I hope that we keep most of the same players (except Wesley) but reduce their minutes. I think that Barry, Sura, and James would all be more effective if they played fewer minutes. We saw their biggest weakness: they aren't athetic enough to defend on the perimeter. Hopefully, we can get a legit 1 to take up a bulk of those minutes and rotate the other three depending on situation and need. Deke is obviously great, if we can keep him.
from emjohn: Ok I'm going to get trashed for this, but my take is exactly the opposite. Heck yes we resign him, but we do have to be careful about the contract because he could be the trade-bait we need when we're giving up our expiring contracts at the trade deadline. The main reason I say this is other than James we have nothing else to give of worth that we'd consider. Deke playing 20-25 minutes a game could probably kick a lot of teams either into the playoffs or much deeper. I know this sounds pretty callous considering the way he's played for us, but we have to consider the what-ifs here. What if money isn't Mutombo's primary objective, he's grateful to the Rox organization for supporting his charity, is happy with team and makes a reasonable deal? Then what if Yao improves and starts playing 5 more mins. a game and we get the right offer around the trading deadline when we're already adding another piece from some going- nowhere team wanting our expiring contracts? I'm not saying we should trade Mutombo, but as well as he played we have to think of him as an asset. I do admit however that as his stated goal, I do not want to see him potentially breaking Dream's block record in a Houston uniform or on our homecourt. It would just be wrong. Barry will be here. Even in a possible reduced role the guy has value and he's cheap. And he wants to be here.
Mutumbo is at best a 15MPG player next year. This year he averaged about that in both the regular season and playoffs. Further, in game 1 Deke played 27 minutes (8 rbs), so in game 2 in 12 minutes producing 1 rebound. In game 6, after 2 days off, he played 18 minutes (10rbs, 4 block), in game 7, with one day off, he could only muster 4 minutes (0 blks, 0 rbs). I think the pattern is pretty clear. Deke can give you maybe 15MPG in the regular season, probably 12MPG of playoff intensity. Ask for anothing more in PT and you get a much less impactfull Deke. I don't think any team is going to give him a 2 year deal in the 7+ mil range.
Questions for capologists. Deke's salary is listed last year at 4.5 mil (off a 2 year deal), and Jon Barry at 1.8 mil (1 year deal). So I am correct that we can use the Early Bird (requires 2 years+) for Deke and the non Bird for Barry? http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#17 If so than we can offer 1 year deal at up to 120% of last year's salary for Barry without touching other exemptions. But we have to provide Deke a 2 year deal (up to 175% of his current salary), and I assume without an option. So for instance we can offer Jon Barry another 1-year 1.8 mil deal (keep him over the 1.6 exemption) and but have to make Deke's a 2-year (say 7 mil deal?). In order to offer Deke a 1 year deal over the vet min don't we have to break into our own MLE or 1 mil exemption? If my reading is accurate I'd try to bring back Barry for one year at 1.8 mil and Deke with a 2-year deal at like 6 mil and keep all the MLE and the 1 mil exemption (really up to 1.7 for 1 year, or 3.5 mil for 2 years) for other FAs. But I'd rather sign Deke without using the MLE for a 1 year deal for 3-4 mil if that was an option, but I don't think it is.
