Now that the offseason is here. Who do you think the Rockets should go after. I personally feel if they can't get a younger or athletic point guard, they should think about bringing Sam Cassell back. I know he's old, but he is that 3rd scorer that the Rockets missed against Dallas. And he'll give 7 or 8 assist a game. Not to mention a mean post up game that will open the offense up. Defense is a shaky, but when the game is on the line he's definitley one of the guys I want with the ball. Agree?
No I'd much rather have Sura or James manning the point than Cassell...Cassell is too selfish for my liking, and doesnt have the defensive ability to play in a JVG system...not to mention, he's aging, and that would only limit the minutes for Sura and James, and possibly any other free agent PG we might pick up...
Shooter, i agree with you IF we can get a free agent PG or draft a decent PG. But if we can't (like rockfan6 said), i like the idea of bringing back cassell. He could be our potential 3rd scorer. He's clutch, experienced, and he can lift some of the burden off tmac. I think Twloves' failure this season pretty much affected by cassell's health. The negative side, he has an attitude problem and he probably demands a lot of money. Im not sure we have enough money to attract him.
I'm not sure if Cassell still have the health to help out a championship team even as a 3rd scorer.. The idea entices me but there are just too many negative to go along with it. His health, age, endurance, $ demand, and attitude forces me to say no to this idea. On another note, I notice u're a new member here Rockfan06. Welcome!
Well we'll be definitley taking a risk. But he's a consistent threat. He also shoots a good percentage from the field. And if you double off Yao, or Tmac, he's MONEY from the field. I don't know if I want a young point guard starting for the Rockets, I'd much rather have a cagey vet making the decisions. Plus in the playoffs, which other point guard would you want taking the big shot. I say bring in Cassell and bring a young point guard off the bench, move sura to 2 guard, and use Mike James as a back up
If, and only if, Cassell is willing to take a pay cut and we can't find any better options, then I'd like him on the team. Cassell last season was arguably the West's best point guard, and who knows if a change of scenery would revert him back to that form? That being said, Cassell could also wind up a team cancer with his attitude and his tendency to get a little greedy with money at times. He does have the skills to run this team, but his age and potential injury problems will be turnoffs. He should be our last resort.
I think that Cassel and Spree are ready to change their attitudes. I mean they went from the Western Conference Finals to the lottery in 1 year with the same team. So maybe this will have em change their mind about money. I would like to have Cassell back. Hes a great shooter and with T-Mac and Yao giving him alot of open looks he can be successful. Inside I want to see this happen. Cassel's jersey was the 1st jersey I ever bought. Cassell #10, I got it retired on my Rockets wall. And it would be amazing to see him win a ring with Yao and McGrady. Just like he won one with Hakeem and Drexler. Original Member Of Clutch City Doesn't Red just look great on him?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting JuLiO-R-:</div><div class="quote_post">I think that Cassel and Spree are ready to change their attitudes. I mean they went from the Western Conference Finals to the lottery in 1 year with the same team. So maybe this will have em change their mind about money. I would like to have Cassell back. Hes a great shooter and with T-Mac and Yao giving him alot of open looks he can be successful. Inside I want to see this happen. Cassel's jersey was the 1st jersey I ever bought. Cassell #10, I got it retired on my Rockets wall. And it would be amazing to see him win a ring with Yao and McGrady. Just like he won one with Hakeem and Drexler. Original Member Of Clutch City Doesn't Red just look great on him?</div> That's the spirit Julio. True Rocketfans know where I'm going with this thread. Cassell may have been a cancer with Minnesota but I'll gurantee he'll be more humble coming back to the city he started. C'mon he hasn't been as successful in any other city. He may have disadvantages because his age, but he knows how to win in big situations. Also, you know he'll step in the big games. To me, it's a no brainer.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> That's the spirit Julio. True Rocketfans know where I'm going with this thread. Cassell may have been a cancer with Minnesota but I'll gurantee he'll be more humble coming back to the city he started. C'mon he hasn't been as successful in any other city. He may have disadvantages because his age, but he knows how to win in big situations. Also, you know he'll step in the big games. To me, it's a no brainer.</div> No offense, but are you kidding me? How was he not as successful in other cities? In fact, he put up his best stats in New Jersey and Milwaukee. The guy will be thirty eight by November in next season- do you seriously think this guy will make much impact? We need a playmaker at the point guard, not a shoot happy guard that is known for being a ball hog. This year in Minnesota he has been a complete cancer and obviously every single aspect of his game dropped. How would you know that it won't happen again in Houston? With McGrady and Yao having the majority of the posessions, I don't think Cassell will thrive off that since he needs the ball in his hands to be successful.
