<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">If it were all just about injuries, the Rockets could have an easy offseason. No tough decisions. No tense negotiations with agents. No lucky charms shoved into pockets at the draft lottery. Leslie Alexander could spend his time shuttling between Comets games and the Hamptons. Jeff Van Gundy could hang out at Astros games. Carroll Dawson could teach Daryl Morey how to hit a fade to the green. Instead, when Alexander and Van Gundy had their meeting on Wednesday, they likely found that they see the direction of the team the same way. "If anybody is to comment on the meeting, it should be Les," Van Gundy said after their meeting. "It's always good when you get a chance to get direct communication with your owner." Alexander has emphasized what the Rockets can be when healthy. Van Gundy has pointed out what is needed, even with a return to good health. But when they moved on to talks about the team itself, there would seem little doubt about what went wrong and ? more to the point ? what to do about it. "If healthy, we would have qualified from the playoffs and I think would have been a tough out," Van Gundy said. "But there's a long way from being a tough out and being championship caliber. This year can show us just how far away we are, which can be very motivating." Van Gundy has offered a checklist of needs: three point guards, more depth and balanced scoring, and a power forward with shooting range. Dawson, the general manager, said Thursday he agreed with Van Gundy's assessment of the Rockets when healthy and with the wish list. Unless the May 23 draft lottery changes the order, the Rockets will pick eighth or ninth, based on a random drawing today. They also have the Knicks' second-round pick, acquired in the trade that sent Maurice Taylor to New York. They don't have their second-round pick, having sent it to Milwaukee last season to acquire Mike James. What about the 2? The Rockets have starters signed at every position but shooting guard, where there could be options considered worth a pick in the Rockets' likely draft position. But generally, teams use the draft to improve rosters and futures and get veterans to fill needs after a 34-48 season. "Basically, that's true," Dawson said. "Sometimes you can draft a guy who can help you right way. It depends on how good a team you've got. You try to draft for need if it's convenient, but you take the best player." The draft could bring guards Brandon Roy, Randy Foye, Mardy Collins and J.J. Redick and forwards Rodney Carney, Josh McRoberts, Rudy Gay, Tiago Splitter, Ronnie Brewer and Shelden Williams into the general area in which the Rockets are likely to pick. The free-agent decisions could be even more complicated. Over the salary cap, the Rockets will have only their mid-level salary cap exception to offer. They used their lower level exception, worth $1.67 million, on Derek Anderson and won't have that to offer again until after next season. They must decide whether to use their entire mid-level exception on one player or to split it. The top free agents would seem to be priced beyond the mid-level exception, expected to start at about $5.5 million in the first season, though they could hope that Bonzi Wells might take what would be a sizable pay cut to accept a mid-level exception. Wells, most recently with Sacramento, could be an ideal fit for the Rockets. There are other players who could fill needs and who likely would consider mid-level exception offers or a portion of the exception. They include guards Fred Jones, Speedy Claxton, Ronald Murray, Devean George, Bobby Jackson and Jiri Welsch and forwards James Jones, Jermaine Jones, John Salmons and Qyntel Woods. Familiar faces The Rockets could step back in their history to pursue Sam Cassell or recent history by trying to bring back James. The Rockets might also have to decide whether to offer Vassilis Spanoulis, coming off an outstanding season for Greek power Panathinaikos, a portion of the mid-level exception now that his play has likely priced him out of a typical second-round contract. Spanoulis, a second-round pick in 2004, could add depth, but getting him might cut down on spending room for other free agents. Meanwhile, Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, Rafer Alston, Bob Sura, Juwan Howard, Dikembe Mutombo, Ryan Bowen (at his option), Stromile Swift, and Luther Head are under contract. The Rockets have options on Chuck Hayes and Maciej Lampe. David Wesley, Keith Bogans, Richie Frahm and Rick Brunson are unsigned.</div> Source
The three point guard thing I agree with, but a PF with range? Howard was played so much this season because he had that range. Outside of the elite power forward range, there's no power forward can arguably shoot better than Howard from the outside. Why the overhaul? We'd better exercise our option on Hayes too; his play this season has guaranteed at least that. Bringing over Spanouliss wouldn't be a bad idea. I don't know much about him, but with him coming from Europe and all, he most likely isn't a good defender. However, what we need is youth and a new approach by the players to the games, and Spanouliss could bring that, not to mention deadly outside shooting.
If Spanoulis is a deadly outside shooter, then I think we should let him play this year. Thats exactly what we need. A deadly outside shooter.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">The three point guard thing I agree with, but a PF with range? Howard was played so much this season because he had that range. Outside of the elite power forward range, there's no power forward can arguably shoot better than Howard from the outside. Why the overhaul? We'd better exercise our option on Hayes too; his play this season has guaranteed at least that</div>. We finally agree! I agree with everything you said here. Howard is a keeper, if ur looking for PF who can shoot. Hayes is too much of a hustle guy to let go. I love that dude man. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">Bringing over Spanouliss wouldn't be a bad idea. I don't know much about him, but with him coming from Europe and all, he most likely isn't a good defender. However, what we need is youth and a new approach by the players to the games, and Spanouliss could bring that, not to mention deadly outside shooting.</div> I don't know bout this guy. I've never seen him play.
