I agree. If it comes to that, then so be it. But, only if it's a must, no other way around it. T-mac is just a player too hard to pass up on. Other than that though, I would love Cat to stay here. It's true, he has matured, and will keep on maturing. Has shown the ability to learn and grow, most importantly for his talents and intelligence, is very cheap. There's just nothing bad to say about Cat anymore. He has shown the things we have asked of him, changed his game into something many felt would help his game excel and fit into this Rocket's team. And he has done so, all in one year of "transition". The excuse, many around here, give for Steve's horrible play this regular season. If I had to pick between regular season and post season Cat to regular season and post season Steve, I'd pick Cat hands down.
I also agree with the original post. While the numbers don't necessarily justify my confidence in Cat, watching him play this year was MUCH more impressive than his play in the years previous. I agree that if we have the opportunity to acquire a major piece (like McGrady), then we pull the trigger and do what we must. Mobley doesn't compare to McGrady. But the guy is still a great fit here, and it's funny that while Francis and Van Gundy have had their personal problems, Mobley (Francis's twin in years past) has remained silent, at least publicly. I think Cuttino is buying into Van Gundy's system and can be a HUGE part of it. It's an underappreciated quality that he has to be able to score and create his own shot at will. He still takes some stupid shots, but he is instant offense and that's something we desperately need, especially on this offensively anorexic club.
I just don't see how Mobley's so untradable. Is he a nice player? Of course. But he's also incredibly replacable. Decent 2-guards just aren't a very valuable commodity. For example, if we had a JJ clone playing the 2 last year instead of Mobley, how much of a drop in production would that be? Not much. And JJ is a $3 mil/yr journeyman. Look at the twos around the league and MANY teams have similar or better players at the position than Mobley. That said, I wouldn't trade Mobley just for anyone. But if he needs to be part of a major deal, I'd have no problem with him leaving. Especially if SG or a SF is given back to us in return.
Name 5 "decent 2 guards" with the same value as Cat? Meaning, 2 guards who produce the same as or more than Cat for the same price?
First off, Jackson is a steal at the price we got him. It's tough to find guys with his numbers and his salary. That being said, I think our team's overall performance would decline rather dramatically if we replaced Cuttino Mobley with a Jim Jackson clone. Defensively, Mobley can run circles around Jackson--not a knock on Jim, just a question of age--and that's the other point. The fact that Mobley is still a very young player and not prone to injury (at least to this point in his career) and he can come out and give you twenty points on any given night is NOT a cheap commodity. Mobley also gives you energy whenever he comes into the game--sometimes that's his greatest weakness, that he tries to take over and takes some ill-advised shots. But the fact remains that Cuttino has an uncanny ability to beat his man off the dribble and get a decent shot the majority of the time. While his energy can sometimes be detrimental, it's a terrific intangible that would leave this team in trouble without picking up something more than substantial in return. I agree that he's tradeable--but it'd have to be something that gets us a DAMN fine shooting guard in return, because that's exactly what Cuttino is.
And to add to the two posts above this one. Cuttino is also a much more intelligent slasher than Steve. You'll never see him diving into a crowd. The guy can leap through a key hole and in a very smooth yet blurring motion. For his moments of jacking up shots, it really isn't worth complaining over or pointing out, since he's really lessen on those greatly and improved in other more noticeable areas. And for all the SOF's etc who lean on his "heart" to defend his case. Cat, has just as much heart, but more intelligence. And just like those two posts above this one. Do tell me, share with me, how many two gaurds are out there, that can so easily replace Cat. Replace all his abilities(quickness, smooth and intelligent slashing, a jumpshot a lot more respectable's than Steves, and remember he surpassed Steve by adding defense into his arsenal, becoming our team's best perimeter defender and most improved player, all in one year in that year of "transition"), his heart and intelligence, his ability to mature, to elevate his game through disciplinary instruction. All this, at his price.
I like Cat too, but lemme ask you guys this: Even though Cat is cheap relative to his contract/production, what do you think will happen after this season when he has an option on his final season? Will we end up ponying up high dollar for him, leave and we lose out him for nothing, or simply sign with the Rox for cheap? What do you guys think?
Cat is history. He doesn't fit with Yao. He can't/won't get Yao the ball. He doens't rise and fire immediately if he gets it, he can use a curl to get open. He doesn't set picks for the 1,; he can't work a pick and roll with a 4. He commits egregious mental lapses, turns the ball over, takes stupid shots, and disrupts the offense. I can't think of a worse fit for Yao, save Ricky Davis and Allen Iverson. He is an utterly replaceable commodity, somewhat like a tire on a Chevy. Sure, you need four tires to drive. When one wears out, you don't over value that one specific tire - you replace it, and get them all rotated and balanced. Yao is the engine that drives the car, the others are just tires. Cuttino is a tire with a flat. Mo T/Cato is rolling on the rim. Steve has a slow leak and is out of balance. JJ is a little worn. Time for new tires.
