Now that the Rice deal is done, we have a Knick-like logjam at 3 with Rice, Williams, Griffin (part of the time), Morris, and Langhi. Either Walt or Dan seems likely to go. Perhaps there is something to the persistent (here, anyway) rumor of a swap with Washington for White. The big, question, though, is at guard. Risht now we have two guards. Anyone here think Steve and Cat can play 48 minutes a game for 82 games? How about Rice or Langhi at the 2? Didn't think so. I hope we re-sign Moochie, but I wouldn't count on it at this point. Pissing off his agent may come back to haunt us. Even if we do have him back, though, we need a fourth guard. Here is my suggestion: Rodrick Rhodes. No, seriously! So he can't shoot. He can handle the ball, penetrate, and play serious D. Anyone remember him cutting off Jordan in the open court, trapping him, stealing the ball, and outracing him for the jam? Having him as a backup 1 would free Mooch to be more of a scorer, which is his real strength, and would give us someone who can guard Kobe, Stockton, etc. And he would come cheap -- he wasn't even in the NBA last year. Maybe he even learned a lesson: practice your jump shots! Worst case? He doesn't get much PT. Best case? He gives Steve some rest and makes the Rockets a decent defensive team....
1. RR will never be a Rocket again. He has a lot of personal "issues" that does not help his cause. His work ethic sucks, he has limited appeal to our needs, and well ... there is a reason he fights for a job every year in a league that still employs underacheiving, poorly developed guards as often as not. 2. Watch as BYC dates arrive and deals are struck accross the league. 3. Do you really think that Moochie's chances were hurt recently while the Rockets had to deal with the recent signing of Rice? Now let's see .... who would have been hurt with the trade being recinded? ... Mmmmm .... Shandon Anderson? Fegan is also Moochie's agent isn't he? 4. TMO may surprise some people at the two. Langhi will get some three minutes. Walt will be limited or gone. See #2 above. 5. Using Rice as relief at the two is not out of the question, especially with the present glut at the three. 6. The rest of the summer's roster moves has got to be breeze compared to the last two months!
So we've got some good ammunition for a couple more minor moves to balance the roster. 1.) A load of picks. We owe 1 pick to Vancouver, but now own the rights to a future 1st rounders from Chicago, Toronto, and presumably Dallas and NY. Also a 2nd rounder from Detroit via Toronto next year, and we have our own 2nd rounder. CD/RT do a magnificent in getting picks. The draft is the way to go to get solid players on cheap contracts. 2.) We now have no real use for Walt. We're (soon to be) over the cap. Rice is better. Griffin can play those PF minutes he had. He's still a 3 point shooter with an expiring contract, and a veteran presence=Decent value. 3. We still have a tiny bit of maneuvering room under the cap before we sign Moochie. I estimate it to be 1-1.5 mill. Just as good as a trade exception.
Yep. And, we owe a first rounder to Atlanta for Terrence Morris. Which is why the Rockets don't have a first rounder from Det anymore...
Whatever happened to Stais Boseman who played for us in the RMR last year? I like the kids Darren Kelly and/or Omar Snead: hustle, hops, and explosiveness for both of them.
According to NBA Courtside, Cleveland is interested in the Mooch.(Not sure how reliable this site is...) But, if Mooch ends up in Ohio, IMO, we definitely need one, maybe two extra guards.
NIKE My understanding was that we had rights to 2 senond rounders from Chicago not a first round choice. All that being said, other than our debt to Memphis we are in excellent shape. I sure would like to know Dallas'/NY's future considerations to us. Do you have confirmation on a first rounder from each? Bottom line is... We have paid off one our first round debts with the Detroit pick We owe 1 first rounder We have 2 first rounders (Ours and Toronto's) We have 5 second rounders (Ours, Vancouver's (according nbadraftnet), 2 from Chicago & Toronto's) [/list=1] You got to love Les, CD and Rudy T. For all the complaining on this board, I find it amazing that we have virtually rebuilt this team (with more trades to go) while revitalizing our draft pick position/holdings. Yes, we lost Hakeem, but the Rice deal was a wash (I beleive a substantial gain) in terms of loosing players. Clearly, one can ask the questions, "Are we better off than we were before the summer began?" and, "Is our position better than it was before the summer?" My feelings on this are - absolutely. We brought in young phenoms to further our rebuilding/growth. We acquired value for Hakeem (consider if he simply retired - we would recieve nothing). Our team is considerably younger/stronger/faster (yes I know, inexperienced/undeveloped/etc. all that goes with rookies as well). We have a plethora of picks. We still have cap space (to be consumed this off season). We still have ancillary players which we can cast off (use for trades) that will not seriously damage the team. We are better equiped to handle to new rules (to be determined, but all indications are good). Yes, we have a ways to go, but I can't help but be pleased. From my perspective........The glass is half full not half empty.
With all the picks mentioned above and Cato, Williams, Collier, Thomas and Langhi as trade bait, we have a chance at pulling off something fairly sweet!
rocketsfan 34: Our pick Memphis' pick (Francis trade) 2 Chicago picks (Drew Obligation) Toronto's pick (Hakeem trade) Probably Dallas' pick (Anderson Trade as reported by SWSports Report)
AFTER THE GLEN RICE TRADE, here is our draft situation looks like: (we recieved a first rounder, and a lottery protected 2nd rounder from glen rice deal) 1- we owe 1 first rounder, everything else has been paid off 2- we have 2 first rounders, excluding ours (NY, Toronto) 3-we have 5 future second rd picks, excluding ours (2 from chicago, Dallas, Vancouver, Toronto) So basically, we'll probably have about 5 chances in next year's draft to find that "center of the future".
After giving Memphis the pick we owe them, package all the rest for the lowest single pick we can get!
