I do agree that losing Cato is not going to affect us in the long run. Id deal him in a heartbeat as long as we didnt have to take the same type of baggage in return.
It is so great to debate Cato's value as a backup center rather than, in previous years, as a starting center.
It would also be great to debate his value as a backup on another team....haha Can I get an amen for that?
Alright. Amen! Still. I would rather keep him at this point. He is a known quantity and does not affect team chemistry in a negative way - he is not a cancer. He may not affect it in a positive way either. But unless we could seriously upgrade the talet at our back up center spot, I would not trade for someone with an unknown effect on the chemistry of the team.
I might disagree... Cato doesn't SAY things that affect chemistry. But, I would venture to say that some of his teammates who make a 1/10th what Cato does, probably do not like the fact that they are putting in 10X's more effort than Cato. Cato is liable for being lazy, because/in spite of his big contract. I know that when I work, I'd like to see/know that co-workers are trying as hard as I am.
Thats a good point. I, for one, am very concerned about how Cato is going to react if/when hes put into a reserve role behind Yao. Cato's attitude has always reminded me of Derek Bell when he was with the Astros. Cato sulks sometimes. Hopefully, we wont be hearing anything from Cato about "Operation Shutdown".
I say trade Cato for the Knicks' unconditional #1 in the 2003 draft!! Never mind. What would we do with LaBron James or Carmelo Anthony?
People are really setting up LeBron James for failure. You think Ming has pressure on him as the #1 pick, wait till LeBron James gets drafted #1. Ouch.
BUT NO ONE BEATS TYRONE HILL!!!!!!!!!!!!! (sorry if this has already been posted but i was too lazy to read the entire thread. i'm still woozy from the great great-center debate)
Trading Cato makes zero sense. Cato doesn't effect the cap that much, so trading him frees up the cap, what 2 or 3 million dollars since he's a base year player? We're so far over the cap it makes zero sense. We need a back-up center, we have a back-up center who is athletic, can rebound, is a shot-blocker, and is big. He is actually playing well, not just with effort but actually player well. Cato can give you 8 to 10 points off the bench, and a double figure scorer off the bench is a serious stuff. It would be one thing if we had Shaq or Dream in his prime, but we have a young, inexperienced center who is working on his conditioning and NBA game. He could get fatigued and need extra rest, or could get into foul trouble. One of Ming's main attributes is his shot-blocking and rebounding, that effects our running game and defense. Cato can give us that off the bench, not as well as Ming, but better then any back-up center in the NBA. And he's young. Why trade him? As soon as we do we have to find a new back-up center anyway. At least with Cato we have 3 legit 7-footers on the roster, 2 of which are guaranteed to contribute.
Cato will be a great back up Center now that he has made his mind up about himself! He will be needed greatly during this season to play about 33 mins/gm as Yao Mings backup. Yao Ming will only play short mins. during his first season, while he gains strength and endurance. Dont mess with Cato he has a role to play!
I never mentioned the cap, as we will be well over it anyhow. What I said was it would enable us to be more willing to use an MCE. Cato's contract would go a LONG way in avoiding the Luxury Tax, the 2nd salary cap.
Kidrock, Codell, you two may not care if the Rockets make the playoffs this year, but Rudy, CD, Les Alexander, the players, and most importantly the fans do. Rebuilding time is over, and Cato will help us win this year. Moves for the future are in the past, we need to win and win now.
There is simply nobody on the Knicks that would merit a trade. Name a person on the roster besides Latrell Sprewell that is worth having from a talent perspective? The Knicks overpay their players worse than any team in the league, so we wouldn't even get cap relief. (And don't bring up Travis Knight..he makes Matt Bullard look like Charles Oakley- without the jumper). Cato for Mike Miller of the Magic? Now we are talking. The reason the Rockets are not going to trade Cato for just anybody is because a back-up seven footer with decent skills and potential, even if they have never been realised, is still a rare commodity in the NBA. The advantages of Cato on the Rockets is evident playing in the west with Shaq and Duncan. Kidrock8, who would you like the Rockets to pick up in return for Cato? Positions of need are basically the two guard, right?
While I doubt that the Rockets would attempt to move Cato at this time, they might consider it at a later date. However, in response to your post, if NY is granted a $6 million medical exception, they would be able to trade the exception for a player, without having to send any players out. Since they are way over the Luxury Tax threshhold for many years to come, that would most likely be what they do. The Rockets would benefit by reducing payroll, but would be left without a legitimate backup at center. I like Collier, but he hasn't shown anything yet. A backup center option would be, to trade part of the exception we receive from NY, to Minnesota for Marc Jackson. He'd make a nice backup & could play the 4/5. Minnesota was trying to get rid of Jackson & would most likely welcome the cap relief. However, NY could trade the entire exception & their top 3 protected #1 pick for Jackson/Szczerbiak. Thus, cutting us out all together. I'd love to get rid of Cato, but I don't see it happening this year.
