Can someone post the"Waking up from a bad Dream?" insider article On Espn.com. Thanks, on behalf of all posters! ------------------ [This message has been edited by steve francis (edited August 01, 2001).]
here it is... Dream leaves gaping hole in Rockets' middle by Chad Ford Thursday, August 2 Updated 10:52 AM EST NBA Free-Agent Watch NBA Depth Charts Will Marc Jackson be the next center to find a new home? The Rockets have just awakened from a very bad dream. After deciding not to pursue free-agents Chris Webber and Antonio Davis and to work instead on re-signing their own free agents, the Rockets must feel pretty burned. To lose Hakeem Olajuwon this late in the game with not much compensation in return left the Rockets scrambling late Wednesday night, a team source told ESPN Insider. According to source, the Rockets knew Olajuwon was leaning toward leaving and were hoping to make a sign-and-trade that got them a quality big man in return. The Rockets do have Kelvin Cato who can play center -- so basically they have nothing. A source close the Rockets said that they are not sure that Warriors restricted free-agent Marc Jackson is the man for the job. The Rockets would likely have to pay him more than $4.5 million to keep the Warriors from matching any offer. "He's really not a center and that's a lot of money to pay for a guy who doesn't have much experience and would be playing out of position," the source said. Complicating matters is the Pacers' pursuit of Jackson. They are willing to spend their full $4.5 million exception on Jackson. The Warriors are threatening to match the offer, which could bring about a sign-and-trade with Indiana before the Rockets even make up their minds. Other free-agent centers are few and far between. The Houston Chronicle reported that the Rockets may look at Sonics free-agent Jelani McCoy. However, there was a reason the Sonics decided to gamble on Calvin Booth instead of the inconsistent McCoy. More likely is that the Rockets wrap up free-agent Maurice Taylor and then try to fold free-agent Shandon Anderson into a sign-and-trade. The Rockets will have a $5.1 million trade exception after they ship Olajuwon off to Toronto. Thus, they can take $5.1 million more in player salaries than they send out. However, there are slim pickings. The Rockets have shown a little interest in Denver's Raef LaFrentz and the Warriors are willing to part company with center Erick Dampier. The Wizards have been shopping center Jahidi White for some time. None of the players would have the impact of Olajuwon and the Rockets may decide to save their trade exception until next year (they have one year to use it
Not many choices out there. I'd make a play for LaFrentz if possible but that may not be possible if Denver isn't interested. At least we have picks, the exception and a possible sign-and-trade of Anderson as well as other players. So, we have options.