What Van Gundy said about the pf position can go two ways. They could be wanting a guy who can hit that mid ranged shot like juwan howard but also be atheletic like stro and they certainly can get that in the draft. Or they are looking for one that is a great from three point line to midrange. I think in the draft at our position we can see the first european non workout warrior slip to us and he has a great jump shot out to three and still has pretty good atheletic ability in that hes very quick and fast i don't see that explosiveness in him though. Or you can bring in second tower in the chinese twin towers. He is explosive and no doubt is a very big freak athelete as del harris did say his atheletism is comparable to Stromile yet he has very consistent shot out to 18ft and can hit the 3pt shot if wide open.
i think we should release david wesley, dikembe, ryan bowen and bobby sura to make some salary cap room. lets concentrating to creat a 8 man good teams rather than keeping everybody else.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mansunz:</div><div class="quote_post">i think we should release david wesley, dikembe, ryan bowen and bobby sura to make some salary cap room. lets concentrating to creat a 8 man good teams rather than keeping everybody else.</div> Just waiving players won't give any cap space. Unless it's a buyout or a player retirement, the waived player's salary would still count against the salary cap until the contract's over. Waiving players is rarely done unless the player is signed to a non-guaranteed contract or if the team needs to roster spot to sign someone else. Wesley is already a free agent, Bowen has a player option, but Dikembe and Sura will still be here for sure.
Bowen will not excercise his option because he knows he wont get a better deal. Sura and Mutumbo will stay most likely and Wesley will not be resigned.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post"> I don't know bout this guy. I've never seen him play.</div> To tell you something about Vasilis Spanoulis our 2004 2nd round pick, he's a 6'4" point guard currently playing for Greece' top Euroleague team which is the Panathinaikos AO Athens. They went to the Euroleague Quarterfinals recently by virtue of being the top team in their bracket but went to lose against Luis Scola's(Spurs' 2nd round pick) Tau Ceramica team in the best of 3 series. Here are his stats for the current season: Quarter Finals(3 games average): 16.3 points(71.4% 2pt FG and 42.8% 3pt FG); 2.6 rebs.; 3.6 asst. and 2.0 stls. FT: 71.4%. TO:2.0 Top 16(6 games average): 13.1 pts.(57.5% 2pt FG and 17.6% 3pt FG); 2.0 rebs.; 2.5 asst. and 1.5 stls. FT: 80%. TO: 2.6 Regular Season(14 games average): 14.7 points(60.9% 2pt FG and 43.1% 3pt FG); 1.8 rebs.; 3.2 asst. and 1.2 stls. FT: 78.1% . TO: 2.8 Carrol Dawson went to Europe to watch him play recently and he was satisfied with his performance. CD has said also that he was one of the best point guard playing in the Euroleague. It would be better for the Rockets to invite him to play in the Summer League and training camp to display his skills. If he performs well the Rockets might sign him. I just hope he does'nt have an expensive buyout like other European players.
Well, I remember in an interview a while ago Spanouliss said that the buyout clause on his contract wasn't too big, around $400,000, if I don't remember wrong. So it's a very likely possibility that we can bring him over without excercising too much of our options. However, I doubt he'd accept the rookie's minimum for a second round pick, so signing him might eat into our MLE.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, I remember in an interview a while ago Spanouliss said that the buyout clause on his contract wasn't too big, around $400,000, if I don't remember wrong. So it's a very likely possibility that we can bring him over without excercising too much of our options. However, I doubt he'd accept the rookie's minimum for a second round pick, so signing him might eat into our MLE.</div> Who does he play like? hopefully like the guy the Indiana Pacers picked up
The guys I like the most on our current team are T-Mac and Yao (obvious) and I like Alston and Head as well. Head might have to make a career out of coming off the bench, but he can probably be our biggest spark as well as the ability he has to be a starter because of injury. Alston likes to push the ball which is nice and he showed in the second half of the season that he figured out JVG's system and he is a terrific passer. I can see him throwing lobs to a healthy T-Mac next year.... I would like to get Fred Jones and or James Jones. Both can hit the 3 and Fred can most definitely finish on the break...they would be great including having James as T-Mac's primary backup should we choose not to re-sign Bogans.
Who can we trade other then t-mac, yao and alston that other teams would like to have??? no one wants anyone from the rockets!!! Mutombo, Wesely, Howard, Bob sura are way to old now... Burnson, Hayes, Lampe, Ryan Bowen no one would make a trade for them and we wont get anything in return... Swift has a long contract and he has been a big disappointment so we wont get much for him either I like keith Bogans and luther head but we wont get anything in return from them too
okay just outta curiosity could brad miller play at the 4?? i cause hes got range and could back up yao when hes out. Something like swift and sura for miller. the way i see it swift would be a better fit in sac plus if sura retires they'll get cap relief and houston would have a shooting 4 ... but im not too sure miller could play at the 4.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting viertelasiat:</div><div class="quote_post">okay just outta curiosity could brad miller play at the 4?? i cause hes got range and could back up yao when hes out. Something like swift and sura for miller. the way i see it swift would be a better fit in sac plus if sura retires they'll get cap relief and houston would have a shooting 4 ... but im not too sure miller could play at the 4.</div> yes!!! remember 2 years ago when kiven cato played PF... that would be a good trade for the rockets but sac wont do it!!!
We could bring Cato back this summer, probably for cheap. He's getting no playing time with Detroit and that would deflate his value quite a bit. Seeing that Cato is a Van Gundy favourite and played very well when he started at the four, he could very well be back in a Rockets uniforum next season.
Right now why does everyone want young guys? Thats not what we should be getting right now. We should be getting contributors no matter what age as long as he is able to contriube and can stay healthy who cares. We can't keep going for guys who have P but has no proven ability.
technically veterans that can contribute will be on this team for 2 maybe 3 years max. Thats short term thinking. If you get a solid young guy, your not stuck with an overly sized contract and theres always room to improve. Old players are usually more prone to injury as seen in joneal shaq and tim duncan this year.
