To this date the Rockets have 16 player under contract including Mike Harris(2 years/non-guaranteed), Luis Scola's recent signing(not effective until buyout process is complete) plus pending contract negotiation with Hayes, Deke and Landry that would bring the total to 19. Anyway there's still enough chances on who goes and who stays. Summer is still long with the training camp following. Adding another role player is a plus but the ones currently on the roster have been proven while others have potentials. For sure they might still add some invitees for the training camp to get cheaper players with high potentials. Right now these are the current Rocket players who are in danger of being traded, bought out and released: 1. John Lucas III - He's a sure shot to be traded or to be bought out. Brooks will be favored over him. He has a cheap contract which would makes things easier for the Rockets to decide. Poor JL3. Probably he might get a chance elsewhere. 2. Bob Sura - He's almost retired and can be bought out for $1.5M. The Rockets on the other hand are still waiting if they can find teams willing to take his expiring $3.8M contract and gain cap relief after the 07-08 season otherwise he will surely be bought out and released to obtain roster space. 3. Mike Harris - He signed a 2 year non-guaranteed contract recently in order to be included on the training camp roster. If he can prove something he might stay considering how cheap his contract is otherwise he goes costing the Rockets just pennies. 4. Justin Reed - He can be a good role player if given the chance but the Rockets have a lot of players ahead of him in the roster who can play the SF/PF position. With 2 years $3M remaining on his contract he can be traded for a future second round pick. He has a cheap contract which might be attractive to other teams. 5. Kirk Snyder - He has one year remaining on his rookie deal for $2.3M which could be an attractive trade package but the Rockets might hold on to him because he might play well specially with a new coach. Usually players with an expiring contract plays well in their last season to get significant pay raise on the next contract. 6. Rafer Alston - Buying him out would be expensive so call it out. Trading him to a team that badly needs a real PG would be possible but it would be good if the Rockets would take a look to see how he performs under coach Adelman. He might fluorish however. At least the Rockets are deep in the PG position if he stays. 7. Luther Head - He's an attractive trade chip but the Rockets would be hesitant to do it coz he has two more years of cheap rookie contract. Bonzi and Snyder's contract are expiring. If they(Bonzi/Snyder) become busts this year at least the Rockets have a reliable although undersized SG to hold on to. Someone to spell TMac while he's resting. He can also step in the PG position if Rafer is traded and for a reason Brooks readiness to play is still in limbo. 8. Steve Novak - 2 more years of cheap rookie contract(1 guaranteed, the other team option). Adelman might want to give him a chance if he can play well in his system so he might be a keeper like Head. He can be traded for a future 2nd round pick to teams that like to run and shoot. 9. Jackie Butler - He has the least chance to be gone due to the Rockets big need at the backup center position. We might not know how Deke will still perform due to his age so he's an insurance policy. Notes: Deke, Hayes and Landry's contract are still on negotiations. Of the 3 Deke's chances are 50/50 considering his age and fitness to Adelman's system. He's a valuable team mate though, providing veteran presence and inspirations to the young ones with his hustles and plays. Don't forget he did very well when Yao was out but the age factor also comes to mind especially right now the Rockets have the promising Jackie Butler to man and back up the Center position.
JL3 traded somewhere for 2nd rounder.. A package including 2-3 of the other players (Sura/Alston/Butler/Reed/Snyder) for a veteran. Might be wise to keep Alston unless the Rockets get someone who can potentially start at PG in return. Keep Harris as 15th man. Keep Head for 4th quarter 3's. Nice to see the Rox actually have tradeable assets and flexibility now, unlike last season.
trade machine time! Thoughts? http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/trad...=10~11~14~14~14 Houston gets Troy Murphy Indiana gets Jason Williams Miami gets Rafer Alston, Kirk Snyder, Bob Sura The trade is risky on Houston's part, but they potentially get a 18/10 PF who they can start or bring off the bench. He's had injury problems the past couple seasons, but when he's played he's a very good rebounder and can shoot from out to the 3 pt line. His contract will haunt them if the deal doesn't pan out. Indiana gets Williams who they can choose to just buy out to escape Murphy's contract and give them flexibility and cap space the following season. Miami gets a starting PG as Alston returns to Miami (where he played some of his best basketball), backup for DWade (Snyder) and cap relief in Sura.
1. John Lucas III - traded for future second rounder 2. Bob Sura - bought out 3. Mike Harris - not signed to gauranteed contract 4. Justin Reed - traded for future second rounder 5. Kirk Snyder - he is a keeper 6. Rafer Alston - We will keep him unless a trade comes up 7. Luther Head - He is staying 8. Steve Novak - He is worth the money and will stay 9. Jackie Butler - We need depth at C
Nice breakdown, blueracer. Morey has been quoted saying that he is looking for a new home for Lucas, so he won't be around come Opening Day. Same goes for Sura, be it a buyout or a trade for a trade exception or draft pick. Reed seems to have been lost in the shuffle but he might surprise in training camp and force the Rockets to keep him. Alston I doubt would go. The thing I don't like about package deals is that we'd have to take back a big contract. Unless it's for a bona fide starter at power forward or point guard at a fair price, it'll seriously handicap our cap situation. Murphy for one isn't worth the money, given his defensive deficiencies and lack of quickness.
M.James/Skip TMac/Bonzi/L.Head Shane/ Scola/Hayes Yao/Deke That would be the top 10 guys.... Butler,AB, Snyder,Novak,Harris to round out the 15 If the Rockets could get 1 more good shooting swingman, the roster would look real good and Harris,Snyder or Novak would be bumped out. 3 pg and 3 C is alway good to have. I'm not a big fan of Novak, he got a lot of summer league shots and wasn't that impressive. Snyder's D and slashing ability is nice, but if he could shoot it would be better.
