Apparently Nick Van Exel said earlier this year that he was going to retire, but now he is saying he wants to play another year if he can go to a playoff/contending team, with Houston likely on the top of that list. http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/111321347726601.xml Van Exel backtracks on retirement talk Monday, April 11, 2005 GEOFFREY C. ARNOLD Nick Van Exel said this season would be his last. He made the announcement in December. Van Exel said he was tired of having to deal with the combination of pain in his surgically repaired left knee and other nagging ailments. Van Exel has changed his mind, however, and said he wants to play another season. "I have a lot more to offer," Van Exel said. "I still have a lot of passion for the game." Van Exel, 33, said the Blazers' midseason change of directions factored into his decision. The 12-year veteran wasn't happy with the team's decision to fire coach Maurice Cheeks on March 2 and give more playing time to the younger players, essentially giving up hope of reaching the playoffs. The losses have been piling up, and the Blazers have compiled the worst record of any team Van Exel has been a part of for a full season. "More than anything, I want a chance to be on a playoff-contending team," Van Exel said. "That's my biggest motivation." Van Exel said that his earlier retirement statement came with a qualifications. "I think I've always said that if I could get with a good playoff team, I would play again. But if not, I will retire," Van Exel said. "That's been my thing ever since I first made that statement. If I get stuck with a terrible team, then I'll be done." Van Exel, who has not played since March 5, is earning $11.8 million this season, the final guaranteed year on his contract. The Blazers hold a $12.7 million option for next season, but it's likely they will use Van Exel's contract as trade bait. Van Exel said he would play only for certain teams, one being Houston, which is where he lives during the offseason.
Wow, it's a bizarre world where a team option to completely overpay a player by some obscene amount (here, $13m) is considered "trade bait". Would they pick up that ridiculous option just to ship him to a team looking for unload some bad contracts?
You know, NVE is a wonderful clutch player and can provide one heck of a boost off the bench. Those are his positives... Now to his negatives: he has a big ego and has a track record of being a trouble-maker, which makes him bad for team chemistry. Also, he is likely to ask for the MLE or something if he wants to play again, which we wouldn't pay him (I would give him the veteran min if he REALLY wants to come back home in Houston). Another issue is that we have already a deep guard rotation, and we would have to let someone go if we sign NVE, because I see him as a better version of Mike James, who can shoot and score but can't defend and is not a player with a pass-first mentality. I like NVE's abilities, God knows he was the only reason Dallas played so well in the playoffs a couple years back and he literally carried that team on his back, but I am not so sure we have a roster spot for him, and I am not so sure he wouldn't mind coming off the bench as a scorer, and I am not so sure that he would be receptive to criticism from his coach since he doesn't play D, and on and on... Still, I like NVE, but not sure JVG would be interested. If we DO sign him, we would likely let JB go.
No. He will be declined. If Rox are set with BS/MJ then why add NVE? They could, but very doubtful, and use MJ as trade bait?
unless he is willing to sign for the vet minimum or the $1MIL exception, I'd prefer to focus our entire MLE on a PF.
If NVE would come for the vet minimum, I would love to have him. He knows what he is doing out there, he's been doing it for years. He's a clutch player, and we all remember the unforgettable playoff run he had with the Mavs a couple years back.
The only pieces we have that are expiring next year that we might be willing to let go of ar Vin at 3.5M and Spoon at 5.9M. Mooch would have to be included to get the numbers to match, but Mooch's contract is one year longer. I personally am not sure if VE is worth even troubling ourselves for. If he really wants to come here, he needs to find a way to get Portland to not take the team option and let him go, and sign here for much less as a backup.... note: keep in mind when reading this that I have no clue as to wether or not VE can still handle starting PG duties since the article talks about his various ailments....are these ailments real or are they just a excuse? I dont know.
ditto. If we were as desperate for a pg as we were earlier this season when we were trying out Strickland and Barrett, then I might be inclined to bite, but that isn't the case. NVE is a good, clutch player who can provide energy off the bench. But he is old and injury prone. Not worth too much investment.
The Rockets are not going to sign Van Exel under his current contract. If NVE finds himself in Houston next year it will be as a free agent. That happens if the Blazers buy him out of the current contract and NVE becomes a free agent. It is very likely, because the Blazers don't want his 13mill contract on their books (for salary cap) for next year. NVE will sign for a veteran's minimum next year
There's a brand new therapy for knees using a special eletrical current to heal knee cartilage. If that's all that's bothering him...
The guy can shoot, and has energy. But didn't we want a strong and young PF? Didn't we want a pass first guard? Adding his trigger-happy habit, his injury and 13 million. Why all of a sudden we want him?
Ah yes. The annual "Nick Van Exel's team is out of the playoffs and he'd like to play for a team in Texas before he fades away" article. Like others said, not for any part of the MLE. I wouldn't mind him thrown into a package with SAR. Van Exel does fit into a few molds we seem to be looking for in a PG- he has playoff experience, is a pretty good outside shooter (though I think he may be better off the dribble than catch-and-shoot...haven't seen him much the past couple years), and takes care of the ball (3:1 career AST:TO). He's a better pure point guard than anyone we have on our roster imo. He turns 34 during the season next year.
How would you trade Van Exel to a contending team? It's impossible. The only way he signs with a contender is if Portland buys him out of the current contract
Personally, I'd take Van Exel in a heartbeat but only as a sign and trade for one of our guards. I know it's premature to even discuss this at this point of the season, but since the issue has been broached, we might as well play a little fantasy GM. The three most expendable guards I see at this point of the Rockets season are Charlie Ward, David Wesley, and Bobby Sura. Charlie Ward for obvious reasons. The other two though, I'm just flustered with because of the way in which they've both been hesitant. Basketball can be a mental game for some people and if these two can't regain the confidence which they held at the beginning of the season then we're going to have a short postseason. Not only that, but with their age, it's hard to say if they'll be able to overcome confidence issues period ala Nick the Brick. I'm an optimistic person and I love my Rockets so I'm thinking they're just holding off on that shooting magic until the end of the season. With that in mind, if events aren't as fortuitous as I hope for, then we should try to aquire Van Exel and even though Mike James and Van Exel are of the same mold, I think Van Exel is a better creator off the dribbler and a better slasher. We need shooters who aren't afraid to shoot when they're open. Van Exel has also matured over the years and his game can be complimentary when required. This would give us a starting rotation of Van Exel and Jon Barry with Mike James and David Wesley/Bobby Sura shoring up the bench.
