On Fox, some quotes more exact than others CD: "We lost a good player in Rice, but we needed the room from the tax" Rice: I was looking forward to being back...buying a house, parking in the new arena" Jackson: "Just playing a complete game and fit in in any role that they give me...defense, leadership, scoring, having a presence" Amaechi: "Mark Jackson talked to me a lot about Jeff Van Gundy...I have fond memories of playing in Houston against Hakeem Olajuwon. Jeff called me this morning and the first thing he did was describe my game in detail. I look forward to playing for him, I feel like he really wants me here" Van Gundy was unhappy about the player's agreement that allows them players with 4+ years to not show up the the first 4 days of training camp. Ewing: Really unfortunate more guys didn't show up. "I'm like the ogre...I expect them to come into camp, play defense, be in shape, and be men...imagine that" -Van Gundy They showed some clips...saw Nachbar and Griffin in them. When they interviewed Ewing, it looked like he had been working out with the guys. They had a couple of clips, one of EG and JVG talking, another of Eddie working with Ewing, and another of Nachbar stretching. It sounds like something's gonna hit the fans if these players aren't ready.
It's becoming more and more apparent that even if the payers don't think they underachieved the past 3 years, JVG does.
Great news. The Rockets motivated to play are a great team. If JVG and Ewing can whip Griffin and Nachbar into shape, that is an extra bonus. I like the direction the team is going. Players that work hard and are physically and mentally tough. Can we bring back Scotty Brooks to whip Francis and Mooch into shape?
Yeah. And JVG also said GOD FORBID! CD seems normal...I don't think he cared about Rice that much now that Rudy is gone as well. It didn't seem like. He was more delighted about getting rid of Rice's contract. Glen Rice seemed pissed...his voice wasn't like in a happy cheerful normal voice...and he said he was about to buy an apartment and get ready to play for us...probably a nice luxurious condominium. He's gone now...he won't get to play much in Utah but I guess he will enjoy his 9 million... Jackson was like listing everything he can do. He said that he has the ability to go on any team and fit a team's need or do his role...defensive presence and leader and scorer...I'm glad we got him for a very decent contract. Funny that Moochie makes more than him. Amaechi seemed quite intelligent and very happy that he is going to JVG. He seems to admire JVG and he remembered that this morning, he talked to JVG and JVG told him in 7 sentences what his strengths and weaknesses were. Meechie feels that he will help...as our 12th man! Ewing is just Ewing...I think he will help Griffin. I don't know how Griffin can improve much. He can continue to practice his shooting and get stronger..but no use if he doesn't have any competition or doesn't play with Francis and Yao...and develop chemistry!
Also..they showed some nice moves by Amaechi. I enjoyed watching that...it showed that he does have the ability to score...he had some nice power moves...didn't look as lucky as Cato's lucky shots. 6-10, 270, is good for Rockets to have. Maybe he can be our useless guy to guard Shaq. Does anyone have any quotes by Jim Jackson about Yao Ming or the Rockets?
JVG also said...'On what he worked on with the players today: "We walked through some defensive principles. We started to put in how we're going to play offensively. Then tonight, we're just going to keep building on that, doing some defense and some offense. So hopefully after these five practices, we can head down to Galveston and this group of guys feels very comfortable, so that when I re-teach the same thing to the veterans, we're only worried about teaching those seven or eight guys and these guys have a good feel for that."' This is at rockets.com after the first day of training camp...
sorry if this was posted already ____________________________________ Rice shipped to Jazz; shooter Jackson signs By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle After a relatively quiet offseason, the Rockets started training camp Tuesday with the attention-grabbing clap of a pair of major roster moves. The Rockets sent veteran forward Glen Rice and two draft picks -- next season's first-round pick and a pick acquired from Chicago -- to Utah to pick up center John Amaechi and a chunk of spending money. They then immediately used the extra cash to sign free-agent shooter-for-hire Jim Jackson to a three-year contract worth, according to sources familiar with the deal, $7.3 million. Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said the deals were made to free the Rockets from the luxury tax hit they expected without hurting themselves and even potentially strengthening the roster at small forward. "It's just so much easier to live under the cap," Dawson said. "If you can't do that, you try to live under the luxury tax (because of) the restrictions. This enabled us to get under the luxury tax and enabled us to get Jim Jackson." The Rockets sent Rice, in the final season of a contract that uses $9.6 million of cap space, to Utah along with the draft choice next season for Amaechi and a second-round pick. The trade moved them from $59.5 million in guaranteed contracts to $53 million, $2 million less than the figure expected to trigger the luxury tax. Having moved from that threat, they were free to sign Jackson, who had long been considered the top free agent still on the market. The trade with the Jazz also gave the Rockets a $7 million trade exception, the difference between Rice's and Amaechi's contracts, potentially allowing them to trade for a player that makes as much as $7 million more than a player dealt in any trade in the next 12 months. Though such a deal would return the Rockets to a luxury tax hit, the trade exception is considered valuable for future trades and is especially useful when acquired after the summer free agency period because it could potentially be used in a sign-and-trade free-agent deal next summer. "It loosens us up so if something else comes up, we're able to look at it," Dawson said. "A lot of people were in our situation as far as the luxury tax goes. Right now, we're out of it, so that's a big relief. We're one of the people that can do some things if the right thing comes up." The Jazz are expected to approach Rice about a buyout of his contract. Rice would not discuss the deal or