Kelvin Cato will not be re-signed, bring him back?

Can we expect him to give us anything more than Mutombo would? Probably not.

I don't think we should spend any money on another backup center. That's the least of our priorities.

 

For the league minimum, sure. I wouldn't even spend $2mil on him, however. He is a bench player that can't even get court time as a 3rd stringer on the contending Pistons when playing Hack-a-shaq against the Heat.

 

I agree. With him and Yao on the floor together, our defense was suffocating. Of course, we also had some quickness in the backcourt then with Steve and Cat to go along with Cato's athletic shot blocking presence. However, if we could pick him up for the minimum, I think that would represent good value. He would be a great 12th man to have, since we are going to move out Rybo (fingers crossed).

 

Give me the Kelvin Cato of the 2003-2004 season.

 

Cato hasn't been healthy for a couple seasons. It's a big question if his defense is still as good as 2 years ago. After all those injuries did to Rockets last season, I doubt Rockets would still have interest in him.

 

he will be affordable.

 

Him and Yao on the floor together? I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure Shangs was thinking along the lines of signing Cato strictly to be a backup center, considering Mutombo has been lingering on the edge of retirement for years now. He may not be fantistic, and there may be injury concerns, but with how few legit centers the league has left these days, I don't think it would be a horrible idea. Yao should be getting the vast majority of minutes anyway.

All of this is assuming, of course, that he'd be willing to sign for the league minimum or close to it.

 

Vet Mininum is all we should offer.

But CD will probably find a PF/C backup using our second round pick this draft.

 

Cato is useless. All he did in Houston was enjoy his big paycheck and live at stripclubs. Dont ask me how i know this.....knew him through a friend. He made occasional blocks and he thought he just passed dreams record. Thats all he was good for.

 

Cato sucked for us when he played center. However, he managed to eek out one non-embarassing season when JVG used him as a PF.

 

If he will play for minimun wage, I say he is worth it. Don't the Rockets need to get faster, like more fleet of foot? I believe they do.

 

Do we really need to pay him..............I got to believe he owes us something.....

 

the one that sucked?

 

What are you saying? He's a better 4 than a 5? The guy's 6-11, 275 with no jumpshot. We only happened to use him at 4 that season because he was our best big not named Yao, not because he was an ideal 4. He's clearly a 5. I for one know I don't want that skillset out of a backup 4, but I wouldn't mind him bringing the post defense and shotblocking he exhibited during that one season to our backup center spot, considering Mutombo is probably headed out the door very soon. This is providing, as I said, that we pay him next to nothing, what with his injury problems and all.

Seriously, after Mutombo, who's our backup 5? A rook? That's certainly a more slippery slope than Cato, I think. Reliable young centers are extremely hard to come by. I would at least think about him, but I'm hardly dead-set.

 

I would totally bring him back for the minimum, just to spell Yao.

 

This is just what I have been saying for weeks! Mutombo should retire or become a coach instead of Ewing and Cato could be our Center off the bench.If not bring in Joe Prizbilla.

 

So would I, unless he's got a lingering injury. He really did play OK as a 4/5 for that one season. For the minimum, how could we lose?

 

Ditto the last three posts. He was not afraid to challenge shots and get tough rebounds, and we should be so lucky to have a backup 5 at the vet minimum fall into our laps.

 

I totally Agree
he is better than Swift and Howard
[not the scorer Howard is but better]
plus
he can play the 5 spot

Rocket River