Mutombo likely to return, Our off-season is likely over?

And I daresay Deron would not even hope to contain Steve Francis on the Defensive end, something he didnt have to worry about with Rafer....

 

I don't see the need for another undersized SG (Bell) and Gadzuric doesn't seem to offer a lot more than what we got at a salary of Hayes/Butler/Deke combined.

To me Clev (Marshall), Indy (Foster, Diogu), Boston (picks, expirings) for Rafer + filler makes more sense. SAR or taking Howard back for multiple outgoing players at a combined higher salary might not be too bad either. Add another vet PF, and if we can't do that at least shed salary and roster spots while getting some minor pick compensation.

 

Do you mean the All-Star Steve Francis of 2003 or the cut from Portland Steve Francis of 2007.

I mean I am all hopeful Francis is a good rotation player for us, but let's not even pretend this is close to sure thing.

 

Cleveland would have the need, but short of a Varejao SnT - what?
Boston does not match up. Period.
Indy seems as self-hamstrung as any team (see: Atlanta, Chicago - and 'shard's Magic).

Let's face it, Rafe is 'one of us' until some '1' gets hurt somewhere - or Alex decides to skip to my lou's $12-14mm buy - out figure.

 

I know you were. I was asking your opinion if you thought Francis can be a good defensive player again? My second statement about having better defensive players than the Kings was just a side comment not directed at your post....so actually I was in agreement.

 

The fact of the matter is, if ANYONE had "matched up" with us by now, we'd have dealt Rafer already. That likely won't happen before games begin; hence, I am guessing we will hold on to Rafer and play him as much as we can afford to until circumstances change in midseason and a team with some wiggle-room does find itself in a need position for a PG. The Rockets will certainly be amenable at any point from now on.

 

And I don't believe we will ever buy out his contract.

 

Yeah, with Mutombo and his elbows and Scola throwing his body around, Hayes taking charges, opposing players are going to be pretty irritated when they drive to the hoop. LOL.

 

Nor do I, nor would I endorse it.

 

i'd laugh if alston got traded and then became a valuable contribter for someone else

 

i'd laugh too if there is a dumb team going to take Rafer's contract.

the reality is: rafer is as untradable as yao because of his value, which is well below zero.

 

Rafe did an OK job here. He needed more help, fewer minutes (a better shot etc). If and when some '1' gets hurt RA will have value. Don't bet on him being on this roster 11/1. Don't bet against it, either.

 

No one can know for sure how its gonna turn out, only time will tell........ but I watched the few games that Steve played last year, as I am sure many did, and I really don't think he has lost all that much of anything. Any PG in that New York system as a newcomer is bound to get screwed over, The knicks are the worst team in pro sports in terms of selfishness. Now they have Zach Randolph....lol

 

send mutombo off with a ring this year

 

Glad to see Deke back, great role player and good overall additude. Hope he'll be able to leave with a ring, he deserves one

 

A lot of teams think they plugged their holes at PG with the likes of Smush Parker, Jason Hart, Eddie House, or think their existing guys might work better next season than they had (Farmar, Arroyo, etc). It will take them a little while to figure out how confident they are with the existi guys before making a significant financial committment to take on Rafer Alston.

On the other hand, it doesn't seem like Morey would trade Rafer without getting something he actually wants-- salary/roster spot relief at the very least. Thus, the stalemat.

Really, it comes down to people not knowing what they have on their hands.

For example, last offseason, everyone was wondering about how the super-deep Rocket is going to workout... and then Bonzi showed up fat, Spanoulis, Novak are not ready, etc...

 

I agree, but it is also tough to trade rafer because so many teams are over the salary cap, so a third team under the cap has to be involved. But that 3rd team isn't going to do it without benefit to them, that is why even JL3 hasn't been traded to New Orleans because the 3rd team involved backed out because they were not getting anything of value.

The rockets are still going to trade rafer, but the worst case scenario is that the other team will only take rafer if they also get a player that they really want, say a luther head.

another scenario is if another team just spins rafer's brushes with the law against them, forcing the rockets to give that team cash compensation to offset rafer's salary. The rockets may have no choice with either scenario.

we'll see.

 

all fact-skewing tactics set to the side, don't you think portland cut francis more so 'cause they are rebuilding a young team than his potential talent? plus, let's not kid ourselves. francis' potential talent depends on his temperment. he wants buddies. he wasn't happy when mobley got shipped out. playing with marbury was just weird considering that they were huge rivals who exchanged sparring words. he's playing it yao. he's playing in houston. temperment solved. potential talent is more likely. portland cutting francis doesn't give an accurate reflection of what he'll do in houston next to yao ming.

 

You forgot Battier.

 

Ya ... Francis ... Still can't believe he's a rocket again! But ya, I'd say his game has diminished very little. Just now, with the talent of this team, he must look to pass off penetration and be a passer more than a finisher a lot more than when he was the #1 option back in the day. And if he's really "matured" which I hope he has, I don't think it'll be an issue. He's still got the handles to get by basically any defender. It's just now hopefully he can make the best decisions in whether to find his teammates off the drive or finish (something no1 else could do on the team last year besides our dynamic duo).

And back to signing Deke, I was relieved when I read about it. We know what we're getting from him and I didn't realize how much it hurt him to lose. I guess I forgot he was ring-less too. Here's my rotation:

Francis/James/Brooks
T-Mac/Head/Snyder
Battier/Bonzi
Scola/Hayes
Yao/Deke/Butler

Probably forgetting some people, but those are the people that will prob get the minutes. Or that I hope will get the minutes.