This whole TMac thing has got me going crazy with trades and senarios for bettering the rockets roster next year. While reasearching a trade for Orlandos #1 pick invloving the TE + Cat + Cato for Hill + filler + #1 - a trade i feel benefits both teams- I saw on HoopsHype that the Rockets have only 2 gauranteed contracts after the 2005/6 season. After that were 20 million under the sallary cap. If it wasnt for MoT contract we would be a little over 30 Million under the cap. If we calculate Yao's eventual max contract (I believe it counts as the previous years -5mill-untill we anounce it) that still puts us at about 15 million. In this same period very few teams will have the same space available. This makes me wonder if CD is eyeing certain free agents that year or the next Dunlevy, Amare, Nene, etc.. i after 2005/6 and Lebron, Carmelo, Hinrich etc.. after 2006/7. If we stand pat with this team then at worst we gain Yao experience in the playoffs regardless if we advance. If we decide to Blow the team apart then it become critical that we maintian that cap flexability for the future while still aiming for the playoffs. Perhaps CD sees this and its why we here JVG refute rumors involving Stevie. With regards to my Orlando proposal i feel that a the trade of TE + Cat + Cato for Hill + filler + #1 provides both teams with what theyre looking for. Tmac gets mobley and cato veterans who can help immediatley and about 7 million to spend on a free agent this year. Also, the expiring combined contracts of Cato/Cat after 2005/6 season (15 million) gves them flexability room to add free agents the Tmac can recruit personally. The Rockets get the PF bruiser we need. Hill contract runs through 2006/7 but he has a player option in 2005/6. I f we can negotiate a buyout then we are still have the same cap flexability and if not well then 16million comes off the book just when Lebron hits the free market. Projected lineup for next year Stevie JJ Boki Okafur Yao Bench Hill (off the bech cause i doubt his ankle can take the minutes) MoT Pike Plus who ever we sign for the MidLevel. Again this all contigent on Orlando feeling this is the best move... and keeping Tmac On a side note: I'll trow in my 2 cents on any possible SF trade. If we pull the orlando trade then I would settle for trading SF to the Bobcats for the #4 pick provided they pick up MoT. Or perhaps sending SF+ MoT to Utah for all thier 3 #1's and a future pick. Utah is so under the salalry cap (35 million) that hey can take on the contracts. Is CD smart enough to pull such deals?
Im not sure about the exact number, but the bobcats can only use about 2/3 of their cap space the first season. If they took both SF and MoT then they would lose most of their capspace. The gm of the bobcats already said they wont be taking other teams contract mistakes.
Those are some great ideas. But, if we go under the salary cap, we lose our MLE and TE's, losing valuable trading chits, and the ability to grab someone like Barry. That would NOT be good. We want to stay under the luxury tax, but not under the salary cap, at least until we have the players we want. I'd adjust it to: Cato/Cato/2nd rounder to ORL for Hill/#1/2-2nd rounders (there would be no need for the TE, since we would be within 15% of the salaries, and ORL would get a .7 mil TE. They could actually send us another 2 mil in contracts that we could absorb, if it was necessary, although I'd rather not. I don't think CHA would take Taylor, either. I'd rather have their next year's unprotected draft pick along with their #4 for Francis. Of course, I'd prefer to do a deal for TMac or Allen using Francis. But, if those aren't possible, I'd rather do a deal with CHI or WAS to pick up a PF and high pick, then trade the PF/Taylor(whatever else, including the TE and high pick) to SEA for Lewis and either Allen or Murray... They might go for Chandler/#3/Taylor/TE for Lewis/Allen or some other variation to pick up Murray instead. But, the point is, we'd have a number of trading chits (top 2 picked young PF/TE/#3 or 4 or 5/Taylor) to pick up another couple good players that fit better than Francis does.
If the Rockets flounder in the 1st-round-exit level for another two years, I'm not sure CD's going to survive. So I sincerely doubt clearing up cap space for 2 years from now is his "master plan". Surely he could've found better use of the money than spending it on the likes of Mo Taylor, Moochie, Glen Rice, etc.
I'm not refuting what the press says will be the initial focus of the Bobcats...short, cheap contracts. But I want you to realize that the 2/3 cap is a soft cap and the Bobcats are allowed to exceed it for players that have Bird Rights with their current teams and are left unprotected. IOW, if the Bobcats thought Steve Francis walked on water and the Rox left him unprotected, the salary rules allow the Bobcats to go over their $30m cap to include Francis on their payroll. If they had 13 players making $30m, the rules of the expansion draft allow them to add Francis' $11.5m for a total payroll of $41.5m. I'm not saying they would do it, but I'm saying they could do it.
Those are some good ideas, but Cat/Cato/TE for Hill/#1/Filler won't be enough. Orlando has already recieved tons of offers for the #1 and I'm pretty sure some are some sweat deals. From what I've read, teams are really, really, high on Dwight Howard. He might even convince Orlando to keep the pick.
Possible but impossible at the same time as Utah has experience with Point Guards and are well aware of the Francis problems.
the ROckets will not flounder for long - dispite the dispar on this BBS forum - they are headed in the right direction - the Mavs and Kings are out of options (i.e. those teams my have to be blown up and refocued) - the Lakers are about to have the mother of all drama-ridden offseasons, and the ROckets can beat the T-wovles - the Rockets just need to look to impove themselves each year and they should become a top 4 team in the West soon enough
Well, I haven’t seen such optimism for this team in a very long time. This BBS is the most pessimistic place on planet earth. Shut, if you hate the Rockets this is the place to go hang out at. I’m refreshed to see someone not hating on the Rockets. Now, in reference to initial post, I’m not sure the Rockets are better off without Francis. I’m not a Steve Only Fan, nor am I a Yao Only Fan. I’m a Houston Rocket Fan, die hard, in the playoffs out of the playoffs, winning championships or exiting first round, I live, eat, and sleep Houston Rockets. That being said I want what’s best for MY team. Yao, is a good player and I feel has the potential to be great, but without the diversion of Steve he could be in for an embarrassing next season. And Yao doesn’t need to be humiliated at this pivotal stage in his pro development. Well, I have rambled on enough incoherently so bye I will say now not later.
This first part is incorrect. Yao will count 250% (assuming the last year of his contract is above the average salary, which it most likely will be) of his previous salary, or the league maximum. In all likelihood, he will count against the cap as the league maximum BEFORE he'd even resign. Further, the odds are the Rockets would get his extension locked in the summer before, like they did with Francis. At that point, you're up to about 35 mill in committed salary between 3 players (Francis, Yao, Taylor). Sure, you could sign another max-type player, but are your other eleven roster spots going to be minimum salary guys? Lastly, everyone you have mentioned is going to be a restricted free agent. And the odds of Lebron, Carmelo, or Amare going anywhere are about as likely as us letting Yao walk.
I never said the Rockets were going to flounder. Just that there's no reason for CD to aim for 2006 as the year he's going to put together the "right team". Why shouldn't he make sure THIS YEAR to be the one where we put together all the pieces, instead of waiting for Yao to start counting max money under the cap?
