Thoughts???

D as in Dallas? So heypartner was right, like 2 weeks ago?

Dream == ( Bradley + Laett + Harvey the Bunny Rabbit ).

And everybody wondered what the hell the bunny rabbit stuff was for.

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We're going to stay together until something happens, if something happens. - Sidney Lowe on Shareef's career in Vancouver.

 

I'd like to see us waive Dream of find a trade that allows us to save cap space and maybe pick up a young player.

I totally agree on interior defense and rebounding. I'd like to see Mo stay but ONLY if Webb is not part of the picture or if we think Webb could split time at center. If we could keep Anderson for the early bird cost, that would be best. Then, we'd still have some $$$ left over meaning we might could keep Taylor AND go after Webb.

I don't know enough about Marc Jackson to say one way or the other but he seems like a tough kid.

Eddie Griffing would be awesome. I want an athlete at the three, someone who could get up and down the floor with Francis and Mobley and finish strong, but also play tough D.

My 2 cents.

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I am very very sleepy.

 

I'm with you Doc. The Rockets need defense in the worst way and the longer I look at it, we have just as good a shot at getting Webber as any team, with the possible exception of Sacramento. Also take into account the recruiting efforts of our own players and I think we'll have a damn good shot.

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"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." - Gandhi

 

Doc, to the average fan, your moves seem too good to even hope for. It would really be nice to know in ball park terms, what are the chances of those things happening? Particularly the Webber move. It seems like everywhere he plays he says nice things about potentially playing there. Even if the Rockets go after him with every resource they have, do they really have an edge over the Kings or anyone else for that matter. It's one thing to read dreamcasting from the same posters Jan-Dec, but quite another to read it by you.

I certainly agree we need defense. Like I've said before, if we get a big defender, please let him be able to catch the ball and shoot free throws.

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Doc Rocket getting RABID!!!!!

Welcome to the board for real!

[This message has been edited by heypartner (edited January 17, 2001).]

 

Waive Dram - I do not see any great trade as possible - we would get at least one piece of garbage that would tie up a lot of cap room.

Try to trade up in the draft. If we stand pat and draft as we stand, we will get a bunch of players that would be decent role players - then you have too many roleplayers and not enough talent.

Go after Webber, of course, but don't expect too much there. Only other I'd consider would be Marc Jackson. Even if his play diminishes a bit - he can shoot and is a pretty good rebounder. Something that we need in a 5.

Re-sign Mo for an average amount. He is really doing pretty well, but not well enough to bring too much interest from other teams as a big time free agent. Realize what he is and how he fits on the team.

Try to get Shandon to postpone his big payoff a little longer.

Do some serious work with Collier and Langhi - Collier to lose some baby fat and gain strength and quickness, and Langhi to bulk up in any way possible - no more weak air balls!

Call Steve every day in the offseason just to let him know how much the team loves him. Move his whole family to Houston, hook him up with a local woman with strong Houston ties, make him have at least one kid, Name the new arena after him - anything to keep him in Houston.

If all goes as I listed, i will be very happy.



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EZLN

 

I would really like that.

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Ceo of the Walt Williams fan club. Web site coming soon


atheistalliance.org

 

I want to get something for Dream. He still has value to alot of teams.
It's pretty obvious if Dream leaves we need help at C, SF and maybe still PF. We are solid at the guards.
Cato has a permanent spot on the IR and Collier does not seem like a adequate C to me.
I like KT at PF but he is undersized. i think he is an excellent player to bring off the bench. I am not a fan of Mo. We already have too many guys that don't play defense and Mo doesn't consistently rebound. Los is also a nice role player as well. So we have the depth at PF but I am not sold on Mo.
SF may be resolved if Shandon does stay full-time at the 3 and is happy about it. Remember he may leave after this year if he doesn't like playing the 3. I personally like Walt off the bench. He has a deadly shot, but he is very streaky, but he's also one of the guys with no D. Langhi may be a keeper here. He could be our answer as a taller SF who is athletic and plays D.

