These two considerations seem pretty decisive, to me, in favor of getting Jackson at the reported price. 1. Several folks here have pointed out that we're going to be over the cap for quite some time. Going over the cap is like going under water: You should take as big a breath as you can before taking the plunge, 'cause you ain't gonna get any more air while you're under. Snagging a hard-working, rebounding, bona fide big man in the final moments of our under-the-cap status, thanks to at worst a one-season injury to Mo Taylor and a generous break from the league, is just amazing good fortune. Think Portland. (OK, forget the part about Pippen and jail and choking in the playoffs.) Having a surplus of good players has enabled them to use a very deep rotation and to trade for quality even though they're always way capped out. The only price is money. I b****ed when Alexander demanded cash in the Rice trade, since cash got us no cap room. The Jackson deal magnificently cancels out this problem. Jackson costs us cash but no cap, since we're over anyway. So the extra cash from the Rice deal, by going to Jackson, is essentially transformed into cap. The symmetry of it is almost too beautiful to be true. 2. Don't forget the first-round draft pick we owe the Grizzlies. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is our final year to cough up the pick. If we sucked this year and got a great pick, we were going to lose it anyway. We'd be a lottery team and get zero for the agony except the further agony of surrendering our future star to Memphis. How do you think Francis would feel about that when it's time to re-up and he assesses the Rockets' prospects? No playoffs? No reinforcements on the way? The point is, we couldn't wait for somebody better to come along next year. We needed somebody right now to get back in the playoff hunt. This is that somebody. Don't just sit there whining. Go over to Carroll Dawson's house this instant and mow his lawn.
He'd be bailing based on his less than cocky-b*stard view of his ability to will his team to victory...besides the fact the Rocket's prospects include a bona-fide draft stud in Eddie Griffin. Will, you know this worry of yours about Stevie not re-upping...isn't that supposed to be an overreaction? Aren't you reading too much into his quotes like you said to me? I'll tell you what....if we don't make the playoffs, I hope no one is going to blame Rudy for stunting the development of Francis without making the team leader share in some of that blame. If nothing else, CD as made some moves centered around getting Francis a perimeter-team...something he can attack with since we have a lame frontcourt. At some point, it is up to the players to perform. No more excuses about learning a new position. No more high stepping up the court rather than fast-breaking. Run the horses Stevie....you got 'em....run them!
