Rockets are only remaining bidder for Jackson

I think that is assuming we still have interest. I still think the Rockets are less interested in Jackson than most of us would like to believe. They've never been real high on the guy, but who knows.

 

I wonder why aren't that interested in Jackson. People say he's unproven, but once he started he was very, very productive. Maybe the Rockets are setting up for something later, we don't know. I think that he's the best player out there especially at center. Maybe the Rockets are holding out for Duncan and the new building in 2yrs. Would people say Mobley needs to take as many bad shots if we get Duncan in 2 yrs?

 

I think the Rockets would be very, very foolish not to check out Jackson at this point. The guy played really well last year (and in the Western Conference to boot). Sure he's had an injury, but that doesn't mean he's injury prone. And if we can work out a really good deal, then it would be a waste.

Of course it might be that there are some things we don't know about Jackson (possible long term health problems maybe) and that's why the Rockets are hesitant. But if the guy can be had for cheap, he's the best realistic center prospect out there. And I think the Rockets would be really stupid to hold out for Duncan or even LaFrentz. First, both of these guys are really PFs and Duncan has made it quite clear that he has no interest in playing the center spot. Furthermore, these guys are going to be primo FAs at a time when the Rockets will either be over the cap or be upping Steve's contract (which will be the max for sure). I say take a chance - he can't be any more of a disappointment than Cato.

 

Houston probably isn't interested in Marc Jackson for the same reason many of us aren't:

1. Doesn't block shots
2. Mediocre defense.
3. No post game
4. Not much range.

He shoots 12 foot jumpers and rebounds fine. Not so great.

 

The Rockets should attempt to sign Jackson now. We should not wait for future free agents. We all got our hopes up for Webber and our hopes were dashed.

 

Jackson ain't great, but you need SOMEONE to play in the middle. Who is going to play the pivot? Cato? Collier? As "Not great" as Jackson is, he is still better than those two clowns.

You can't expect Bullard to guard more than 2 or 3 guys at one time.

Thanks Matt....for everything

 

I would have to believe that there is a tendency by the Rockets to not want to go overboard with signing anyone. If Jackson wants a long-term deal starting at $4 to $5 million and the Rockets aren't comfortable giving that to someone who has only had one season, I can understand. Part of it may be the fear of being burned like they were with Cato.

They know what they are getting with Taylor and Anderson but Jackson is a relative unknown. To overpay for another center that may or may not pan out is probably something they don't want to do.

 

Jackson would be fine as long as he isn't paid more than what the Rockets offered Hakeem.

 

I think most people will go with you on the no-D/ shot-blocking thing, but to say the guy hasn't got range is a little bit absurd.
He shoots the jumper out to almost 3-land quite sweetly - and on a few occasions last season he was able to drop in more than 1 three in a game - now I don't think he attempted many, so any 3Pt% is going to be deceiving (not sure if it's high or not from memory) - but he does have range!


But for 4.5mill plus per season (I have no idea why the warriors wouldn't want him, he's better than any of their options at C) he's a touch overpriced isn't he?

 

In offering Marc Jackson starter money, the Rockets would indirectly be conceding the fact that they overpaid for Cato, something we all know now, and that he is a lost cause. I don't think that's the message they want to send, and I imagine the coaching staff still thinks he has some promise, given the fact he was injured for the majority of last season.

McCoy and White are the most likely options, in that order, and honestly, I wouldn't mind either on the team. White would be more valuable in a halfcourt, defensive set, whereas McCoy would be more valuable in the open floor, trailing on the break for easy buckets.

It's all of a matter of what's higher on the Rockets priorities in regards to the center position; defense or a chemistry player. I'm undecided when it comes to this issue, with me leaning towards defense and White, even though some of my past comments may be contradictory.

If there's a/any reason I want McCoy over White, it's probably just because he's more easily attainable, and wouldn't disrupt chemistry, which might be the case if you traded Williams for White.

Ideally, the Rockets could somehow land White AND McCoy, dumping Collier and other minor components in the process. I think most would agree that they'd rather see Walt go, and us just land one of the two centers, but I would think that trade wouldn't sit too well with the other players, though White having the Washington connection with Francis and Norris might lessen the blow.