My point is this, if we trade Dream we need at least a serviceable center for the future. I still don't think the draft is the answer because we do have picks coming in but I think we have as many picks going out for trades. Also adding a rebounder who could play the 4/5 would be nice as well. So no way do I cut Dream and I keep looking for a trade because I don't want him to leave for nothing.

I don't think C-webb is even a possibility. He wants money and a championship and we don't play D well enough with Dream and it will be a worse D without him. So although we could give him money I doubt if he wants to go back to the Sac type team of the last 2 years where they play no D and are entertaining but no chance of winning.

 

I say waive Hakeem. Let's use our cap space to go after Webber or resign Mo. Let's trade Carlos and Walt to someone for some picks. The heart of our team(SF,SA,CM, & MT) are all young. Let's draft a big man that can grow with our nucleus. I don't know about Bradley. Sure he'll help against the weaker teams, but does he reall y help us against the big boys. He doesn't log a lot of minutes and aside from the blocks, I think his D is weak. Pull him out to the wing and drive by him for smaller guys. Lean into him and draw a foul for the bruisers. Granted, I have not seen him play that much, so my oppinion comes with an asterik.



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"Stranger things have happened, but none stranger than this" - Commentator after a parachutist landed in the ring of a Holyfield fight

 

4chuckie... it seems as if this team has picked up their defense. They've also been more responsible w/ the ball as well. Their tos have had to have gone down a ton this year.

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We're going to stay together until something happens, if something happens. - Sidney Lowe on Shareef's career in Vancouver.

 

The goal, if i understood correctly, would be:

C- M. Jackson/Cato/Collier
PF - Webber/KT
SF - Shandon/Draft/LAnghi
SG - Mobley/Shandon
PG - Francis/Norris

With Hakeem, Los and Walt out ASAP.

To assemble that team, we would need to hit the jackpot of signing two of the most coveted free agents of next year´s class, and Mo would be gone.

Somewhat of a longshot if you ask me.

Now, is that team so MUCH better than this one:

C- Cato/Reeves/Collier/DRAFT?
PF - Mo/SAR/KT
SF - SAR/Shandon/Langhi
SG - Shandon/Mobley
PG - Francis/Norris

Same guys are shown the door.

One can argue, YES, team #1 is better than team #2, and few could argue with that.

The difference is that team #2 is a far more realistic goal than proposition #1.

So i guess you guys know where i stand, huh?

I agree, we need interior defense. But team #1 sounds like dreamcasting to me.

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"Dream another dream, this dream is over... Dream another dream, this dream is over... Dream another dream..." - from the Van Halen song, "Dream Another Dream". Fitting, isn´t it?

[This message has been edited by Thanos (edited January 17, 2001).]

 

Hey Doc,

What would your thoughts be on the possibility of trading Cato to Chicago for Miller? Chicago has been playing Brand at the center spot lately & not giving Miller many minutes. From looking at the games box scores, Miller seems to get double digit rebounds when he gets 20+ minutes in a game. I heard that Rudy really liked him a year or so ago. Is that still the case & would Miller fit with the team we have now?

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Thanos--GREAT POST. That's all I have to say.

One plan is much more feasible (not to mention more quickly fulfilled, if it were to go through ).

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Jazzkiller

 

Doc, is that Dallas deal still a possibility considering Laettner and Bradley will be FAs at the end of the yr? I am very high on Donnell's potential and feel he will be a player in this league in the right situation. Also, I wouldnt mind if the Rockets went the safer route with Etan instead, but Donnell's potential is hard to turn down. Harvey makes less than 1 mil and Laettner/Bradley can we wiped at season's end, this would have no bearing on the Rockets FA pursuits.

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Check out the Best Source for Draft Info

Draftsource.net

 

Of course we should, if what you are saying is POSSIBLE!

Webber/Cato/Collier
Mo/Thomas
Griffin/Langhi/Bullard
Anderson/Mobely
Francis/Norris

That WOULD put us in the Western Conference Finals!

You're the expert. What realistic chance do we have to get Webber? (As echoed earlier). Can we re-sign MO? Will Shandon sign for the exception? Can we realistically trade our picks for a top 3 pick to get Griffin.

No one wants to be next years Bulls or Magic ...

