Should we stand pat with Cato next year?

We should look for the best available player in the draft,preferably a 3 or a 5. If we do end up getting a chance to pick up Jason Williams we should trade him for players like Odom, Marion or McDyess,but only if he recovers to full fitness and starts becoming a 20/10 player again.

 

ok, now that this post is in the CORRECT thread...

I wouldn't mind picking up another center, just as long as it's NOT Yao Ming

 

I would hate if the Rockets picked up another center in the draft. Have you seen some of the garbage at the 5 spot that has come out of the draft the past several years. Ughhhh!!!

 

Picking up Yao Ming would be my dream draft at this point. Nobody knows if he will be the real deal or not. But reports, which is all you can go off, say, despite his Bradley-esque height, he still has bulk and athletic ability, in addition to an outside shot. If that is the case, or even if it isnt, he could do better than Cato simply by standing there - and Cato has been putting forth effort and getting boards, but at 7'5" Ming should get EVERY board. Finally, we do NOT have anywhere near the froncourt personnel needed to play successful defense and win games, much less championships. Imagine if Rudy wanted to go defensive and used a frontcourt of Ming (7'5"), Cato (7'0") and Griffin (6'10"). It would be good - big enough to stop Shaq somewhat and athletic enough to go up with Dallas' athletic bigmen.

There's got to be some reason you dont want/like Ming.

If the Rockets draft a 3, though, I hope he has some size/defensive game in addition to being able to shoot well.

 

this team needs a 5. willis will probably retire/leave this offseason and despite improved play, kelvin cato is NOT the answer. my hope is that we pick up ming, but if not, i say go after drew gooden.

 

Glen Rice is the starting 3 for the next two years. Get used to it.

 

Aside from the fact that Rice will be starting for 3 years, there's T-Mo right behind him. The Rockets wouldn't dare draft a player to replace Steve's best bud after just one season.


Another thing, what do you expect from our C spot that Cato doesn't do now? What are your complaints about Cato's play?



I love the way Cato is playing, that's why I'd love to draft Yao Ming. This way, we can let him take his time developing, and when he's ready, then we can look at trading Cato. In my opinion, Ming can be great, but he has to start with very small minutes, or he'll end up like Zydrunas Illgauskas. Bring him along very slowly, and we would probably have a future star on our hands.

Another plus is the asian fan support we'll get out of having him.

 

I doubt that. Give CD some credit; he's his own man.

 

It's time for androgeny, here comes pat.

da duh duh.

 

Cato is learning the game and is a more effective rebounder and defender.

That being said, he gives nothing offensively other than alleyoops from SF. HE MUST EXPAND HIS RANGE TO AT LEAST 5 FEET FROM THE BASKET! THIS IS NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK.

Hopefully we can develop someone while he gets a little better. His lack of offense (anthing??) really hurts; even simple putbacks elude him

Dallas Rocket

 

I don't think it's beyond the realm of possibility that Cato would work on that this summer. He seems to be enjoying himself now.

You know what would REALLY impress me?

If he went to the big man camp this summer. Then we'd have a keeper.

 

BTW, trust me when I say we won't get a SF this offseason, or in the middle of next season.


Rice has yet to play injury-free, and Rudy loves Rice. Oh, and, like I said, T-Mo will be given a full 2 or 3 years to prove what he's worth.


I'm telling you, the best thing we can do is trade our pick, toronto's pick, a future pick and KT for a 2nd rounder and Yao Ming.

 

People don't notice how important Steve Francis is to Kelvin's success. When Kelvin gets a few of those alley-oops off Steve's passes, he seems to get his head in the game a little more (and we know how big of a problem that has been with him). Honestly, if Steve hadn't continued to have faith in his ability to throw down the dunk, I think Cato would have wallowed around miserably.

Calculate his percentage of points off Alley-oops from Steve...its gotta be well over 60%

 

TheFreak, I absolutely can't imagine Rice starting for the next 2-3 years. Why would you start a player who looks like he is on social security. The poor guy can barely move, has lost his shot, can't jump, almost breathing. Rice in his prime was a scoring machine, had a sweet jumper and good post up moves. Premature aging ended his NBA career about 3 years ago. Ask the LA fans, ask the NY fans, my word, didn't you see him attempt to play here before he was injured? Did you see any reason to start him ever? Mercifully, he needs to retire to save himself from further embarassment. Get Serious!

 

uhh, have you been watching him? He can knock down that 10 ft jump shot pretty damn consistently, the fact remains though he doesn't shoot it too often in the game. But everytime I've seen him shoot it, count it. Keep in mind they don't look for this out of him and it usually a last resort with shot clock winding down. They want him roaming the paint for those ally-oops. However, he CAN score outside 5 ft, don't be fooled just because he likes to dunk. Anyways, why would the Rocks even want him to be out there? I'd rather him be closer to the basket, dont complain that his points are all dunks, thats GOOD. He's playing damn good basketball, don't try and find the negatives when there are none. He's cutting to the basket, looking for lobs, put backs, being aggressive. Let the man play.

-LTF

 

I agree with you 100%. Cato's offense is heavily reliant on Steve setting him up. Cato's game really suffers when Steve is out.

However, that being said, I am really pleased with Cato's progress this year. Or perhaps I am really pleased with where Steve has led Cato to this year.

At the beginning of the year Cato had trouble catching a pass. If he got a rebound under the basket he would pass it out. Now he is absolutely GREAT at the jam. I know it is a high percentage shot when the ball only has to go downhill, but you have to admit he does stuff with authority.

Now he has expanded his range from down hill to about a foot. When he gets a rebound in traffic he is starting to put it back up. He is slowely starting to beat the crowd.

I agree that he still needs to get his range out to five feet, but I am seeing steady and tangible progress. Not to mention two shots from the wing. I know two outside shots all season is clutching at straws, but we can hope.

Does this mean that I would pass on a good center prospect in the draft? No. I like Cato's progress, but I am still nervous. Something about once burned.... And under any circumstances we will need a backup center. Either Cato or the draft pick. If Cato is comming off the bench, we will have a good team.

I don't know if it is Steve, Rudy, or even Cato himself, but I'm starting to like Cato's game.

 

just because we're paying rice a ton of money doesn't mean we have to play him.

 

IF cato continues to play well You package with some talent while he has value and pick up a needed role and just trade the salaries. If Cato continues to play well, I really think he is gone. The Rocks will talk him up and say how pleased they are with his new energy, but he gets traded as soon as a decent offer is made.

No idea where to though. The draft pick would probably go with him.

 

Unless he is injured, of which there is a high posibility of at his age. Not everybody can finish off their career injury free like Barkley and Olajuan did.