It's pretty much clear that the Rockets' roster is set. The only thing missing is a backup shooting guard. There are a lot of options for this, and here are some suggestions: 1. Trade Rice and KT to Seattle for Rashard Lewis. Lewis becomes starting 3 with Nachbar as the backup. This would mean that the Rockets go with an offensive-minded backup 2 -guard since Cato, Griffin, Nachbar and Moochie dont exactly strike fear in the hearts of opposing coaches. 2. Rockets re-sign Oscar Torres. 3. Sign a free agent shooting guard, although the choices are limited. Michael Redd would help, also Dell Curry or Erick Strickland. I think the Rox need scoring off the bench so I think Redd would fit in, although Strickland does play great defense and can hit the open 3. 4. Dane Fife? The Rockets might go this route since supposedly he is a defensive specialist and comes from a great program at Indiana. There are more options out there, however, I do think that these suggestions are the most logical. One thing is clear: the Rockets need a backup shooting guard desperately.
Why would Seattle do that? What is their gain from a trade like that. We cannot offer more than the MCE and Seattle can match it and more. So we can't outbid them and Rashard made it clear he is looking to get paid. Lewis coming here is a pipe dream. He wants too much money and we need that cash for other players down the road. Don't get me wrong, I like Rashard and would love to have him but not at MAX $$$$!!! Thats the only way we get him. Besides he is really just using us to get max $$ out of Seattle. I do not blame him but he is not worth that big of a cap hit. Boki is a cheaper and better option in my opinion. He is here to play FOR the Rockets, not the money. Hell , he is giving up over half his salary to buy out his contract so he can play here. He will do the dirty work ( loose balls, taking the charge, making the extra pass, getting the tough rebound,etc).
every defencive specialist rudy liked had no other offence but the 3. thats all rudy wants from them. D up everyone you guard and hit the open 3. if fife can do that he will be on the roster next year. if we need scoring off the bench, then os is our man. redd will want too many minutes and will be unhappy here. fife or os. offence or defence. it will be interesting to see in what direcion rudy will go.
KT isn't going anywhere--- and he shouldn't go anywhere. He is a perfect fit on this team- MoT has the highest chance of our PFs to be traded. As he plays and shows the rest of the league his Achilles is strong and will hold up his chances of being moved increase. What the Rockets will do is move Francis over to SG to rest Mobley-- we'll also have another SG coming off the bench (who that will be is anyones guess)
Didn't the Wizard used to play the 2? He doesn't have the quickness, but he can still fill it up as a backup. We can't just forget about him completely. His defense would be horrible, but maybe he can employ the Matt Bullard defense. ("Shooters defend by outscoring their opponent") It's a thought.
I would want to sign Michael Redd as a back-up he can really shoot the ball and will bring a lot of offense off the bench for us.
interesting idea...although I think G State gave up a couple of future 1st rounders to get him so I doubt they would part with him that easy
I think that may be overstating it. Francis, Mobley, and Norris can split the SG and PG duties between them, giving them each an average of 32 minutes of court-time. A fourth guard isn't desperately needed. We really only need the fourth guy in case of injury. Ideally, he should be someone who can swing between SG and SF. Who can do that? Torres can. I don't think Williams or Rice can, however. Morris? Redd? Lewis?
We don't desperately need a backup SG. We can just sign one for the vet's minimum. Aside from guys like Dell Curry or Oscar Torres, here's some scrubs from the NBDL: http://www.nba.com/nbdl/stats/points_scored.html
I don't know about you guys but I don't want Moochie on the Court for 32min a game. I like him and he's a nice player but that is too much PT for any backup PG unless the starter is injured. I really don't see the problem w/ OT. I know his shot dissapered in the second half of the season but who relaisicaly can we find who is better that will on play 10min a game?
Sign Predrag Savovic. He's better than OT or Fife. A proven D specialist will cost more than money. A vet may upset chemistry. But trading for Jiri Welsch would be too sweet. Would it take more than KT and Mooch?
average average average average thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiink Francis probably gets 40 minutes, Mobley about the same.
The lack of English is the only reason I could think of that he would not make the team. OT is a very good player, and given time could be a productive starter in the NBA. He has the size and smarts to suceed, I hope they keep him, he is one of my favorite players. DaDakota
We need Francis and Mobley to rest, they were both in the top 5 in minutes. We can't have them playing 45 minutes a game, we did last season and look what happened. If KT can get us a SG, we need to do it.
Houston trades: C Kelvin Cato (6.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 0.4 apg in 25.5 minutes) PF Maurice Taylor Houston receives: SG Penny Hardaway (12.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.0 apg in 30.8 minutes) C Jake Tsakalidis (7.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 0.3 apg in 23.6 minutes) Trade Accepted Suns F: Shawn Marion + Bo Outlaw F: Maurice Taylor + Tom Gugliotta + Amare Stoudemire C: Kelvin Cato + Jake Voskhul + Alton Ford G: Stephon Marbury + Milt Palacio G: Joe Johnson + Casey Jacobsen Rockets F: Boki Nachbar + Glen Rice + Terrence Morris F: Eddie Griffin + Kenny Thomas C: Yao Ming + Jake Tsakalidis + Jason Collier G: Steve Francis + Moochie Norris G: Cuttino Mobley + Penny Hardaway Cato: 6 years/$42 million (expires 2006) Taylor: 6 years/$48.7 million (expires 2007) Hardaway: 7 years/$86.6 million (expires 2006, p-opt 2004) Tsakalidis: 4 years/$4 million (expires 2004)
