RocksMill, I was jesting at the idea that Mobley would average almost 30 a game next year. But then Dave pointed out that it was just a box score idea. I was only trying to make a joke out of what I see as a trend around here to act as if you can take players statistics, put them together and then that would be how many points they would score if they were on the same team. Like if we added Rashard's 16 a game, then if we lost to the Spurs last year by 9, if we had Rashard last year we would have won by 7. Also, I just thought Mobes pts were a little high. But yes, all he really needs to do is throw up Jordan like numbers and I would be happy too.
Dear Rashard Lewis, Please sign a contract somewhere. ANYWHERE. I don't care. Sign with Seattle, Dallas, Cleveland, Europe, the Chinese Basketball Association...hell, sign with the WNBA for all I care, just sign a contract with SOME kind of professional basketball team, so people will stop littering this fine message board with messages about you! Sincerely, Every Rockets fan that knows we don't have a snowball's chance in hell of signing you
Oh no, Mr. Bill! That means that CD will use his creative magic to acquire Rashard -- and I'm happy with Rice, Boki and T-Mo.
This is probably true, but if so I am a little irritated when did not go all out for Bryan Russell with the MCE as Washington did. Ya'll realize at the SF position we have a former great player who has barely been on his feet for 18 months and a rookie who even we project will only play 15 MPG next year. After that we have a guy in TMo who has a 50/50 chance to be on an NBA roster after next year. We have a huge current hole in the line-up right now. Boki will hopefully be that guy down the line but we need someone who can play the 3 effectively NOW. If EG and KT cannot play heavy and effective minutes at the 3 next year I promise you this will be a major achillies heel in our offense and defense (no player with both size and quickness on the wing) and keep us 1 tier lower than we otherwise could be.
Maybe it tells you that Rudy and management knows more than we do, i.e. Rice is healthy and looking good. Boki should be fine right away, he already was playing pro ball. For what he is needed for right away, he fits the bill. If this were a big problem area, you would think the Rockets would pick up Walt for a year. I think they are going to use Kenny more at the three.
Honestly Desert Scar, I doubt Rudy and CD are thinking championship next year. Second Round would be great though. We need a few years of development from our youngins. We don't need to go screwing up our finances to try to make a run this year. I think we should sit on things for a while and see who pans out.
I agree with ricerocket and others. Rashard Lewis would have signed in Seattle already, I believe, if Gary Payton were four or five years younger, and maybe had more of a power forward on the team. Seattle has also balked at extending Payton's contract (for good reasons; he's still one of the best, but he is 34). I have said before that Seattle is more than likely seeking sign-and-trade options that involve Lewis and/or Payton. Hold onto Payton now, then get all that cap room next year, or see if something like the ESPN-hypothetical Indiana trade can go down. Seattle can rebuild now or next year. I'm not so sure re-signing Rashard is in the team's best interests. All that said, I wish we could get Rashard in a 3-way trade, but since we have no players that we'd trade (unless a third team wants Mo Taylor or Rice or KT) then we'll just have to let him go. Seattle asked for Eddie, right? Pshaw! 'T'ain't g'wans'ta happen.
If Seattle won't work with us we should offer the MCE. Once Rice goes, Lewis would fit in our Team. This is our only chance tpo have Lewis, so we should go for it!
I am not thinking championship either but without solid production from the 3 were are a playoff bubble team (might or might not make it). Plus, the last thing I want to do is give the Gizzards a lotto pick, they are starting to use their picks well and are in our division. Further, I don't see how Russell would hurt much financially or developmentally. We could only sign him for the MCE. A one year deal (as he signed with Wash) would have been perfect for us (if nothing else to help us move ahead of other playoff bubble teams next year alone). If it works out great for both of us we sign BR for a few more years (say 5mil year) to start at the 3 until Boki is ready and/or be a first rate back up to Cat (and later back-up Boki). If the first year doesn't go well for both of us, BR can leave no hard feelings or take a lessor but fair offer with us that we would have assured him of this year (somewhere between the vet min and the full MCE level salary). As for development, I think we only project around 15 MPG for Boki even if we are relatively desperate. He has played pro ball, but it was Europe and he didn't exactly dominate over there. I expect him (and I think the Rockets do too) to take a couple of years before he adjusts to NBA ball and can be a heavy minute (30ish) contributer. All I can say is I hope Rice is ready and KT/EG can be mainstays at the 3. These are pretty big questionmarks (potentially causing offensive and defensive problems) going into this season and it seems to me BR would have filled so many gaps.
