From Chad Ford's ESPN Insider article: I am wondering how the cap numbers will work if the Grizzlies are interested in Kelvin Cato and are willing to take on Moochie's contract at the same time. While losing Cato and Norris will seriously deplete the depth at C and PG, the Rockets will still have some of the exceptions to work with. While Rice's contract will expire next year, it is offsetted by Francis' extention. Having this extra 12.7 million dollars of cap space could be crucial next year. I expect the Rockets to seriously improve this year, and next year could be the year for the Rockets to get their final pieces of the puzzle. I'd even imagine that Person and Knight can probably find roles on this team as well. Hypothetically, if the trade works, you guys think it'll be a good trade?
Houston trades: SF Bostjan Nachbar (2.1 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.2 apg in 5.5 minutes) PG Moochie Norris (4.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.4 apg in 16.8 minutes) C Kelvin Cato (4.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 0.3 apg in 17.1 minutes) Houston receives: SG Wesley Person (11.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.7 apg in 29.4 minutes) PG Brevin Knight (3.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 4.2 apg in 16.9 minutes) Change in team outlook: +4.0 ppg, -4.2 rpg, and +3.0 apg. Memphis trades: SG Wesley Person (11.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.7 apg in 29.4 minutes) PG Brevin Knight (3.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 4.2 apg in 16.9 minutes) Memphis receives: SF Bostjan Nachbar (2.1 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.2 apg in 14 games) PG Moochie Norris (4.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.4 apg in 82 games) C Kelvin Cato (4.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 0.3 apg in 73 games) Change in team outlook: -4.0 ppg, +4.2 rpg, and -3.0 apg. TRADE ACCEPTED I hate realgm like any other posters here, but I just want to confirm that this could work. We would send Bostjan Nachbar to Memphis as well. It might be jumping the gun to send him off now. HOwever if he does not play well in pre-season, I wouldn't mind shipping him off for a conditional 1st or a 2nd rounder in the total trade package.
Me neither, but I'm not quite sure if Cato is really in the future plans of the Rockets. Yao Ming is going to man the center position for 40 minutes a game, and Maurice Taylor is looking to get more PT. I'm not opposed with Taylor playing backup C temporarily. 12.7 million dollars of cap space can get the Rockets another star player. It's probably not as useful for the Grizzlies because I doubt any of the star players' preference would be to play for Memphis.
OldManBernie, I wouldn't make the deal if Boki's included. I like getting the cap space, but not at the expense of Cato(we'd need a back up C) and Boki. What about Cato for Battier/Knight? I'd do it.
I don't think Yao Ming will be playing that many minutes soon, at the rate of him playing all year round. Plus the NBA game is more fast paced. We need a good back up center for Ming, and Cato complements him well.
Ok, this statement might meet with a bombardment of criticism, but I'll say it anyway. I think Maurice Taylor will do a sufficient job at backing up Yao Ming.
Well, let me add to the trade I made above... if we could pull Cato for Knight/Battier, I would go to Miami and offer them Rice/Mooch for Brian Grant. I know Grant's contract is horrible but look at it like this, it replaces Cato and Moochie's contracts, and we get cap relief from Knight's contract at the end of the season. Grant would be our starting PF as well as the main back up tp Yao i.e. 15 minutes at the 4, 15 minutes at the 5, EG and MoT would split the remaining minutes at the 4. Our line up would look like this: Francis/Knight Mobley/Pike Battier/Boki/Pike Grant/EG/MoT Yao/Grant Looks like a six seed in the West to me.
Taylor moves well for a big man, and has a big body. He has the ability to score off the bench at either PF or C. He is a guy that will force his defender to play defense, which will open up lanes for the guards to drive. I think he should make a fine backup C, even though he is a poor rebounder.
Or Cato will revert to his old form, rendering him untradeable by the FEB trade deadline. I mean, these things are unpredictable.
To bad this is not a contract year for Cato I hope he keeps playing or improving from where he left off last year.
It's always risky when predicting the performance of role-players, especially since JVG will implement a new system.
Go find the thread talking about Yao's offseason activities(withint the last few days) to read on why that is a fallacy. He is not "playing all year" he is working on his game all year round...but he is only playing a few extra games over the off-season. OMB... the only problem I have with your trade is without Posey..we are already weak at the SF position...and you want to send Boki away? Pike isnt a starting 3..hell, I doubt he logs many minutes at the 3 all year..and obviously Rice isnt the full time answer either.. So, who plays SF for us? Eggie?...I doubt it. the only solution I see without Boki or another FA SF is to track down TMo and hope that he is ready to bring his game this year. I dont have any problem with trading Cato as long as we get something good in return...afterall, we could always find a big body to fill in behind Yao..Samaki Walker..Willis...Fill in a name here..
http://bbs.clutchcity.net/php3/showthread.php?s=&threadid=61963 I just read the thread, and I was basically thinking the same way Deckard was thinking.
Nachbar's contract was just one that fits to make the trade work on realgm. I really wouldn't want to trade him. However, I really doubt Nachbar will log many minutes next year, so it probably won't be the end of the world if the Rockets traded him. I really think that the SF position will be weak unless they are able to sign another free agent. Since this trade would guarentee the Rockets will be under both the salary cap and luxury tax cap, this move might actually allow the Rockets to go a little above the luxury cap threshold so the Rockets can pick up a guy to play SF. You make a good point 2K, and I share your concern.
and I still stick with what I was saying there.. a few hours a day of practice...and a few games against vastly inferior competition... Why would this cause undue exhaustion on Yao's part? What say you?
I see where you coming from, and I now agree with you. From what everyone was reporting was that yao was playing 2 or 3 years straight of basketball. I thought that would bring wear and tear to him mentally and physically. But I see where you're coming from now. I guess he's use to it and has been training like that since he was 16.But, for some reason, I don't really want to trade Cato.
