Count me in with Thanos. By the time the February trade deadline arrives, all ya'll will be wanting to "lynch" Glen Rice from the rafters of the Compaq Center (in keeping with the Docs gunslinger theme).
I was down on this, but after taking more time, I've come to a few other conclusions. 1.) This team played it's best ball the past two seasons when Walt was hot, and not blowing easy shots. Rice is Walt with even MORE scoring ability, and none of those nasty stretches where he couldn't throw a pebble into the ocean. 2.) We've got Eddie FREAKING Griffin off the bench. Guy has the ability to shut people down. Of course it doesn't hurt to have our two resident prophets tell us we're not done with the center position yet. IF we resolve that situation, I have no qualms about Rice's contract, because that is the only thing we really needed to spend our cap on anywho. I promise I won't make any more rash decisions till this is finished, and we see how the rest of the roster shakes out. Talent wise, Rice is an upgrade over Shan(d/o)n. No one can argue otherwise.
I see this math: Rice at 9 million / year for Shandon at 5.5 million a year and losing Bullard at 4.5 million a year Rice actually comes out cheaper and is a better player than the ones we lose... I agree we will also end up moving Williams for White which helps make the deal look better
This Rice deal is just so wrong on so many different levels - even if the dealing is not over, if Rice remains a Rocket I will have lost all faith in CD/RT. Our great up-and-coming team has just been (fill in your favorite four-letter word)ed up.
Ricerocket, kinda snuck your first one in there thru the side door! Anyway your math is pretty good. WELCOME TO THE BOARD!
Like he did on Zach Randolph, you mean? The guy is a ROOKIE for chrissakes. You are placing the ENTIRE defensive burden of our team on him, and he isnt even a starter for chrissakes. He may be an eraser, but ONLY on selected match-ups as of now. Stating otherwise is wishful thinking at best! Agreed. I tire of this debate anyway, and i'll be gone all the weekend, away from the internet, and this NIGHTMARE which I hope can yet be halted. Rice may be an upgrade talent wise, but chemistry wise? at 9 million per, he can be a pain in the ass shandon couldnt be in his wildest dreams. Wait and see. So much for our beloved chemistry. You're about to see it blown to pieces. Even though the thought of Griffin punching the lights out of Rice brings a smile to my face... BASH ON, fellow trolls!!!!!!
For all of those against trading for Rice, what if it was Rice/Camby for SA/Cato? As popular as Camby is with the fans he has never really seemed to get along with Van Gundy and the New York press has never felt that he is the legitimate big man to play center Not that I think the Knick's front office would ever do this but they've made bigger mistakes and if there is a team in the NBA which needs some drastic changes its the Knicks. They've made bigger mistakes in the past, like signing Rice in the first place.
I LUV DIS COUNTARY. or should I say this CITY. Never underestimate the ability of this organization. By the start of this season, we will have a team that will be considered a CONTENDER. The only problem I foresee is our inability to trade in the future because the other GMs do not want to be on the other end of trades with CD and Rudy. Look at what they accomplished in two years. From the oldest team in the NBA to the youngest. I BELIEVE.... Man I have so many things to say but my girlfriend won't stop bugging so this will be continued.....
Why live in the past? Using this logic, the Rockets should never acquire a player of any magnitude then... Fact is, he's gone... And I pray that the Rockets don't think about Olajuwon when they are making their roster moves...
i don't care if i only have TWO whole posts (now) to my name but this is getting ridiculous. i've read the posts that are basicallly 'anti rice' and i believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion but man. there's something called support where we, as fans, will support the organization's moves. and seeing these 'anti rice' people give opinionated reasons they hold as facts is bothersome. to the ones that are against having rice-GET REAL. it's not like we traded for mcllvaine or kemp. no, we actually got back a good player. sure he's overpaid for the type of player he is NOW and sure we dont' need another SF but it's better to have him than to not have him at all. some are making this out to be the worst business deal ever done by the rockets but have we not forget cato's 42 mil? or sign and trade for pippen? c'mon rice is still a serviceable player.
It has taken me all but 16 hours for this complete reversal, but I'm on the RocketWagon now. The most persuasive argument is from those who point out how good the team played when the Wizard was on top of his game. I think that I liked the team when they played that way. Two things that I wish for: 1) getting hands on the ball/team defense 2) what Crispee said, a thug with a good jumper
Really, with Shandon to NY, Bullard gone to Charlotte, and the Wiz to the Wizards, we really only have Rice and Langhi as small forwards. T-Mo and Griffin can also fill in. Rice will fit well with the new zone and will get plenty of minutes and scoring opportunities. He's a lot less streaky than Walt.
