Some how, some way the Rockets need Milicic

Let's assume Darko is some slightly less talented mixture of Gasol and Dirk. Do you in all honesty think that Denver would trade him for Griffin, Mobley and Taylor? Juwan Howard is comparable to Taylor and can probably re-signed for less that Mo.

To my knowledge, the Nuggets have only 4 contracts for 2003-2004 - Camby (player option), Skita, Hilario and Rodney White (team option). Darko and $30m worth of cap space builds a better team than the castoffs from a 9th place WC team your offering.

Your lucky I caught this before Nugz Fan!

 

if we get the first thrue third pick could we trade mobley or griffin for say the 13 pic from someone else and turn around give the thirteenth pic to memphis and keep our first rounder aor do they have the choice of the pic

 

First, I confess to looking at a wrong column for Denver's 2003-2004 contracts. In addition to the 4 players I mentioned, the Nuggs also have Bowen, Yarbrough, Harrington and Savovic with a team option on Chris Andersen. But they still have $25+m in cap space.

Second...Who said Carmelo's coming out?

Last, assuming some team will actually give the Rox Darko for Griffin, Mobley and Taylor you need to understand that draft picks have no trade value. So that means one of two things:

1) Any team giving you Darko must be able to totally absorb the contracts you are sending. Only Denver, LAC and the Wiz can do that.

2) Any team over the cap (any team other than the aforementioned 3) will be sending you about $14m in contracts to match the 3 Rockets you named. If Darko is that good, the contracts will be bad ones.

IOW, don't hold your breath.

 

Stealing someone else's idea:

If Detroit gets the two or three pick, and Carmelo comes out, then Detorit might bite at something like Francis for Billups + number 2 (or 3).

Now, we could argue whether this is a fair trade for either team, but given the frustrations with Francis and the fact that Detroit has already successfully built in spite of bad recent high draft choices (i.e Rodney White), and would definitely be impoving in this trade (Billups has played well for them this year, but there is no doubt that Francis is the better player and has even more potential) they might go for it, perhaps if we threw in a future 1st or 2nd rounder also.

What do you think Gater - I bow to your knowledge?

Personally, I know little to nothign about Darko, but sometimes you got to take a chance. I am not object to rebuilding (again) at this point, and would have no problem with a

C: Yao / Cato
PF: Darko / Taylor
SF: Posey / Nachbar
SG: Mobley / Pickup
PG: Billups / Moochie

Trade Griffin, who is still cheap, still has "potential" with Rice, who is on the lasy part of teh contract for a backup SG or another position of need.

 

JayZ750 -
First, I will get flamed for this but I'd do Billups for Francis. However, two situations arise assuming the Pistons wind up in position to draft Darko (or Carmelo if he decides to go pro).

1) When you "draft" a player, what you are really drafting is the rights to sign that player once teams are allowed to sign contracts. I believe this July 1st.

2) Since Steve signed a contract extention greater than 20% of his rookie scale contract in August 2002, Steve will become a BYC player - also on July 1st.

That means that Francis's trade value is 1/2 of actual contract value - to the Pistons. Without getting to technical, the Rockets (because of Francis's impending BYC status) will have to rid themselves of some $3m-$5m salary in any trade involvong Francis until June 30th, 2004.

So now in addition to talking the Pistons into giving up Milicic and Billups for Francis and a future 1st, you are faced with the task of finding an under the cap team who would take some one like Mobley (+ a future pick for "brokering" the deal).

Does Francis + Mobley + 2 future 1sts = Darko + Billups?

Not really.

Do this make sense?

 

What about adding a Glen Rice - who, injury aside, was one of the more suprising players to me this year - and, if necessary taking back the difference in a Detroit scrub or two? I guess getting the salaries to match exactly will be hard.

 

The best info I have has the Pistons committed to about $36m for 2003-2004. In round numbers, Francis (BYC) and Billups cancel each other out in the trade. However, since the Pistons are under the cap by about $6M, they may be able to take an additional $5m cap hit as long as it did not take them over the cap.

Rice might work, but the Pistons don't really have any "bad" contracts. Corliss Williamson might work, but the Pistons love him. Hubert Davis + Michael Curry works, but why take on Rice when Davis and Curry are also in the final year of a contract. Chuck Atkins' contract is pretty close.

SF + Rice + possible future 1st < for> rights to Milicic + Billups + Atkins.

or

SF + Cuttino <for> right to Milicic + Billups.

