I am in favor of rebuilding but I just want to point out an example of how difficult and time consuming the process can be unless you get extremely lucky. First, you usually have to hit gold in the draft on some level or another. As history dictates, you can get the 1st overall pick and still wind up with a bust. There is no way to guarantee that top pick anyhow so tanking isn't a foolproof option. So, let's assume you get a mid-lottery pick (a reasonable assumption for a bad team) and strike gold with a player like Brandon Roy. Throw in a LaMarcus Aldridge in that same draft for good measure. Then, you strike gold again and get Greg Oden with the top overall pick. You can't really do much better than that in a 2-year span. Now, as much collective talent and upside as these players have, they still haven't gotten out of the 1st round and they started their real rebuilding with the Roy pick back in 2006. It's been 3 years and you still haven't come close to winning a championship with about as perfect of a rebuilding process as you could possibly hope for without landing a Hakeem, Michael, LeBron, etc... The bottom line is we are fast approaching a rebuilding process (how soon depends a lot on Yao) and it's likely going to take several years to go from being below average to average to above average to good, etc... There is no guaranteed fix in 2010 free agency. You can hope all you want but there are a lot of teams vying for a handful of elite players in their primes with the likelihood that 1 or 2 of those players resign with their current teams. And the truth is, there probably is no "stand strong" option any more if Yao is out of the mix with McGrady looking like a 40-year-old. You can't stand strong if your foundation is weak. Whether it's now or in a year from now, we are about to go through the very long process of rebuilding and there are no guarantees when it comes to that process. Even if you make moves as successfully as the Blazers have over the past 3 years, you still may be a borderline playoff team that hasn't won squat.
Yao's the reason we even had the mentality to go out and compete with the Lakers. And ther's no way we beat Portland without Yao.
My question is this: If The Rockets were MORE competitive against The World Champion Lakers WITHOUT Yao, then why would we have to "suffer" through next season? The Rockets without making any moves will be fighting for the 4/5 Seed. If they make a couple of key free agent signings and one great trade, they are in the hunt for 1 or 2.
soooooo true!! lets keep positive!! morey will get us championship #3 with what hes got us over the last two years. we are so close now so why take a step back!
With next year's free agency market, who knows who we can pick up. We gotta suffer through another year.
Without Yao and a healthy TMac (or replacement), the Rockets roster is mediocre. Even if Ron comes back, the Rockets would be a borderline Playoff team. I think it's simple, the Rockets try to make major moves this offseason and try to get something for Yao and Tmac, or it's rebuilding time.
I think it is foolish to say we can contend without Tracy and Yao and Ron and Von, who at this point I would let walk. So my plan would be to play the string with who we have and find out just how good the young guys are Unless a marquee guy like Chris Paul or Chris Bosh comes available at the deadline just let Tracy expire and see what his money could bring via free agency. Then I would reevaluate Yao at the end of next season but there would be no extension until the end of his deal with my offer being completely contingent on what I think he can bring to the team on the court going forward. Realistically, this plan would probably leave us in contention for a lottery pick which is not bad. We are still an attractive destination for NBA players and financially we are in great position to retool very quickly with or without Yao Ming; I would not jeopardize the future in any way for shortsighted goals at this point. All of my deals would be in preparation for life after Tracey and Yao and anything good that happens while either of them are still here would be gravy. When life takes a big **** in your hand you don't try to make **** sandwiches, you wash your hands.
The houston fans are so great. A few days ago they said houston are the second best in the league. Now they want to rebuild. What I can say!
Well, by both, I did not mean mixing a prospect rookie with our veterans together, i.e. Spurs getting Duncan. I'm talking about a move similar to what Boston did in the 2007 offseason. Could you not argue they rebuilt their team (with veterans)? I don't see why the Rockets can't say, trade T-Mac to a team desperate enough to take his contract, for B. Davis / C. Camby or M. Redd / D. Gadzuric, and still be contenders. Plus, if we happen to pick up Gortat, and if Yao's injury is not as severe as the media claims, hell, who knows what could happen.