 

I think that we are stuck with Cato and can forget another center, or Cato will be gone and we will end up with Miller as the center. I don't have an idea how, but I think Miller is the one that could be had that Rudy wants.

 

Hey, at least Jackson can rebound, you gotta give him that. Our other centers get outrebounded by our point guard. That is ridiculous.

 

I would like to have jackson mixed with our rosters, but I won't sign him more than 2 years contract. He can be a good addition to our team.

 

If the Rockets want to see if they can still get something out of Cato, and don't want to overpay on a center like Marc Jackson, assuming Jackson's demands don't come down, then Jelani McCoy is the way to go. He's cheap, young, athletic, a solid shot-blocker, and similar to Cato in stature. If Cato still doesn't work out you can have McCoy start, but if Cato does realize his potential, you will have a solid back-up core of McCoy and Collier. I say go after McCoy right now, assuming Jackson is unattainable.

 

Not many people are interested in MJacks because he hasn't proven much yet. Only half a season played......... I mean, he plays for the Warriors, one of the crapiest teams. Also, there must have been a reason that he went undrafted when he came out of college, they didn't just miss him.

I remember when the Raps signed Yogi Stewart to a long term contract. He is very similar to Jackson (only his situation) in that he was undrafted. Luckily he had a good season with the Kings and many thought that he was gonna be a pretty damn good player. But now he's all the way down the bench of the Raps, getting no PT at all, yet making tons of $$$.

IMO, I think that he is not gonna close to being as productive if he goes to a better team. The Rockets won't get anything special if they sign Marc.

 

I think the ideal situation with Jackson would be to sign him to a 2 year 5 mil deal or a 1 year 2 mil deal. A short term contract would give Jackson a chance to prove himself and play where he thinks he wants to play. The Rockets would be getting a legitamate back up center (who we would probably have to start most of the time depending on Cato's performance), and one step closer to being a complete team. With both Jackson and Cato, we should get some average production out of our center position, and put us in a good situation to make the playoffs. Also, if we can actually keep the contract to 1 or 2 years, if Jackson fails to produce what we want to see out of him, we can renounce him at the end of the contract and go for a free agent center at that time. I really think the Rockets should take a chance, if and only if Jackson will agree to a 1 to 2 year contract.

Just my humble opinion on the situation, and it's quite humble since I only saw Jackson play one game personally. I hope we do at least something this summer to fill the void created by Hakeem's departure.

 

Any hope of signing Mark Jackson, who is a legitimate and serviceable NBA Center, was radically diminished when Mediocre Taylor was signed to his bloated, undeserved contract.


I guess it's time for Cato/Collier, the 2 headed CBA joke.

 

2 million????

He's definitely worth more than that!


With all the scorers on our team, he can concentrate more on defense and rebounding. I'm not saying we ink him long term, 2 million is CBA money.


Understand what's happened. Why isn't anyone mentioning that he dropped all those points in the West, where he was the second option.


If we didn't have Cato, I'd say we shud ink him to 2 years, 8 million (total). Then we throw in an extension after the first year if he lives up to expectations.


BUT, we do have Cato. No, not unfortunately. If we ink anyone other than Mccoy to back him up, then you can kiss all your hopes of him producing this year goodbye. He finally thinks he has his chance to do something, and is healthy, and the Rockets sign another starter to replace Hakeem? I don't think so...

The ideal thing for the Rockets to do is Jelani Mccoy for 2 years, 5 million.


I'm not pro-Marc Jackson, and I'm not against him. But I think he deserves his props.


Mccoy off the bench, Cato in our starting line-up, Griffin at SF, and Langhi at 6'11 gives us some size, shot blocking and rebounding to use.

Imagine Cato becomes really determined and becomes a shotblocking force, and we put Mccoy in for Mo Taylor, and Griffin at the 3? That would be a super shotblocking line-up.


Think about it. This way, we do what we need to fill spots, and you know what (?), it's a great line-up. But still, in 2 years, I think we can pursue Tim Duncan, right? So we get the best of both.

 

"I think the ideal situation with Jackson would be to sign him to a 2 year 5 mil deal or a 1 year 2 mil deal"

Jackson is a restricted free agent. GSW will probably match any offer up to 4.5 mil. Thus if we want Jackson he will cost us at least 4.6.

McCoy has been released by Seattle so we could get him cheaper. Say 2 years 6 mil.