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Sporting News: Rockets offer to Hakeem likely won't exceed 5-6 million per season

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by The Cat, Jul 19, 2001.

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  1. The Cat

    The Cat Member

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    http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/teams/rockets/

    Olajuwon's situation remains No. 1 priority
    JULY 19, 2001

    Michael Murphy
    Houston Chronicle

    The waiting game for the Rockets continues as the free agent signing period began in earnest. They are still trying to figure out how to manipulate the salary cap and keep their core free agents, Hakeem Olajuwon, Maurice Taylor, and Shandon Anderson.

    Taylor should not be a problem unless the Olajuwon situation lingers. Taylor signed a one-year deal for $2.25 million last year, knowing that he could 'play' the free agent market this season. While he is now arguably the best player available with Chris Webber and Antonio Davis re-signing with their current teams, he can get the money he wants from Houston and both sides feel confident a deal will get done.

    Solving the Hakeem situation is still job No. 1. The offer from the Rockets still likely will not exceed $5-6 million a season for 1-2 years, if there is going to money left to re-sign the others. They have approximately $17 million available under the new $42.5 million salary cap.

    The first substantial rumor concerning Olajuwon's departure surfaced with the Raptors offering him considerably more than the Rockets have offered. Based on salary cap room, Toronto doesn't have the ability to pay much more than the Rockets. It seems unlikely that the Raptors would be willing to give long-term, multi-million dollar deals to Jerome Williams, Antonio Davis, and possibly Alvin Williams and Hakeem Olajuwon in the offseason prior to Vince Carter's free agency.

    As the days go by with no agreement, the Rockets continue to express their desire to have Olajuwon finish his career in a Rockets uniform. With his agent Dan Fegan also representing Anderson and free agent Moochie Norris the Rockets think they can still get all three into the fold.

    POSITION ANALYSIS

    Shooting Guard: Along with Steve Francis at the point, Cuttino Mobley at shooting guard gives the Rockets the most explosive backcourt duo in the Western Conference. (Apologies to whomever the Lakers pair with Kobe Bryant.)

    Mobley became a fixture in the starting lineup in January and continued to establish himself as a go-to guy along with Francis. He logged over 40 minutes a night as a starter and poured in over 20 points a night. Only seven guards in the entire league posted scoring numbers better than that.

    Cuttino and Francis have an extremely strong relationship and work very well together. The zone defense will pose an interesting challenge for both. Mobley's shooting can be a bit streaky, but as a one-on-one offensive player he is outstanding. He wants the ball at the end of the game, and while often times Francis is the option the Rockets might prefer, he is pretty good in the clutch and gets to the line frequently. Last season only Jerry Stackhouse, Allen Iverson and Bryant shot more free throws among guards than Mobley.

    Dan Langhi also presents an interesting twist for the Rockets. At 6-11, he has the size of a small forward, but he possesses all of the skills necessary to be a solid shooting guard. Langhi excelled at the Summer Pro League in Long Beach, averaging over 20 points a night in the first three games. He struggled with his confidence in limited regular season play as a rookie last year and must get stronger, but he might earn time at this spot, especially if Anderson is not re-signed.

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    The Mo Taylor Fan Site

    [This message has been edited by The Cat (edited July 19, 2001).]
     
    #1 The Cat, Jul 19, 2001
  2. barbourdg

    barbourdg Member

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    Great News Cat, that sounds more in line with what would be fair.

    Do you think that Feagan, will use Shandon & Moochie to lock up all three (players) up for long term contracts (probably bigger than Shandon & Mooch are worth)? I hear Fegan is a snake.

    I cannot believe that Faulk has not been vocal about Mo's salary demands.

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    #2 barbourdg, Jul 19, 2001
  3. Achebe

    Achebe Member

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    Who cares what he gets paid?! As long as all of the team's FAs reup, everything is good, IMO.

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    Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen...
     
    #3 Achebe, Jul 19, 2001
  4. barbourdg

    barbourdg Member

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    Because if we match (or beat) Torontos offer in the 5-6 million range. We will then have an extra 4 million next year for FA (oppose to paying Hakeem 10mill). Then add the cap increase, and Walts salary dropping and we still have some good cap space for FA next year!!

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    #4 barbourdg, Jul 19, 2001
  5. mateo

    mateo Member

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    Doesn't that article seem incomplete? I went to sportingnews.com and thats all there is, so I know you didnt hack it short...but where's the rest of his positional analyses?

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    #5 mateo, Jul 19, 2001
  6. The Cat

    The Cat Member

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    Mateo,

    They analyze one position per week. Last week was PG, this week is SG.

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    #6 The Cat, Jul 19, 2001
  7. Achebe

    Achebe Member

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    certainly barbourdg, but right now I'm under the impression that Shandon is going to walk away w/ a 4 mil per year contract and Moochie maybe ~3ish. That'll start to cut into the buffer area probably, between the difference of utilizing the MCE vs. having total cap space available... probably even w/ Walt coming off of the cap. I suspect Mo is going to command a larger chunk of change that we suspect (i.e. that's the reason for the 5-6 million dollar offer to Dream).

    I'm guessing that Dream at 5-6 allows the team to sign Mo for less than the team's total exceptions(per crispee's post), keep Shandon's and Moochie's unrenounced hits, and keep the MCE for this year. If the team does that (huge if), even w/o using the MCE this year, it seems as if the team will be over the cap next year (or in that buffer zone w/ minimal cap and an MCE after you use the tiny money.

    So in all of my uninformed incoherent babble (I haven't looked at next year's #s) I'm guessing that raising Dream's salary would only jeopardize retaining Shandon(but it's always great to have commodities). Next year's salary will be moot.

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    Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen...
     
    #7 Achebe, Jul 19, 2001
  8. RocksMillenium

    RocksMillenium Member

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    I like that deal MUCH better! We get to keep Dream and save some cap money to lock up our FAs and possibly a few dollars left over for next year! Whew! [​IMG]

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    "Instruments are like women: After a while, you want to make love to another."

    - Nicolas Godin of the musical duo Air

    [This message has been edited by RocksMillenium (edited July 19, 2001).]
     
    #8 RocksMillenium, Jul 19, 2001
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