1. Mobley does not belong in same conversation with MJ or Chris Paul. 2. "Heart" is what got us stuck with a useless Francis on the second go-round 3. As a whole, I'd prefer that Morey judge players on talent and basketball IQ and not "appreciation" and "spirit"
Exactly! Thats why they shouldve made a deal early. Most on this board thinks that contract is the greatest thing since sliced bread,but its not. Last yr j. o'neal was traded for marion. Fast forward, we're talking about a who hasnt played in a yr and posters think the rox will get players and prospect.
Absolutely correct, Leebigez. Let us also collectively recall the expiring contract of Raef LaFrench. So many men and women speculated what treasures Mr. Pritchard would recover in such a bargain. However, in the end, it was much ado about nothing.
who really cares - they signed him to a $2 million deal that got bought out after a season.. is that really a big deal? I don't think it really set the franchise back It reminds me of when people whined about signing Charles Oakley to a couple of 10 day deals - it's not like Kevin Durant was waiting in the wings.
Except you didn't have a big market for the contract back then. And Portland's GM might have overreached on what he was asking for in return. Now you have several teams that are either desperate to clear salary or desperate to put themselves in position to put a "Come Get It At----Porky's" "Come Get It At---Porky's" neon sign (anyone here old enough to know the sign I'm talking about?) in front of Dwade, Bosh, Stoudemire, Boozer, etc.
No, it doesn't limit us. It simply means we have to pay the luxury tax to keep them. There are a myriad of possibilities, even with Dally's contract with the trade kicker. Morey is looking to acquire superstars. He wants to acquire 1 or 2 superstars. Would Les be willing to pay the luxury tax for a superstar/star trio of Yao/Bosh/Iggy or Yao/Amare/Iggy? Or what about Yao/Dwade/Amare or Yao/Lebron/Bosh? See the possibilities. Dally could be bought out. He could be flipped for another superstar. Morey is prolonging going into luxury tax land as long as possible. And he may wind up taking the Washington deal simply to stay out of luxury tax next season. But if he does, if he takes on several expiring contracts plus Butler, then he is essentially revealing that he could not work the deal for another superstar at the moment. The luxury tax is simply not an issue if Morey is going to put together an ultimate package. We are all resting our hopes and dreams in to next season when Yao returns healthy. Morey wants to surround him with young, fast, quick, athletic players and throw in another superstar or two. That is what is being built. If the Rockets feel they can make a trade which guarantees them contender status next season when Yao returns...they will pay a little bit of luxury tax this season and pay the luxury tax next season to get it. Amare is the WILD CARD right now. It appears that he is done in Phoenix. It appears that Phoenix knows it. It appears he is available as a primo player that is healthy and playing ball, that is an expiring contract besides. What are teams offering for him? Any team that is not going to compete for a title next season and is not in the title chase this season is not going to offer much for him. Why would they? Is Phoenix going to trade him for junk? Why would they do that? Do they want to trade him and get some assets? Yes. Do they want to go into the offsesaon and risk being able to S&T Amare to another team and get back anything of value more than what they can get back now? I am saying Dalembert, Landry, some cash, a pick, and one other asset could get Amare to Houston. Is Phoenix going to get better than that from the Knicks during the offseason when Amare decides he wants to bolt there? Is Phoenix going to get better than that from Miami if Amare decides he wants to go there? Nope. New York has no draft pick. And Miami is probably going to the playoffs. Now look at those rosters. Is NY going to be able to corral David Lee and get him to agree to a S&T? Would Lee and other NY junk be better than Dally's expiring plus Landry for cheap for another season plus another asset? Where else could be a possible destination for Amare this season that would be willing to give Phoenix a better deal? Washington? Butler and expirings? I guess that's possible. Washington gets a $16 million expiring, gets rid of Butler's contract for next season and watches Amare walk away after this season or hopefully could turn him into a S&T somewhere. Phoenix then has to decide, do they want Butler and an expiring like Brendan or would they rather have Dally/Landry and another asset. What I am trying to say is.......we have a legit chance of acquiring Amare along with one of Iggy/Caron/Kevin Martin with our expiring contracts and a little bit of our young talent. We have a legit chance of doing that by the trade deadline this season. It all depends on how everything shakes out. The deal could wind it's way through Washington/Cleveland/Phoenix/Houston with McGrady going to Washington and then parts flying all over the place to get Amare and Caron to Houston. The deal could wind it's way through Philly/Sacramento/Phoenix/Houston. The deal could wind it's way through Sacramento/Phoenix/Houston...netting us Kevin Martin and Amare. There is a legitimate chance we could aquire Amare and a very good swingman with the McGrady trade. That's all I'm saying. The closer we get to Feb 18, the more valuable McGrady's contract becomes. It will be huge on Feb 17 and 18th.
Wow, there is a lot going on in that post. I like how you are thinking though. Tons of what ifs, but I can see you are thinking outside of the box. I think I have to re-read that post a few more times.
Sorry, but its going to take a hell of lot more than a Dalembert, Landry, some cash and some other asset to aquire Amare. There going to want a mint for him and by the way it sounded like Amare and the Suns were done last season and he's still playing with the team.
NO to Caron Butler. He is a shell of himself right now. Dude takes alot of bad shots too. Watched him last night against Boston. Iggy is a better choice and quite frankly there are some definite better options that Butler.
All I know is.. I don't wanna be stuck this offseason with a bunch of cap relief and not be able to sign a big name. A lot of teams will be willing to throw around max contracts.. I don't think the Rockets organization is one of 'em... But! I also don't wanna end up with only 10 mil of cap space and not be able to offer 'enough' to the big names... Risky business. Big time decisions. But Morey is the man to make 'em. My heart will be racing come Feb 17th-18th.
I really truly do not understand what the Wiz' focus is, or even if they have one until the sale (presumably) to Leonsis is complete (and David Falk, reportedly) is installed as pres. I think they are a wild card, and I hope one from which the Rox can effect great advantage.
Does it not take two to tango? If there had been a deal to make, meaning one DM the GM believed was beneficial to the Rox, do you not believe he would have pulled the trigger?
That's great; me, too. Now, how do you make the deal work to be acceptable to both sides? Then, do you factor in ownership change and/or new team president in how easy it is for Wiz to do any deal? I am not convinced the Wiz are focused. I hope I REALLY HOPE they are unfocused AND deal with the Rox to Rox greater benefit.
Well basically we're offering a LOT of cap relief. Probably more than anyone could offer... But! The question is whether or not the Wizards feel confident that they could persuade big names to play for them. They don't really have a tradition of winning.. They do have some assets, but are not quite a big name away from winning much in the East.
They have several expirings: James, Miller, Foye (potentially), Haywood, Oberto, Crittenton. That's almost 30mm. They might reasonably want to include Stevenson and Blatche to free up more space for the summer. So, how many guys do Rox have to take back as Wiz are in lux land and every extra $ in is 2$s? Then, how many guys do the Rox have to cut if they deal, remembering also the Rox are in lux land. I just don't see an easy Rox-Wiz match-up, without a 3rd (or 4th?) team involved. Maybe I'm blind? Or maybe Wiz panic and pull the trigger er go ahead with a deal precipitously and Rox smile wide? Maybe. As if...
I have to think that they would like to move Jamison's contract in any deal. Something like McGrady, Scola and Dorsey for Caron, Jamison and Haywood. They save all kinds of cash, we get our scoring wing, a 4 that can spread the floor, which I always thought the Rockets needed to put net to Yao, and a stopgap center for this year.
