For the life of me I can not figure out why the Rockets let Kevin Willis go. He is exactly the type of professional big man that this team needs to train the young guys like EG and Yao how to be a professional player. Not to mention, he is still a viable player. Sometimes the Rockets braintrust confounds me. DD
Last years stats 7 points 7 rebounds on 58% shooting, and playing in 75 games. Why would you let him go on a team that is desperate for veteran leadership. DD
1) With Yao, Collier and Cato locked up long term, there was no room for him on the roster. 2) If I remember correctly, Willis said the main reason he signed with the Spurs is so he would have one last chance at a ring. Even if we wanted to re-sign him, there was no guarantee he would have felt the same.
We let him walk because he would not get much playing time here with Cato, Yao, Taylor, Griffin etc and Willis probably wanted to latch onto a team that was going to compete for a Championship. Veteran leadership IS needed, but at positions in which the individual will see some playing time in the rotation. Chris
He is a PF and a Center.....his play is not what the team needs, it is his professionalism. I seriously think the Rockets would be a lot better off if they had a leader like Willis on the team. DD
I think he wanted to play for a contender. He and Stockton will be the last members of the 1984 draft class. This is his last chance to win it all.
His leadership will be no use if he sits on the bench. I really like Willis. But like others have said, we just got no room for him and we need to move on with our young talents.
Amen. If he really did benefit Cato why not also have helped bring Yao into N B A balling? He could have had Boki's minutes.
To be honest DaDokota, Willis wasnt that good w/ the Rockets. He played behind the Old Calvin Cato, and thats saying something. When he did get off the bench, he would disrupt the offense w/ his same hook shot every time. Who knows, maybe he didnt try hard cause we sucked. I dont blame him. besides, i think he deserves a shot for the ring w/ the spurs.
It takes two to tango. Maybe Willis just wanted to play for a contending team, something we are not this year.
Thank you, for a guy who's always complaining about lack of ball movement, DaDakota wants Kevin Willis who was the epitome of that. He's known around the league as a black hole, how he and Dominique Wilkins ever co existed is beyond comprehension.
Why would we lock Collier up long term? The guy is a scrub. The way the Rockets reward these scrubs really pisses me off. People like Collier, Maloney, Cato (Granted, he is having a great year this year but no way is he worth the money he is getting)
I dunno, if we had Willis, we might actually see Yao & Cato on the court at the same time. Or Yao & Willis. Or Cato & Willis. I don't have a problem with any of those scenarios. But as stated before, perhaps Willis wasn't particularly interested in returning to Houston? I dunno.
The best thing Kevin Willis would've done for this team is be an enforcer on the front line. He'd have everybody's back.
I'm hoping Eddie could fill this role someday. After all he has punched his teammates in HS and in college.
Anybody who reads my posts knows I am always glad when Willis is an ex-Rocket. What I am trying to say is that he sucks. The guy always takes questionable shots that kill any momentum for a team, the effectiveness of his jump hook is extremely over rated, he has butterfingers, and cannot block shots due to his extremely short arms. He killed the Rockets chances at a title in 97, and he will do the same for the Spurs this year. Three things are certain in life: death, taxes, and any team with Kevin Willis on its roster not winning a NBA championship. Good guy, overrated player.
