I would like to Cato spend some time at the four against bigger teams like the clips, portland, and the pacers. Since we play the zone, I don't think quickness will be a issue.
I am saying that Cato should be traded not only for Cato's sake for also for the Rockets sake. As someone who costs $41,000,000 and is only playing 10 min/game yet has the talent to start on many teams and play at least 30 min/game, keeping Cato simply makes no sense. From the Rockets point of view, a trade would improve the team by reducing salary and strengthening other areas of weakness. Keeping someone of Cato's talents (and salary) would be like Lakers keeping Divacs after they acquired Shaq but only playing Divacs about 10 min/game. I agree that you need good bench players and backups but for only a 10 min/game at center, Jason Collier is very adequate for that role and you do not need someone of the calibre of Cato as his talent and salary is overkill.
Cato's developing a offensive game? Ha ha ha. Look at past box scores. Cato has had the occasional 20 for a log time now. He dunks very well. He gets garbage buckets now and then. He has shown 0 progress on his jump shot, his post game, and his hands. Cato is an excellent back-up. He would be a decent starter on an average team that didn't need offense. Collier would be sub-par as a back-up, especially since he doesn't do the "dirty work" on a team that needs such players. You're either a troll, or just don't do your home work.
Cato has been rebounding very well. I think that he is the perfect backup for Yao. He can come in and bang people around. However, I do believe that for 40+ million he should get more minutes. I want to see a lineup including EG at SF, Yao at PF, and Cato at center.
outside of yao, i feel cato is the most improved rocket this year. he doesn't seem to have hands on the offensive end yet, but i swear his hands on defensive rebounds are about 5 times better than they have ever been. he just doesn't seem to drop rebounds like he used to and even goes and gets them in traffic and holds on. i would love to know what he or the coaches did to improve this and then have them inform james thomas (UT player) of what it is. also, does cato catch balls at their peak better now or am i imagining that. he seems so much taller and longer on board because of this. i don't know, his overall rebounding game has just been so impressive in his limited minutes. yesterday, he even reacted to a tough rebound and when he juggled it he immediately reacted and snagged it firmly. plus he also tries now, so that helps. also, this year he has made several moves in the 4-5 ft range DT mentioned earlier. moves that he planned and executed that resulted in short shots made over a contesting defensive player. at first i thought it was just luck but then he did it a few more times. the only thing he seems to have regressed on is catching alley-oops, but maybe he and steve are just trying to connect too often and it isn't always there and it just makes it look like he's missing easy shots. finally, even if you think he's being wasted, you definitely cannot trade him with our injury history. could you imagine if yao went down and we had to rely on collier. oh my god. i think i'd rather see me on the floor than collier. hell at 5'5 i think i would be perfectly positioned to throw a swift elbow to the balls of the opposing center and too small for the refs to notice.
he does seem better at grapping the ball in its peak...before it comes down. This is noticable in both his rebounding and alley oop passes....they look so strong.
Prior to the arrival of Yao Ming, Kelvin Cato was developing nicely as a good solid NBA center. During the start of this year, his play was much improved.[/COLOR just like you said in other thread. Yao is peaked few weeks and Cato is not.
LOL. is funny. So, very briefly, the fact Cato has 9 rebounds in 12 minutes in this last game means.. uh.. what? I might be confusing you with another subtle Yao-basher, but didn't you recently make a comparison on the basis of a season's statistics between Yao's rookie season, and Shawn Bradley's rookie season? In that context, you want us to look at the whole year. In the context of Cato, you want us to look at a single game... and a 12-minute span, no less!? Cato *is* playing well. His stats reflect this: 7.1 rpg in 19.0 mpg so far this season (much higher than his career #). Yao, fortunately, isn't exactly being out-classed in this silly comparison. He's still at 7.6 rpg in 24.6 mpg. Phew. But to focus on this particular thread: $41 mil is certainly too much to pay for a backup center. I agree 100%, if the Rockets can manage to find someone to take Cato and his contract for a good price, then make the trade. I don't even know why you brought Ming up in this thread, unless you're subtly suggesting Cato needs more PT at his expense.
Cato averages almost 20 mins a game. How is it possible that Yao plays 3 times of his minutes? and you think Cato can develop offensive skills but Yao is already peaked?
Collier hardly ever plays but based on his college career, I think it is unfair to say that Collier is unable to play. He plays hard and is a physical player and can score the easy baskets. Is Collier a great player, now. Probably not. Is he a starter? Not right now, if ever. But can he give you a good 10 min/game? Yes definitely. Collier is much better than people think. Of course if Cato is traded and Yao is injured the Rockets will have problems. However that is not a good reason to keep Cato. It would be like saying that Lakers should have kept Divacs because if Shaq goes down you would have to start Madsen. (No I am not comparing Shaq to Yao nor am I comparing Cato to Divacs, nor am I comparing Collier to Madsen. It is just a way of making my point, which is that Cato is very very expensive insurance and is too talented and expensive to keep around just like Divacs was too talented and expensive to keep around as a mere backup.)
