Candidates for next year's mid-level exception? Jerry Stackhouse PJ Brown James Posey Grant Hill Eddie Jones Chucky Atkins Or split it between a couple of lesser players? Obviously Hill and Jones may choose to retire. I think EJ plans to play a few more seasons. Hill may get a chance to re-unite with TMac after all, but I'm not sure the Rockets want another injury-waiting-to-happen. I think the best fit would be PJ Brown, or Stackhouse who can fill the role of Bonzi after he opts out. Btw, I just looked up players with expiring contracts on Hoopshype so the info may or may not be accurate.
James Posey sounds very enticing. He's got experience with the Rockets and although he's been average the past two seasons, he was outstanding with Memphis in 03/04. Good defender and can knock down the outside shot, sounds like something the Rockets could always use. Anyone on that list but Chucky Atkins and I'll be happy.
The Rockets primary need or wishlist for the offseason might be to add a big man who can play center and power forward position. It's uncertain if Deke will call it quits after this season. Probably Hayes will be resigned but additional size is needed badly for insurance purposes if Yao goes out again. These are the Rockets players who might be gone or resigned next year: 1. Sura(might be bought out or traded) 2. Bonzi(surely will opt out but maybe resigned if he performs well/ chances are 50/50) 3. Padgett(he may not be resigned after all especially if Novak will have a year of experience under his belt) 4. Hayes(70% chances of being resigned but might get competetive offers from other NBA teams due to his value of being a good role player) 5. Mutombo(might retire or will give it one more try/ he has somehow turn back the clock nowadays/might get a pay raise) OFFSEASON BUDGET: Midlevel Exception $5M + Additional MLE given every other year to a team over the salary cap $1.9M = $6.9M . $$$ to be spend on draft picks(unknown/depends of how high we get). As of now I'm not sure if the Rockets will be under the salary cap next season and it will depend on the next season's Collective Bargaining Agreement. WISHFUL THINKING: Experts have said that this year's draft might be the deepest for the last 10 years. Getting a player like Oden, Durant , Noah, Wright, Holford or Thabeet(Dikembe's 2nd coming) will be a longshot but who knows.
I don't know about Posey - he's shown questionable work ethic, coming to camp out of shape, suspended for not meeting conditioning goals, etc.. and he doesn't do much offensively besides shoot 3's. We have enough of those types of shooters. What I'd like to see is someone like Stackhouse who can provide a spark off the bench, or PJ Brown to shore up the front-line.
I'd luv to see Grant Hill in a Rockets uniform. He's 6'8, and can run the point and distribute to our shooters. He'd be perfect for our team! We might have to give up Snyder or Bonzi, but I'd take that for Grant.
I agree with Rock4life - without knowing much about the Rockets, I'd still love to see TMac, Yao and Hill all on the court together. That'd bring some great offensive versatility to Van Gundy's oft-bland schemes. Plus, it would allow either Alston or Head, who both prefer shooting to passing, to play more of a combo guard role. Hill is still a great playmaker at the 3 spot.
Yea, I think Hill would be good for the Rockets and finally reunite Tmac and Hill. I agree with what Schaddy said.