But unless someone is going to give us building blocks for our future, that will lead us there, because we'll help them get under the cap, or help them go for a championship, I agree, we have to let go of Dream, and find those key pieces to the puzzle.

Although, I don't understand why we need to waive Dream. Why don't we just let him play out the year? We'll get cap room just as well, and some value for for his play this year. Is it because the Rockets are fearful that fans will think we will be betraying Dream if we don't re-sign him next year, so we're better off letting him go now?

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the more I know, the more I know I don't know...

 

Scratch what I said above...one thing at a time.

Find someone who wants Hakeem and force a favorable trade with them for rebounding youth (Harvey!), then waive Hakeem so they can pick him up off waivers.

Try it! Unprecedented. Stern won't care. It's the Dream, and he wants him in the playoffs.

Do not waive Dream for nothing. Keep his ass. I don't care. The phone will ring! Don't waive him. Make Dream dig his own grave if he doesn't want to listen to the coaches. You cannot let him get his way in front of such youth. Rudy and the coaches must not allow complainers to get their way.

 

Good point about the luxury tax, Jeff and BobFinn*. Remember, Les is the one who has the last say, forecasting or not.

The situation at hand is a very delicate one indeed, and could either be a slam dunk or a big setback.

The big thing about the CWebb sweepstakes is that it may be a long, drawn out issue, with Webber visiting and considering a slew of teams. What kind of message does that send to Mo and Shandon? What if Faulk, seeing the writing on the wall, gives the Rockets one of his famous ultimatums, "we want X amount of $s by the first day of signing or we look elsewhere"? And the "Mo didn't sign until late in the free agency season last year, therefore..." logic won't fly this time around because of the thin crop of talented FAs. My gut feeling is that he will be in greater demand as a 2nd-tier FA, as will Shandon, this time around.

So the dilemma is:

1. Keep Dream and let contract expire = CWebb becomes top off-season priority, hope to cash in BIG in draft, pray that at least SA stays on board, Mo if lucky

2. Trade Dream for best available player = No CWebb, convincing Mo and SA to stay becomes top off-season priority, possible better record due to trade dampens chance to make big move in draft

To me, though it's shakier because of CWebb's uncertainty and competition, option #1 makes the most sense. Worst case scenario under #1: the Rockets can't sign CWebb, but since they're in all likelihood headed for the lottery, they should still end up with a good prospect. And if Mo decides to take another offer (Detroit, Toronto, Orlando, etc.), the Rockets would still have the capspace to make another deal or possible trade. The key is to not run Shandon off. KT is developing into a solid replacement for Mo should he leave, whereas Shandon's departure would leave a hole in a perimeter-based team that values his D and open-court ability. But under option #1, the Rockets at the worst will continue the rebuilding process while retaining the flexiblity to make trades or sign players in the future.



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"ON-BEE-TAH-BULL!!", Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, alumnus, University of Houston

 

I'd prefer not to get everyone's hopes up too high on CWebb, Doc (unless you know something the rest of us don't!). It seems like a pipe dream. I like Marc Jackson but I've read that he's not really a post player and his defense isn't great (not on caliber with, say his teammate Dampier). I haven't sat down and watched him play a full game, though. Frankly I don't think Bradley's a great defender either, and blocks can be an overrated statistic. Did you see how Phoenix kept driving the lane against him the other night?

I like your emphasis on defense, though. What I'd really like is a fundamental rebounder and defender who has a few low post moves. A guy like OT in his prime, or one of the Davises (though both of those guys are also on their downslope).

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"Thirty-seven?" -Randall, Clerks
www.clutchtown.com

 

Would you be willing to give up the Cato experiment for Bradley and Leatner? That's what Cuban and Nellie would want. They have no real interest in Dream. We have little if any chance to get Harvey since they beleive he will be a stud...Etan Thomas is a very real possibility if the Rockets are interested.

Now that I think of it that would free up a lot of cap space. Imagine loosings Dreams salery and Catos salery. That would give us enough fire power to make a serious move at Webber and maybe have enough to get Marc Jackson.

Maybe you are onto something...Nellie and Cuban do like Cato.
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[This message has been edited by crash5179 (edited January 17, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by crash5179 (edited January 17, 2001).]