I'm a little lost here, perhaps ya'll can help. Why exactly do we want to sign Charlie Ward? Sure, he might be a slight improvement over Wilks, and I'm sure JVG and him have a great relationship or something, but is he really going to help our anemic offense? First off, let me make this clear, I really very much want us to get a real point guard who can start and make a difference, as I don't see Steve as ever being more than a mediocre passer. But Charlie Ward? He's certainly not the answer. Both our main guards always play upwards of 40 minutes a night. Moochie played about 13 minutes a night this season under Van Gundy, and Ward hasn't played more than 25 minutes a night since 1999 and hasn't played a full season since 1997, (his ONLY full season, in his 10 year career). This season he wasn't even good enough to win the Knicks starting PG job from Howard Eisley of all people. So at best, Ward might play 15 minutes a night, because he's not good enough to justify removing signifigant minutes from Cuttino or Steve (even for all their faults.), and he won't be much of an upgrade over Wilks, who is at least younger and has some upside. I'm tired (as I imagine we all are) of CD making these little ticky tack trades or free agent signings, that don't really seem to change anything about the core of the team. Often we send our 4th or 5th best player for someone else's 4th or 5th best, or we trade bench players, or cut a bench player, and sign a cheaper bench player, but it seems obvious that no matter how often he changes who is on the bench, it won't help the Rocket's on the court, where help is needed. If we are going to make a trade, we need to make a big one instead of rotating bench players with other teams.
Les Alexander: I'm Going to make a bluckbuster move to win a championship. ESPN: Rockets big move is Mario Elie. Ha Ha. Fan 1: I thought he played hockey? Fan 2: No the other Mario from Portland. Fan 1: Man, he doesn't fit Blockbuster. Sometime later "Rockets Win!! Rockets win!" --------- Moral: You improve in whatever ways you can. Just because its a small improvement, doesn't mean its not contribute to one's goal. Ward is a better backup PG and will allow JVG to rest Francis and Mobley more.
Cause he played for the Knicks. When Jeff Van Gundy quit on the Knicks pre-maturely he was paid a larger sum of money than he deserved upon exiting, because he promised when he landed another coaching job elsewhere that he would do what ever he could to take on the Knicks baggage.
Cause they want a PG with a brain, isn't selfish, doesn't get involved in personal showmanship with other players to the detriment of the team, etc, etc, etc.
He's a PG, he's available, and obviously JVG thinks a lot of him. We only have 11 active players on our roster and a backup PG with a grand total of about 35 minutes of NBA experience. I for one will be very surprised if Chuck isn't wearing a Rockets uni next week. I personally haven't been much of a Charlie Ward fan since he quit football. But, there doesn't seem to be much else out there. Several people have mentioned that we could do better signing a CBA player, NBDL player, or a foreign player, but I doubt that's going to happen. I also haven't NOTICED many specific names being thrown out there that would be any better than Ward. Hopefully, the Rox are looking to make a trade that will be a better solution than the Charlie Ward option. We still have the 7 million dollar exception from the Rice deal. However, I think they will probably save that for next summer. Or maybe never, if we can't put more than 9k fans in the stands for a game.