He's still too much of a risk...sure we would all love to see Cassell come back and play, but we have bigger things in mind right now...just look at how much bickering Sam caused with his whole contract deal this year...he's been known to disrupt chemistry and cause controversy...thats not what we need...the PG for this team needs to be one who can set up teammates, pressure in the backcourt and hit open shots...it would also be nice if he could penetrate...Cassell is lacking in the defensive area, and we dont need his offense enough to where we can afford for him to be a defensive liability...at this point and with this team, Sura and James are perfect fits for this team, not Cassell...even free agent antonio daniels is more of a fit with the rockets than cassell...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Shooter:</div><div class="quote_post">He's still too much of a risk...sure we would all love to see Cassell come back and play, but we have bigger things in mind right now...just look at how much bickering Sam caused with his whole contract deal this year...he's been known to disrupt chemistry and cause controversy...thats not what we need...the PG for this team needs to be one who can set up teammates, pressure in the backcourt and hit open shots...it would also be nice if he could penetrate...Cassell is lacking in the defensive area, and we dont need his offense enough to where we can afford for him to be a defensive liability...at this point and with this team, Sura and James are perfect fits for this team, not Cassell...even free agent antonio daniels is more of a fit with the rockets than cassell...</div> I would strongly disagree if you think that Sura and James are a "perfect fit". Both are streaky and Sura is a very big question mark to stay healthy. James still needs to do some tweaking to his game as far as being a passer. Cassell may not be a decent defender but that's why you have point guard by committee. It would be nice to have James coming off the bench to provide that backcourt pressure while Cassell provide the scoring. Besides, like I said, I don't feel comfortable with some young guy starting point for the Rockets. Maybe as a back up role, but not running the team. If we're going to get younger, mine as well get a young PF or Center that can run the court and block shots
A lot of people were saying that Tracy McGrady took to many shots and that it was taking away from Yao's development so I don't know how Cassell could help. He is PG who likes to take his share of shots. Also, he is older and has been injured off and on through the past few seasons. I think the Rockets are better off drafting or signing a young guy who can make good passes and play great defense because as of right now the Rockets don't need a scoring PG.
The rockets pursued during the trade deadline and then backed out of it and took mike james instead. I dont know if we really want him because of that. he would do good in this city though, i am sure of that.
I know he'd do good. Look, Sam does take alot of shots. But the thing is, he makes a very good percentage of them. At this point, we can't afford to wait 5 years for some rookie to develop at point. Sam doesn't need to play 40 mins a game. He just needs to be there to hit that big shot in the 4th quarter. He's about as consistent as they come when you talk about mid range game. I'm telling you, the Rockets need to bring Cassell back where he started his career and give us another Championship. Holla!
we all want the rockets win another ring, i think we did good this year, you guys forget that this season's roster hasnt been able to play together much due to injuries and trades... i say whatever isnt broke dont try to fix it were a good team now, we even managed to do good without howard, why would we need another point guard when we need a power foward ? i understand sura is getting oold, but when you think about cassell hes older, and if we do try to go for cassell what are we going to offer other teams?