No Free Agents No Trades PLEASE Please Morey take this oppurtunity to shed your liabilities for next summer when you could have multiple players at reasonable rates. There is no trade or free agent out there right now that makes us an instant contender like San Antonio or Los Angeles. However, you play it prudently and save your money and ressources then next summer you can have a Chris Bosh for sure and maybe other pieces as well. Take my advice 1) Let Artest walk. 2) Let McGrady's contract expire 3) Trade Wafer for a future draft pick. Now the next thing I am going to say is heresy but if Yao isn't going to come back healthy next season then look to trade him near the trade deadline for an expiring contract and a draft pick if you can squeeze one of some fool GM perhaps the Knicks. Give yourself the money and oppurtunity to go out next summer and rebuild quickly instead of hanging onto these "if healthy" hopes about Yao and T-Mac.
As already noted, you can't trade a FA, so that was kind of out of the blue. Here's the math as I see it. 2010/2011 Contracts: Yao - $17.7 million (player option, but he will likely take it) Shane - $7.4 million Landry - $3 million James White - $1 million That's $29.1 million of contracts. Lowry - $3.0 million - qualifying offer I'd expect them to make short of a move happening before then Brooks - $2.0 million - team option I'd expect them to make short of a move happening before then Keep in mind, though, if the team thought one of the prized FA's they'd want to go after would be a PG, then they wouldn't make both of the above. Let's assume it's not a PG, though. There are also team options on Dorsey and Hayes that I wouldn't say for sure they'll take. So $29.1 million + $5.0 million = $34.1 million. Let's say the offer Gortat the full MLE this year. I don't know what that is exactly, I'll guess $5.7 million this year which may mean $6.25 million next year (just guesses but should be +/- accurate). $34.1 million + $6.25 million $40.125 million. So if they don't re-sign Ron or trade Tracy they should still have $12 million + to make an offer to someone. BUT, they don't have Scola anymore. So you'd be going into next season without a solid PF position and needs at the SG and SF positions. If they didn't sign Gortat, they'd probably have enough money for one really good FA and one pretty good FA, but again still wouldn't have Scola. But could they afford a Bosh and Nash type combo...probably. But unless Yao comes back healthy, you still have a weak frontcourt (Bosh & Landry only under contract). It's tough. I personally think the best way to go is to try and sign a Yao "replacement" relatively cheaply, ala Gortat and turn Tracy's contracy into some good talent for the backcourt...either later this summer or at the trade deadline.
Thanks genius. BTW I was think more in line of like a trade exception involving a future pick. Look all I want us to do is hold back on acquiring mediocre talent like Gortat and avoid overpaying Artest if we know we are not competing for a championship next season with Yao and Tracy out for the season. I hate the notion of panicked fans wanting to make trades even though all the smart GMs in the league are pinching pennies and trying to load up for next summer. This is a once in a decade chance of changing the makeup of the franchise with a good summer in free agency next year. The ultimate goal is to win a championship not hoping to make the playoffs as the 8th seed without Yao and getting bounced out of the playoffs.
can't put the cart in front of the horse. might want to discuss wafer's free agent situation before discussing already trading him, if you want to be taken seriously.
Acutally the numbers are more like 2011 roster with guaranteed contracts Yao - 17,686,100 Battier - 7,384,500 Landry - 3,000,000 Thats only 28 million in guaranteed money. Chuck Hayes, Joey Dorsey and Brooks are team options worth 5,200,000 for all three. Scola and Lowry are the only free agents. Total guaranteed with team options picked and 2 rookies signed for minimum: 35 million if Rockets don't spend a dime this year. The cap will be around 60 million so we have 25 million to spend. You could get Bosh to sign a max deal of 17 mil, then Scola becomes expendable so you get around 8 mil leftover to get a starting SG. The lineup would be Brooks FA SG Battier Bosh Yao?? Landry Hayes White Taylor Budinger Now this is the best part. say you do this and Yao is not back at all then his contract expires in 2011. Assuming the Rockets have a payroll of exactly the salary cap around 60 mil, Yao's cap figure of 17 mil comes off the books so the Rockets can go out once in 2011 and spend that money for a big name player or upgrade the role players.