Spurs will send a plane to pickup Ward if he agree to sign with them Maybe you will find your answer in the following article: Spurs wait for Ward to pick his team By Johnny Ludden San Antonio Express-News Web Posted : 01/08/2004 12:00 AM Charlie Ward gave indication Wednesday he was seriously considering signing with the Spurs, but team officials refused to be optimistic about their chances of landing the point guard because they did not have an agreement with him. Spurs officials had multiple conversations with Ward's agent, Craig McKenzie, on Wednesday, but never spoke to Ward himself. McKenzie, according to one source, told the Spurs that Ward was leaning strongly toward joining them, but he first wanted to examine his other options. Ward also told an acquaintance of his on the Spurs that he was interested in signing with the team. Spurs officials had hoped to fly to New York on Wednesday to speak with Ward in person, but were told a meeting was not necessary. Despite the assurances, team officials said they had not grown any more confident about signing Ward because he had yet to commit to a deal. Ward, who was released by Phoenix on Tuesday, cannot sign with a team until he clears waivers at 10 a.m. Friday. Ward is expected to make his decision by Friday, if not today. The Spurs will send a plane to pick up Ward on Friday morning if he agrees to sign with them. If Ward is signed, the Spurs will have to place a player on the injured list to make room for him. But they don't have immediate plans to waive either Jason Hart or Alex Garcia, their current backup point guards. Both players will have their salaries guaranteed for the rest of the season because they will not pass through waivers by Saturday. Spurs officials remained wary about their chances of getting Ward because of the competition they face from New Jersey and Houston. One Eastern Conference official said he thought as many as 12 teams, including Indiana, Orlando and the Los Angeles Clippers, inquired about Ward on Wednesday. Because they are over the salary cap, the Spurs are limited to offering Ward a pro-rated salary of $1 million, the NBA minimum for players with nine years of service. With 47 games remaining on the Spurs' schedule, Ward would get a little less than $600,000 before taxes. The Nets and Rockets can significantly outbid the Spurs because they each have a $1.5 million cap exception to spend. Ward also is eligible to receive all the exception, unlike a minimum-salary contract, which must be pro-rated. New Jersey, however, has given indications it is not willing to spend the exception because of the possible luxury-tax hit the team might receive this summer, the Eastern Conference official said. The Nets released backup point guard Robert Pack on Wednesday, but might re-sign him to a 10-day contract if they do not get Ward. Though signing with the Nets would allow Ward to stay close to his family — his home in Connecticut is a 45-minute drive from New Jersey — the official said he thought Ward would end up with one of the Texas teams. Dallas officials said they are not pursuing Ward. Houston has similar luxury-tax concerns that might keep it from offering more than the league minimum, but Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy has a close relationship with Ward from his days as coach in New York. The Spurs have aggressively pursued Ward because he could fill two of their needs: a veteran backup point guard and a dependable 3-point shooter. Ward, who is in his 10th season, also is regarded as a tough-minded player who values defense. In 35 games with the Knicks this season, he averaged 8.7 points, points and 4.9 assists in 23.6 minutes while shooting 42.8 percent from 3-point range. Ward spent his entire career with New York before he was traded to Phoenix on Monday. The Suns waived him because they did not want his $6 million contract to become guaranteed for the rest of the season.
people enjoy seeing new players in action. they get bored of bashing their own players so they need someone new to go after. most of the most exciting rockets games these days (none of them playoff games for 4 years now) are when new rockets make their debutes. id be interested to see charlie ward playing backup pg for the rockets. simple as that. but i dont think its absolutely necessary. it could easily make us a better team so why not? either way were good. i dont think weve bashed our CURRENT backup enough to make him expendable though
The fact that he's played in two NBA finals isn't a bad reason. He's a system player, and would be capable of playing point off the bench for around 25 to 30 minutes a night, allowing Steve to play more SG. He's a capable distributer, is selective in his shooting, and plays good (if not great) D. As opposed to Moochie, who was a scrap-ball player. As opposed to Wilks, who is a Scotty Brooks clone that struggles a little in running an offense (mostly due to lack of experience than anything). Charlie Ward would improve the Rockets offense a lot, though not by his own scoring. Evan
How about because he has a higher shooting percentage in every phase of the game (3pt, FG, FT) than Francis and gets 1 less assist in 10 less minutes per game. He also is a better defender. I think signing Ward allows you to trade Steve and not get a PG in return, since he would provide us with everything Steve has this season for 1/10 the cost.
Charlie Ward might be good, but he wasn't good enough to keep the Knicks over .500 in the weak eastern division, and Houston and Van Horn, while not great, should have done better than that. The simple fact that he couldn't win the job outright from Eisley, and was later benched for a rookie, before being traded and cut, also worries me. Secondly, I made this point, but let me reitterate, there is no way he will be playing 20-25 minutes a night, because those minutes need to come from somewhere, and do we really want to be running 3 guard sets all game? Also, the fact he manages to get injured every season, despite not playing much, is a negative. If I had my way, I'd prefer a younger point guard, more in the mold of a Jason Williams. (and at least Memphis is a team more than willing to listen to trade offers)
It's a little thing called "adding depth." You can't tell me that Wilkes is as playoff-ready a PG as Ward. Weatherspoon for Moochie? Getting rid of someone who no longer fit here and getting a proven rebounder in return. Adding depth.
I'll go for that mentality. let's get rid of someone who doesn't fit here for a proven rebounder.... JVG for Silas
