I see lots of suggestions for all kinds of players the Rockets should get based on how great players are. The fact is that we are not fielding an All Star team. Even the Lakers have two great players and a lot of terrific role players for depth. With 4 legit scorers (assuming Taylor returns), we need to fill out the team with solid players who FIT IN WITH THE OTHERS ON THE FLOOR. That could be a scorer or a defender or a shooter or a rebounder, whatever. The point is that there is only one ball to go around and we saw what happend with Portland tried to sign a team full of all stars. ------------------ Things do not change; we change. - Henry David Thoreau
Well, supposedly the Wizards will have an All-Star team. How else are we to compete with them? Lets keep Dream and bring in Ewing to back him up. ------------------ "For there is nothing either good or bad, thinking makes it so." - William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Hamlet
We need a legit center who won't be injured 70% of the season, then demand a trade for 25%, and kick ass the last 5% to get a good deal next year! ------------------ "Bada Bing!"
What true Centers are out there that we have a shot @ ? ------------------ www.expage.com/saveourunis
Can we please stop with the Dream bashing. Kenny Smith said it perfectly last night: "Some players are meant to play their entire careers with one team, and Hakeem is one of those" With Griffin on board we don't have a need for Webber (unless he wants to play here) It just irks me that most everyone on here wants to just let Dream leave here after everything he has done for this franchise. So what if he made $18 mil last year and wasn't worth it. What about all those years he busted his tail and was underpaid? We have the money to keep him, it must be done. ------------------ "For there is nothing either good or bad, thinking makes it so." - William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Hamlet
I don't see why suddenly Griffin is gonna be this great scoring threat. You think he'll average more points than Mo Taylor? No way. Taylor owns the first quarter. He's virtually ignored the next 3 quarters. But somehow he still manages to get his points. Francis, Mo, & Mobley by themselves will demand shots. Then, if we have Dream, don't think for a second he's gonna wanna play 4th, let alone 5th fiddle. In that regard, maybe it DOES make sense to keep a guy like Cato to play D, make rebounds, and pick up slop for points. Somewhere in there, Griffin's gotta get his, too. ------------------ Founding Father of the Refs Suck Club
cson, I can't speak for having a shot at any of these centers. But the only centers out there, that are free agents, worth pursuing would be Mutumbo (most likely signing with Philly) Marc Jackson (who knows) Antonio Davis (too many hints for Orlando) Nazr Mohammed (???) Hakeem Olujawon (why not one more year, if there ain't anything better this year) The rest of the centers are either mostly centers out of the mold of Jason Collier (large centers with a decent outside shot) or basically space fillers/Hack-A-Shaq'ers. I would go after Jackson or try and trade for a center. I think that we have a much better chance of signing Jackson than prying a center away from someone. I guess there's Brad Miller and Raef LaFrenz. But what do we give them. Toast, I agree with you. Maybe Cato is the best option if he can stay healthy and solely concentrate on defense and rebounding and grab the occasional alley-oop from Francis/Mobley or garbage collecting. I would prefer though that we have someone to back him up for the future. Hakeem is great for one more year, but he can't be here forever. So what do we do? Is Collier enough or do we need to grab another center from somewhere else like Jackson or Miller? [This message has been edited by Little O (edited June 28, 2001).]
In that regard, maybe it DOES make sense to keep a guy like Cato to play D, make rebounds, and pick up slop for points. If Cato actually did those things and stayed healthy it would... the problem is, he's a below average post defender and he isn't that good of a rebounder for a big man. I think Griffin will outscore Mo. I like Mo, but Griffin is much more of a complete player. Griffin has the outside game that Mo does, but he also has a better inside game, and you'll see him get a lot of points off of offensive rebounds, putbacks, etc. ------------------ EDDIE, EDDIE, EDDIE!!! Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more! The Mo Taylor Fan Site
I don't think it's really about points so much as it is about touches. Bob: I'm cool with Dream returning if he'll take $5 to $6 million per year for 2 years. That will still give us enough to re-sing Taylor and Norris who will command around $7 million per season between them. ------------------ Things do not change; we change. - Henry David Thoreau
You'all been smokin something. Webber is needed more than ever before. He's the type of player that can get his 20 points off rebounding alone. He doesn't need shots to get his points, but I can tell you this, if we don't go out and get a rebounder we will be just the same as last year. Webber is the perfect player for Houston. I don't think you need me to point this out, but, uh, we don't have any All Stars. He would be our only All Star next year. The guy wants to be carried. He's the perfect fit. ------------------ humble, but hungry.
.. ------------------ humble, but hungry. [This message has been edited by PhiSlammaJamma (edited June 28, 2001).]
