Everyone's talking about star players, like trading for them is the simplest thing in the world to do. Unfortunately, it's not that simple. The facts are, outside of Yao & T-Mac, we don't have a lot to offer. In my opinion, Battier, Head, James, & Alston are the only real trading chips we have. Sura's expiring contract won't be of any value until the trading deadline during the season. Right now, teams are making trades based upon having a full roster of contributing players & staying under the Luxury Tax threshhold. With that in mind, I put a list of available FA's together that I believe could help us, & that might come fairly cheap. Give me your feedback & why you feel a certain player would be right for us. Power Forwards/Centers Matt Bonner(RFA): Excellent shooter with 3pt range. Poor rebounder. Andre Brown(RFA): Good size & young. Not much else. Austin Croshere(UFA): Okay, stop laughing. He actually has good range on his shot, hustles all over, & is an adequate rebounder. Did I mention he'd come cheap? Danny Fortson(UFA): I said stop laughing. There's no doubt that he's got the talent to dominate, but he's got to get his head on straight. If the current coaching staff feel they can handle him, he might be worth a look. Ersan Ilyasova(RFA): Sweet shooter with 3pt range, but his rebounding is erratic. Showing signs of being a more consistent rebounder. Amir Johnson(RFA): I believe everyone's familiar with him by now. He may require the entire MLE. The last time we paid a lot for potential, we got Cato. Jamaal Magloire(UFA): He's more a center than PF, but if he can adapt, his resume speaks for itself. Chris Mihm(UFA): If he's recovered from his injury, he could be a very nice compliment to Yao. Darko Milicic(UFA): He's probably going to cost more than the MLE, which puts him out of our reach. Jamal Sampson(UFA): Reportedly has an attitude problem, but in the few games he played double digit minutes, he was a rebounding machine with a few blocked shots thrown in. He doesn't take many shots, which is good, since we have several shooters already. If he grows up, he could be a steal. Justin Williams(RFA): Given 20+ mpg in the last 9 games of the season, he tore it up with rebounds, blocked shots, & scoring. Is he just another flash in the pan, or a budding star? Shooting Guards/Small Forwards Devin Brown(UFA): Good all around game. Not really needed, unless we package several guards in a trade. Jarvis Hayes(RFA): Great size, good shooter, & adequate rebounder. Michael Pietrus(RFA): Excellent shooter & rebounder. Point Guards Steve Blake(UFA): Really stepped up his game last year & expects the full MLE. Is he worth it?
Travis Outlaw is my big unheralded FA target. I can't say enough about this kid. He's the whole package: size, smarts, freakish athleticism, versatility, defense and a solid and improving offensive arsenal. At 22-years-old, I think it's safe to assume that his best days of basketball are only ahead of him. <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/i5b8YTao99U"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/i5b8YTao99U" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> ...and be honest, when's the last time you've seen a Rockets player get up that high off the ground and block a shot that bad?
Matt Bonner(RFA): Spurs just signed him to an extention, I don't think you sign somebody for 2 million a year and immediately trade them away, and the Spurs aren't interested in our mediocre guards. Andre Brown(RFA): Haven't heard of him. Austin Croshere(UFA): Maybe, but Dallas will be reluctant to trade one of its role players to a division rival. Danny Fortson(UFA): Don't know much about him. Ersan Ilyasova(RFA): Really high on this guy myself, Bucks may let him go. But he's got a low rebounding rate, which worries me slightly. Amir Johnson(RFA): Pistons, just let go of him, please! Really one this guy. Jamaal Magloire(UFA): His All-star status is absolute BS, the East was just so pathetic at the C that the coaches had to find the next player. It will be like having Tskalalitas or Deke playing PF, I'm against it. Chris Mihm(UFA): Really don't know what to make of this guy after so long injuries. Darko Milicic(UFA): Want way more than the MLE, can't get him. Jamal Sampson(UFA): I don't know about him. Justin Williams(RFA): The Kings are rebuilding, and they will be trying to deal Artest and possibly Miller as hard as possible, Williams will not be let go.
You are wrong about Sura's contract not being worth anything now. It is worth 3.84M and can be bought out for 1M because of his injuries. A team would save 2.84M immediately by buying him out and another 1M at the end of the year. Also VSpan can probably be traded to another team and then mutually released from his contract, saving that team 1.944M. Denver has apparently been interested in Head since last year. They really need some 3 point shooting on a team full of midrange and inside scorers. A deal of Sura + VSpan + Head for Camby works salary-wise and saves the Nuggets 4.784M immediately. They want to move Camby to get under the luxury tax. Since any team salary above the luxury tax costs double, this would save their owner double the money (9.568M).
