I remember Rudy saying something to that effect right after the season ended. I'm more than pleased with the outcome of the draft, but I don't like what I hear when it comes to free agent activity. The most recent talk from the Rockets has focused on resigning all (or most) of the team's free agents. Merely picking up most of the guys from last year improves the team in what way? Now SA has to worry about minutes from 2 more guys? Another year or two in waiting to groom Dream's "replacement?" A power forward that lacks an inside game? Additionally, improving upon the team that didn't make it to the playoffs last year after resigning these free agents is dubious. Unloading Cato is a pipe dream at best. The Wizard has no magic left. Bull had got to be winding his better-than-winning-the-lottery-lucky career down (no dis on Bull, I just think time's running out). I contend that the Rockets will have missed a golden opportunity if they are not vigilent about tracking down talent that fits within the framework of the existing team dynamic. Not many good teams experience the luxury of cap space. Sure, the Bulls have had cap space out the butt for a couple of years now, but who wants to play for the Jerrys? I'm not saying they should wait for a guy that hasn't really expressed a desire to come to Houston (see: CWebb). However, CWebb isn't the only fish in the sea. He just happens to be the biggest fish out there right now. ------------------
non-sense. We only miss a golden opportunity if we spend the Dream windfall cap space on a Bison Dele like Marc Jackson. Spending the cap room this summer is not necessary. We can spend it on a February trade; we could spend it next summer. It is not mandatory that we spend it on Marc Jackson or Nazr Mohammed who are clearly going to get WAY MORE MONEY than they are worth. Do you want Austin Croshere anymore. He is starting at $7m for what? six years. foolish your title is almost correct: this is "One of the most important summers to save money and spend it more wisely later." Hell, I'll take Cato and Collier into training cap if it meant I'd have $7m under the cap to improve my trade position for the trading deadline. I'd sign Dream to $12m for one yr, if it meant I'd have $10m under the cap for the following summer and trading season. This is not a simulation league. Can we gain a little bit of patience and creativity here? All we need is to spend the Dream Windfall before we elevate Francis's salary. Nothing says we have to spend it this summer. And btw, that means we must purge Rogers and Shandon to save money for later spending on a center.
Do you honestly think Dream went out to get an agent if he was just going to sign a one year contract? Testing the free agent market doesn't mean you decide at the end of the situation to sign a deal that benefits the team more than the player. I agree. The last thing the Rockets need is another Cato. However, let's say the Rockets decide to save the cash for next summer...then what. It seems to me that they're back to the same scenario as this summer, only with different free agent crap to blow cash on. Besides Tim Duncan, who else is available in the next 5 years that would actually benefit the team up front? I'd say you'll find nothing better than someone like Marc Jackson or Nazr anytime soon. So why not get them into Rudy's system sooner, rather than later? Also, 'Los is already gone and SA is on his way our the door. I don't see a difference in the way SA has treated the free agency situation from how CWebb has. The level of indifference shown by SA tells me he's headed to Atlanta. ------------------
On July 3rd my head exploded from roster speculation. I am still recovering from the draft. ------------------ T-Pooh and Quitten went up the hill, to make a bet on a Foreward. When it all came down, they were nowhere to be found. Now they should be drawn and quartered.
Duncan will be available after next year. He signed a 5 year deal but the fourth and fifth are player's option. So we could sign him in two years and then give franchise his max contract. ------------------
driver, Who do you propose the Rockets go after, outside of CWebb? Seems to me that most FAs are going to be too expensive, or not really fit our needs. ------------------ Rockets need power forward. Mo near now. Go near Mo. You can Run from the bet, you can Rave at the bet...but you just can't hide.
What planet are you from Crispee? Hakeem will only be a Rocket next season, if we give him a multiyear contract. He did not hire an agent, for one last year!! HOW MANY TIMES DO OTHER POSTERS HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS!!!! The reality check with AD gone, is that most of the top Free Agents will have already committed to teams before July 18th. So this entire "UNAVAILABLE STATUS" of Hakeem's has cost us valuable time. I am not sure who Clutch & Co would recommend trying to recruit, but your logic of a 12 million dollar pay day for Hakeem, is the stupidest post I have read to date. Would you still be kissing Hakeem's royal ass, if Mo/Moochie/Shandon lost their patience, with the Rockets, and committed to other teams? Would Hakeem still be your hero? Those three are showing loyalty, not Hakeem!! I agree, on your one point, that having money next year would be better spent, than on the talent this year. But UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES do you give Hakeem all the money. He has totally shown no loyalty to Rudy & Co.. and has probably already figured out what his fair market value is - a "4.5 million exception". So any offer from the Rockets over 5 million, would be godsend to Hakeem. ------------------
What makes you think that Mo/ Moochie/ Shandon haven't already re-signed with the Rockets? I mean your own suggestion that by the 18th we will find out that all the big FA's are gone should surely be applied to those 3 shouldn't it? Or are the Rockets so stupid an organisation that they wait and wait and wait for Hakeem to say anything before they begin negotiations with their own FA's/ other FA's? Could it be possible that we have heard nothing from the Rockets re: Mo et al simply because we need to know Dream's status (ie those 3 have agreed to terms and now the Rockets brass needs to see whether Hakeem will take the deal they want to give him?) ------------------
