What role does he play on this team? I think it was a waste to get him, but I guess it was more a business salary transaction rather than helping this team.... What do you guys think?
Cutting him would be a huge mistake IMO. $2-$3 mil contract to throw into a trade if needed. There is always the possibility that Cato or Yao could miss a game or two, and Amaechi would be a quality player in the garbage/spot minutes role. There are worse 12th men in the league than J-Chi. Its not like he is taking up a roster spot that we could use on someone else. Hell, even if he is, just stick him on the IR.
It's certainly a possibility. Maybe they are considering moving Cato to the 4 for short periods of time. yao and Cato on the floor at the same time would be noting short of interesting.
Hell no. We paid a high price for cap room and he was the throw-in. Let's see if the throw-in can play some bloody basketball.
Double "hell no". Amaechi can backup both the C and PF spots and as codell pointed out, his $2.6m salary could be used in a trade. And if he's cut, his salary still counts against the cap (think Matt Maloney). Plus IMO, JVG will get more out of him than Sloan was able to.
Soooo, Gater...what's your new sig going to be? Taylor's contract? Can't go wrong with a Simpsons quote, if you ask me...
The only reason that I can think of for taking a center in trade would be IF they already had an offer for Cato. The PF spot has looked pretty bleak for us for quite a while, and there are lots of teams in the east that need a good center (which Cato is, finally) and could spare a 4. My guess? Memephis, Toronto, or possibly Indiana. Cato's game is similar to Robert Parish, and that's why Indiana is on the list. Toronto just wants what they thought they were getting with Hakeem. And Memphis..well...they just need somethign to start with....
If there's any chance of Amaechi being cut, it will be next year (and if we need roster space), when it doesn't matter any ways.
he's going to cost the rox 5 mill or so over the next 2 years anyway, might as well keep him on the bench for a warm body and 6 fouls. Who knows, maybe JVG can get him back to the form he was in Orlando and he could turn out to be a valuable bench player.
A-T - Taylor? Let's see... "4 (more) years at $35.1m, 0 down, 4 to go"... it doesn't quite have the same ring. Bear with me a few days...like Rice, I'm stunned, too!
What would the point in cutting Amaechi be? I don't believe he's taking up a roster spot we need. We need a back up center if either Yao or Cato finds themselves injured this season. It gives us a bit more flexibility on the trade front (i'm not sure i'm content to have Amaechi as our second string center but having him already there, in place and accostumed to Van Gundy's system if by chance the rockets recieve a great offer on Cato is nice). And of course, even if we did cut him we still have to pay him 2.5 mil a year this year and next year. So why? I can't think of one single reason why we should cut him.
Make me a list of 4's from the east that are worth trading Cato for... I'll even start it for you. 1. J. O'Neil
Yeah he is, it's more than just last year. I'm not going to check the stats because I know that he was in the doghouse last year and averaged like 2 pts a game to Colliers 4 or something like that. But he's been a regular in an NBA rotation in the past and ahas posted respectable numbers for a full season, something Collier really hasn't ever done.
OK then. Houston completely gives up on the 6.5 million trade exception. Instead they decide to use it to broker a deal for 2 over the cap teams in return for two 1st round picks (maybe lottery). Does that make you happy?
Looks like he figures into the plans, apologies if somebody already caught this, from Salt Lake Herald Tribune: Jazz Notes: Amaechi carries no grudge against Jazz By Phil Miller The Salt Lake Tribune John Amaechi will spend his 33rd birthday in the Delta Center next month, but he will do it in the uniform of the visiting Houston Rockets. Anyone who believes that the 6-10 center already has circled that Nov. 26 game, though, doesn't know John Amaechi. "There is no emotional component to it. That's not who I am. That's not why I play basketball," Amaechi said Tuesday, shortly after learning he had been traded to the Rockets. "I won't have anything to prove that night. I don't have anything to prove to anybody, other than proving to myself that I can still play the way I did in Orlando." He never approached that level in Utah, causing his minutes, and his effectiveness, to steadily dwindle over his two seasons with the Jazz. He shot 31.4 percent from the field, at one point missing 23 of 24 shots last season. The situation frustrated Amaechi, who was dreading the prospect of a third season in Salt Lake City when he reported to training camp Tuesday. "It would have been very difficult. I obviously wasn't going to change some opinions in Utah," Amaechi said. "But I came back ready to play. I'm in a little better shape than last year. . . . I'm proud to say that as I get older, I actually improve my physical condition." After taking a physical at the Jazz's training facility Tuesday, Amaechi got a call from a radio station, telling him he had been traded. Kevin O'Connor, Jazz vice president of basketball operations, called a few minutes later to officially send him to Houston. "John just wasn't a good fit here," O'Connor said. Amaechi said he was surprised by the deal, but happy with the outcome, particularly after Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy called later Tuesday. "We had a very good chat. They're a team that really wants to go places, and he seemed to know a lot about me," Amaechi said. "I don't think there's any doubt that my opportunities will increase" in Houston. But if there are any hard feelings over his failed tenure in Utah, Amaechi swears they don't belong to him. "I'm a resilient individual. I've been counted out more times than I care to remember, so this doesn't bother me," Amaechi said. "I guess I wish things had gone differently, obviously, but I don't dwell on them. Life goes on." Anyway, also check out his website www.meech.org, it puts "mooch.org" to shame....
No, but thanks for trying. Granted I understand about dumping salaries, but Rice is in his last year of his contract & Amaechi has a couple more years to go. Next year the Rockets would have lots of cap room. JVG said he need shooters for the type of offense he runs (inside out, ect..), but then he trades our best spot up shooter. Go figure? JJ is a good pick up but not great spot shooter. Point being I don't like giving up a 1st rd pick this early in the season for nonfactor player. I don't care about the money b/c I'm not flipping the bill. If they wanted to save cash then they are in the wrong biz. Talent cost money.
I've checked the stats and I would rather have Jason on my roster than John - and I'm not a Jason fan. Jason's FG% has gone up each year (47%) last year. John's best year was a year before he left Orlando (43%). John's best year on rebounding per 48 was 7 - Jason's was 13. TO to Assists are about equal though Jason has a slight edge there too. Jason was a scrub. John is scrub's Gatorade getter. That said - I would not cut him. As some have said that he may be able to be traded - thought unlikely. But he does give us 6 more fouls against Shaq.
