LOL. I don't want to change it. I really forgot my PW. Also, my former name was also a female name. Just you people don't "get it".
No question Cato should be shopped. As previously mentioned, his trading value will never be higher. That is why you shop him now! Cato is way overpaid as a backup center but as a starting center for a team his pay is on the average. In the East especially he could really help someone! There is no need to have Cato on this team taking up that much salary cap space on the bench for someone that probably will only get 10-12 minutes a night. We could get someone a lot cheaper (Elden Campbell) with the MLE as a backup and use Cato as trade bait to fill other needs on the team that will make much more of an impact than Cato would. I think this summer Mobley, Rice (expiring contract) and Cato will be the main names on the trading block for the Rockets to improve their roster. Griffin to a lesser extent as I see him only involved in trade talks that bring back a near all star caliber player.
I checked the stats of most players of Rockets. Cato is the only one who DROPPED all categories of stats in this season. He got less points, less rebounds, less assists, less steals, less blocks, less FG%, less FT% and more TO than what he had last year. Yes. He played less minutes. but how about the FT% and FG%? Why does everyone say that he has improved? When a person cannot shoot a free throw, can he develop his hook shot or jump shot? I doubt it. Most of Yao Ming's stats are down if we compare them with what he did last year (when he was in China). But at least his FT% is improved. That is the reason I have hope on him.
Absolutely, the Rockets should move Cato. I've been saying this for weeks now. The East is so pathetic right now(only one freaking team won 50 games!!!) and undersized compared to the West that I can think of at least five teams off the top of my head who would gladly take a chance on Kelvin Cato. The key is getting quality role players in exchange for the guy. But it's obvious with Yao Ming being the future of the Rockets and a future 35-40 minute/game player, Cato's PT will be extremely limited on this team. Plus, depth at the center position is overrated. 80% of the teams in this league don't even have a quality starting center, much less a decent backup.
The idea of trading Cato is fine. But you dont wanna trade him for a shooter. U can get that in free agency(Wesley Person, Piotowski etc). And you dont want to trade him for a 2nd tier pg(Tinsley), just for the sake of moving Steve to the 2 guard. Also, u dont want to package him in a combo w/ Cat, since both of them have decent trade value. U always wanna package what u cant get rid of. For example, Mo, who is gonna be extremely hard to move. So u package him w/ Cat or Cato. Also, if u trade Cato, u better get a banger in return, who can play both center and pf. So what do u get? Something like Mo and Cato for Brian Grant. They can both give Miami complementary players in case Zo makes a comeback. If not, they can both start for them and Mo adds offense.
I have to agree with Blade Runner man, Deckard, in that I DON'T think it would be a good idea to trade Cato. Now, I know that he makes too much money as a backup, but I think most of you are dreaming if you think his contract won't scare teams off. But even more than that, Yao still needs to bulk up plus who knows what the PRC is going to require of him (maybe he will get to stay over in the States but I have not been keeping track). Having to bulk up could make Yao susceptible to injury but that is purely speculation on my part. I think you would be hard-pressed to find a better backup in the league than Cato. I don't want to see some stiff like Collier (even though it won't be him but someone like him) spelling Yao. If you have the chance to have a strong bench, then take advantage of it because you never know when a key injury may happen and your bench guys become your main guys.
I think Cato would be very happy to play for east team, remember his words about that if Rox is in the east, they are already a playoff team. I am for trading him away for some pure shooters. Bulk up EG for the back up center, start MoT, get Kukoc(words are that Lakers is interested in him too) and he get paid too much. If we have a shooter that can knock down open shots, the spacing for YM will improve.
Melvin Ely(6'10'' 260)-24-15 mins 5 pts 4 reb .496 fg .700 ft Lamar Odom(6'10'' 221)-23- 34 mins 15 pts 7 reb 4 ass Both of these guys would fit in well if we could somehow get them. Its hard dealing wih the Clips since they look at finances not wins, but if Kandi's gone and they want to keep Brand they could do worse than Cato (Brand/Cato frontline would be decent). Dooling Richardson Maggette Brand Cato
As much as I would hate to part with Cato, I do believe that we must definately at least consider it. The only worry I have is regarding Yao Ming's stamina next year. Will he really be able to play 35 minutes a game after a grueling summer with the Chinese?
windandsea: First, watching Cato the last few years and watching him this year, there is no comparison. His aggressiveness is amazing in contrast to his prior passive nature. The stats that absolutely went up though were those relating to his production per minute. This year I believe he was second only to Wallace in rpm. I'm sure he was very high on the list of bpm too. And considering how high his FG% was last year, it's not that bad that it dropped off a little. It's still very high. But again, you'd have had to have watched him last year to know why we've all changed our opinion of him so drastically. I think Toast's idea is an excellent one. If we stand pat (not likely, I know), I'd add EG to that rotation as a fourth big man (fourth because he should get the least minutes of the four). But man do I love the idea of Cato playing a Rodmanesque type role, playing next to Yao for the bulk of his minutes, with Mo to spell them both. I also agree Cato's trade value is very high right now and I'd listen to offers. But unless we're offered a solid, aggressive big man, I wouldn't move him. Good big men are hard to find and there are very few that I think can give us what Cato can. Of course, to be worth his weight in cap space he needs more minutes, which is why I like the Toast scenario.
