With Lower Estimated Cap, Rockets Probably Can't Offer Max

Bima, great breakdown and I have always been on the side of trying to acquire the talent now. The problem the rox will and are going to have is they don't have enough high ceiling guys on the roster that can keep climbing in the next 3 years. Compare them to a team like portland or even utah and it doesn't look good. That's why I say as much as it hurts, they need to trade scola and battier for other younger players. Even if yao comes back which I doubt, they need to have guys that can play without him at a high level. Battier on a team like the one we have now is a waste of playing time. Ariza,brooks,landry,and wafer are all the same age. If they can mix in more guys in that age range like marc gasol or de andre jordan or someone,now they have a higher ceiling so even if they're lucky enough to get bosh, the team has other guys trending upward also.

 

If Yao is going to come back fresh off a year of rehab, why wouldn't a major free agent want to come here, There only a handfull of true centers left in the game. We are known as a good franchise with a good GM and owner and the Texas tax rate means a higher net income than anywhere but Florida.

But if I'm the Rockets, I'm not planning on sacrificing Scola to get one max player. You have to figure the max player's net worth by subtracting the loss of Scola. What do you add and what do you lose? We will know exactly what Scola is worth after this season, I believe will be just under a 20/10 guy as the focus of the offense.

I believe this 2010 free agency chase is going to create a big devaluing of the middle class players in the NBA. People are going to be dumping the contracts of good players (like everyone is suggesting for Scola and Lowry) while bidding up the marquee players, that may not be able to produce a level on the floor equal to their compensation; or, carry a team of no names on their back to produce a winner.

This could result in a lot of very good players having to settle for the Veteran's Minimum in 2010, 2011 and 2012; where again The Rockets have the advantage of bang for the buck.

I have to think (and did before the Mattj thread) that the deal for Ariza was to allow the trade of Battier for a Center, plus enough to equal his value (expirings, unguarantees or up-and-comers with rookie contracts).

I think letting Tmac play out his contract could put the Rockets in a good position to pick up at least two very solid role players at very affordable contracts while everyone else is either cap strapped or in a bidding war for the the big 4. While that may leave us only 1 superstar (we hope) we could be very solid 10 deep. That could suit Adelman's desired up tempo style and we would be less susceptible to injury.

So: cap space , yes there should be a lot of good players available
Max FA's - no, I don't want to be dependent on any 1 or 2 guys again.

2010/11

Lowry, Brooks
FA#1, Taylor
Ariza, FA#2, Budinger
Scola, Landry, (Hayes or Dorsey)
Yao, (Battier Trade)

 

I have always opposed to the idea of clearing cap room for the 2010 FA market.

Trading McGrady's expiring for a high pick and some solid role players with bad contracts is probably the best chance for use to build a contender down the road.

 

Who knew that we wouldn't have enough money for Lebron? Great post, Bimathug. It's a big surprise to us that the Rockets have been lieing to us this whole time.

 

a bit melodramatic?

 

I completely agree with this. Scola and Battier no longer fit this team age wise. I think we should ship them off to get more cap space, picks, or young talent.

As for the original topic of the post, I agree that there is a chance we don't have enough money to sign a max player but that only happens if Morey wants that to happen. If we want to position ourselves to offer a max contract it can easily be done.

 

we must convince yao to go to another team. I think we all learned a valuable lesson, never get a center that is 7'6.

 

Yao incentive based deal,

7 million starting, an extra million for every 10 games played =(

 

bimathug, what if we do what the Spurs did with Jackie Butler/Scola for Spanoulis trade? Could they not trade Battier for a player with a partially guaranteed contract, injured, or wants to go to Europe? Then, they could buy out that player.

 

This sucks.


Why can't we just have Tracy-Ron-Yao-Shane-Scola healthy?

PISS!!!!!
How far we have fallen...

 

I don't see how you can make that statement. All through his career Battier has shown a willingness to do what the team needs and he has always been a 'coachable' player. I am sure if Sloan asks/tells him to run the break or cut to the rim he will. The fact that "slow footed guys like korver and an ox like harpring" fit into the Sloan system begs that Battier can too.

 

Yea bascially read my mind when I first posted the Shane for Boozer/1st rd pick suggestion...He is willing do to anything to win and thats the type of player Sloan loves on his team. Look if Matt Harping can have a succesful career imagine Shane in that system!

 

I didn't consider adding Lowry, this definitely works for Chicago. I wonder if adding Tyrus woud be enough for Utah to give up NY's pick. Given the lack of 2010 caproom anyway, this would be much better than letting Tmac expire without getting assets back.

Also wanted to say I think Hinrich's ability to defend 2s while handling PG duties makes him an Eric Snowishly great fit next to Brooks, and would make Brooks more valuable to this team.

 

Ok check tese trades out.



Rockets trade Tracy McGrady and Jermaine Taylor to Bucks for Michael Redd and Dan Gazuric


Rockets trade Aaron Brooks, Carl Landry, Brent Barry, and Brian Cook to the Nets for Devin Harris


Rockets trade Shane Battier and Chuck Hayes to the Trailblazers for Rudy Fernandez and Joel Przybilla.



Projected 2010-2011 Rockets: (minutes per game)


Starters:

PF - Scola (32mpg)

SF - Ariza (33mpg)

C - Yao (33mpg)

SG - Redd (33mpg)

PG - Harris (36mpg)


Bench:

PG - Lowry (12mpg)

SG/SF - Fernandez (30mpg)

PF - Dorsey (15mpg)

C - Przybilla (16mpg)

SG/SF - Budinger

C - Gadzuric

 

I'm not going to turn this into a shane thread so i'll speak my peace and let it go. Do you think Adelman tells shane to never run the court, never cut to the rim, and never make useful cuts? If you have ever watched adelman coach and followed his recipe, you will know that other than the entry pass and playing defense, shane does nothing offensively that suits this offense. If you watch the wings in utah's offense, you see the same thing that adelman wants out of his wings. Brewer,ak-47,miles,korver,and harpring all move without the ball better than shane. They cut harder, they finish better, and for the most part all of them shoot better. Now once again, why would utah give up a potential lotto pick for shane? The rockets fell for it doesn't mean utah will.

 

I think Shane puts most of his effort in defense and rests a bit on O.

DD