They have. Was it DR or OP that mentioned franchise caliber SF coming our way? I think it died down as a result of our draft, though.
While a MoT/Moochie trade for Lewis would get us a great shooter at the three while resolving our PF pileup, I wonder what it would do to our chemistry? I guess we can at least try and look at the major salaries for the next few years with this scenario.<table border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=5><tr><td><b>Year</b></td><td><b>PG</b></td><td><b>SG</b></td><td><b>SF</b></td><td><b>PF</b></td><td><b>C</b></td><td><b>Total</b></td><td><b>Notes</b></td></tr><tr><td>02</td><td>5</td><td>5.5</td><td>16.5</td><td>5</td><td>7.5</td><td>39.5</td><td></td></tr> <tr><td>03</td><td>11</td><td>6.0</td><td>17.5</td><td>7</td><td>8.5</td><td>49</td><td>Rice's last year - 5 mill to KT?</td></tr><tr><td>04</td><td>12</td><td>6.5</td><td>9.5</td><td>8</td><td>9.5</td><td>45</td><td></td></tr> <tr><td>05</td><td>13</td><td>7.0</td><td>11</td><td>17</td><td>10.5</td><td>58.5</td><td>Cato's last year? Max out Griffin</td></tr><tr><td>06</td><td>14</td><td>7.5</td><td>12</td><td>18</td><td>12</td><td>63.5</td><td>Max contract for Ming</td></tr></table> It looks to me like we are likely to let KT walk in 03 - or trade him for draft picks. We can't afford a near-max contract for Lewis. If he signs for near MCE, I could take it, but other than that Boki is worth more to the team for chemistry and salary reasons. If you look at the chemistry, if Lewis is paid too much, he will think he's better than Mobes - and he's not.
This is what CBSSportline.com said about Lewis' options. I wonder what kind of trade deal he could get from Washington or Chicago. Let's hope he's homesick enough for the mid-level exception in Houston... From CBSsportsline.com Rashard Lewis, Seattle Sonics: The 6-10 youngster with the touch of a brain surgeon is in an odd situation. He wants the maximum deal but isn't worth anywhere near that, and his season ended with a dislocated shoulder. The Sonics want him back but for a little more than half of that $100 million fantasy. If not, he could take the mid-level exception at home in Houston, and don't rule out a trade that could involve Washington or Chicago.
By giving Rice and his expiring contract to Seattle along with KT that would be a major leap for Seattle in the Duncan pursute. Payton and Duncan are good buddies. I can really see that happening if Duncan thinks he can take the Sonics to the next level with Payton getting close to the decline.
I have heard before the draft (right after the lottery I think) that Lewis wants to play in Houston because we would draft Ming. I don't know why though.
Performing a sign and trade for Lewis is virtually impossible due to Lewis assuredly having BYC status. Lewis for the MCE...now that's an interesting call. We're talking about a local draw, that's 22 years old, put up 17-7 last season, and is a career 39.5% 3 point shooter. On the other hand, he's not a lockdown defender, and would create somewhat of a logjam at the 3-Rice is a veteran, Nachbar is supposedly very NBA-ready, we'll still use 3 guard some, and that doesn't even account for T-Morris. However, I don't let him sign for just a year just as a showcase-preferably, you get him signed for 3 years. I still think he'll resign in Seattle. But if something crazy happened-Francis, Mobley, Lewis, Griffin, Taylor, Ming, Thomas, Nachbar, Rice-that's a lot of guys who can just light it up on any given night
I bet a lot of players are/will be interested in playing with Yao. Drafting Yao has made Houston even more attractive to free agents. Our own players are coming around to the idea, at any rate.
eh . . . looks like a negotiation tactic to me. Rashard wants more money than Seattle wants to give him, so he says, "I'll go to Houston for the MCE - you won't get squat, and a prime competitor gets stronger, think about that" So the Sonics respond, "Oh yeah . . . well, we'll get another small forward, what do you have to say about that?" They hem, they haw, they make a deal, Lewis stays in Seattle.
The only problem I have with the Rockets signing Rashard, is the Rockets signing Rashard. Confused? Rashard just isn't the player he thinks he is. Good? Definitely. Better than Turckan, should have been drafted by Houston? Absolutely. Houston has a plethora of talent at the 3 and 4. Glen Rice isn't the sharpshooter that he once was, but he still has game. As I often argue with a good friend of mine, I believe KT has the "potential" to be a dominant Forward. Not a Power Forward, not a Small Forward. A forward, ala Walker, Gooden, etc. Any deal involving Lewis would further complicate our situation with KT. The guy is amazingly quick. Nachbar has the "potential" to be a great player. He can shoot, he can dribble, he finishes a freaking shot (unlike our friend T-Mo). Why bring in a Rashard Lewis-type to disrupt team chemistry, and possibly taint Nachbars maturation? In my oh so humble opinion, Rashard simply isn't worth the hassle. You'll notice that the offers aren't exactly overwhelming young Rashard. As another member pointed out, Rashard is simply dropping the Rockets name to light a fire under the Sonics rumps. I say skip Lewis, and work on KT and Nachbar.
