I have a source who told me today that the Rocks are interested in Mo Taylor in LAC. He said Rudy really likes Taylor and the Rockets might somehow package Drew and Williams in a deal. The reason Taylor is on the block is he doesn't want to stay in LAC. I would love this deal as Taylor plays PF but is athletic enough to play the 3 at 6'9 260, but that would leave a hole a backup point guard unless a player like Derrick Martin is thrown in. Right now that is all I know. I'll keep you posted, but it's just a rumor right now. [This message has been edited by SooneRockStro (edited February 02, 2000).]
I would do the trade for Taylor, but Derrick Martin is no longer on the Clippers so I have to question your source and your knowledge of the game. ------------------ Stevie Wonder says "they call him FRANCHISE because his dunks are for sale at an arena near you."
My source did not say the part about Derrick Martin. I just threw his name up off the top of my head. I don't keep up with LAC, and I thought he was still on the Clippers.
SooneRockStro: That is true. The Rockets were in talks with the Clippers about Taylor a while back. Personally, I think he is garbage, and I wouldnt deal Drew for him. I know point guards who could outrebound him. I would rather hold onto Drew and package him into a bigger pot with Mobley.
I think you're right Cabbage about getting him into a bigger deal, but Drew and Williams for Taylor sounds pretty good to me. Drew is garbage if you ask me and Williams seems kinda streaky. So as far as I'm concerned the Rocks would be getting a better chunk of garbage than LAC. Plus, Taylor's a free agent after this year so it does free up a little space. I don't know how much it would effect the salary cap, but I do know that the Rocks would be freeing up space. My source said that he didn't know the financial numbers, so the trade may vary with a few throw ins to make it work cap-wise. [This message has been edited by SooneRockStro (edited February 02, 2000).]
The salaries are as follows: Hou: Williams 4M Free Agent 2002 Drew 925,000K Free Agent 2002 LAC: Taylor 1,210,000 free agent 2000 So the deal has to be within 85%, so the Clips have to trade 4,186,250 worth of players. 4,186,250-1,210,000=2,976,250 left they have to come up with. So the Clippers could then give up Eric Piatkowski at 3M a year and a free agent in 2003 to make it work. The deal could look like this Hou: Drew 925,000 Williams 4Mill 4,925,000(85%= atleast 4,186,250) LAC: Taylor 1,210,000 Piatkowski 3 mill 4,210,000 It fits like a glove. My source said there would probably have to be throw ins to make it work and Eric Piatkowski seems like the right man to pull the deal off. The deal is great for the Rocks because they get rid of Walt's 4 mill dollar contract and Taylor is a free agent. Piatkowski probably wouldn't be back next season unless the Rockets want another Bullard. In my opinion I think the Rocks would trade him when the 6 month waiting period is over and would probably re-sign Taylor to help the PF void.
Could someone more knowledgeable with Mo's game please tell me how he's better than KT. 46% FGs and 5.5 rebs. for a PF aren't that impressive - certainly not worthy the money he wants in my opinion. I bet KT could score as much with enough touches on a terrible team like the Clippers.
Maurice is a good player AVGing over 17 points a game. He does have a good game and it has been a while since we had a 4 that was over 6'7" (Since Otis). I have heard the Rumor as well, but the mention of the second play has been Keith "bigger fro than Frobe Bryant" Closs. We could package a deal that would send Drew, Mobley and Francis for Shaq, that way we wouldn't have a point guard. I couldn't see Drew/Mobley going in any deal together. I think when Carlos comes back and pulling KT off the bench, things will work out good. Another thing that would be interesting is see Hakeem and Cato both on the floor. It may create match problems and we would have a chance to exploit it. It is no different than running 2 point guards, ala: Francis/Drew.
Taylor is good but how about Tim Thomas? He's probably demanding a lot less $$$ this summer than Mo. The Bucks could use a young back-up PG like Bryce and a shooter like Walt. How about Drew/Williams/Turkcan pick for Thomas/Del Negro? Tim Thomas Games: 43, 1 start Minutes: 25.4 Points: 10.9 Rebounds: 3.9 FG%: .489 FT%: .745 3G%: .358 He's athletic, young and talented.
Tim is a light 4. He only ways 230. I love both of their games.. I would take Brain Grant over both of them. Who is a free agent at the end of the year. Portland is stockpiled at the 4/5.
I like Donny Fortson better than Mo. He went significantly higher in the draft than Mo for a reason; he's a better NBA performer. Terrific rebounder. Ranked 4th last year at 11.6 and 8th in FG% He just got off injury list with the Celtics, otherwise we would have been mentioning him long time ago. Celts are shopping him. Fortson is better than Mo.
I don't think that getting Mo Taylor helps us. He is not worth the maximum(which he will demand and get from some team). So we trade for him, and he leaves after the season. If we get Piatkowski as well, we free up cap space, but we lose Walt and Drew. If we are giving up Drew, I think we have to get the Kandiman in the deal. Maybe Kandi and Nesby for Walt,Drew, and TMass. That deal is okay for the Rox and I think the salaries are close.
Fortson went 10th, Taylor 14th. Not that significant a drop-off and players 11-13 were not power forwards. Fortson is a great rebounder but short like KT. He's also not the quickest guy around. I don't know how well he'd fit with Francis' running game.
i think there is a big diff between top 10 and 14. nevermind though. minor point. Fortson is a huge rebounder. He actually played some center last year when LaFrentz was out. He is definitely a power forward. I don't care what his size is. Look at it this way, he's 3 inches taller than the best PF rebounder of all time (Barkley). I'm just saying that for insignificant fun. don't give me any Rodman side-tracks (i agree). But really, Fortson is huge. 4th in rebounds. I don't care how tall he is; that's what we need. Mo will never match those numbers. Plus, Fortson probably will go cheaper because of the injury. At 50% fg last year and 4.6 offensive rebounds, you know those numbers are beefed up from being around the rim, which makes him ideal for a guard-oriented team that drives and dishes. Saying a player has to fit a "running game" is overstating the roll of fastbreaks in our scoring (not to mention slighting the fact that it takes good rebounding to start fast-breaks). Plus, exactly how slow is he. He just has to be as fast as Cato and Thorpe-type players to partake in fastbreaks. OK--who else wants to tell me Mo is better than Danny Fortson!! [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited February 03, 2000).]
Fortson is certainly better than Taylor, but I wouldn't trade for him either. The only player I want from that Clipper team (other than Odom and D. Anderson who are untouchables) is Kandi. Him and Cato would make a nice defensive duo. I would trade Drew and Walt for him, though I doubt that would be enough.
Mo Taylor would be a NICE addition to Houston. He is not going to play for LA after this year, so he can ask for all the money he wants, that doesn't mean he is going to get it. I would love to see us pick up Mo. However, a trade was mentioned for Mo/Piatkowski for Drew and Walt???? LAC will never go for it, unless another more appealing trade doesn't materialize. Mo has already made sure that if they don't trade him, the get nothing for him when he leaves at the end of the contract. Fortsen doesn't run the floor well at all. Mo is a good athlete, can run, score, an average rebounder for his size.
Go for Mo and Closs! If for no other reason the guy is tall and talented! Put him in the weightroom and lets see what happens. Even better would be Kandi and Closs, but the whole point of this deal for the Clips is to get something for Taylor.
If we can get Taylor or Forston with Drew and Walt as the principal we do it in a heartbeat. I wouldn't see too much of a decision there. Neither player may be steller or fits the ideal. But we work in reality, and clearly each player does something better (Taylor-offense, Fortston-rebounding) than any young big guy we have, and thus would bring good things to the table.
