If you can move bad contracts for good ones, you do it. Don't give me "we're over the cap - it doesn't matter." Of course it matters. We'll have to worry about finding money to sign our good players soon enough, and avoid the luxury tax. Future trades depend on our ability to free money. Big contracts for backups (MoT, GR, KC, MN) are strangling us. Mo T for Bob Horry and Samaike Walker - yeah, in a heartbeat. Those guys can play a little bit, can play in the backup role, and are more readily tradeable in package for assets we really do need. We damn sure don't need a soft, no-rebounding, no defense, shoot-first backup at 9 mil. Instead, we get a banging backup 4 and a defending, clutch-shot 3-4, with shorter, small contracts. Geez, Louise, where do I sign?
1. Instead of giving you another game why don’t I take it a few steps further and give you a few seasons. Mo’s scoring averages his 1st 4 years in the league: 97-98 11. 5 ppg .476 f/g% 21.3 minutes per game 98-99 16.8 ppg .461 f/g% 32.7 minutes a game 99-00 17.1 ppg .464 f/g% 35.9 minutes a game 00-01 13 ppg .489 f/g% 28.6 minutes a game Your right any CBA players can put up those types of numbers in the NBA. Of course you are not interested in letting MoT’s Achilles injury finish healing though right? Of course there is no chance that MoT is starting to play better because the tendon is starting to loosen up right? Personally I would love to have that type of production off of the bench but what do I know. Besides Mo is the only one on our team with a true power forwards body (6’9” 260 lbs). Did I mention that MoT is still only 26? 2. Of course Horry played some 4 four out of necessity in 95 but do you really want a player that has a history of under achieving in the regular season, bad knees, 32 years old and not big enough to keep the Tim Duncans and Elton Brands from pushing him around at will backing up Eddie? Not me. Give him the last shot of a play-off or championship game and I will pass him the ball any day of the week. 3. Getting rid of Mo for some one just to save money makes no since because we will not be under the cap for many many years regardless of MoT’s salery. We are not going to be able to take his saving and go after another big name power forward in the next few years. MoT has a true Power Forwards body that is still recovering from an Achilles injury. I believe that we will see more and more games from him where his offense looks more and more like the MoT that we saw before the injury. MoT has a proven track record as an offensive player when healthy. I definitely do not want another undersized Power Forward backing up Eddie.
OK guys here's the scoop. Remember when we were all struggling in 1995 and made that one big trade that made us repeat champions? Rudy's trying to do the same thing again. That's right, you got it! Bring Tracy Murray home!
Hmmm...so its pretty safe to come to 3 conclusions. 1) None of those stats did the Rockets a damn bit of good 2) He has gotten worse...a lot worse...and a lot richer. 3) His rebounding totals for a power forward were so bad, that even YOU didn;t want to post them he should be fine just in time for another contract extension Umm...yeah, its tough to find a guy who will give you 6 points and 3 rebounds at the 4 these days As opposed to an overpaid, underachieving heartless power forward who would rather sit home and do bong hits and eat bon bons? Yes MoT has a true Power Forwards body that is still recovering from an Achilles injury MY POINT EXACTLY....why the hell wouldn't you want to trade him for a guy who could give you at worst the same production...eat up less caproom and add the intangible of having a ton of playoff/big game experience in the process?
Who are you going to trade a 32-year-old small forward on the backside of his career with bad knees plus Samaki Walker to? The answer is no one if you are looking to get someone back that has any value. Is MoT a great rebounder? No. Is MoT a great defender? No. Is MoT over paid? Yes Does MoT have some outstanding and proven offensive skills? Yes Is MoT still recovering from his achilles injury? Yes Is MoT showing signs of getting better? Yes Can MoT be a hell of a back up and have a major effect on games when he gets healthy? Yes (see T-Pups game) Can we get someone of equal or better value by trading MoT? No (It has already been pointed out that his salary is an albatross.) Should we be concerned about Les and his money? No (he’s got a lot of money so what do I care) Is MoT’s salary keeping us over the cap? No. (We are over the cap regardless) Just let me say if we can get someone to take Mo’s place that has a power forwards body and be as good of a back up or better then fine but please don’t try to feed me crap about Robert Horry or Samaki Walker taking MoT’s spot and backing up Eddie Griffin.
I can see it now, "let's start a rumour -- Mo Taylor to the Lakers -- and watch the ClutchCity bbs go nuts" hahah
The Rockets would be crazy to pass up this trade. I'm not saying that MT isn't a decent player (cough cough) or that he doesn't have potential, but the man is over paid, and his contract hurts the Rockets, in several different ways. If Horry has one year left, and Rice only has two, then this give the Rockets financial breathing room. MT for Horry (prays with fingers crossed) Raven
How is MoT's salary hurting the Rockets? What can we accomplish by dumping his salary? I don't care what comes out of Les Alexanders pockets, only what he puts on the floor. Improve our team by trading Mo and I am all for it but if all you are trying to do is save Les some money then I could care less.
When we had Bob, everyone complained about his lack of effort throughout the entire regular season, and now you want to bring him back here? For Mo Taylor?? Please. MoT is good, and he's shown some serious hustle lately. Sure, he's not the best rebounding PF in the league, but you know what? On this team he doesn't have to be. Our team has been a good rebounding team, regardless of what you think about MoT. You think he doesn't have defensive prowess, but I've seen him hold Tim Duncan in check before. When he gets 100% healthy, he'll be one of our best post-up weapons, and his range goes out to 15-18 feet. Not bad for a PF. I like MoT's defense, particularly his defensive positioning. I would like to see him react better to defensive rebounds. But I would NOT like to see him traded for someone like Bob, regardless of my feelings for him & what he brought us in 94 & 95.
Mo has 4 yrs left on his contract. Horry has 1. You do the math. Question: If you get EQUAL OR BETTER production for Mo Taylor and dump his contract in the process, do you do it? Answer: Yes Question: Does Horry produce the same or better #'s than Mo T? Answer: Yes Am I going too fast? You keep saying that dumping Mo's salary won;t make a difference since we are over the cap anyway. By your logic, we should just keep overpaying our own free agents since we are already over the cap.
In a way it does hurt us because it brings very close to the luxury tax. If he were gone, we could sign a good player(easier now a days with the luxury tax looming) to the MCE without risking the luxury tax.
If i could get rid of taylors contract, i would do it. Horry and Walker, 2 expiring contracts would be nice to get rid of after the season. Next yr, we'll lose Glen's contract also. It may not give us the chance to go and get a big time free agent, but it at least gives us some kind of felxibility.Actually, I would prefer to send taylor to Cleveland for Ty Hill and some fodder. If Hill proves to be a rugged,tough backup, then we could resign him for real cheap.
