I'd nail Deke. He backs up Yao so much. I expect he'll replace Ewing someday. Barry is a good role player who can smartly choose between pass or shot. Wish CD to keep him too if he is still cheap.
Yes I'd be happy to have both on our team unless someone else overpays for them or we have to not sign or deal them for some exterior reason. Mutombo is the perfect player to come off the bench and give Yao a breather. I have thoroughly enjoyed him being on the Rockets this season even though I have to admit I wasn't sold on it last offeason. He has made a believer out of me and I think he still has about two more years in the tank as a reserve. I could probably do without Barry's antics but he has a good basketball mind, hustles, and can bury the outside trey with decent consistency something this team needs. With that said his antics really grated on the Mavericks fans and that part was fun listening to them b**** on and on about one of our bench players.
Absolutely. Ideally, apart from Barry, Deke, Yao and T-Mac, the rest of the team is trade bait (albeit not particularly attractive bait). Those are the only two role players I'm dying to keep. It'd be nice to keep Sura too if we could, but we don't need Wesley (what a disappointment in the playoffs and in the games leading up) or James (a marginally better point than Francis and a considerably worse go to guy than him). And we certainly don't need Ward, Mooch, Vin, Padgett, Spoon. I'd be happy to keep Bowen, but I wouldn't be too upset if he went. My ideal is to keep McGrady, Yao, Deke, Barry, Sura, Bowen, Juwan (unless someone offers something great for him) and add a 4 and a 1 (starters please or at least hella good backups). God, I wish that Kidd thing was real. Lookie here: Kidd, Sura Barry, (Sura/T-Mac) McGrady, Bowen Juwan, (MLE FA/Bowen) Yao, Deke Now that's a nice eight man rotation. We would have won this series if Juwan had been healthy. Add Kidd (and a backup 4) and look out.
Please sign Dikembe-if we can be in that market price. I do not know what he will command in this market- but he is recognized as a legit big man that can contribute and many teams could use that. I think he will command at least the mid level exception -Is that about 4.5 mil?? I do not know if he will take a one year deal. I would gamble on 2 years and feel that is reasonable at 4.5 to 5 mil per season. For Barry - he is a bargain and I think Van Gundy can talk him out of retiring. If we can get rid of som more of the bad contraccts that would be great- I 'm thinking of the Maurice Taylor trade garbage we had to take in Moochie and Vin Baker. Can we buy out Ward? Nothing has changed - we still need a tough power forward and the powers that be know this...
I believe Mutombo is still under contract for next season. But he's certainly played himself out of blue chip trade bait status. Wesley (1 y remaining) and Barry could be replaced w/o much trouble. Evan
Signing Deke may be tougher than we all think. After his final month of regular season play and the playoffs, all the other teams know he can still play and with the lack of serviceable centers in the league, Deke may have played himself back into a higher earnings bracket. No way he takes the league minimum for a veteran now.
No, Deke's contract is up. I like Barry but did you notice how many minutes Wesley played all season? Sometimes he logged more minutes than TMac. I think JVG trusts Wesley so I doubt he goes. Barry brings heart and energy. He was great off the bench for a 1/yr contract.
I hope we don't change this team by more than a few players. We really need Deke and we could resign JB pretty cheap. I hope we focus on PF in the off-season.
Want an inside scoop? I've been told that the Rockets have already agreed to terms with Barry on a new contract. No word on Deke. Take it with a grain of salt...
Resigning Deke Would Be Great He loves playing for JVG. Without the Rox, Deke's career would be washed up. I see a Lance Parish like career ending for Deke here in Houston. -theSAGE
I think we split your guys' figures. I think Deke for a 2 year deal for around 7-8 mil is about right. We have his early bird rights--so it doesn't effect our other exemptions (we are over the cap anyway), but the deal must be for 2 years. I am not sure for an early bird if you can have a team option 2nd year, I doubt it. BTW I think Deke was spent for game 7, he looked slow and nonreactive. He came in during the 2nd quarter and could not remotely do what he did in game 6--probably why JVG did not play him in the 2nd half. I think this also shows Deke is in no way a starting center. He is an ideal back-up to Yao--I can't fathom him and Houston not recognizing how good it is for both parties and getting things worked out. As for Barry, bring him back, no question, for the vet min (like 1.1 mil). If he demands more (we have to use the 1.7 exemption or break into the MLE), he will have to wait until all other back-up swingmen options are considered. I think he will be back too however, it is also a great situation for him. Hopefully he will have more help in backing up the 2/3 positions next year however.
I have no doubt that the Rockets will bring back barry (hopefully for 2 seasons at the minimum). However, I am starting to worry a little bit about Deke. I hope he doenst command 7-8 million a year because iam not sure that the rockets will want to pay that much for a backup center getting 12-16 mins a game. i hope he takes something around 4-5 million for two years. We NEED to bring back both of these guys to keep our bench solid and for the intangibles they bring as well (experience, intensity, hustle, leadership)
