<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Another blown fourth quarter produces one more defeat in a season that has gone below sea level, and Dikembe Mutombo slumps farther down into the chair in front of his locker. "Why all of the injuries?" he said. "Why all of the problems? Why can't we finish games? So many questions." One more is whether the veteran center has the inclination or the energy to return for a 16th NBA season ? the last on his contract ? and if the Rockets have a place for him. "Ohhh," Mutombo said, dropping his face into his palms. "It crossed my mind once this season. There was a period (March 3-13) where I hardly played at all (five minutes total) for six games and you sit and ask yourself why. Did I want to go on? "But you pull yourself out of it. Since then, I haven't thought about it. My mind is focused on finishing this season, just getting through it to the end." But, as the Rockets begin looking to the future, new assistant general manager/stat guru Daryl Morey surely will have to quantitatively evaluate a $2.2 million salary and a roster slot to a player who will turn 40 in June and is coming off the lowest season of his career in terms of pure numbers. "It's a good question and one that I'm not prepared to really talk about," said coach Jeff Van Gundy. "He certainly had a huge impact last season. And he's remained a top-flight professional, a great teammate. Even with reduced minutes, Dikembe has comported himself in a first-class manner." All of which sounds like someone who's being given a gold watch and directions to the door. "Has Father Time totally caught up to him?" Van Gundy said. "Dikembe has definitely slowed down from last year to this year and whether he can turn back the clock remains to be seen."</div> Source
To be honest I don't even know if Deke's slowed down, because he hasn't even gotten any playing time.....I still hope we decide to keep him, because I still think he's a good backup for Yao.
I sure hope he stays here...with yao's emergence, I'd like to have Deke as a 5-10 minute guy...he still knows how to distract shooters and very few players challenge the basket when he's in the game...I'd much rather have a 40-year old Deke as our backup 5 than a 26-yr old Swift...
SIDE SHOW STRO our backup C. oh sh t I'd rather see Deke back and SIDE SHOW gone. I hope C.Hayes is back, he and J.Howard can handle PF. I dont see how Deke wouldn't have a spot open for him next season, unless he ain't up to it. Deke still provides a defensive presence SIDE SHOW and J.Howard don't come close to, and when Yao rests that is all that is needed from the backup C.
I think Mutombo is retiring after next season, but we can just draft a PF/C or we can let Stro/Howard or Hayes fill in the last minutes for Yao, or I think we should find someone like Steven Hunter or Marc Jackson, who will play less minutes.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting THE DREAM:</div><div class="quote_post">To be honest I don't even know if Deke's slowed down, because he hasn't even gotten any playing time.....I still hope we decide to keep him, because I still think he's a good backup for Yao.</div> That's what I'm saying..........but I'm according to Van Gundy "Mutumbo has slowed down, and hasn't contributed as much as he did last season". Great encouraging words from the coach that refused to play him more than 5 minutes a game. Deke should be a keeper, he doesn't need to run the court like KG to be effective. If all he has to do is block shots and rebound, then he should be in a Rocket uniform next season. If not, who's gonna play the role better than him (without complaining about minutes).
