I look for Carroll Dawson and Van Gundy to do what they can to put the best team on the floor. I hope they can make a deal on the expiring Glen Rice contract. I do not believe Dawson will repeat the same mistake when we signed and traded Shandon Anderson for Glen Rice. We took on a huge contract for an old broken down player who has contributed little to this team. The only thing that will stop a deal is if there are no takers, It is embarrassing we ended up with Rice in the first place. Hopefully we do what NY Knicks did when they dumped Rice' contract. Let's hope we get something better than Shandon. Otherwise - let Rice walk......
Ok, if he ate the crackerjacks and dorritos, then do you think we could trade him back to New York for Shandon Anderson, and to make amense for all previous transactions we'll throw in a Moochie Norris Collectors Edition Bobble Head with Removable Pants. Or maybe, just maybe we could trade him to the WWE for Brock Lesner? Any thoughts?
If Glen Rice and his 9 million dollar contract come off the books next year the rockets will still be over the cap. I read somewhere, (sorry, can't remember) that the rockets would have a 53 to 55 million dollar payroll. If Rice's contract comes off the payroll will drop to about 46 to 44. the NBA salary cap is at 43 million and the luxury tax kicks in at 53 million. So really his expiring contract doesn't do that much for the rockets as it would seem. However Les Alexander obviously has shown he'll go over the cap as long as he doesn't enter luxury tax territory so a sign and trade down the road would be possible once Rice's contract expires.
I'm not saying trade him for scrubs, I am saying, trade him for two guys who are under contract beyond next year, who will be in our rotation ( for example, McInnis/Wells, Snow/Mckie, Williams/Murray). That way, we don't have to use the exception this year or next year. j
I like this thread because it starts to actually approach the "Trading Glen Rice" idea from a rational stand point. There might be a team looking for cap relief. BUT.... Who could we pick up for it... that is a shot in the dark kind of thing. What kind of player do we most need.... probably a defensive/rebounder/thug. I want Kurt Thomas. I don't see it happening but I think New York could use the cap room. And KT won't be TOO expensive to resign. Just an idea that I didn't want to start a thread for.
We should trade Rice for a bowl of rice! That way it would be funny no... ok .... I'll go back to my hole.
Houston trades: PG Moochie Norris (4.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.4 apg in 16.8 minutes) SG Cuttino Mobley (17.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.9 apg in 41.7 minutes) PF Eddie Griffin (8.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.1 apg in 24.5 minutes) SF Glen Rice (9.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.1 apg in 24.7 minutes) Houston receives: PG Troy Hudson (14.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 5.7 apg in 32.9 minutes) SG Wally Szczerbiak (17.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 apg in 35.3 minutes) PF Brian Grant (10.3 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 1.3 apg in 32.2 minutes) Change in team outlook: +2.7 ppg, +2.5 rpg, and +2.1 apg. Minnesota trades: PG Troy Hudson (14.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 5.7 apg in 32.9 minutes) PF Marc Jackson (5.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.5 apg in 13.5 minutes) SG Wally Szczerbiak (17.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 apg in 35.3 minutes) SG Terrell Brandon (17.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 apg in 35.3 minutes) Minnesota receives: PF Eddie Griffin (8.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.1 apg in 77 games) SF Glen Rice (9.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.1 apg in 62 games) SG Eddie Jones (18.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.7 apg in 47 games) Change in team outlook: -1.2 ppg, +3.5 rpg, and -2.9 apg. Miami trades: PF Brian Grant (10.3 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 1.3 apg in 32.2 minutes) SG Eddie Jones (18.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.7 apg in 38.1 minutes) Miami receives: PG Moochie Norris (4.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.4 apg in 82 games) SG Cuttino Mobley (17.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.9 apg in 73 games) PF Marc Jackson (5.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.5 apg in 77 games) SG Terrell Brandon (17.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 apg in 52 games) Change in team outlook: -1.5 ppg, -6.0 rpg, and +0.8 apg. TRADE ACCEPTED
I'd also love to get Brian Grant but I don't know if Les and CD will have the guts. I read once in TSN how the first thing that GMs/owners do nowadays when considering trades is pull out the balance sheet and see how those payments affect future years' salary. BG makes about $15 mil in his last year (2005-06, I think). I think the only trade Rice would go in would be to Miami if it wants to keep their cap space to nab Lamar Odom next year (if he's still available of course). But that would probably mean Eddie would go in the deal. Or a trade for Rasheed, if there was ever any truth to that (Portland trades are slow thanks to new GM). They get Rice/EG/Cato, we get, uh, Rasheed and Patterson? I don't know, but as we have discussed, Rasheed would then be due a much more manageable salary as a free agent for next year. (But we would run the risk of Rasheed throwing a towel in Yao's face....during a game, let me add).
