Who I think should not be on the team next year: Matt Bullard, Walt Williams, Devin Gray, Bryce Drew, and Tony Massenburg. I also think we should try to trade Kelvin Cato. I like the guy, but his contract is bigger than his production. If we do this here's what we're left with: C - Hakeem/Miller/?? PF - Thomas/Rogers/ SF - - ?? - /Rogers SG - Anderson/Mobley PG - Francis/Norris That leaves a big hole at small forward, but what's so different about that and this season? It also leaves us without a banger at PF. The center position is also questionable considering Hakeem's injuries, and the fact that Miller won't be able to play starter minutes. So, again my question is: What should we do? ------------------ I have a dream.........his name's Hakeem.
How about keep Bullard, Gray, and Cato and possibly sign Massenburg to a smaller contract if it's up after this season. Then trade Drew and Williams and possibly Massenburg for that small forward or banger big man.
pf-kelvin cato/carlos rogers/tony massenburg sf-walt williams/matt bullard/devin grey c -hakeem olajuwon/pig miller sg-shandon anderson/cuttino mobley pg-steve francis/bryce drew/moochie norris trade clippers get: carlos rogers bryce drew rockets get: michael olawakandi tyrone nesby draft day trade mavericks get: walt williams cuttino mobley tony massenburg rockets get: cedric cebalos their draft pick(5-10) draft: terrance morris marcus fizer resign moochie norris pf:kelvin cato/marcus fizer sf:terrence morris/cedric cebalos c :michael olawakandi/hakeem olajuwon sg:shandon anderson/tyrone nesby pg:steve francis/moochie norris
Rocketbooster, Thank you for your poignant observation. It really added to this thread and solidified yourself as one of the top posters. ---------------------------------- To Others, I put Hakeem as the starter, because without Cato, he'd be the obvious choice. Would you rather have Pig starting. I know Hakeem probably isn't going to have an all-star season next year. But, if he's healthy he'll be productive. Also, the reason I'd prefer to trade Cato is to somehow free up cap space. Then I think we are all hoping that the Rockets to get some talented free agents to hold the fort in Hakeem's last year. I mean, would Hakeem & Duncan be any worse than Robinson & Duncan? Yeah, that's a million-to-one shot, but I'm "sayin' there's a chance." (J. Carrey) ------------------ I have a dream.........his name's Hakeem.
brahma rocket, - You seem to have misplaced Kenny Thomas somewhere. - Morris is not comming out this year. - Fizer is an undersized power forward. Why draft another one of those?
Attention all BBS posters: Walt Williams and Tony Massenburgs' not being on our squad next year is contingent upon some other team wanting to take them on. I've said it before, but if you had a 2 million dollar exception, would you use it on Walt Williams? Now consider that he's scheduled to make more than twice that amount. Other teams aren't in the business of doing the Rockets favors.
The Freak, What are the odds of packaging one or both TMass or Williams with either Cato, Drew, or (preferably not) Mobley? If we did it that way, it doesn't seen so difficult to pass our problems onto another team. And, who knows, Williams and Massenburg may actually contribute next year. Williams can play better than he has this year, and TMass can play... (unlike this season) ------------------ I have a dream.........his name's Hakeem.
Walt Williams and Tony Massenburgs' not being on our squad next year is contingent upon some other team wanting to take them on. That's not true for Massenburg. He's a free agent at the end of the year. If the Rockets don't want him, then they simply renounce him. [This message has been edited by aelliott (edited March 05, 2000).]
To get another team to accept Walt, he will have to be put in some type of package deal with a bargain price talent to offset Walt's overpriced "talent". Seems we had a similar discussion along these lines in December. Mango
Just a random thought, but do yall realize that Kelvin Cato and Marcus Fizer both play/played for Iowa St.? Just thought that was an interesting fact that no one has ever brought up and I've never thought of.
If Moochie continues to play well through the rest of this season, I would deal Drew. He has probably raised some seriois eyebrows with his solid play when Francis was hurt, and many PG-weak teams could use him (he would make an adequate starting PG for an otherwise good team - like the Knicks use with Ward) Moochie could be our backup, which suits him better than Boy Drew. Along with Drew, we could package Walt Williams, as he would make an affective scorer off the bench for a team like Miami. As for free agent pick-ups, Duncan and Hill may be beyond our reach but we should desperately go for Rose, McGrady and even Eddie Jones. If that would mean sacrificing a first round pick, so be it. Azim da Dream ------------------ No guts, no glory, no brain, same story.
Actually, Williams shouldn't be too hard to move next year since it's the final year of his contract. Nowdays, teams are always looking to acquire players in the last year of their deal.
Fizer? Undersized? Has anyone seen this guy play? Undersized he is not. At 6'8", 265, I think he has a true PF body. His height, if anything, one could question. But watching him play, and 6'8" is not small at the PF spot, all he lacks in height he makes up for in (brace yourself) speed, brute strength, and agility. This guy is a player, and I hope we draft him so we can all see what he brings to the court.
aelliott, The Patricia Bender site has Walt listed with a contract that expires in 2002. http://www.dfw.net/~patricia/contracts Mango
HOOP-T You know I like this guy, too. But he is not 6-8. I hear he is closer to 6-6. He is a scoring machine. And the fact he has Iowa St playing like they are is what truly impresses me. For godsakes, we are talking Iowa St here winning the Big 12. My feeling is, this guy is a player of superior athleticism and intelligence who can do anything he puts his mind to. As far as rebounding goes, it is tough getting big numbers at that size when you are triple teamed. I feel everything about him is undervalued, including his rebounding. If we have a 6 pick, I'd trade down 4 spots to land Fizer. If we pick 10th-12th, I'd take Fizer and shop around KT for a 6th pick. If we can't get fair value for KT, I'd play them both and not worry about it. The trade offers will come. Take the best available athlete at 6-6 or above, and you will be right more often than not.
Mango, I don't know why I thought Williams only had one more year (maybe wishful thinking). So, let me flip flop on this one and say that if I was a GM, I'd never take him in a trade. [This message has been edited by aelliott (edited March 06, 2000).]