He doesn't need shots to gehis points, but I can tell you this, if we don't go out and get a rebounder we will be just the same as last year. I think we just got that rebounder last night. P.S.-- If Steve isn't an All-Star next year, then Ray Allen might be onto something with this small market conspiracy. Griffin will be an All-Star in a year or two, and Cuttino has a good chance to be one as well. ------------------ EDDIE, EDDIE, EDDIE!!! Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more! The Mo Taylor Fan Site
You'all been smokin something. Webber is needed more than ever before. He's the type of player that can get his 20 points off rebounding alone. He doesn't need shots to get his points, but I can tell you this, if we don't go out and get a rebounder we will be just the same as last year. Webber is the perfect player for Houston. I don't think you need me to point this out, but, uh, we don't have any All Stars. He would be our only All Star next year. The guy wants to be carried. He's the perfect fit. But that's not how Webber played with the Kings. In Sacramento, everything revolved around C-Webb. The 2nd most valuable player on the team was Stojakovic... a guy who's perfectly content with receiving passes and hitting jumpers. Francis, Mobley, and Griffin aren't like that. They want to be focal points, too. If you want a garbage man who scores off put-backs, go after Antonio Davis or Marc Jackson. If you want to trade, try for Dale Davis, the consumate garbage man. I wouldn't mind having Webber... but it *would* cause problems, particularly with Griffin, another post presence. Griffin isn't going to want to have Scottie's former role on the Rockets... camping out at the 3-pt line. ------------------ Don't let those uppity newbies get away with acting like vets... ...all newbies are equal, remember that.
All I see right now is the Milwaukee Bucks. plenty of backcourt scoring, but no inside threat at all. Yeah Griffin can do all those wonderful things. That's great, but when the game is on the line we still need an inside option. Something that gives us some balance. Milwaukee was toast because they didn't have that balance. I want to see the Lakers. I want to see Magic, Worthy, Jabbar, and Cooper. That's what Webber gives us. This my dream scenario Cato Webber Griffin Cat Francis I like the Defense. I like the rebounding. I like the Size. I like the Speed. I like the scoring. I like the athletic intangibles. I like the passing. I just don't see the problems that you'all are seeing. Webber is a good passer out of the post and he can also be effective away from the basket. It doesn't really crowd out Grffin in my opinion. Cato can just wander around on the baseline and take his 2 or 3 alley's every night. ------------------ humble, but hungry. [This message has been edited by PhiSlammaJamma (edited June 28, 2001).] [This message has been edited by PhiSlammaJamma (edited June 28, 2001).]
Rockets need Webber so Griffin doesn't punch everyone out. KT is short, Cato is brittle, and Mo T is too passive. No one else on the Rockets can physically keep Griffin in line. Hakeem has done a lot for the city of Houston and the Rockets. But I think the Rockets have also acknowledged his loyalty. They have done everything to keep him happy and in the city. Now he wants $10 million for one more year? I would love to have him end his career here but that amount of money is rather high for someone that will probably play 40 games. If all other deals fall through and the Rockets have $10 to spare then sure sign Hakeem. But why sacrifice a season to show loyalty to a player that has lost it himself? ------------------
You are suggesting that if we do nothing other than re-sign our own players minus Anderson (including Hakeem and Taylor) that we are no better off than last year? So, Griffin is no better than Anderson? Because, all things being equal, this is a swap of Anderson for Griffin. ------------------ Things do not change; we change. - Henry David Thoreau
I'm saying that we will be no better in the West. We still won't make the playoffs. We may be a better team, but does that translate into wins? I don't think so. I think we need some balance to make the playoffs and compete. I just don't think Dream can provide that balance. He get's winded. He's gone half the year. He's unreliable and broken down. I still love him, but where's he going to be when we hit our stride. retired. Taylor can't rebound plain and simple. He never learned how. May never learn. I don't want to put my eggs into a basket that has holes in it. ------------------ humble, but hungry. [This message has been edited by PhiSlammaJamma (edited June 28, 2001).]
Not to mention we'll actually have a real rotation for once, added depth, and an actual inside presence. Hell, this move might even make Cato a valuable player to this team. Rudy has so many options now. I wouldn't be surprised to see a lineup of Moochie-Francis-Mobley-Griffin-Kenny. Now THAT is one hell of a fast lineup. ------------------ The Smurfs were Communists [This message has been edited by tacoma park legend (edited June 28, 2001).]
PhiSlammaJamma: Won't make the playoffs? We were precisely *two games* out this year. You really think that the continued development of Mobley and Francis, + the addition of EDDIE FRICKIN' GRIFFIN (Gosh, I love saying that) isn't worth TWO GAMES!?!!? Barring major chemistry problems, I'm not even worried about the Rockets missing the playoffs... just a first round exit. houston still needs a post presence... but Taylor can improve in that role, and Griffin is certainly capable of posting up occasionally as well (especially once he beefs up). Griffin adds shotblocking and rebounding. A little more rebounding and dfense... and Houston's as good as anyone but LA. ------------------ Don't let those uppity newbies get away with acting like vets... ...all newbies are equal, remember that.