Hell ya. Imagine how many season tickets and corporate sponsors Les would have to sell in order to pay B. Grant's salary. From a business standpoint, it doesn't make sense.
Glen Rice will be an important role player coming off the bench. If he has been staying in shpae, which I suspect he has, there's no reason that he cannot give the Rockets 10-12 points off the bench. His trifectas were pretty good last season, and should be about the same this year. The Rockets could benefit more by isolating him in the post, where he seems to be very comfortable. Also, does anyone remember in his earlier days how he would be isolated, do a few jabs and fakes here and there, and drain jumper after jumper? I still think that he's very capable of this but just needs the spacing and chances to show that he still belongs in the NBA. Cod
JBC - Minnesota is over the lux tax. They would be interested in a deal for GR and a PF. They might be ok with dumping Wally's money for a cheaper guy like Cat. They get to keep some cap relief, get a player, and improve chemistry/contracts. Mix all that up and you can come up with something where maybe we unload Taylor and Rice, for Brandon and a contract, (Gary Trent? Marc Jax?) or maybe add in a Cat/Wally swap. Houston gets relief from Taylor's contract. If you replace Cat with Wally, you get a better shooter, but take a risk with his contract and sour personality. I might roll the dice on that : Yao/Cato EG/ Trent Posey/Boki Wally/Francis Francis/Moochie. with Wally in there, now you got a shooter on the kick out who doesn't have to dribble. Wally and Posey can swap for defense help, or better angles. All in all, though, I'd prefer a move for SAR or Odom. I just prefer working the wing, and Posey just not the kind of trigger man that demands respect.
Brian Grant will never be worth what he is getting paid, we complain about Mooch, Cato and MoT but Grant make as much as all three. No Brian Grant ever or a least until his current way over paid contract runs out.
Here you go: Houston trades: SF Glen Rice (9.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.1 apg in 24.7 minutes) PF Maurice Taylor (8.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.0 apg in 20.6 minutes) SG Cuttino Mobley (17.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.9 apg in 41.7 minutes) Houston receives: PG Troy Hudson (14.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 5.7 apg in 32.9 minutes) PF Marc Jackson (5.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.5 apg in 13.5 minutes) SG Wally Szczerbiak (17.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 apg in 35.3 minutes) SG Terrell Brandon (17.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 apg in 35.3 minutes) Change in team outlook: +2.4 ppg, -0.4 rpg, and +3.8 apg. Minnesota trades: PG Troy Hudson (14.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 5.7 apg in 32.9 minutes) PF Marc Jackson (5.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.5 apg in 13.5 minutes) SG Wally Szczerbiak (17.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 apg in 35.3 minutes) SG Terrell Brandon (17.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 apg in 35.3 minutes) Minnesota receives: SF Glen Rice (9.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.1 apg in 62 games) PF Maurice Taylor (8.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.0 apg in 67 games) SG Cuttino Mobley (17.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.9 apg in 73 games) Change in team outlook: -2.4 ppg, +0.4 rpg, and -3.8 apg. TRADE ACCEPTED We could make this a three way trade by flipping Brandon's contract over to Miami for Brian Grant. That being said, I don't think Minnesota would do that deal, unless they get really desparate to move Szczerbiak (i.e. Garnett demands such). That's why I thought putting EG in the deal instead of MoT would be more realistic.
Who in their right minds would rather pay the remaining 3 years of Moochie's and Mo's contracts if we can package either of them with Rice for Brian Grant? We would have a strong frontcourt of Yao/Grant/Posey and Griffin could develop without pressure coming off the bench. Granted, Grant's contract may not be the friendliest one of them all, but he comes off the books exactly when we'll need to resign Yao. Plenty of cap space to outbid anyone without fears of the luxury tax. Grant is the best deal for the Rockets out there, the best fit we can have, the tough nosed enforcer we have to place next to Yao. Time to pull the trigger, CD.