IMHO, the Pistons probably don't have much interest in Francis. Remember, Carlisle sent Stack packin' to Washington for Rip. Stack also dominated the ball (although Carlisle did "reform" him for awhile).

Also bear in mind that the Rockets will in no way ever get a workout with Darko so they will be at a disadvantage with any Lottery team that got one.

 

Darko to Houston? In a road jersey.

SF traded? Maybe in three years, because his contract status makes him 99 & 44% untradable for two more years.

Better learn to love SF, he is ours. I, for one, am glad.

 

No. Francis loses BYC status on June 30, 2004. That's one year the way I count 'em.

 

Count again, it's not 100% per year.

 

LOL. If he's that good, why would the team who draft him trade him? Those GMs aren't that stupid, you know? Did we trade Ming last summer? Same case. Also, he's most likely go to a rebuilding team. Rebuilding teams will never take on old players like Taylor with big-money long-term contracts. Mobley's contract is not that bad but he's not young anymore. Griffin? Who would want him over Milicic, especially after his 2 average NBA seasons?

 

100% per year regarding what? This is directly from Coon's CBA FAQ's just after he describes teo scenarios which contitutes a BYC player:

"If either of the above apply, then the player is considered a base year player. A player remains a base year player for two years (one year if the contract is signed on or after July 1, 2001)."

Francis signed his extention after July, 2001. Therefore he is BYC for 1 year. Your turn to count or disagree with Coon. I doubt you'd win.

 

That's why the scenario involves Detroit, a team that is already at the top and may be willing to make a move if it means they can improve instead of possibly having to take the risk of waiting for a 17 year old player to pan out, as Dallas had to wait with Dirk, for example. Why would the Rockets take that risk? because they've been stuck in neutral.

 

Last time I check, Griffin is as much a "project" as anyone. When did his potential already pan out? How could we use a "project" as trade bait for another "project"?

RocketFan85 (no disrespect) make it sound like he know about Milicic's talent better than those opposing GMs. Ouch...

 

Because as much of a project as he is, you can still see his upside. At best, Griffin turns into another Donyell Marshall. Personally, I'll pass on that for soemone who, at best may turn into another Dirk or Gasol. Granted, when Griff came out we expected much more so our expectations on Millicek may be wrong, but I feel like I know Griff's ceiling, whereas Darko's is unknown, but projected to be much higher. From everything I've rea- and there was a real good and long insider article from ESPN posted on international (European) basektball a month or two ago - Darko is the real deal.

 

How about Bostjan Nachbar?

Well I would want him. But I don't think the Rockets are going to give Steve Francis up. Give up Mobley, Griffin, Taylor, Rice, Norris, Morris, Posey, Cato, Collier, or anyone else. But Francis is not going. Give up Mobley and Rice and our next 5000 draft picks. But...still. Francis and Yao are still going to be here.

I DO WANT THIS GUY THOUGH. Not likely. I wish.

Why not get Gasol or Nowitzki?

Even Carmelo Anthony would be nice...

If we did this...we could make next season another rebuilding season. Let Nachbar, Griffin, Anthony or Milivic , and Yao just play as much as they want.

But I don't think Francis will be moved. Not too possible.

 

Darko Milicic is as much a project as many of the college players coming out in the draft every year. I believe Charles Barkley said something to the effect that teams in the lottery now pick players based on potential, as opposed to the past where lottery teams were getting players that were already polished and could contribute right away.

Last year at this time Yao Ming was considered a project aat best, and would take a season or two to get acclimated to the NBA game, as we witnessed first hand it only took two months. Having read SI, TSN, CNNSI, and other articles about Darko Milicic, it is similar to the things said about Yao Ming.

Yao was considered a prospect that would revolutionize the center position. Darko is considered the same type of prospect at the PF and SF positions. By no means am I saying that Darko will have the impact that Yao had, but he could have an immediate impact rather than taking as long as most projects take.

As for Darko on the Rockets, it would take something short of a miracle for the Rockets to obtain him, but then again who thought the Rockets were able to obtain Steve Francis. If Milicic were on the Rockets then Eddie of Mo are gone, if not it means you never gave Nachbar a chance (in case they play Milicic at the three).

If there was a way to obtain Darko, I'd be all for it so that we could play him at the three, because he looks like he has the (here's that dreaded word) potential to be a Dirk Nowitski-type player.