Sam Cassell has one more year left in his contract worth about $6.1M. The only way we could get him is to trade Weatherspoon who has also one year left on his contract worth about $6.3M. They are within the 15% difference in order for a trade to work out. Although there's still a possibility that he'll play well for the Rockets, I think there are some more available options for us besides he's already injury prone and slow on defense. We can also get a good player from other teams in exchange for Weatherspoon's expiring contract. Cassell's contribution will only be for a short term basis due to his age. That's not what we need to supplement TMac and Yao for years to come.
I would take the chance and sign him. Cassel is a player who will give you presence in the locker room or the team huddle. If he stays healthy then the Rockets get a player who can score and make plays. It won't work out if he wants a big contract, I say the Rockets should sign him for a couple of seasons and see how things workout with him. If he doesn't play to expectations then they'll have to look down a different road to the future, the Rockets need a leader and a player who can create shots for Tracy and Yao.
First, off, when assessing what happen with Cassell in Minny you have to put everything in its proper perspective. Some of the things Sammy got accused of in Minny was justified and some wasnt. I definately think Sammy deserved the redicule for the way he handle going about trying to get a new contract at the start of the year, holding out of training camp was not smart on Sammy's part, no doubt. So I cant really knock the Sammy C critics for taking him to the wood shed on that. But as a Sammy fan I felt personally that as the year went on every Sprewell inncident they couple with Sammy. So people started to couple them together as Minny's team cancer. And I think it was a bit injust. Once the season offically started Cassell never made any more contract demandes,but because Spree made those comments about cant feed his family, everything thru the national media began Sprewell and Cassell are demanding such & such and arent going to play hard until they get it. My thing is Sam never demanded an increase in pay, he simply asked for an exstension there is a difference between asking for job security(which he was basically doing) and asking for a increase in pay(which is basically what Spree wanted). Anyway, nobody never took into account that the main reason Cassell struggled at the start of the season was simply because he wasnt healthy. He had hip surgery during the offseason. And it clearly made him a step slower last year. But toward the end of the season when Sammy began to get healthier, he became effective again. And if he wasnt about the team concept like many try to potray him as last year, then he would have never lived with the role coming off the bench for the last month or so of the season. I admit that Sam's style can be hard for some fans and even teammattes to conform to at times. But I think its a big mis-conception to ever thing that Sam's style isnt about winning at the end of the day. Even Goerge Karl(and yes I do use this comment alot when talking about Sam) said that Cassell has one of the biggest wills to win of any player he has ever coached. And I think it holds alot of merit for Karl to admit something like that after the run-ins him & Sammy had in Mil-town. But it goes to show the true agenda of Sammy. Anyway, as far as Sammy going back to Houston. Well I think it would be a true evolution of his basketball career, Sammy often still stays in Houston especially during the offseason. But on-court, honestly I can see Cassell & Mcgrady bumping heads a bit. Cassell come winning time wants the ball in his hands. And I doubt that Mcgrady is willing to share the big-shot spot light. In Minny, Cassell has had the greenlight in crunch time because as good as KG is, he sometimes is known to shy away from the cruchtime spot light. But honestly I would see that as being the biggest seperation between Cassell & the rockets concept. Cassell wants those cruchtime shots. Other then that and of course the fact that Sammy doesnt like the defensive end and Van Gundy is a defensive minded coach, I dont really see why Cassell wouldnt be able to help this rockets team at least for next year. Yoa Ming has those games where it looks like he wants to just run and hide from the bigtime pressure moments, I think Cassell will ride him in the right away during those moments. And force feed him so he can get invloved in the action, he has even done this with KG at times. But never got any create for bringing a little more out of KG in big time situations, so I think that would be good for Yao. Anyway, I doubt it will happen Cassell going to the rockets, cause Mchale has already said he isnt just going to trade Cassell for nothing. And the Rockets probably arent going to take the risk on Sammy this late in his carreer to give Minny anything to great. And Cassell is still worth more than C-Spoon.
