Lowry obviously wants to start and I don't see how anybody can blame him. Anybody that has played basketball knows that you don't want to lose your starting job due to an injury, especially if you're one of the better players at your position in the league. Also, from the same article:
I kind of just brushed that off when it happened, I guess because I really liked his game. Now it seems like another data point in evaluating his mentality.
yes he most certainly did. looks like a really bad contract right now. scola is confusing. he's wildly inconsistent. it's hard to get a good evaluation from the stats, but I think he's honestly below average at this point. he rebounds inconsistently, scores inconsistently, and is bad on defense consistently. only reason I'd consider keeping him is 1. I think scola is awesome 2. mentor motie. but come off the bench.
I don't think Scola's contract is "a really bad contract." He looked a lot worse in the first half of the season (with TOs way up, rebounds down) than he has since then (improvement in all statistical categories, especially TOs and Assists). To me, he now pretty much looks like the same guy he always was. Good, but not great. Has the skills to put up the points and rebounds, but not the physical attributes to force opponents to foul him, take advantage of double teams, or get some of these boards over taller more athletic opponents (compare what Scola does to what Yao Ming used to do). He never really was more than what he is now. Remember, the guy was suppose to be Yao Ming's supporting cast. He has 2 years left guaranteed at $9.5 and 10 million each. Certainly not one of the truly bad contracts in the league since it's not really that long and he's not a poisonous presence that you want to keep away from the rest of your team (especially impressionable young players). In any case, the money he's paid now isn't really all that relevant to the team's salary cap situation. The Rockets can create the cap room to sign the one and only max FA out there (Deron Williams) should he by some chance want to come to Houston. They should also have plenty of flexibility for the 2013 season if they play their cards right given the expiring status of Martin's contract (and Dalembert's, if he is kept).
This. Rockets fans have been spoiled over the past few years by Rockets management's ability to lock in most of its players to what are perceived (either at the time or in hindsight) as "below market value" contracts. The fact that Scola's contract is actually close to his fair value is a notion that does not compute with many people here.
Not a surprise, what with ex-Celtics (front office and player) Morey and McHale putting their heads together last draft. But it's been our luck. We're not becoming more "Matt Maloney" white (i.e., small talent, big contract). Parsons has been a very pleasant surprise, DMo looks like he was another steal. Budinger, well, fell into our laps because other GMs must have looked at him and said, Albino. Can't figure how he fell to #43 (44?) in a "weak" draft. Speaking of luck, I would have been fine with Gasol here, but in hindsight, not at the expense of Dragic.
Yes, thank you, you're right. Although his main thinking was, Jersey's gonna pay him how much? S**t. Oh well, I can trade him later as an asset. I will add, he probably also thought, "I have to pay the guy, he tore it up for us for three years at an average of $3.3 million. If I don't pay him, other players around the league will call me cheap as hell. Which I have been." But yes, thanks for the correction.
Hopefully Lowry and Scola can be packaged up on draft night to Sacramento for their lottery pick. :grin:
According to some posts here, Scola was deciding to go back to his former team (Spain?) if the rockets were not giving his good contract, this could be a factor for his current contact, but still the rockets did not under or over-pay Scola, he just had a fair contract. In the same boat, I hope the rockets can overpay Dragic a bit in order to keep him. The rockets need take a risk for this one, Dragic could be very good.
Bima, I did a wrong reply for Carl. According to some posts here, Scola was deciding to go back to his former team (Spain?) if the rockets were not giving his good contract, this could be a factor for his current contact, but still the rockets did not under or over-pay Scola, he just had a fair contract. In the same boat, I hope the rockets can overpay Dragic a bit in order to keep him. The rockets need take a risk for this one, Dragic could be very good.
Yep. And Scola's contract "only" pays him $9.4M next year and $10.2M in 2013-14. The final year of Scola's deal (with a cap figure of over $11M) is most likely to be almost fully NON-guaranteed, making it an Erick Dampier-like "super expiring contract". Supposedly, Scola was ready to sign a four-year, $36M deal, but Morey got him and his agent to agree to make it a five-year, $47M deal, with the fifth season being (mostly) non-guaranteed unless certain player and team incentives were met. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find out what those incentives are, but I'm guessing that after two seasons in the lottery since signing that contract, Scola will not likely get there. Come the summer of 2014, that Scola contract could be a SIGNIFICANT financial trade asset.
Do you think, then, that the team will keep Scola until then barring a big offer? 2014 offseason is a long time away.
No, that won't be THE reason to hold onto Scola as opposed to trading him. But it's A reason not to amnesty him, even if his skills decline significantly next season (which I think it doubtful).
I thought Scola's $11M owed in '14-'15 is guaranteed if certain "performance milestones" are met. Anyone have any info on what those requirements are?
It's an average contract in the NBA for a starter who puts up the numbers he does. If he did what his critics expect from him the Rockets wouldn't have the need to look for a superstar.
