Will Rafer be released outright before the start of the season?

This is not correct. Portland did not save 10 million dollars, they saved less than 4 million over two years. They paid 90% of Francis contract just for him to leave, and they are charged 30 million on their salary cap and lux tax for Francis over this period. In short, they decided keeping a roster spot for Francis was worth less than 4 million to them over 2 years AND they would rather pay even more than that amount for Jeff Blake (they are paying more for the buy out + Blake's about 8 million guaranteed over the same period than just keeping Francis until he hit 32 years old).

Jeff Blake is 27, Steve Francis is 30. Some difference, but not a world of difference, age matters in the NBA but talent matters even more (and good shooting sound guards can play a long time). Francis, with the exemption of A/TOs, was also a lot more productive in his worst year versus Steve Blake's best year. Further, given how much more talented Francis is I would say there is about equal chances in 5 years they are NBA rotation players.

Finally, to really put things in perpective, Jeff Blake is a younger albeit poor mans Rafer Alston.

Now I am not saying all this to dog Francis. I am some hopeful he will be a good additition to the current group off the bench. But 1), he isn't a sure thing as having enough left to still be a good rotation player (could be DA part 2), 2) even if he is, it is more than likely as a scoring or combo guard off the bench. Just trying to put some realism into those that think Francis is the same guy he was 4 years ago. If he was neither NY nor Portland would have even considered waiving him.

 

I'm not sure what you are trying to say here, but Rafer's shooting percentage is not respectable. Rafer's overall field goal % last year was 0.375 (118th out of 118 players who played enough minutes to qualify for fg% stats). Rafer's 2pt FG% last year was 0.389 (again 118th place out of 118 qualified players).

Basically, Rafer Alston is arguably the worst shot maker in the NBA out of every player who plays (meaning Paul Shirley doesn't count). I don't know if Rafer should be cut, but his minutes definitely need to be limited b/c he is an offensive liability.

 

Yes..

i mean rafer is good at stealing the ball but he just shoot too muchs... look at his shot attempts in the playoffs

Game 1 3-11Fg and guess what 10 of those shots were freaking 3s
Game 2 3-9Fg and 1 for 6 from 3 point line
Game 3 he dissappear was a no factor
Game 4 5-14 and 2-7 from 3 point line

Just look at the stats yourself originally i wanted to come on here and defend for rafer but his stats sucks

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/rafer_alston/game_by_game_stats.html

i just think mike james is a better fit...

 

well look at this stats, Alston is rank 65th in 3p shooting % and and 4th in total 3p made, only Arenas, Bell and Miller made more than him. What i'm trying to say in comparing him and Tmac is that, Alston will shoot bricks at good selection of shots while Tmac will just take those ill advise 3p shots with 1 defender on him and with 15 seconds left on the clock.

Something which reminds me of Mike James. Mike James is a valuable player at Detroit, but what have he done since then? Going to bucks, doing next to nothing, coming to rox, provide energy off the bench along with old guys(barry and sura), going to raptors, career numbers and all but then decide he wants more money and a TK, goes to wolves, lost starting job by mid season to a rookie. Goes from a reputation of "pit bulls" from wallace to trigger happy, defence leaking, greedy old veteran.

We do not need a 3p shooter now, we need ability to pass, and willingness to pass. With a dominant center and a top 3 SG, in an offense that will be involve moving the ball around, alston is a much better fit then james.

Steve francis will definitely not be the same guy 4 years ago, but at least he can come in and let Tmac have some rest. If thats all he do, being Tmac's shadow, and letting Tmac rest around 15-20 minutes a game, i be happy with that.

 

Yes!Lot of people expect or hope that Steve will play like 4 years ago.He's not the same.He'll play like Luther Head just like more athletic version.Thats may opinion.Still I'm looking forward to see him playing.

 

I would trade Sam Cassell for Rafer Alston...Without a doubt but

I would rather have a backup C or SF

I always liked Rafer...Sorry we gotta get rid of u!

 

as an old Kings' fan, i would think alelman would want yao and scola to become 2 top playmaker in this team, all our guards should be able to cut and finish at rim with quickness, thats why i see tmac/james/SF3 qualify and rafer not.

 

I'm looking forward to just how Adelman uses our personnel, whoever they end up being. For our guards, if going hard to the rack and finishing are important in his system, Rafer just doesn't cut it. If hitting the midrange J is a big part of his system, Rafer won't cut it. If getting rebounding from the guard spots is important, Rafer won't cut it. Alston has some things he does pretty well, but I think we simply don't have the luxury to have him sitting on the bench.

Guess we'll have to see how things evolve. As Clutch has pointed out several times, what the Rockets did during the off-season screams Rafer not cutting it with the Rockets. Maybe with another team, but not the Rocks, in my opinion.

 

NOT going to happen!! How can it with our best scorer being Yao Ming

 

Only if they can get out of his contract, otherwise no...keep him and trade him to a PG desperate team.

DD

 

RA stays until some team needs him as much as the Rox want to be rid of him. He may remain 'inactive' until February.

 

the rockets can't just cut him, and still owe him his $15,000,000. and the charge against him is not serious enough for the nba to allow the rockets to void his contract.

the only thing the rockets can do is trade him to a team that is desperate for a pg, and compensate the other team, which you can do up to a maximum of $3,000,000 to offset his salary, per fran blinebury.

 

I hope we can trade him for someone else...I REALLY HOPE

 

Yeah, he will be released ... from the jail.

 

actually, the rockets don't want anybody for him, they just want to dump his salary and maybe receive a future draft pick, 2nd rounder most likely.

 

Yes i know but Rafer is our best trade target.

 

true, it is just that since the rockets are currently over the luxury tax, they need to dump salary to get under it so that they can sign deke to the bi-annual exception of 1.8 million.

 

yeah well if Portland signed Jeff Blake I daresay they are going to be even more disappointed in him than with Rafer when training camp rolls around. Though it does open up a possible Carl Pickens for Greg Oden swap. . . .

 

1) it makes no sense to release him right now
2) why release a guy and eat that cap hit for a seemingly bogus story?

think people. i know it hurts, but try it.