If Chicago doesn't sign Eddie Jones watch how quickly Cuttino becomes their priority. http://www.nj.com/nets/ledger/index.ssf?/sports/ledger/101f520.html The Nets were said to have an interest in Cutino Mobley, but Thorn said he thinks the Houston free agent may be out of the Nets' price range no matter how much money they have available to them. "Mobley is going to end up being a big-money guy," Thorn said. "I'm talking $5-6 million a year. There are teams interested in Mobley who are under the cap. If Chicago doesn't get Eddie Jones, I think they'll go right after Mobley." Let's hope Cat loves the Rockets more than the money because it is starting to look like he will get the money. ------------------
If the Bulls keep Fizer and he plays the SF spot as expected, then where does Ron Artest play? I would assume that Artest would take over at the SG spot, so why in the world would the Bulls want to sign Mobley to a contract? I also heard that the Bulls are now going to go hard after John Amaechi and offer him big time money to play in Chicago. Don't worry, Mobley is going to stay in Houston. ------------------
The Bulls are about 18 million under. They could sign Amaechi to the max if they wanted, and still have room for Cuttino. (The question is, who in their right mind would give Amaechi the max?) I would not be surprised if they threw the max, or close to it, at Cuttino. They can bring Artest off the bench, Fizer likely will be traded, regardless of what the Bulls "claim". ------------------ The more lefties on your team, the better. Collier is Seven Foot and Left Handed. How can you go wrong? Trade or bench Kenny Thomas. [This message has been edited by NIKEstrad (edited July 16, 2000).]
If we wanted another big shooter, that can board, we could expand the deal, and get Van Horn (who they want to trade) but some view him as a cancer/a tweener. Where do you play a guy like him? ------------------ The more lefties on your team, the better. Collier is Seven Foot and Left Handed. How can you go wrong? Trade or bench Kenny Thomas.
If Mobley re-signs with the Rocks then why would they trade him. He could get a lot more by signing with the Bulls or Toronto. I can't imagine him signing for the early bird and then being traded. ------------------ "Stranger things have happened, but none stranger than this" - Commentator after a parachutist landed in the ring of a Holyfield fight
Nikestrad -- Hmmm....lemme think -- NO! I'd rather have the economy version -- Austin Croshere. Concerning the Cat -- I pity the fool that overpays the Cat. Granted, he's got a decent first step and almost automatic for 15 a game but hell, if I chucked the ball up 30 times a game, I bet I could go for 15 too (well, probably not). He doesn't defend well, he's undersized, and his grasps on the finer nuances of the game are questionable at best. Oh yeah, his shot selection SUCKS!!!! Don't mistake me -- he's only been around for two years and is bound to improve but he'll never be the superstar he thinks he is and we wish him to be. If wants big money and Chicago's willing to apy it (which they seem more than wiling to do), I won't shed a tear. It just means more minutes for my boy Shandon. ------------------ It doesn't matter if I have a signature! [This message has been edited by Stone Cold Hakeem (edited July 16, 2000).]
Cuttino will sign back with the Rockets, unless he is given an offer he can't refuse. In that case, hopefully, we can pull off a sign-and-trade with Chicago for Fizer. Or at least, i hope so. ------------------
Sign and Trades are highly unlikely of us, because we don't hold his Bird Rights, so he doesn't get more money out of it. The only scenario where we'd sign and trade, was if Mobley demanded to go to a team over the cap, even then, we could tell him "Screw You" and he'd have to sign with a team under the cap by over 4 million, or with us. So, basically, forget about Fizer. I have a feeling Mobley will be gone, and will be HIGHLY overpaid. ------------------ The more lefties on your team, the better. Collier is Seven Foot and Left Handed. How can you go wrong? Trade or bench Kenny Thomas.
I agree with Stone, if some pitiful team like the bulls wants to give Mobley the max then they must be desperate to kill their cap. Cat is one of the best players coming off the bench if not the best 6th Man, but his deficiencies on defense and tendency to play 1-on-9 at times should not merit the max. Also, if Cuttino does split, then Rockets fans should not be concerned in the least when it comes time to re-sign Steve. Stevie has voiced his disappointment about the Rocks possibly failing to re-sign Cuttino, but also understands that the Rocks are restricted in what they offer Cat and that Cuttino is really holding all the cards, so to speak. ------------------ I'm not clumsy, I just have to know my surroundings.
there is a suggestion in here the rockets can't match just any offer for mobley, because of the salary cap. i was under the impression they could, up to the league maximum. can someone explain why they can't? ------------------
Wink-183 I'd be curious to see what Stevie's stance is in three years (in terms of staying in Houston). Should the Wizards clear a significant amount of cap room, we could see our prize Franchise relocate to the shadow of his Airness. Failing to resign Mobley wouldn't help, either. A lot depends on where this team is headed at that point. By the time Stevie's eligible to become a free agent, we should have already realized the "potential" our time has everyone buzzing about now. If we haven't, it could be back to the drawing board. To keep this post pertinent to thread topic: Don't let the door knock on ya on your ass on your way out, Mobes. ------------------ It doesn't matter if I have a signature!
Or, here's your coat, here's your hat, whats your hurry ------------------ "Get up, stand up. Stand up for your right"-Bob Marley
there is a suggestion in here the rockets can't match just any offer for mobley, because of the salary cap. i was under the impression they could, up to the league maximum. can someone explain why they can't? The Rockets have the right to match any offer for Mobley, but they don't get an exception to go over the cap to do so. What that means is that the Rockets can't match any offer that they can't fit under the salary cap. The only thing we gain by the restricted free agency is that Mobley can't sign somewhere else for equal or less money (of course that's not really an issue). Bottom line is that we can offer Mobley around $4M/year. If he signs an offer sheet for more, then we can't match. ------------------
Amen, Stone Cold..... Anyone who signs Cat for big bucks would be hurting themselves and, in the long run, helping us. ------------------ "I'll take a Dream Shake for two, please."
I think Mobley will leave if $5-6 million is on offer. Oh well, let's start that tankathon early... ------------------
Of course, no one really knows what he wants to do, but if Cat wants a starting role and ego-stroke, we can get something for him (say, to NJ for Kendall Gill; he'll be close to home, or, if Philly wants Iverson gone, say a menage a trois with Chicago: Crawford and Mobley to Philly, Iverson to Chicago, Fizer to Houston). Possibilities? Certainly not probabilities. And while I think the bond betwixt Steve and Cat is strong, Cat would stay here for the length of Steve's contract, and that makes me afraid that Michael Call-Me-God Jordan has whispered to those two, "Our cap room at that time will be phenomenal, you East Coast boys can come here and you'll still be able to play together." I'm making this complicated. God, how July sucks for basketball fans! ------------------
Washington D.C. is not very nice place to live. I wouldn't be too worried about losing Francis to the Wizards. I would be more worried about losing the Rockets to some third world city. Seriously, players enjoy playing in Houston, and for Rudy. As long as that doesn't change, then Francis will stay. Besides what player in their right mind would leave the defending world champions. ------------------ "Stranger things have happened, but none stranger than this" - Commentator after a parachutist landed in the ring of a Holyfield fight
Rocketsauce, there are plenty of nice places in Maryland to commute from, however. ------------------ The ClutchCity 500.