his plans. "We're going to sit down with him and his agent and go from there," Jazz vice president Kevin O'Connor said. The first-round pick the Rockets must send has some protection if the Rockets are in the lottery, though Dawson would not specify at which draft positions they would keep the pick. The lottery protection would last for as much as four seasons. The Rockets also sent the pick acquired from the Bulls in 2000 for Bryce Drew. That pick would be a first-rounder if the Bulls finish in the top 19 in the league next season, and would convert to a second-rounder in 2005 and another second-rounder in 2006 if the Bulls are among the last 10 teams. The Rockets will also send the Jazz between $2.5 and 3 million, according to sources. The second-rounder the Rockets will receive will be the second-round pick the the Jazz acquired from the Kings. In Jackson, the Rockets pick up a durable and versatile scorer whose career and reputation was enhanced with his strong performance with the Kings last season, particularly in the playoffs when he averaged 11.3 points on 50-percent shooting. "That was years ago," Dawson said of a stigma that had followed Jackson after his sometimes-tempestuous early years in Dallas. "He's done well. He's done a good job everywhere he's been." Jackson, 32, has averaged 15.5 points per game in his career, making 43 percent of his shots. He has also averaged 4.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists. "For so long you play hard, your dedicated and loyal and you end up in the same situation," Jackson said. "I want to be stable for a while, learn the system, the players and learn the city and be there a lot longer than one year. I think they have a lot of the key components with Yao Ming, Stevie (Francis) at the point and Cuttino (Mobley) at the two. They have a good inside, outside game that just needs to be nurtured a bit. Jeff Van Gundy will do that. The discipline will come in with Jeff. That was all that was missing. "I fit right in there." Amaechi, 32, struggled badly as a free-agent pickup in Utah, averaging two points and 1.5 rebounds last season. After a breakthrough season in Orlando, Amaechi clashed with Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. He said he had expected that he would be dealt since and was especially glad to go to Houston because of what he had heard about Van Gundy from former Jazz teammate Mark Jackson. "I didn't think anything was ever going to happen here (in Utah) one way or another," Amaechi said. "The only resolution was to move on. Mark Jackson, who became of a very good friend of mine, talked to me a lot about Jeff. He told me about his passion, his fiery nature." Rice, who had been house hunting in Houston this week, said he was not ready to comment. "I'm still collecting my thoughts," he said. Dawson said the deals were not made to move Rice, who had played for Van Gundy for one season in New York, but to move his contract. "It's really tough living over the cap, but it's even tougher living over the luxury tax," Dawson said.
Its ridiculous that players with more than 3 years of experience are not allowed to show up when training camp begins. what, 4 months vacation time is not enough? 5-day training camp is too much now because there's now a few games added to the first round playoffs. Players association my ass, who are these guys representing, because you can bet over 90% of the players who are not able to show up to training camp want to actually be there for more than 3 days. I agree with Van Gundy, the product will suffer, and in the end, thats bad for everybody. thanks for the quotes bra.
Is it possible for Utah to buyout his contract and him come back to Houston for less money? If not don't bite my head off I am just asking
Not do dampen the good vibe, but the one thing about Van Gundy that I find to be less than ideal is how readily he resorts to such caustic sarcasm when discussing his players to the press. Anybody who heard the actual recording of Van Gundy's voice probably has a better idea of what I'm trying to comment about. I'm sure it sits well with fans who are fed up with what they see as a lack of trying, but I can't see how it can do anything but harden his relationship with his players. In otherwords, if I were one of his players, I would see this as an attempt to embarass me publicly. It serves no purpose and isn't constructive. If he's going to try and shame or embarass them to motivate them, he should keep it out of the press as a baseline show of trust with his players.
Dr of Dunk, Players with 3 or more years of experience are not even allowed in the same facilities. its crazy.....I know.
Ottomaton - Yours is a valid concern but think about this...not one of Van Gundy's former players has said anything remotely negative about him...not Jackson, not Sprewell, not Allan Houston...no one! In fact, back when the Rox and JVG were still negotiating, almu (who's in NYC) posted how much former players love him.
If we're still so close to the luxury tax, I don't anticipate us using the trade exception. That's a bummer. Still, the SF position has instantly gone from thin to deep. Jackson, AG and Boki? Not bad at all. Notice all the guys we've picked up are supposed to be hard workers, professionals. That's a good sign.
<b>CD: "We lost a good player in Rice, but we needed the room from the tax" </b> Maybe this will kill off the "this trade was made to make Mobley expendable" posts. We're lucky the Rocks were able to pull off a deal to eventually acquire Jimmy Jackson! I don't see anymore moves (outside of training camp signings). This is our team, and it's an outstanding team! By the way, there is talk that the Jazz might buy out Rice's contract, which is interesting. I wouldn't mind re-signing Rice for cheap on a one year deal. Add some depth and get another veteran.
Well, I'm not worried about Steve or Cat not being in shape, it's quite obvious that they both train during the offseason on their own time. Mo, on the other hand. . . They should have been there though, everybody, even Ming. A new coach means a new system and 4 days can mean a lot when learning a new offense and defense. When does Ming show up btw?
I agree...you can sense his sarcasm! But there's nothing wrong with it...I like it! And lol...yeah...Rice's contract is bought out and he returns to Houston! Master plan!
I share the concern I will see how it works out Different people react differently Trying to SHAME someone into doing something is wack. Rocket River