Here's how it looks to me. If Rashard walks from Seattle, he'll sign with Dallas. Or he'll sign with Seattle and push for S&T cause there's too much bad blood present now. S&T are GM decisions and open to anyone with a good offer. The ante would be $64 mil over 7 years and the X-factor are the players you get in trade for those numbers. The Rox has the resources to be in the game. They have stockpiled players they can move and if they can free up another $4.6 mil/yr in cap space, combine it with MCE money, they can afford him. Point is, it looks possible to get Shard under these circumstances, IF Rox want him. Otherwise, Dallas gets the benefit because they'll have him for 7 years without having to promise a MAX contract as before. As others have pointed out, if he stays in Seattle or goes to Dallas, this would not affect Rox's standings much overall. But if he comes to Houston, the Rockets will have upgraded in the West. I still think Boki's the man, but there isn't much room for blind faith in the NBA. But if the Rox don't play for him, well I'll just shrug my shoulders and go on with my life.
If Rashard gets the max, or close to max money from any team in the NBA, that is a complete joke. He isn't worth it, and if he gets it, then every guy in the league who is young and can score 17 a game will want the max. That is what is ruining baseball. Anyone who can hit .260 thinks they need to make 5 million a year. It is a joke! The NBA needs to make sure that they don't give every single person who calls Management's bluff the max. It ruins the game, and it ruins teams. Just look at Minnesota. They gave KG all that money, now they can't pay for a supporting cast to play with him. I say let him go to Dallas, he'll be the 4th or 5th option on that team, and then he won't get paid a dime when his 3-year MCE expires because he is only scoring 10-12 ppg. If he is smart, take Seattle's offer FOR FEWER YEARS so he isn't wrapped up in a bad contract. If he proves he is worth the max in the shorter contract, then he can walk or demand to recieve the max from Seattle. If he leaves now for Dallas, he is only ruining his career. Let him go, the Rockets don't need him on their new team AT ALL!!!!
If I were Rashard I'd say forget that deal. Fifty wins and 9.25 rebounds per game doesn't even sound close to reasonable. You have to play a lot of minutes to get 9.25rpg, but you need to save energy to make it to 50 wins. Personally, I think Seattle is not that good to make this contract plausible. I'd try my chances in my home town for a year and show the world what I'm worth. Then H-town shells out the money. If not, some other city will.
Thank you. Those incentives are not entirely under his control. All Seattle has to do is 'blow' up the franchise and he will never get to 50 wins. However, Seattle screwed itself again just like with Kemp. You don't give big money to Calvin Booth and Jerome James and then come at you supposed star and say we don't have the money. It's Jim McIlvaine all over again. The real question is what does Rashard Lewis think he is worth? If I were Lewis I would increase my value by simply signing with the Lakers and being option #3.
Bostjan Nachbar, the 2nd first round pick (#15) of the Rocks and a Euro player. Good to see some folks returning to the BBS.
Seattle and Lewis are really fooling themselves to say the least. Seattle thinks because they have cap room, some free agents will come and play in rainy ass seattle. They should look no further than Chicago after Jordan was forced out. No free agents wanted to go there after the way Jordan and company was treated. Why would a free agent, regardless of the money go to the west especially Seattle without Payton or Lewis? I may be in the minority, but i do think he deserves more than Lafrentz but les than Marion. I don't think he will get a better offer anywhere else, but he should make his decision up and go with it. Do he want to be 4th fiddle on a loaded Dallas team,but win games or does he want to be 2nd maybe first on a rebuilding Seattle team but get really paid? Its tougher than what people think.Personally if i was going to sign for a 3 yr deal, it would be for a team where i could put up numbers and win.
