aspects when he feels like it Derek Anderson--proven scorer and able defender, superior in all aspects to Mobley McInnis--proven starter at point guard, can score and defend. I'm not exactly sure what Portland gets out of this deal.
They get a veteran prescence in the backcourt who you know can go for 40 any given night. A backup pg who has been known to hit clutch shots. A low post prescence who is entering the prime of his career. A veteran shooter who can hit the 3 and will be off the books next year. We get: A nutcase at power forward. A shooting guard who was replaced by Steve Smith. A point guard who couldn't beat out a 5'10" guard that has drug problems. Now, who's ripping who off?
Mobley is fairly cheap salary wise in today's NBA market. I don't see why people want to get rid of a player like that. A) He wants to play in Houston. B) He signed a smaller contract (when Toronto was offering a much larger one) C) He has changed his game every single year since he had joined the Rockets. (PG/6th man/starter/scorer/and in the final games, defensive specialist) You can argue that he doesn't pass enough or he shoots too many forced shots, but the fact that Van Gundy is here should give us some hope that he can turn Cat into our very own little Spree (defense.)
To me, it's not that interesting. People here at Clutch BBS have been wanting to trade him for the past year!!!! There have been many many rumors.....mostly with Eddie. Mobley or Eddie? I'd trade Mobley! He's on the block....but who wants him?!? Ha. Mobley is a good player. He does what the coach wants him to do. I think he would be a good basketball player for Jeff Van Gundy. Oh well..who knows! He's not going to get any better....maybe more efficient only. He's only going to get older. Francis and Yao are staying. Boki staying. Eddie should be staying. Maybe Eddie still has some hope to become a star! I would take...Kobe, T-Mac, AI, Jason Richardson, or Michael Finley for him.
Look at the stats, Mobley and Anderson's are identical except that Mobley scores 4 more points per game and Anderson averages 1.5 more assists. Not exactly superior in every way. Might want to add that he couldn't get off the bench last season. Portland also gets Rice who provides a huge chunk of cap relief after the season, and Mo Taylor, a guy who can flat out score in the post and is still only 26, you mention that he can't rebound, well Sheed doesn't rebound much either. Add in the fact that Portland has got to make some changes to their roster after their recent playoff flops and Wallace is a possibility to go insane at any minute and its a deal that just might have a chance at going through, especially with a first round pick thrown in.
Ditto that. Cat has been a 20 pt scorer on bad wheels. With good ankles, this will be his breakout year.
Mobley for Odom, basically straight up. I don't see Odom commanding a huge salary in this market, and he's certainly not a priority re-sign for the clippers. They have Brand, Miller and Maguette to worry about. Maybe Odom will make a little more than Mobley. So maybe Mobley and Moochie for Odom and Keeyon Dooling. Then resign Posey to play the 2 guard. A lineup of Francis/Posey/Odom/Griffin (I'd still prefer a bruiser)/Yao would present serious matchup problems for most teams. Odom would be charged with running the offense and SF would be given free rein to score.
i think sterling has made it clear, that Odom and Brand are the only two players he wants back next year.
OK... if we trade away Cat, then, um, WHO is our starting 2 ? Not to say that we won't trade him away, but that would mean that we either A) get a starting-quality 2 in trade for him (very unlikely), B) acquire a starting-quality 2 in free agency, or C) move Steve to the starting 2. A) ain't gonna happen. B) maybe, I don't know what free agent 2's are out there that are a signifigant improvement over Cat .. and C) well, SF and Cat at the 2 is about the same, point-wise, a lot less defense-wise, and leaves a much bigger problem as to who the starting PG is then.. So, for me, I don't see any sense in dealing away Cat at this time.. not when he plays so cheap, is an absolutely crazy basketball gym rat nut, and actually WANTS to be here. More likely scenario is that Cat gets dealt when it becomes his turn to score a big payday. Then we can do a sign-and-trade for someone else's starting 2, probably in a 3-team deal.
NO! Nobody in your starting lineup can shoot! Only Francis and Yao. And Francis is the initiator or point guard. And Yao is like the main low post guy.