Hottoddie- The list of PF available looks kinda depressing. In that group, I like J. Sampson, D. Fortson for muscle in the paint, even Austin Crosshair (for Shooting) might be a good signing if cheap! Darko & Amir might be a bit expensive, unless Uncle Les opens the purse strings. Morey really needs to address this PF problem! But I will be hoping Carl "the brain" Landry can step up & becomes a steal in the draft!
The only one in the group that is worthwhile whom I think we can get, since Detroit just signed Billups is Amir Johnson. It will probably take most of our MLE, but I think its worth the roll of the dice on this one, and if he fulfills his potential, we've added another key piece to becoming contenders. I still think we need to make a trade for a veteran PF, but this would give us depth at the position. I wouldn't mind us trading Head for a young PF or C either, such as Simmons or Armstrong in NO, since they need a SG.
Power Forwards/Centers Matt Bonner(RFA): Has always been my MVP for 2k7 Basketball, sweet stroke, hustle player. Too bad signed with the spurs. But he is just an upgrade to padgett Andre Brown(RFA): He was damn good in the D-league, just like chuck wagon. However size hurts Austin Croshere(UFA): I like the idea of him on the team, however he is quite injury prone and what we need is an enforcer. For those who dont like him, he torched some team during the season games with 40+ points or sth liek that Danny Fortson(UFA): Always have the "toe" problem. Knuckle head probably because he didn't co-op with any of the sonics coaches. Besides he hasn't really played for 2 seasons Ersan Ilyasova(RFA): Buyout Fee is too much Amir Johnson(RFA): I believe everyone's familiar with him by now. He may require the entire MLE. <- Very very true. Great leaping ability with this kid (jumped over the assistant coach which is around 6 ft tall). This incident proves that this kid has no idea what he did and he might have broken that guy's neck. The last guy we signed because of potential was stromile. If I was GM I will not give him the whole MLE since he has mental issues Jamaal Magloire(UFA): Expensive! and slow Chris Mihm(UFA): His agent wants the whole MLE even though he hasn't played for the whole season Darko Milicic(UFA): He's probably going to cost more than the MLE, which puts him out of our reach. Jamal Sampson(UFA): Reportedly has an attitude problem, but in the few games he played double digit minutes, he was a rebounding machine with a few blocked shots thrown in. He doesn't take many shots, which is good, since we have several shooters already. If he grows up, he could be a steal.
Watch where he jumps from when he dunks the ball. <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ir1vOYmbSYU"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ir1vOYmbSYU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
Have you ever seen TMac do one of his crazy perimeter blocks. He jumps straight up really high in the air and blocks the shooter at the top of their jump shot. I couldn't find a video of that, but you know what I'm talking about.
BOOOooo <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DOxdqhvRcZs"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DOxdqhvRcZs" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> Haahaaa <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tU_U1rh_V0c"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tU_U1rh_V0c" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> (If the Rockets can address the power forward need first, wouldnt mind having him)
Something to think about............ What if the Rox use Justin Williams as leverage to get Artest? Tell Sac Town we are gonna sign Justin to a substantial offer sheet, unless they deal us Artest. I think Sacramento wants to keep him. If we offered him a $14 million contract over 4 years, they may choke. If they don't match, well, we've taken a little gamble on a player that has shown some potential. Or they could agree to trade us Artest in exchange for getting us to not offer a deal to Justin Williams. From the little bit I've seen of that kid, I think he's gonna make it in the NBA and have a decent career. Every signing is a gamble, and giving somebody like this a contract starting at $3 million per with increases for 4 years. If we are serious about Artest, I think we should at least threaten them with this possibility. I think Outlaw would get substantial minutes at the 4 in an Adelman offense.
I could easily get on the Amir Johnson or Outlaw bandwagon's though I know little about either, other than what's been posted on this board. Aside from that however, I'm still a Darko guy. I absolutely believe that Darko (and by that I mean his agent) has seriously overvalued his service, especially when he's at best a 3rd option on a contending team. Unless Darko want's to go to Memphis and become the next Pau Gasol, he needs to gain a modicum of humility. This off-season (especially in light of the Magic's move to get Rashard and Howard signed WAY ahead of Darko speaks volumes about his relevance to them), will say a lot to the league about the path Darko wants his career to go down. He can either take the MLE (which is not insubstantial) and be with a contender (like Houston or San Antonio) or he can go somewhere like Memphis. The choice he makes will tell me a lot about him and his agent. Regarding the Sacramento deal, I just don't think you do NBA business like that. If this were the NFL, I might agree, but when NBA GM's become a small club where everyone knows everyone and "talks" about everyone else and whether they should/should not "do" business with them, I think reputation speaks volumes and I think the Maloofs are burning bridges rather than building them. So, I'd vote no on signing one player to force a trade on another. A 3-team deal involving someone in the East however, one that want's either Luther or Battier or both, now THAT could be done!!!
