maybe the rockets had something in the works to make that big splash, but the deal fell through and so now they have no other options and theyre going in to the season with no major changes
JVG loves Jones (when healthy)! and Grant! his nemesis' in the eastern conference, along with Zo (nemesi) Things to consider in Miami: -If Miami gets Odom, they will be in major trouble with three huge contracts in Jones, Grant and Odom and probably over the cap -Look at their current Guards and Forwards spots: Odom (likely with the Heat) - will start Butler - will and should start Rasual Butler - likely off the Bench Jones - will start or should start Dwayne Wade - likely a future starter at the point Best - likely gone So, I see 4 players likely at the 2 and 3 spot, with three of them should be starters and 1 backup for 2 positions and no point guard really if Best if gone -they want to unload larger salaries fast if Odom is coming and Jones and Grant can get them something -they have no point guards (though Wade is likely to start it looks like if Best if gone) -Rockets have a center, a forward and a backup point guard they may want and oh yea, an extra 9 mil in relief next year. -oh yea, they are in the East and Jones has really been a non-factor there. -Their only signed 4s are Samaki Walker and John Wallace--Taylor or Griffin would look good in their lineup. -Their only center is Woods and Johnson--Cato would look good there too --Just hypothetical, but with Odom's soon arrival, our need at the 3 and the cap relief questions in Miami, it is logical to transact a center, a 2/3 player, backup point and some cap relief between the teams
oh yea, Jeff's bro is there and Rice is nested in Miami, so they can really chat offline about this stuff....good trading parnter match if there is one out there for the Rox....
backup point guard??? i hope you aren't talking about moochie. b/c of his contract, we are stuck with him till it runs out, or until we pull a matt maloney on him and just cut him w/ pay. also, let's say we get rid of cato for a PF. that means that we'll have a pretty darn good starting frontline, but a much depleted bench. if cato plays like last year, he is a great backup. if we traded him away, we would not have a backup for ming, who probably won't play more than 30 - 35 mins a game (excluding fatigue, foul trouble, etc). secondly, in a conference dominated by big men, we need muscle down low, and cato provides ample muscle in relief of ming. i don't think trading a big man for a big man is in our best interest, even if it improves our starting frontline. however, trading a glen rice for a solid big man, that would (hopefully) improve our team. how bout playing ming and cato together on the court during certain stretches of the game? by the way, who plays the three on miami's team anyway? you say that we need to get a three in return. the only 3's i see are odom and butler. riley won't get rid either of them. e.jones plays the 2. i like the current setup of our team. we have all the pieces, it is just a matter of putting it all together. two years ago when we played golden state, i looked at their roster and wondered why they sucked so bad, eventhough they had better than average players at every position. when jeff b. (the new coach, not attempting to spell his last name) took over, everyone believed in the system and new-found enthusiasm, and they improved greatly. i believe JVG can do the same with the rockets, who obviously are in much better shape than the warriors of two years ago. if JVG does it right, and the players believe in their teammates, this is going to be a fun team to watch. i hope we actually run an offense and have off the ball movement.
if you notice my commentary largely focuses on our team needs . the reality is that we have no three and need one and they have cap issues and need us. here are truths: -Rice will miss time due to injury, has slowed and cannot hang with other 3s to be effective enough to earn 15-20 minutes per. -Fun to watch has been our moniker for three seasons. I am sure they will improve somewhat and be fun at times--as they are every year. But, Francis and Cuttino, while exciting to watch, are consistently proving that their shooting consistency at 40-43% is not going to lead us to deep playoffs. -Moochie Norris is not a bad contract for some teams. his 3 mil per year is slightly over the league average, but not very much. -Miami is looking to move Eddie Jones or Grant. -Miami is looking for a backup -Miami will need space cleared should Odom end up there -Jones can play a 2/3 role and has done it before. -We have no consistent scoring threat from downtown--this will continue to haunt us and will only lead to 8th seed finishes as best until addressed. -Cato will not be on this team for much longer because his stock has risen and we can get something very helpful at other positions in return for him. He is replaceable with a true backup center type.
I believe Moochie is getting paid more than 3 mil per year. I think it is something like 6 million, and there lays the problem.
I want to tie an anvil to Moochie, then drive down the bridge to Galveston, then chunk himi in, and file on the insurance to cover the salary. yeah, that's the ticket
3.6 is high, but there are teams in the league that would take him if packaged right. But, reality is still that Miami will need to move some salary some how and Eddie Jones or Brian Grant could be had for the right mix of cap relief and additions. Bottomline:Watch as things get closer to Odom's expiration
That's cruel. You'd waste a perfectly good anvil. I mean, wouldn't you want to see if there is an idiot team out there that would take the Moochinator's contract first? Montgo: Exactly. Although I hope that Grant, not EJ, would be our aim.
OK, I think I may have all this figured out. Maybe. Somebody tell me I'm crazy. You know how teams clear cap space thinking, often in vain, that they have a chance at a certain player. (Golden State maybe wanting Yao Ming....chuckle, chuckle.) Remember how we were inquiring after Sheed a couple months back? Could we be holding out for trades that would clear cap space and help us land a certain versatile PF/SF who stands 7'0" but prefers to be listed at 6'11" and has not yet signed an extension with his team despite the team's having completely reloaded around him this summer? I have seen separate posts (no, not from TRG) on other boards that our management wants to be able to make an offer to KG next year. I couldn't quite believe it, but... So Chad Ford gives a hint that the Clips are leaning toward not re-signing Odom because he is not worth the offer sheet he signed. Let's say the Odom situation is resolved. Ford also writes how Miami keeps renouncing and unrenouncing its players. Vladimir Stepania has had plenty of time to sign elsewhere but has not. Ford writes that once Odom is on board, Stepania can re-sign with Miami. So Miami would have Stepania and Loren Woods at center. Not GREAT, but perhaps next year's draft can help them. Would Miami take Maurice Taylor (can score) and Moochie Norris for Brian Grant? Would Portland take Brian Grant and Kelvin Cato for Rasheed Wallace? Or, Cato to Memphis, Mo/mooch to Miami, Person (exp contract)/Grant to Portland, Rasheed to us? Could Rockets management actually be looking to get us down to about $28 million for next summer and sign Kevin Garnett as a free agent, if he's OK with signing for a starting salary of $14 mil? This isn't me dream-casting so much as wondering, Could our management actually be putting all our eggs in that basket?
I literally had a dream about a trade involving Finley of Dallas and Mobley. I am way too into the Rockets! I could have had a sex dream instead; they are way better.
With all of the moves that the Twolves made this offseason I don't think that KG is going anywhere. He will be able to sign for more money there and his team has a legit shot to contend for the title.