Rashard cannot play the 2 because he doesn't have the handles. I haven't seen Boki play yet to make an opion on him. From the clips, it seems he may be able to but I don't know about him covering quicker SG's.
Rockets3, I believe Boki can and have felt that way since the draft. I also believe that he is the reason the Rockets aren't pursuing a backup 2 because they feel they have one in Boki if need be. Lewis can't handle the ball effectively to play the 2 spot IMHO. Make a wide open jumper like a 2 yes, but no handles.
Lewis is substantialy better than any player on our roster at the 3. He would be a steal at the MCE. As for all the Snackbar lovers, I seem to remember the last Rockets #15 pick who was supposed to contribute right away. Anyone heard of Jason Collier? In fact, the last five #15 picks were Steven Hunter, Collier, Frederic Weis, Matt Harpring, and Kelvin Cato(what are the odds?). That's not to say that Nachbar will suck because he's the #15 pick, but the teams that drafted these other guys thought they would be players, too. The bottom line is, most arguement against Lewis boil down to "We have Nachbar, he'll be better than Lewis". I think it's a tough call to say we don't want a good young NBA veteran because we have a guy who averaged 13 pts in Italy. Of course, you never know. The #15 pick before Cato was Steve Nash.
Could a real basketball expert explain to me why it's absolutely necessary to always have a 2 on the court? I'm risking looking stupid, I realize, but why can't you play a multiple 3 or 4 lineup?...especially if that lineup is not taking up the majority of the minutes? Just curious.
I'm not a basketball expert, but here's my opinion. In theory, your 2-guard is your primary slasher, and one of your top perimeter scorers and ball-handler since the PG can't have the ball at all times. 2-guards also, in theory, are the main guys who can create their own shot, a necessity against intense defensive teams, or when the clock is running down, or when an offensive set is broken or fractured. That's why every successful team has a quality 2-guard or quality production from the 2-guard spot. There have been title contenders and champions who have won without a true center, and a true PF, and even top notch SFs, but I can't remember a team winning a championship with a soft backcourt. They're the ones that give the offense a "thrust".
I always find it hilarious when a player's value's determined by where he was picked. Even more so when the argument against a #15 player is that most #15's suck and should be replaced by second round picks who've proven themselves. You have excellent hindsight. Mistakes are made. Always. The draft is a crap shoot and it's becoming more of one all the time with all the high school and international players. And before everyone goes on and on about how the Rockets blew it with Rashard, remember it wasn't just the Rockets that passed him up in the first round. There were 28 other teams which did the same. By the way, they all did it with Mobley too.
Clutch interview with Griffin: He also knows the biggest competition he'll face early on will be for a starting position. I asked Eddie after the Suns game how he viewed the situation at power forward for the Rockets with Maurice Taylor coming back from injury and Kenny Thomas having a strong season last year. Eddie's smile grew big and wide ... almost like he secretively knew some answer that I did not. "I think it's a tough call. All of us can play," said Eddie. "It's going to be tough in training camp but I think we can work it out." Eddie and Mo Taylor, who was in attendance Friday, looked to be friends from the two times I saw them communicate, almost like Mo was giving Eddie some advice. Could Kenny be the odd man out? We'll see. Here's the link
Incidentally, is there anyone at all who really believes that Rashard would sign for the MCE, just to spite the team that won't give him max? I mean, shades of Webber. He doesn't have too many other teams to use as leverage, does he? We're convenient. That's all. If he lands here, especially at 4.5 mil or whatever the MCE is this year, I think that's just fab. But all this stuff about how he'd really love to play in Houston... It's gotta be leverage. Right?
If Lewis signs for the MCE, he better not do it and hope we give him a big deal. It will be the green room situation all over again. if we get rid of Rice int his trade, we're screwed. We're counting on Rice's 10M expiring at a time when Griffin will be up for extension. Think about it like this. If we sign Rashard long-term(after a 1-yr contract), and get rid of Rice, then we won't have money to re-sign Ming or Griffin. Francis will be making the MAX, Lewis will be making better than Mo Taylor money, Cato has his contract, and Mo T with his. There's no more room for Ming and griffin's deals. So you say we get rid of a big contract? It's already pointed out there won't be a sign n trade, so rule it out. Rashard to Houston ca't be done. There's no way we'll be able to have a happy team with Lewis here. Only possible way: If he does sign for the MCE, we'll have to pull of a trade that includes KT, T-MO, and Cato. The trade would, of course, have to send a C and a backup SG back our way. This C will be our starting C, so he better be hard-working at least. Rotation in 2 years: Ming/Acquired C Griffin/MoT Lewis/Boki Mobley/Acquired SG Francis/Mooch now, I don't think that's better than letting Boki develop behind Rice, letting Griffin develop behind Mo T, and letting Ming develop behind Cato. The competition for those future studs will only mold them into competitors, and in time they will be great. I won't lie to you. I think Lewis is worth no more than the MCE. I also think there's nothing this guy cand o, that Boki wont' be able to do in a year. We can wait, because we have to wait on griffin and Ming too anyway. Leave Lewis alone. Let him have his money in Seattle.
