I honestly don't get the argument that, short of another move, this is anything but a terrible move for the Rockets. Rice's contract had value...for the first time. Even if we weren't going to use it, other teams would give up value to free up space for the upcoming offseason. There was no need to rush this, as many of these kinds of moves aren't made till during the season. There was no need to rush moving Rice and getting poor value back, let alone adding a longer ( albeit smaller) bad contract...unless A) We needed the space to make another move ( better than Jackson) or B) We just wanted to save cash, and damn the basketball side of things. A first round pick has significant value. What is more, unless it's a perpetual Rockets' option, Jerry West will tell you that trading a first round pick can come back to haunt you...and we did this for what, exactly? Again, unless there was an immediate and significant need for the space ( ie another move) then this was imeasurably bad value. And that doesn't account for the " future considerations"... Taking on Ameche is a negative, not a positive. Bad deals are an odd thing in the NBA: they hurt you every year up till their expiration, and then they have cap value. So we took all the gristle out of Rice, and gave Utah the beef...and got back more gristle, with less eventual beef. Getting Jackson does not justify these moves. If you want to argue that Jackson>Rice, I agree. I think it can be argued that, for this team, Rice's prime asset ( outside shooting) is a more valued commodity than Jackson's game if both are looked at as role players, but as starters I would rather have Jackson, although neither makes my mouth water. Add in Rice's cap value, and it's at best even. Add in the 1st round pick, and the fact that we now have Ameche taking up a roster spot/cap space, and this move stinks. I think we'll all forgive that if this is made for the sake of allowing another move....if we use the one thing we got out of this, short term cap space. If we don't, this move really $uck$ with a capital $.
Crash, we're only 2-3 million over the luxury tax lid, which, if we go over it, will cost us all the tax sharing revenue, and double whatever salaries go over, which is financial suicide, and makes lots of trades financially unfeasable. So, as long as we stay below it, we're fine. So, no, I agree that we won't use the whole 6.5 mil exception, but we CAN use 1-4 million of it in multiple trades if we wish, making all sorts of trades or signings now possible.
Okay, this trade REALLY bites. We give up a lotto protected 2004 1st rounder, drew obligation from Chitown, AND the 2nd rounder is from the Kings. http://www.nba.com/jazz/news/amaechi_093003.html Amaechi Salt Lake City – Utah Jazz Sr. Vice President of Basketball Operations, Kevin O’Connor announced today that the Utah Jazz traded center John Amaechi and a second round draft pick (received from Sacramento in the Keon Clark trade) to the Houston Rockets for small forward Glen Rice and Houston’s first round draft pick in 2004. The pick is protected to within lottery range. Additionally, Houston gives the Jazz a conditional first round pick in 2004, acquired by the Rockets from Chicago in 2000. If Chicago retains the pick then the Jazz will receive two second round picks from Chicago, one in 2005 and 2006. Utah also receives additional consideration from Houston.
This trade looks just plain horrendous at first glance. But think about it... --Jim Jackson is at least as good as Rice, maybe better (defensively for sure). I don't think it hurts our chances at all this year. --Cato being expendable + 6.5 exception opens us up to a potentially big trade. "splash"? --Utah knew we would give up more than just Rice, so we had to give up the pick. Hopefully it won't end up being a lottery pick. Rice is really not needed...we have Piatowski as the 3 point threat. Boki could see a little more time. We still have the talent to make the playoffs this year, and now still have flexibility to make a move to put us over the top in the future. This deal makes sense.
Sorry but I am only interested in Wins and Losses. I could give a rats ass on how much more or less money Les gets to pocket. Rices expiring contract could have done a lot more to help this team in the win collum than freakin John Amaechi and that is what is important to me. If Les does not want to spend the money to try and put the absolute best product on the floor then I don't want him owning my favorite team in all of sports.
This would make a big difference, if true, B-Bob. Let's hope it is. I'm one of those who kept saying I had a hunch that the Rocks would make another move before the season... but I didn't think of this one. I like it if we didn't give them the pick. They should be giving us a pick or two.
Argh. I am on everyone's ignore list ? NBA.com makes mistakes, especially early. They are the only folks reporting a 1st-round pick. Rockets.com has no description yet. Clutch? Anybody? Why is everyone else saying "future draft considerations" only? And why does NBA.com not mention the cash transaction? The details aren't firm yet in the press.
To any of the zillions of "horrible trade" people: did we or did we not just pick a $6-7 million trade exception today? and, to boot, did we or did we not just make Cato and Cuttino -- god bless both of them -- extremely tradeable commodities? The trade is fine. It's strategic. For dreamers who thought an expiring contract like Rice was going to get us Kevin Garnett, yeah, I can see the disappointment. But the exception+amaechi has more value that you are giving it credit for. It's not a "money-move." It's fine. It's not that big a deal.
No no, I'm not ignoring you...just short of confirmed better information, NBA.com has always proven to be the most reliable source of correct info on these things, no? Not perfect, but better than individual papers, etc. IF the pick is not included...and there is a report from Utah which is very specific about the pick ( lotto protected 2004, etc.) then it's an ok move.
S***! I just saw the post from Utah. We also gave them the Chicago obligation??? Just insert whatever 4, 5 or 6 letter words you what here. And as many as your imagination can conjure. We were hosed.
There are a world of value options for the cap space RIce's contract offered between KG and what we got...and several of them belong to other teams who'd have given value for them. And the trade exception is only a value if...unlike the last one...we use it.
Argh!..Now I know Im on B-Bobs ignore list. I already made mention of your post....Duh!..Hello McFly..
ooohhhh. did not know. still want to hear the details. but I'm harpring -- I mean, harping -- on the wrong topic. Even if it's a 1st-rounder next year, I think this is sweet move. Who knows what Rice can still do better than Van Gumby? Just hope VG was in on the decision.
If we actually make a trade, it's not a money move. If we don't, it's a money move. And unless all this "luxury tax" talk is a smokescrren, all arrows point to money. Seriously. What team has actually given up a first round pick to get rid of an expiring contract?
Just curious for those living in Houston or elsewhere for that matter. Has anyone heard any word from JVG about this trade and the subsequent signing of Jim Jackson (maybe from local news or sports radio)? How much input do you think he had in this deal or was this all CD and Les? All we have seen (from what I gather from the Chron article) is CD doing all the talking about luxury tax, flexibility with the trade exception etc. Sorry if this has been posted in this or the other sprawling thread.
Maybe the Rockets will use this trade and cap-relief to get Anthony Mason. Jeff Van Gundy likes Mason alot and reportedly he wants Mason, so why not trade Amaechi for Mason? The Rockets could have also kept Rice's contract for next year when there are a wide variety of good free-agents. This trade has to lead to something that will help the Rockets. John Amaechi will help the Rockets if he gets enough playing time behind Cato and Taylor, which is not very likely. So the Rockets should have something in mind.
That 1st round 2004 pick could end up being 2 x 2nd round piccks in 2005 & 6 if Chicago retains the pick. Not so big of a 1st round pick, then.
It has definitely put a serious dent in my carefully crafted homerism helmet. Still reserving judgement till I hear it straight from the horse's(asses') mouth though. Comeone CD...say it aint so.
