Doesn't Francis's extension kick in this season? How can he negate the cap space we get when Rice's contract goes? He signed a 3 year rookie deal with an option, which was last year I believe. He should already be making more than Rice when the season starts.
Hey Bernie, that's keeping your eyes open, Nice thought, really. Cato is (in my slightly less than humble opinion) the second best backup center in the league (not as consistant or skilled as Pollard) but he just ain't worth the dough considering the salary cap problem to which he contributes. I'd love to have Knight instead of Moochie, but I don't think there's anyone in the league who would take Moochie's contract (not the salary that's the big problem, but the salary at those years), but I'd do the trade in some fashion without Moochie anyway. Person gives us a great shooter off the bench and Knight can really run an offense and I think JVG could turn him into a good backup for us if only for a year.
Sorry, I misspoke. I meant to say that the benefits of Rice's expiring contract is offsetted by Fracis' extention. Meaning that Rice's expiring contract won't move the Rockets' net salary below the salary cap.
I'm hoping that it'll be all part of the bargain. I personally wouldn't trade Cato simply for cap space because I think Cato has a slightly better value than that. So the trade hinges on how Jerry West or his scout value Cato.
How about this? Cato, Norris & Rice to Dallas for LaFrentz & Van Exel Rockets F: Piatkowski/Nachbar F: Griffin/Taylor C: Yao/LaFrentz G: Francis/Van Exel G: Mobley/Hawkins Mavericks F: A. Griffin/Rice F: Nowitzki/Najera C: Cato/Bradley G: Nash/Norris G: Finley/Howard
I think we can do both these deals: Cato for Knight and Battier Rice and Griffin for Brian Grant Yao/Grant Grant/MoT Battier/Boki/Pike Mobley/Pike Francis/Knight/Mooch Now that's a team I'd like to see. Solid defenders at F, with our projected starters backing them up. Those guys will get a ton of rebounds, and Battier can supposedly nail the 3. Well now he has Yao demanding double teams down low, so he'll have even more open looks. We also have Pike to hit those 3's. I was hoping to move Francis to the 2, and bring in a good PG, but this is fine with me. I don't think Miami will make a Rice and Moochie for Grant trade.
These are decent deals, but I am hoping the Rockets will have some flexibility next year. I think this coming season will be very telling on what the Rockets need in order to become better. If Griffin is finally productive, then the Rockets should go out and get a Lamar Odom (assuming he signs a one year tender). If Griffin doesn't, then the Rockets will use the cap space for a big man. The core of the Rockets is pretty good, but if they are to need that final piece of the puzzle, they will need some cap space.