I agree on Darko. Of all the PF available in FA, I'd rather take a chance on him at the entire MLE. I know Morey has stated we ain't giving one guy the entire MLE, but that is just posturing. If Darko could be had for MLE money, I would bet Morey would do that deal. However, I think we should retain Battier. I think the Artest situation is going to come down to teams not offering much to Sacramento without getting agreement from Artest on an extension. If Artest is unwilling to sign extension, then he is pretty much sendind signals that he wants to go to NY. So, Sac will probably be willing to move him for basically anything if they can ship him East, so the Orlando deal makes sense in that scenario. But they will probably just keep him and let him walk if they can't get an Eastern team to bite, rather than trade him to a Western contender and turn that contender into another juggernaut they have to try to get by. Orlando can play with him for a year and then let him walk. That could be what they need to do to be able to work a deal with Darko over the MLE, since they know they can get cap relief from Artest's deal in a year if he is unwilling to re-sign. And the stuff about the Maloofs as far as I know are rumors. No team in the West wants to trade with teams in the West and better that team. Sac doesn't want to trade him to anybody in the West, it's not just us.
Exactly. The value of Bob Sura's contract will be at an all-time high in September, as teams step up their attempts to cut salary prior to training camp (which begins around October 1). Unless some team gets antsy, Rockets fans will have to be patient. I imagine that we may have to wait until the last minute this offseason to see the Morey make a move. Don't confuse that with inactivity on Morey's part, though. It's just the smart thing to do. Just like waiting to sign Landry until after they decide what to do with the MLE. Just like with Novak, the Rockets are looking at the possibility of using a small portion of the MLE (assuming they don't use all of it on other players) to sign Landry. Under the CBA, second-round picks can only sign deals for up to two years. However, if a team uses a portion of the MLE on that pick, they can sign that pick for three years, meaning the Rockets can keep a team option for a third year on Landry if he turns out to be a good player. Smart cap management. I'm confident that Morey will make the smart decisions to make sure that the Rockets are in good shape, both in the short-term and in the long-term.
I would also love to see Travis Outlaw on the squad. He's just like Darius Miles without the baggage. In Portland it seems like he's going to be a perennial backup to LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden. Set him free!
Does anyone know what kind of shooting range he has? Maybe he could become the next Robert Horry for us.
Okay, I can see VSpan agreeing to waive his salary, but what about Sura? Is there a buy out clause in his contract, or, are you just basing this on speculation? I can't see any reason why Sura would, out of the goodness of his heart, just walk away from $2.84 million, when he'll never play basketball again for the rest of his life. Thus, he has no incentive to do it. If you're thinking they can get a medical exemption from his salary, then you might want to read this. http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#53 There is one exception whereby a player can continue to receive his salary, but the salary is not included in the team's team salary. This is when a player is forced to retire for medical reasons and a league-appointed physician confirms that he is medically unfit to continue playing. There is a waiting period of one year following the injury or illness before a team can apply for this salary cap relief. If the waiting period expires mid-season (on any date prior to the last day of the regular season), then the player's entire salary for that season is removed from the team's team salary. For example, in March 2003 the Knicks were allowed to remove Luc Longley's entire 2002-03 salary from their books (and since the luxury tax is based on the team salary as of the last day of the regular season, the Knicks avoided paying any tax on Longley's salary). This provision can also be used when a player dies while under contract. Teams are not allowed to trade for disabled players and then apply for this salary cap relief. Only the team for which the player was playing when he was disabled may request this relief. http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#19 Don't confuse this exception with the salary cap relief teams can apply for a year after losing a player to a career-ending injury or death (see question number 53). This exception allows a team to acquire a replacement player. The salary cap relief removes a contract from the books. If the Rockets have not already applied for the medical exemption, then the receiving team can. But, they'll still have to wait for 1 full year. By then, his contract will have expired. If the Rockets have already applied for the medical exemption, then the receiving team can not use it. I haven't read anywhere that they've done this.