Cato averaged 4.5 ppg, 5.9 boards, 1.2 blocks, and shot 53% from the free throw line. I don't think he is worth jack. He is "hoarding jack squat in case of famine."
Not going to happen. Even if we had Ben Wallace on this team he would not be playing PF in our starting lineup with Yao. (hard to believe but true!) Not with RUDY's system! Rudy can't seem to develop a system that allows for the PF (who has limited offensive game) not be a liablity on offense. Somehow other teams seem to be able to do this but we can't. In our current offensive system if the PF can not shoot the midrange shot then they can't play for us. This is something that Rudy hated about Thorpe even from the beginning and why Rudy likes Mo Taylor and Eddie Griffin but is not as enamored with brute PFs that just bang but have little offensive game. Our system can't support them. Perhaps we need a new system!?
It's misleading to post those stats without posting minutes per game. Project those numbers out to decent minutes and it's pretty damn impressive. Especially the boards, which has traditionally been a weak spot for this team. The only bad stat in there is his FT % and I really think he can improve there. His form is not that bad. I think he can do better there with practice. In every other way he's the most improved Rocket. ESPN missed the boat badly on this one.
Deuce, In Toast's proposal it's Yao playing PF next to Cato. With 'the Admiral' retiring, this would be the most intimidating front line in the league. It would also allow for consistency in the offense -- whether it's Yao or Mo playing PF, the PF would be the first option. Cato's offense would, as usual, be heavy on the put backs and alley oops. But he wouldn't be the post up guy. 5 - Cato 4 - Yao Or 5 - Yao 4 - Taylor Or 5 - Cato 4 - Taylor
Cato is a good back-up center or a lower tier starting center--nothing more or nothing less. He isn't going to be a hot commodity--but perhaps a team would have modest interest. If someone offers something reasonable I would consider it. But you are not talking that much for Cato. Looking on RealGm strait up maybe like A. McKie (injury prone, but would be good if Posey left) and Bucker or for Battie and Delk. Or perhaps Cato, Mooch and Boki for Eddie Jones. Maybe Cato and Boki for for Redd and Caffey. Cato + Griff or Boki for Kurt Thomas + Doleac. In other words Cato isn't going to demand a lot by himself--there is nothing wrong with keeping him and knowing he will be a solid15MPG backup unless something really interesting presents itself.
Oh, I predicted much of the above of Yao and Cato splitting C minutes. Neither can play the 4--we were desperate earlier in the year so if either could play some at the 4 we would have tried it out. It isn't happening (Yao or Cato with PF minutes).
If I was another GM, I wouldn't go for Cato because I question if he can keep up the intensity and concentration for 30 minutes per game. Doing it for 17 minutes is one thing. But staying out of foul trouble, playing smart, understanding what to do in the clutch, etc. are a lot harder when playing longer and down the stretch. His free throws declined pretty badly this year. That said, the 17 minutes he does give us are very valuable and nothing to laugh at. Jon Barry plays only 18 mpg and everyone thinks he is the answer to our problems. But I don't think anyone sees him as their starting center, which really lowers his value.
Mr. C: No one sees him as their starting center? He'd be an upgrade over probably ten starting centers in the league right now. I agree foul trouble could be a problem over extended minutes, but he'd have Yao most of the time to help. So would instructing our guards to cover their men. Right now our centers get in foul trouble largely because our small guys gamble too much and let their guys get away, leaving Yao and Cato to foul to avoid the easy basket. I swear half their fouls come against other players' guys instead of against opposing centers. I wouldn't predict his boards would go up on a level with his current rpm, but they would go up and that's a plus not to be sniffed at. I just don't get this stuff about giving up a serviceable big man (extremely hard to find these days) in a package for someone like Eddie Jones. Jones is a great player, but you can find decent 2 guards anywhere. Plus we already have one. Offer me a rebounding enforcer type and I'll consider it, but Cato for a guard? Just so we can move Mobley? No thanks.
