A-Train, I'll assume your one of those people that still hasn't gotten the hang of the value of big, ending contracts. Wake up man. Derrick Coleman for Mike Miller? Steve Smith for Reef? Juwan Howard for Lafrentz and Van Exel? Hakeem's CONTRACT for a starter? Come on. Wake up man. It doesn't matter if they can play. If their contract comes off the books in a year, they're the hottest commodities. For us, we don't need an expiring contracts and we will be offered reall really nice players for him. He won't be here next season. Count on it.
Umm, trust me Sane, I'm wide awake. It is you that needs a pitcher of cold water dumped on your head... The only thing we would get in return for Rice's contract is similar contract that DOESN'T expire after the end of next season, and with the luxury tax looming and Alexander already paying huge contracts to Cato, Taylor, Francis, and possibly Posey, Les will need every penny of Rice's contract when it finally expires. Plus, there is an excellent list of free agents this upcoming off season(the exact reason that Denver traded for Howard), and teams will want to keep as much cap space open as possible, which means NOT trading for a 37 year old jump shooting small forward that doesn't play defense... Rice isn't going anywhere.
Ohh, I disagree. Next year, teams that lose out in the FA market will want Rice. Teams like Atlanta will want Rice. If he can play 10 minutes a night, the Bulls would love to have him. Toronto would like to have him too. Rice and a pick/player/Boki will get us a small contract and a starter. I'd make a bet, but dammit, I can't afford ****.
Sane - Although I generally agree that an expiring contract has value, you will have to admit to one logical inconsistency in your "Derrick Coleman for Mike Miller? Steve Smith for Reef? Juwan Howard for Lafrentz and Van Exel? Hakeem's CONTRACT for a starter?" example. In each example, all the listed players were capable of playing. Glen Rice has logged 866 minutes this year and 606 minutes last year. He will make $9+m next season...that's a lot of money per minute even for an expiring contract. If I were forced into a bet, I would bet on the side that he will be the Rockets' property for the 2003-2004 season.