Rockets' free-agent vets want to return Mutombo likes mentoring Yao; Barry says he'll re-sign or retire By MEGAN MANFULL Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Dikembe Mutombo joked that he was having a great day Monday except for the fact he no longer had a job. Jon Barry and Ryan Bowen also emptied their Toyota Center lockers with no notion of where they would unpack in the fall. The veterans are all free agents this summer but already have narrowed down their favorite destination. Each wants to return to the Rockets next season and is simply waiting to hear if he will be wanted. Mutombo, 38, will be the most sought after of the trio. After a superb season off the bench for the Rockets, Mutombo likely will attract more lucrative offers and even starting jobs from other teams. However, Mutombo said neither of those will be major factors in his final decision. After one season with the Rockets, Mutombo said he feels a new obligation in his career that is pulling him toward returning to Houston next season. "I was telling the coach in the one-on-one meeting that I would love to come back because I enjoy the competition I have with Yao Ming," Mutombo said. "I also feel I'm making a difference in someone else's life, which is Yao, by giving him the strength, the energy and the courage to learn how to compete every day with other guys of his size. "I think that is the primary reason I want to come back." While Mutombo is drawn by Yao, it is Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy who has Barry wishing he was only a rookie. After playing for eight teams over the past 13 seasons, Barry, 35, no longer wants to relocate his family and start over. Barry said he will retire if the Rockets choose not to sign him for next season, "If I don't return here, I would think I'm not playing anymore," said Barry, who averaged seven points and shot 43 percent from 3-point range in 53 games with the Rockets. "But if they want me back here, I'd love to come back and play for Coach. I had a great experience with him. I learned more in these four months about the game than I learned my whole life. I really enjoyed playing here." Bowen, who signed with the Rockets right before training camp last fall and brought the type of attitude and worth ethic Van Gundy loves, also hopes to return. "Say what you want about minutes and scoring, I felt a bigger part of this team than in past years," said Bowen, who spent five seasons in Denver. "I think I really fit in." http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/3174730
No doubt we resign these guys. I believe both could be had for veteran minimum's deals which is next to nothing. I think CD/JVG will want these guys for one more year.
It seems like a nobrainer to bring back Barry and Deke. Barry can probably be had for the league min (like 1.1 mil for his service), but it would not be bad to offer him like a 1.5 mil 1 year deal as a show of good faith to our faithfull vets--which I think we can do without touching another exemption as a qualifying free agent coming off a 1 year deal. I would not offer Deke the league min--that could be insulting and his market is much bigger than that. I would not hesitate to use the Early Bird for a 2 year deal at at least 2 mil per year (Capologist, we do have to use the Early Bird and it has to be two years for us not to touch our exemptions for Deke, correct?). And if Deke wants 3 mil a year for two (no raise 2nd year) you give him that too. He is much too valuable (and difficult t replace) to risk loosing him over a mil or two per year and/or insulting him. Bowen is a fine fall back for the league min. But I think it is better than 50/50 there won't be a roster spot for him. In the PF spot we have JH, Padget, Spoon, and Vin (almost definetly) coming back, plus a draftee, FA, or both (thus 4-5 PFs with Vin on the IR). We probably will also add another SF via FA or draft, and Padget is just as suited for a secondary SF role as Bowen. Thus I doubt there will be a spot/role for Bowen unless we do something like a S&T that frees up a PF spot or two (e.g., Spoon and Padget + picks for ...SAR?...) or if JH is not going to recover in time. Bowen did his service here and was a good team guy, but he is probably on to his next destination due to the numbers game.
I think Deke will command closer to $4-6 mil per year from some other teams. Hopefully we won't have to go that high since he has expressed his desire to stay here.
If not for Bowen's defense on Nowitzki, I doubt we win games 1 and 2. If for no other reason than that and his membership in the white boy power squad, I think he's deserving of a roster spot next season. And I don't see how you could turn loose a smart basketball player like Barry who can shoot the 3 the way he does. And Deke - Deke is the man. Such an example, even if he's 57 years old. We need to get younger, but I think these 3 guys are worth keeping around.
Deke we'll try to bring back. Jon? Depends on what other deals are out there. Can we sign Bobby Simmons for the MLE? Would we even try? If we went that route, one of our geriatric guards would have to go, but that might be Wesley in a cap-dump for another player or James if we find the right deal for a power forward.
I don't see who will pay him that. Under the cap team is going for long term pieces (Chandler, Dalembert, Curry), and the Full MLE starts at 5mil. Few teams are going to want to use most of their MLE for a 15 minute guy when they need more maintays from their MLE if they decide to use it. 2 years at 7 mil should definetely take Deke off the table for anyone else, maybe 2 and 6 (taking more than half an MLE and killing other moves with the MLE) would do it too. As for Bowen, it is nothing against him, just a numbers game. JH and new FA will get the bulk of PF time, and Padget, Spoon, Vin and possibly a rookie will probably also be on the roster. We need his roster spot for an extra guard or athletic SF a lot more than him as the 4th PF.
