With training camp starting October 3rd, it's getting real close to the time when we have to finish putting our roster together. If we assume that no trades are going to be done(crap! ), what FA's will we sign to round out our roster? We've only got 11 players under contract at this time. Since we're on the edge of the Luxury Tax, they'll all have to be for the veteran's minimum. C: Ming/Cato PF: E.Griffin/Taylor SF: Rice/Piatkowski/Nachbar SG: Mobley/A.Griffin PG: Francis/Moochie Sad to say, but that roster doesn't exactly make me trimble with fear. Anyway, it looks like we need another big man, especially at PF. Some that might be of interest, are Gary Trent, Scott Padgett, Tyrone Hill, Donnell Harvey, Shawn Kemp, Jelani McCoy, & Vladimir Stepania(C). I'd pursue Kemp, Hill, & McCoy in that order. The first one to accept, I sign. Next, it's been reported that JVG wants a veteran PG to back up Francis. Some PG's that might be of interest, are Rafer Alston, Kenny Anderson, Travis Best, Tim Hardaway, Mark Jackson, Rod Strickland, & Shammond Williams. I'd go with Jackson, Strickland, & Alston, in that order. Depending on how many players the Rockets intend to carry on the IL this year, I might pursue another 2/3 or 3/4 swingman, such as Jim Jackson, Jon Barry, Stephen Jackson, Dermarr Johnson, Voshon Lenard, T-Mo, or Bryon Russell. If we get the players I'd choose, our roster would look like this: C: Ming/Cato/Kemp PF: Griffin/Taylor/Kemp SF: Rice/Piatkowski/Nachbar(IL?) SG: Mobley/A.Griffin/D.Johnson(IL?) PG: Francis/M.Jackson/Moochie(IL) Who would you sign? Oh Yeah, I for got about Badiane. Would you sign him & make him a part of this year's roster, or wait until next year?
I think more than anything this team needs a veteran back up PG. Mark Jackson and Kenny Anderson come to mind as decent candidates for the job. Anderson might be too expensive but I would still go after him. This team needs a veteran leader driving the second unit and Moochie is just not going to cut it.
I´d like to see CD go after Jim Jackson. He´s still out there, isn´t he? Now that the Kings have signed Peeler, they might not be as willing to keep JJ.
Isn't Piatowski the Shooting Guard and A.Griffin a Shooting Guard that can play some Small Forward?You got it Hottoddy!
Actually, they're both listed on the Rocket's site as G/F's. Since Piatkowski is 6'6" & Griffin is 6'5", I just figured that Piatkowski would play the SF position. Especially, since JVG reportedly stated that he sees no distinction between the 2/3 positions. Yea, I've got it now.
None. None of these players will make a difference. We need a trade, not a band-aid. Fill out the rest with NBDL players that cost 200,000 instead of 1.5 mil. You can cut them when you trade.
Lee Nailon would be a nice pickup.I'm not sure why New Orleans got rid of him, or why the Knicks didn't utilize him enough. He can play the 3 or sometimes the 4 depending on who he's matched up against. The guy can just plain score in bunches. Cod
We've only got 4 players at the 2 positions. If one goes down, we'll have to bring in someone off the street that might not know our system, & it could take several games before they could contribute significant minutes. Yes, we need to sign another big man, unless you want us to play reeeeeeeeal small ball. After those 4, our tallest player (Rice) is 6'8". As for Kemp, he may be old, but he's big & brings the kind of size & muscle that we need. Based on last year's numbers, he's still got something left in his tank & he can play both the 4/5 positions. http://www.nba.com/playerfile/shawn_kemp/index.html
Hill wouldn't be a bad pickup. I wouldn't mind signing on TMo again either as he can cover the 3 and 4 and has potential, in case our plethora of 3's somehow don't get the job done. If we hadn't picked up Griffin I would've loved to get Raja Bell. As for the backup pg, I think Alston would be an interesting fit here, I would definitely choose him over Moochie as of now.
Im waiting till next year for the rockets to hopefully go after one of the bigger names instead of whats leftover this year. Van Gundy should have a better view of what the team needs by then and what players he needs to get rid of after he pushes them to there limit.
Mark Jackson or Charles Oakley. Basically, someone who'll make a difference, even with almost no minutes.
I would take Mark Jackson... becuz of his great passing ability and becuz he might be able to mentor Mooch (although to me thats hopeless)... and i would take tyrone hill at pf cuz MoT and eg just arent strong enough... Sometimes they make me think that we should try substitute in our power dancers becuz the frontline is so weak so it wouldnt make a difference..
I think the general consensus is that Mark Jackson would be a great PG for the Rox. But in the front court, I like Harvey and McCoy. Seeing as how they're young and still have some potential, I'd be willing to sign them to minimum deals for insurance in the front court. Harvey is a banger, from what I remember, and though McCoy isn't the strongest center, I think he's got decent shotblocking potential.
