Hottoddie: Does the team or the player have the option on the matching contract? If it's the player then he either goes for the $ (GS in this case) or the desire (Rockets). I really dunno. GS is probably waiting him out, too. They know by now that his options are limited. They can lowball him, too. As for his position, he's a natural PF - I think you're 100% dead-on there. Under 7'0", heavy body, relatively slow and ungraceful (compared to Hakeem - the consummate 5 burned into my mind for all eternity), gives only points and rebs, no blocking, little intimidation in the paint, little defense, few steals - not a true C...
Your 1 year scenario can't happen under the CBA. Since Jackson is a Restricted FA, the CBA dictates that Jackson's contract with any team other than the Warriors must be for a minimum of 3 seasons. Of this I am sure. I am less sure of the maximum percentage increase but believe it's between 10% and 12.5%. At 12.5%, his 3 year contract would be worth a grand total of $3.4M. After what Eschmeyer, MacCulloch and Booth signed for, I don't think this amount interests him at all. And $1.0M is about all the Rockets can/will afford.
Chicago is the team loaded with centers. The Warriors centers are not rated very highly. We are set at PF with Taylor, Thomas and Collier. If Cato doesn't cut it, we can always play Taylor at center. He's just as big as Marc Jackson or Jahidi White and a far bigger offensive threat. Forget both Jackson and White -- they are too small to play in the West. With the zone, we need four fast guys (which we have) and one colossus in the center. Hmmm. I think I said that somewhere else. But, for the record, I think Cato is going to have a breakout year and Collier is going to be a very good backup -- just a hunch.
For the record, I also think Cato will have a breakout year, or I hope anyway. But the odds are stacked against it. Jackson can play center and power forward. When he was on last year, he was REALLY on. If not for a minor injury, he would have been the rookie of the year for dream's sake! If we can figure out a way to sign him to a one year (or three year) we definately should. I see these next three years as an crapshoot anyway, with rice and all. if jackson turns out to be a bust (which I think is unlikely) his contract expires along with Rice's (who will most probably be a bust in three years). Yes, Jackson is unproven, but White has proved what he can do... and... it really does not seem like all that much. Is white going to ever be spectacular? No, but Jackson might. Besides, White canot happen until, what September, Jackson can happen now. i also see him motivating Cato. If cato has to compete with someone close to his own age and skill level for the staring position, he may actually try. Perhaps he never felt needed when dream was here. Perhaps when dream was injured, the pressure was too much. Perhaps when he sees that he may lose the starting position that he feels dream left for him, he will work harder. I dont know, but I do know that I like Jackson's potential. And I think Jahidi White and Jelani McCoy will never ever be something to write home about.
That's what I'm saying. i would be willing to part with anyone except steve, mobley, MoT, or Griff. Yeah that's right you clutch city wierdos, I would even be willing to part with Dan Langhi!!!!! I'll never understand this board's fascination with him.
He's a restricted FA, which means that GSW can match any offer, up to the mid level exception, & they would retain his rights. However, it has been rumored that GSW won't match the offer if it's too high. The question is, how much is too high? This could be just a smoke screen though.
Yes, it's out of the question. GSW doesn't have any cap space available & only has the mid-level exception, which can't be used in a sign & trade, according to the CBA. In other words, GSW can't do a sign & trade with any team involving Jackson. Furthermore, I believe that if they do sign him, they won't be able to trade him later in the year either because of the CBA. You'll have to check with Crispee on that part though. So, Jackson's options are: 1) Find a team that can offer more than the mid-level($4.538 mill). 2) Get an offer from another team that's less than or equal to the mid-level & hope that GSW won't match it. 3) Resign with GSW for one year, in order to become an unrestricted FA next year. 4) Resign with GSW long term for a low ball number.
Ladies and Gentleman, starting at center for your 2001-2002 Houston Rockets, the man, the legend Kelvin Cato. The man deserves one last chance, and there is no alternative now that Mr. Rice and all his money are on board. we could always, as someone has mentioned sign pig miller. we still make the playoffs either way, no doubt.
Hottoddie: There is another option. Houston sends picks or a player and picks (or trade value*) at $3-4M to Golden State. Golden State relinquishes their rights, effectively refusing to match an offer from Houston for Jackson. Jackson gets his deal, albeit at around $3M/year or whatever .... and Golden State do not have to sign him and they get picks and a player. My feeling is that CD will stick to his guns and look elsewhere, because you have to think he has already tried this out on both parties already. He is on record as saying that it is not possible to do a deal for Jackson. I also have a feeling that if Golden State was going to to do a deal for Jackson it will have to be a scenario just like the above. That is ..... Team A sends a good player/low dollar value to Golden State, Golden State sends a not so good player/slightly higher dollar value to Team A, .... AND ..... agrees to renounce/waive/refuse to match an equitable offer by Team A to Jackson. * Cap Stuff: If Houston is under the cap, or better stated .... appears to be slimly near the cap .... then they do not have to take value for value (the 85% to 115% rule application). Note: they do not need cap space to sign Mooch. If Golden State were under the cap,.... and they are either under it or pretty close .... and can get even farther away by renouncing a few players (which they may have to likely do anway) .... then they would have the same alternative as Houston. Minimum value with a non-cap eating trade of picks. Note: The GSW's need to use (all or part of) the middle exemption to sign Jackson
Treeman: I'm not saying Jackson wouldn't be a good alternative to White. He would be a good alternative because he is really the only decent alternative out there. Also, there is no way he's going to sign a 1/yr $1 million contract after his performance last season and as Hottoddie said, Golden State can match any offer up to $4.5 million. Going back to White, I have a question that maybe someone can answer. How long is White's current contract?
I love how one million dollars has become such a completely laughable amount in the world of professional sports free agency.
It seems that we'll end up using our protected 1st round pick we received from the Raptors in the Olajuwon deal to get a center next year. I bet they plan on giving Cato and Collier a year to find out if they can play. That certainly fits the profile of the Rockets the last 5 or 6 years.
Superkev, where do you get that about the Rockets looking to get a center via the draft pick from Toronto? Obviously, it makes sense that we'd draft for a center, but I'm interested to know why you feel Rudy T and CD are relying on the draft to fill the hole at 5. Personally, I'm optimistic of picking up a solid backup at the 5 with a mid- to low- 1st rounder, but to grab a solid center ready to start within a year may be difficult to get in that range. Not to mention it'll be difficult to obtain or hold on to a good pick when we still have the Grizzlies pick to pay off.