Okay, then propose a trade so that we can weigh its merits. My only caution is that I would suggest the trade do something other than to save Les money, because even if Cato is traded heads-up for contracts that expire at the end of this year, the Rockets will still not be under the salary cap for years to come.
This is a very good question. Based on my analysis of him especially this year, I believe that Kelvin Cato would have developed into someone at least as good as Bill Cartwright but probably better as Cato is revealing himself to be a much stronger rebounder than Cartwright ever was and is more physical than Cartwright. Many teams who do not need offense from the center position would be more than happy to have a player like Bill Cartwright just like they would be more than happy to have a starter of Cato's calibre. Cato is still better than your average NBA center of today even if he isn't hall of fame or even all-star calibre.
Prior to the arrival of Yao, Rox needed scoring production from their post players, hence they expected Cato to take over that role... which of course, he never did. However, with the arrival of Yao, they no longer need that from him (as much, anyway). What this season has shown of Cato, is that he's definately a capable rebounder and a defensive presence. Why not just let him focus on those areas and appreciate him for what he is? Don't tell me the rox couldn't use some more defensive help Granted, that he is pricey for what he does, but hey, might as well utilize him for what he's worth.
You don't trade Cato unless you are getting a significant player in return. Here's why: after playing non-stop for a couple of years Yao Ming is going to hit a wall and Jason Collier has not proved he can even be a decent back-up. Every rookie wilts under the 82 game schedule and Yao Ming won't be any different. With the Rockets being below-average at the forward positions (again), there is no way they can weaken their frontline unless they can get a good replacement.
I don't know if you only watch Bill Cartwright is his Bulls days but the guy was an all-star before that. Cato would have never developed Bill's shooting touch. Yes, Cato would have been a better rebounder but Cartwright was better at post-defense and was a good team player. Don't know why you are acting like Cato's momma...if he's not complaining, don't rock the boat. Yao is gonna need his rest from time to time and that's when Cato's minutes will be up. And what if Yao pulls a muscle or something?! You'll be crying for Cato!! The reason why people say this team is deep is because we have players that can start for other teams. But Cato would only start for a bad team...it's true, it's true. This is the best thing for Cato...less pressure as a backup while still contributing.
It is a compliment for Cato that most people want to keep him now. I remember just last year we would give him away for anybody that would take on his salary. Of course you cannot tell the future. Just like who would imagine that after score over 20 pts, grab over 10 rebounds and block 10 shots in a presesason game a few year ago, Cato's performance deterioate after he got that big contract. To his credit he had make significant progress this year. At this time, he is a valuable back up to the Rockets. I don't think his talent is being wasted. He put up respectable # this year but there are night when he still committed 4-5 fouls in 15 minutes of play. When he is a back up he doesn't have to worried about foul so he can go all out on the defensive end. As fas as his offfensive game, it limited to a few feet around the basket or someone had to set him up to score. I agree that he can start for some team in the league, but I rather have a back up who can start for some team rather than a back up who is only worth as a back up. Your 2nd team need to be able to compete or be better than your opponent's 2nd team in order to hold the lead or making a comeback. Otherwise you will play your first team to death. I would love for Rudy to tried Kevin at PF some time just to see if he and Yao would compliment each other. Our PF position is not tearing up the league at this time so we don't lose much by trying Cato at PF in certain situation. I would trade Cato if his salary prevent us from resigning our star player in the future. But for now I think he is a valuable piece for the Rockets. On the other hand if you want to trade one of our PF for a solid back up (at the 2 or 3 or an enforcer at the 4) then it's a different story.
Actually I would like to see Ming's minutes decrease a little. We really don't need to see Ming worn to shreds by mid season. I think close to 30 minutes is enough, and give the rest to Cato. Cato's proven that he can play and is willing to play hard. Just look at those rebounding #'s in VERY VERY limited minutes. I mean he got 9 rebounds in 13 minutes against the Heat. Just think how many he'd have he he played 30... but anyways, when Yao is in our offense call flow more through him with the guards not having to work AS hard. We bring in Cato and we have a very good rebounder and defender that could open up opportunities for our guards as they take up a lot of the offensive burden since Yao is now out. I think it'd work nice, but no, we shouldn't give up Cato, but I think he should be getting a few more minutes than he has been. No way Collier is as good a defender/rebounder than Cato is... at least not the Cato as of now.
