i see head and harris, possibly strawberry (if he isn't already cut by season start) and i would also add brooks to the list..he has shown potential to be a good scorer but i still think he is too small to play PG both in height and strength. francis is a major candidate but i would see him being moved around the deadline if he is moved. I think the team would want to see what he plays like after his surgery. we have hustle guys in the position harris plays (scola, landry, battier, artest and eventually dorsey) and so he probably be let go. head is valuable and I like him but the arrival of barry makes him a little bit more tradeable since he has been anything but reliable in the playoffs the past two years
Consider what is possible. Head is probably worth a late first rounder or a second round pick. But, since teams know we must shed salary, we'll probably get a TE and a right to swap second-round picks. Assuming (as people here seem to) that Francis still can't play, no one's going to want to pick him up. We'd have to give them a first rounder and cash to get a TE for him. Do you want to pay someone to take him off our books? Chuck Hayes has the most value, I think. I think we can get a second rounder for him, given our bad negotiating position. I don't think Harris makes enough money for it to make any sense to move him. It'd make more sense to move Hayes and have Harris to backfill. So, my guess is we trade Hayes and Head for much less than they are worth, and roll the dice on how healthy Stevie Franchise will be. We're deep at PF so losing Hayes won't hurt too bad. And, supposedly, Barry can replace Head's skillset (though I doubt he can be as healthy).
Here are the choices I would consider, in no particular order: 1. Strawberry 2. Harris 3. Luther 4. Chuck
Why do we want him to finish in the bench. Just get rid of him now and let's remember him as a good player in the old days.
Here are my choices: 1) Francis 2) Hayes 3) Head We should try to package a combination of the above players for anything we can get.
This is what I was looking except for the last part about Landry Now that the Landry situation is taking care of Morey can go ahead sift through those minor deals he has sitting on his desk.
The Rockets will be over LT. It's just a matter of how to keep the LT low. The LT threshold is 71.15 millions. 13 guaranteed contracts (including Landry & Dorsey w/o Deke) plus Justin Reed come to ~ 72.86 millions. Head's salary is 1.96 millions. Head is most likely to be traded for TE/pick. But what if Head is very good in training camp and preseason? I dont think the Rockets will trade Francis because of his history with the Rockets. The Rockets will probably let Francis finish the season. Francis is hard to trade too. The Rockets probably will need to send cash to cover Francis salary if they want to trade Francis. Any DJ Strawberry, Mike Harris, Vo Wafer will come as double in salaries because of LT. 1/2 is more needed for the Rockets than an undersized 3/4. I really dont agree the Rockets start the season without a backup 5 although Deke will be waiting to sign. Not too much difference in money anyway if Deke will sign for vet. min.
No idea. I actually think the Rockets should just sign Deke with vet min and start the season with 14 players and see what Morey can do before the trade deadline to keep the LT low.
I been saying Head+Francis for Joe Smith. But if Morey/Les wants to shred some salary it's not happening. Otherwise its a completely lateral move salary wise and all contracts involved are expiring this season.
Couple things: 1. Dikembe probably will cost more than the vet min, whether he is signed now or later. 2. The problem with signing him now is that it may put selling off Luther harder. When a team knows you absolutely have to dump a guy in order to get under the tax, it would be expected to drive a harder bargain. 3. Of course, now everyone already knows the Rockets eventual intention probably is. However, the team Morey negotiates with has to keep in mind the fact that at least right now, the Rockets have the option seeing how Dorsey and the rest of the bigs perform before committing to signing Mutombo. It may be a slight bit of wiggle room, but it's something.
Philly would be the best bet. But if they want shooting especially in the playoffs, they're better off in another direction. I don't see them wasting time on a guy who makes Andre Miller look like Reggie Miller come playoff time.
IMO if you keep Brooks you also have to keep Head. That bloated Jackie Butler contract doesn't help matters, and Tmac at 21 (and next year 23) really strains this team. I'm not saying he isn't worth it, but when your cap is 58 Mil, and Tmac makes a little less than half that, jeez. I think the luxury tax is unavoidable as of right now, we just have to hold onto this team and cut the fat later.
How is the salary treated if you only pay a prorated season? For example, if Mutombo signed a contract for the last half of the season (and thus half the money), does the luxury tax calculation count the money actually paid him or what the contractual value of a whole season would have been?
Teams want to get under LT. It's an open secret. Teams help each other out at trade deadline if the trade is fair and nothing to lose/something to gain. I think it's too early to talk about trading Head. I think Deke will sign for vet min which will be ~800K to count on salaries. Yao actually has talked to Deke about Deke's return and given many Yao Restaurant coupons to Deke. The Rockets' 4s are undersized to play at 5. It's always about match-ups. Adelman wont feel comfortable going into playoffs with some undersized 4s at 5 (let's say when Yao's in foul trouble). U heard about Adelman saying how the Rockets frontline lack of size in last season's playoffs. The Rockets will need a backup 5 anyway. If not Mutumbo, then it will be some 7 footer scrubs. So, it's a matter of getting it now or later. I think getting it now is better if the Rockets think this is the year.
Head has not proven himself worthy in the playoffs and he should be the one to be traded to free up space but I am sure Morey will find a creative way to free up some space.