From all reports, on this website & the news media, the Rockets cannot do anything until they deal with Hakeem. How could you offer those three anything, without having a clear view of Hakeem. If the Rockets did offer David Robinson a 3 year - 30 million deal, then they would not have alot to offer those three. If the Rockets get Hakeem for a 2 year - 12 million dollar contract (with team option on 2nd year), then they could afford to spread the wealth with the others. If they are stupid and give Hakeem 10 million, then, like the DR offer, they would not have very much money left to sign all three players. ------------------
So you don't think that the Rockets might have some sort of idea about how much they would like to pay Hakeem? If the $10million is totally stupid (deabatable) then don't you think they might just not offer it? Assuming that the Rockets front office has some brains, and that they have an idea of how much they would like to pay Hakeem, surely they could then figure out how much they want to pay their other players? Surely if they can make an offer to DRob they MUST be able to make offers to their own FA's? ------------------
I am not really in disagreement with you, and I would agree that the Rockets are weighing all options at this point. As far as DR, they are looking at him being a reliable center for the next 3 years, and would take the chance on loosing Shandon, and possible Moochie (even though I think he would play for pennies to stay with Franics & co.) to lock up all 5 positions (with Mo at 4). The DR offer was probably close to the AD offer, which would definately mean that Hakeem would not be a priority, or at least not for his asking price. I would bet that they have made an offer to Mo, since webber does not seem to be interested, and will probably keep Shandon & Moochie on the back burner until Hakeem shows himself. If Hakeem was actually in this "unavailable status" to better his contract, then I bet his strategy will backfire. ------------------
Sorry barb, I had read that you thought the managemtn would've made no offers because they would be waiting for Hakeem to come back to them. I too would LOVE to have DRob at C (alongside Mo at the 4) - it'd be fantastic! Although I just can't see him leaving San Antonio - that is unless they sign CWebb.... ------------------
Its cool, I am out for the night!!! DRobinson would be a good fit on our team, to bad he is not 5 years younger!!! but compared to Hakeem, at least he will give 100% and has the conditioning to play the entire season. Hakeem healthy blows away DR, but Hakeem on his famous IR status, does nothing for the Rockets, but waste good cap space. to all good night ------------------
Raven, Obviously I would put CWEbb as the #1 priority. However, I agree with the Rockets that they shouldn't put all of their eggs in that basket in case it doesn't pan out. How about Marc Jackson? Nazr Mohamed? Joe Smith? Jerome Williams? DRobb? Anthony Mason? Some of those guys are going to want some serious cash, but isn't that what cap room is for. Front load that stuff so there's no problem resigning Francis (if that's possible under the CBA). Although unlikely, I'd love to see Ben Wallace in a Rockets uniform. I figure with the addition of Griffin, we'll really just need a rebounder down low with some muscle. Wallace fits that role to a tee. I wouldn't mind finding a way to get Bo Outlaw into a Rockets uniform too. ------------------
Well, they went from 34 to 45 wins in one season, while only adding Mo. Do you think Mo himself accounted for those 11 wins? Do you not think that our current group of players have more room for improvement? Do you not agree that our team has much more room for improvement than most teams? In what way is some other team's backup center going to push this team into the playoffs?
This is entirely unfair. There is no reason to believe that we can't sign him to a 1 yr, and then another, if we want. Just because he signed an agent, does NOT MEAN that CD can't negotiate for ONLY one year. If he has two demands, top dollar and say in the offense; then I come back and say that I have one demand. one year ONLY. We will reevaluate that later. You could then find common ground on a team option. Saying all other posters are repeating the some Dream initial demands to me does not mean he is going to get them. How do you or anyone else know what CD's demands are? Maybe they indeed are "one year only." geeze barber, so do you know CD demands. Otherwise, your quote above is as much speculation as me.
thefreak's right, even with zero roster changes, the rockets could be much improved from last year, if for no other reason than the continued improvement of francis/mobley/taylor/moochie, etc. however, a reasonably priced, FA backup center would hit the spot right about now. i am wary about nazr and marc jackson, though. but if they (marc jackson) could be had for the price david aldridge quotes: http://espn.go.com/nba/columns/aldridge/1224825.html ...then i say, "what do we have to lose?" question is, is aldridge on crack? i think some teams might offer jackson more than that... ------------------
HAKEEM IS AMONG US ON CLUTCHCITY.NET crispee=Hakeem Now it makes sense why crispee would give Hakeem 12 million for one season!!, and by the way crispee=Hakeem, Feagan will never settle for a 1 year contract!!! ------------------
Bottom line, the Rockets would love for Feagan to take a 10 million dollar - 2 year deal (with team option). Feagan will want at least a 2 year deal for around 20 million (no team option), or even possibly a 3rd year included. If you look at clutch, and every other reliable source on this thread, you will notice that most people believe that the Rockets would have to meet Feagan half way to get a deal done. Supposely, the Rockets are offering 5-6 million, Feagn wants 10 million. So my guess is that the best Hakeem can get, is about 8 million a year for min. 2 years (which I doubt the Rockets will offer after his latest "unavailable status". I am not here to bash you Crispee, you seem to be, one of the few, that wants the Rockets to drop their pants to resign Hakeem, no matter how much it costs. ------------------