Here's a few things we could try to get for Cuttino : check the prospects in this article about the Sonics looking to get a forward. I still think Cuttino for Wilcox is a good deal. Cuttino + Cato works in Indy. Perhaps we could move Cuttino + Cato for Donyell Marshall and Crap. Or Cuttino + for Kurt Thomas. I'd certainly prefer to bring in a true shooter that can pass like Brent Barry, preferably for Taylor. There are so many ways to upgrade, and his skills are absolutely replaceable with CBA talent. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=knight-sonicsmightbelookingtodea&prov=knight&type=lgns
I would absolutely love to keep Cat, but only if we traded Francis. Between the 2, Cat is a better compliment to Yao, although Francis is a much better player. However, if Orlando asks for him in a deal for T-Mac, I wouldn't say no. But again, his shooting was impressive last year, and his defense terriffic when he put in the effort. However, I am concerned about 2 things: 1) Size at the swingman position. Mobley is 6'4, and that is not helped by the fact that JJ is 6'5. If there's a tall swingman to defend, none of them will be able to do it. At this point, JJ shoots betetr than Mobley, is cheaper, similar in style, and JVG said in the Chron that he considers JJ the best perimeter defender on the team. 2) Mobley and Francis in the backcourt. I can't take it anymore. They can't co-exist for 40 minutes per game because none of them are exceptional passers. None of them have a good "stop n pop" shot. Francis turns it over a lot, and it would be very helpful to have a SG who could correct that or make up for it. Mobley is not bas in the asst/to department, but he is average and that may not be good enough for this team the way it's built. Best solution? Get a big SF and a very solid PG. This way, JJ plays backup SG minutes, Mobley's minutes go down, andw e have a smart PG off the bench playing decent minutes who can play with Francis or Mobley as well.
Dump them both. There's no point saving those guys - they're not going to change and suddenly become Yao-friendly smart guards. Don't be fooled by the one-or-the-other debate of the last few years. It's not one-or-the-other. They both hurt Yao. Dump them both. Move JJ back to the bench where he belongs. Get new starters all around, with the proper skill sets and understanding to play off the big center.
I want to keep Cat as well, though I wouldn't completely pull him off the table. If there is a trade involving him that makes sense, you can't let him be a deal-killer. At the same time, I think his value to us is underappreciated and I doubt the Rockets would be offered fair value for him. He's smart, durable, good on both sides of the ball, hustles, everything. He can slash, he can hit jumpers. He's not a star, but he's not weak anywhere really. His conforming to Van Gundy's system was great, though I really think Van Gundy actually underutilized his offensive talents. So, I really want to keep him if we can. But, we also have 3 starting quality shooting guards and need some balance. I don't Mobley is the trade piece to get that balance, but if he is (that is, if he can fetch his worth) you have to do it.
You know I can't, because 2 guards playing better than Mobley tends to get more money, and those playing worse tends to get less. And there aren't many 2s who are exactly like Mobley. Now, if you want to look at where Mobley is in comparison to other 2s, here are the players he's up against. Players definitely better than Mobley: T-Mac, Kobe, Carter, Hamilton, Finley, Redd, Pierce, Iverson, and Allen. Players about the level of Mobley: Hughes, Richardson(both of them), Joe Johnson, Eddie Jones, Ginobili, Desmond Mason, Jalen Rose, and perhaps some I'm leaving out. Basically, I doubt 2/3 the teams in the NBA would feel that replacing their 2 with Mobley presents a significant upgrade. Now compare this with Francis. And the list is much shorter, with only Kidd, Marbury, Cassell, Bibby, Nash, Parker, Davis, and Billips being similar or better. Only 8 teams who'd not care for Francis. Now compare this with Yao. And the list at center is pretty short. Only the Lakers would downgrade their C position by replacing it with Yao. That's why Yao is untouchable, and Mobley is not even close. Anyway, I pointed out above that what Mobley brings in hardly expensive commodity, as plenty of 2s can go off for 20 on nights. Also, while JJ is a bigger liability defensively, he makes less mistakes offensively. So the difference isn't as big as you make it out to be.
Whoa, wth? Hamilton is better than Mobley? Mobley would run circles around Hamilton. The guy is freaking slow for his size and weight, horrid slasher. Did you see him trying to drive it in against the Lakers in game 2? The guy kept running into a defender before even taking a second step. The only positive I hear about this guy, is his "automatic" jumpshot. I'll take Mobley's over all offensive and defensive talents over any jumpshot. Not to mention, Mobley played Kobe (the best 2 gaurd in the league) far superior to Hamilton. You can't deny that. And Iverson? You gotta be kidding, he has always been ALL offense. Who jacks up shots WAY more than Kobe, and has more stupidity than Steve. And since Cat> Steve in the intelligence/mature department, Iverson is not better than Cat overall, or even comparable. ESPECIALLY not at this point in their careers. And I'll take Cat's youth and capability to grow and learn, plus his talents over Allen and Finley.
Some of you really take Cat for granted, especially after what he did in one year with JVG as his coach. Considering all the defenders of Steve Francis, I'm shocked to see the very few who actually stand up for Cat's case. Shocking, for the mere reason that it's REASONABLE and completely UNDERSTANDABLE to say positives about Cat, because they actually exist, they are factual reasons and RECENT, yet get's little to no say. Yet, Steve's case is a moot point, and he gets all this support in irrational proportions? It's just terrible.
Unless we somehow get someone to play better d and shoot better from the arc Cat is staying here. JVG loves defesne and Cat fits right in. My only problem with him is that he doesnt drive to the lane as much as he used to. He is also one of the best freethrow shooters on the team as well. Some of you folks think that rebuilding our back court is the answer when our back court is what kept us in the game in the laker series. Steve was breaking down Payton and Cat was giving Kobe fits. Keep the CAT!
I think when you compare on court production with his salary, Cat is an absolute bargain and we would be crazy to trade him.
