Rice and Mo-T have been easy targets all year long because they have been on the injured list. IMO, both will be valuable contributors to this year's success. Rice for Coleman is nothing short of ridculous. Please, fellow posters, just take a deep breath and wait just a few weeks more. We've got a lot of stew in the pot, and it's almost time to eat.
Thank you... I've been trying to say this for the last few months. Salary really shouldn't be an issue for us when discussing trades. We can't get under the cap, and if you really think that CD will let Ming or Griffin walk because of the luxury tax, you underestimate him as a GM. There are plenty of teams, like the Knicks, that would take Cato's deal for an expiring contract if it came down to us absolutely refusing to pay the tax. As for the trade, I would just keep Rice. Whether he starts or not, he's not going to play a significant role considering the talent at the forward spots. At the most, I could see him playing 20 minutes per game. The same would apply to Coleman. In a lesser role, leadership becomes more important, and Rice is definitely a better mentor and veteran leader for our younger players than Coleman.
As cancerous and troubling he is, he still avg 15pts and 9 rebs last yr. He still has talent, just not the talent he had when he came into the league. Personally I don't think philly want's rice with those 2 yrs left on the contract.
Besides, I think that Rice is going to help the Rockets this year. If he healthy, the guy can shoot the lights out. Every good team needs a supporting cast of good shooters, (see, the Lakers). Rice will join an excellent group of shooters including Mo Taylor, Eddie Griffin, Bostjan Nachbar, and hopefully, Walt Williams. (any word on his status?) That's not even mentioning the shooting ability of our stars, Steve, Cuttino, and Yao. If the Rockets don't average 100 points this year, something will be wrong.
I'd rather have Rice for 2 years, than Coleman for one. As Philadelphia fans about Coleman's health. Doctors told him there's no way he can go through a full season healthy. He's good for something like 68 games and 20 minutes a game. Second of all, there's not ONE minute to spare at PF, and maybe 3 to spare at C. Here's the situation: Cato can start, so we can have Ming developing behind him for a short while. At PF, KT and Mo T are very capable and can easil hold the fort down. Griffin is a future star, and we can have him because we're solid at this position. Almost overcrowded. As for SF, Nachbar, T-Mo and Torres have not proven anything yet and may very well all be busts. You say Rice will play bad, but think about the whole situation like this: Coleman would sit on the bench for a year. No minutes. While if we had Rice at SF, at least Rice would be bad but have experience. As for the other SF's, they're, for now, just bad and inexperienced. Personally, I think we should UNLOAD a PF. T-Mo is perfectly capable of being the 3rd PF with Mo T and Griffin playing major minutes. I'd rather have a big guard with experience at the backup 2 than KT being a 3rd unhappy PF.
Wasn't Howard Cosell removed from Monday Night Football very shortly after saying something like "look at that monkey run"? IMO, some elements of our society find chimp and ape references in poor taste if not outright offensive. If Rice has truly been working out and is in good physical condition, he is of more value to the Rocks than a 4th PF.
The Lakers dumped him because he whined about not being used right. He was the Laker's third option. He'll be the Rox's fourth option (maybe fifth if Griffin pans out) when Francis, Mobley, and Yao are on the floor. He'll be a locker room distraction unless he swallows his ego and realizes that he is over the hill and is happy to be part of the supporting cast rather than the go-to man.
I actually thought about this deal before the thread was started, and why it might be something to consider if the Rockets wanted to add a different SF, say a Bryon Russell. Here's why it might make some sense: 1. The Rockets should be at the luxury tax threshold next year when Francis' extension takes effect. This would stymie a Russell signing, since Rice will still be on the cap next year. If the trade is done, $9 million comes off the cap this summer, so a Russell signing would be no problem. 2. With Rice off the roster, Russell could start at the 3 and backup at the 2. Russell might be more inclined to sign since he would get more playing time with Rice gone. 3. Phily might do this deal because they need offense, and because NY is paying a big chunk of Rice's salary, anyway. My guess is that salary obligation to Rice over two years that is not covered by NY would be close to the salary obligation to Coleman over one year. The only kicker would be if Phily has luxury tax concerns for next year. 4. Once the trade is done, I would either cut Coleman immediately, or put him on IR until he complains. I would keep him away from our players unless we have 2 PFs go down with injuries and we have no other choice. 5. I might even send Phily KT in the deal if this is the only way we could get Russell. Maybe Phily would send a future conditional pick as additional consideration.