"religious faith" towards Rudy! <b>Will is NOT getting away with THAT</b> Will is the last admin that I have ever argued with.... Might as well go down in FULL defense of RUDY bashing..... First let me lay down a perimeter of smilies before launching my attack: There that should do it.... Will you are so wrong about saying Rudy and CD have at best broke even on roster moves. They are so far in the black it isn't even worth your writing charm to con us with the contrarian view. Let's see. Draft picks aside....they clearly are no worse than a push, let's look at only the trades and signings. You inflate two goofs signing Pippen and signing Cato to match all the gains. I'll even give you the Barkley trade, although that was only supposed to be for one year, and he got us past Seattle. Consider though that Pippen was not happening without Barkley agreeing, as there is not enough cap room otherwise. To me, Pippen was a free agent freebie handed to us by Barkley. That was a last ditch gamble. Anyhow, I give you <ul> <li>Signing Pippen (although this was a freebie really, offset by Barkley's $1m) <li>Sign Cato for too long <li>Trading for Barkley...although without Barkley, cc.net may never have taken off!!! Do not underestimate the motivation for Clutch's first post!! <li>....plus all your petty Maloney and etc garbage.</ul> Now what does Rudy have: <ol> <li>Trading for Drexler: indisputably lands us a ring...this offsets Barkley <li>Trading for Francis: a legitimate franchise player...without which you still don't have the Rocket's on TV!!! <li>Trading for Griffin: unbelievable complement star for the future <li>Signing Mobley to $3.9m: not only does Rudy find him and groom him, but he gets him to sign way under value...this completely offset any wasted spending on Maloney <li>Signing Mo' to $2.2m exception: 'nuff said <li>Signing Shandon to $2m exception: another steal and his increased value offsets at least one of your little "etc"s...same with Mo' <li>Finding Mario Elie: integral role player to a ring <li>Finding Moochie: without which you wouldn't be enjoying that 3OT thrilla. <li>Landing a pick for Pryzbilla and a pick for Turkscan without which we do NOT get Griffin </ul> hmmmmm.....looks like Will is the one s.t.r..a..i...n....i......n........g to find logic against this. Oh....and we did all this without TANKING!!!! thank you. now I run away by covering my ass in the protective cover of smilies.
David Falk represents Glen Rice and Mo Taylor. Take that for what it's worth, and draw your own conclusions from it and how it pertains to this trade, because I think there's a reason we targeted Glen Rice, and it may have alot to do with the Rockets good relations ,at this point, with Falk. I'm not sure if he represents any of the other players involved in this trade, but he may have been the catalyst in brokering this trade. On a side note, I just heard RAINEY on 610! He said something like "there's this great internet basketball writer named Bob Rainey who's reporting the Rockets will send Walt Williams to Washington for Jahidi White." - Bob from Houston Btw- I don't think there's any bangers with a jumper available via free agency.
tpl- Didn't realize Falk was also Rice's agent. What this tells me, is that we're now David Falk's best friend. David Falk is partners with Arn Tellem (Griffin's agent, btw). People consider Falk the devil agent, but if I'm the Rockets, I'd much rather have Falk and Tellem on my side than Fegan. They are the two most influential agents in the NBA right now. Falk has power Fegan can only dream of. Thanos- Size wise, Randolph vs. Griffin is similar to that of Shaq vs. MoTay. Griffin CAN NOT guard the beefy 6'9'' 260 guys right now. Mo Taylor can. Mo, mediocre defense as it is, would have held Randolph to much less because of that. How many teams in the league have a beefy PF, and an SF with quickness to get past Griff? Not many. Griffin's PF/C assignments will be limited to the ultra-sleek hybrids, that aren't really thick- Jermaine O'Neal, KG, McDyess, etc. types. Again, Walt for White can NOT happen straight up. White makes less, and will be 75% BYC in September. the Wizards would have to add a player to make it work.
As the fat comic book owner in the Simpsons would say, "Worst trade ever" We definately will have the worst defensive front court in the league! As good as Griffin will be, our team is going to give up serious points and rebounds. While offensively Rice is better than Anderson, is it worth: a) disrupting chemistry b) getting another player with no D c) taking on a ridiculous contract With the continuing development of Francis and Mobley, their offense will only flourish. Now you add Rice to our young team and you add a guy whose game is gonna deteriorate while the rest of the team develops. As for using cap room or losing it, I don't necessarily agree with it. Why add a player that is not a team player to a young team. I mean, losing Bullard's game is not big, but at least he brings veteran experience to the team. His offensive shortcomings relative to Rice could easily be overcome by Francis/Mobley. As for Shandon, I agree he is very expendable and am in no way advocating that we keep him. I just do not understand the need to take on and old, overpaid Rice onto a young team, especially when the salary handicaps your ability to make free agent aquisitions.
Crispee - Don't forget about Rudy drafting Horry, Cassell, Othella, Mobley and KT. There have surely been forgetable draft picks (Turksan over Rashard Lewis), but all clubs have these (because drafting is such a crapshoot), and Rudy has pulled some rabbits out of the hat.
