With all the speculation about Odom and Lewis and/or Woods and Butler, a goodly number of the posters have relegated Rice to the shelf. I was looking over the roster speculating who the Rocks would keep, cut or trade, and I had this funny hunch about Rice. IMO, he wants to go out in a blaze of glory rather than limp out, and I think he is going to have a banner year. I can't recall the poster who watched Rice bury 3-pointer after 3-pointer before home games near the end of the season. However, his/her observations may well be an indicator Rice will return as a warrior waiting in the weeds. One more thing, if the Rockets draft a SF, he will be more willing to serve as an apprentice for a year. Odom or Lewis would be unhappy because they have earned their spurs as starters.
Thumbs, This could only happen if he shows up IN THE BEST CONDITION OF HIS LIFE. He is coming off basically a year out of competition and was heavy and a step-slow BEFORE he injured his knee. If he gets with a trainer, and really commits to fitness, flexibility, and weight loss, he has a chance to contribute. O/w I'm afraid he is just expensive damaged goods that no sane GM would be willing to take off our hands. What I don't understand is why Rocket's management does not REQUIRE this of every player (Cato and Collier two other examples who come to mind). D R
I think Rice's main function on the Rockets is to come off the cap when Francis will get his max contract.
If Rice comes back in GREAT shape. That means a summer of workouts. Even when he was playing, he was in bad shape. I'd like to see 15lbs less than what he was just before he went out. it just ain't going to happen. Oeilpere says we're shopping him. I'm quite happy about it. I'd be happy to bench him, but WE ned the cap space, and he's too much per year to sit on OUR bench. Chicago on the other hand....(See thread on #2 pick)....
thumbs Nothing personal, but Rice was over the hill when we got him. Can you give me some examples of NBA players who waited until they were over 30 to started seriously working out? I can't recall any. Shooting practice 3 ptrs when no one is guarding you is a far cry from having someone in your face and forcing you to put the ball on the floor. The original goal was for Rice to be available when Cat and Steve drive and kick out to him. IMO, the NBA zone has changed this and makes him less effective...regardless of health. EG, TMo, Odom, Lewis, Butler, Woods, MCE, Walt resigned... will all be better options at SF this year.
I realize my gut hunch runs counter to all logic and history where Rice is concerned. Only time will tell. However, I have learned to trust my intuition. My other gut feeling is that Stoudemire will turn out to be the steal of the draft and Wilcox will fizzle because of a penchant for fouling. Again, there is no basis in fact for that gut hunch either.
Despite my hunch, I would be the first to cheer if we can use Rice to add a player who can contriubute points....and defense. I just hope we can figure out how to acquire a SF and C that can propel the Rocks to the top.
Barkley??? And one year later he coudn't get into good enough shape to play with MJ? We'll have to disagree on this one. IMO, his career ending injury was due to trying to explode and his knee gave out. That's not my idea of excellent conditioning. thumbs I would love to be proven wrong, but I also had intuitive feelings about Rice at the first mention of the trade last summer.
next year, the best thing rice can do is learn chinese cooking and cook some dishes and rice to ensure ming is sated and healthy so ming can play at full level
As much as I would like to think otherwise... Rice is what you call washed up. He's much like Danny Manning. Once a very good player now they're both hurting, slow and a mere form of what they used to be.
Use Rice to get a defensive scorer???!? I seriously think you're looking at this thing all wrong...the question of trading Rice will be how much EXTRA do we have to give up to convince another GM to take this albatross off our hands...to think that we'll actually get value back for him is beyond a stretch. We will either get another dead-weight contract back, or have to give up something in a trade to gain the addition by subtraction of dumping Rice...
I guess I'm one of the few who wants to keep Rice. Not because I think he's going to score 20 ppg next year... #1.) His contract: No team will want it. He's only got 2 years left. We're not anywhere near the luxury tax. To me, I'd wait out those 2 years, rather than have to pay (with talent) extra to get someone to take him. #2.) Veteran leadership: Veteran all-stars with championship experience are few and far between. Sure, you could find the Scot Williams/Kevin Willis' around, but how many multiple time bona-fide all stars with championship experience are there sitting around. I can't think of any off the top of my head. #3.) What we need out of the position: We need a designated shooter, like Bullard. I'd be happy with 20 quality MPG out of Rice. We need a future starter at the position, but having Rice here provides a 2 year safety blanket, if we were to draft/acquire someone with minimal experience. JAG mentions the addition by subtraction theory...but Rice has not been a hinderance on this team, if anything, he's helped Cato, and was a leader on the defensive end, in terms of keeping everyone in the right place. The reason our defense sucked was because half the time, we ran around like chickens with our heads chopped off, because our leadership sucked. Rice is a very positive locker room presence. To me, it just makes little sense to get rid of him, unless there is a market for him, which is unlikely. You're probably not going to find a shorter contract to trade him for, and you're not going to get talent in return for him. He's just not a cancer that you go out of your way to get rid of, and if no one is looking to take him, you can only get rid of him by going out of your way, so why bother?
NIKEstrad, We can get rid of Rice now, while getting a starter. We'll force him onto someone. Some people (like the Bulls) are a better fit for him. That's where he'd be useful. Right now, we're lacking a starting 3, and a backup 5. We have at least one extra draft pick, and KT, who's a hot trading commodity, and useless on our team. WHat betetr time to trade Rice? KT Rice #5 Doesn't look so bad if you're rebuilding, or looking for depth. In fact, it's quite good. Around 12 M for, say, Rice KT Dajuan Wagner? Qyntel Woods? To get a SF, we ned to get rid of one. T-Mo ain't going nowhere, so Rice is the next on the list. KT is 3rd string, and he deserves better. We don't need anymore rookies. it's perfect fit. Why not?
Sane, giving up #1 to #7 just to get rid of Rice is ....insane, particularly if you're giving up Woods. That package is worth way, way more than Lewis or Odom.
1) I meant addition by subtraction from the economic point of view...I actually agree that he has not been an attitude problem. 2) If Glen Rice is a leader on your defense, boy, are you in trouble..... 3) I agree that trading him might not be the best scenario...My point was that we can expect a negative return for him in a trade, not that we have to trade him.
No to just get rid of Rice. Can you guarantee that Woods will be better than Lewis or Odom? We're trying to win now. I hopre that's clear. Rudy would probably trade Woods to Seattle or Clippers for any of those guys straight up. We're trying to win now. Rebuilding is over. This is the do-or-die season for us.
