<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Updated: Aug. 26, 2005, 6:13 PM ET Rockets re-sign MutomboAssociated Press National Basketball Association News Wire HOUSTON -- Dikembe Mutombo signed a two-year deal with the Houston Rockets on Friday and plans to retire after the 2006-07 season. "I don't see myself playing after this contract," the 39-year-old center said. Mutombo's return gives the team a solid backup to All-Star center Yao Ming. The 7-foot-2 Mutombo is an eight-time All-Star and four-time defensive player of the year. "In our opinion he was the best backup in the league last year," Rockets vice president of basketball operations Dennis Lindsey said. "He provided an immense number of wins when Yao was in foul trouble or we were struggling on the defensive end. Our locker room is a really special group of guys and Dikembe, being the elder statesman, is a leader in many of those aspects." Mutombo was selected No. 4 overall by Denver in the 1991 draft. He also played with Atlanta, Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York before he was acquired by the Rockets last season in an offseason trade with the Chicago Bulls. Mutombo's agent, David Falk, said his client's decision to stay in Houston was not about signing a lucrative contract but about being on a team and in a city that supports him. "I just told (Falk) to get the deal done," Mutombo said. Inking a backup center is only the latest move in a busy offseason for the Rockets. Earlier this week, the team signed free agent guard Derek Anderson, and the team has also reached deals with veteran guard Jon Barry and free agent forward Stromile Swift. "The heavy lifting is over," Lindsey said. </div> SOURCE SOURCE 2 finally ...well, that was pretty much the last big thing left for us to do..so the question now is, is our offseason shopping spree finally done??
Thats great. Only problem is that he has no backup and we should be prepared for his retirement. Badiane looks very dissapointing, so we should pick one up in the next draft or offseason.
we should be fine with only Yao and Mutombo at center. Last year they were the only ones who played really. And if we ever have a situation where they both get into foul trouble we can always just go small. Move Swift to Center where he has experience and bring up Howard to the PF spot.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting JuLiO-R-:</div><div class="quote_post">we should be fine with only Yao and Mutombo at center. Last year they were the only ones who played really. And if we ever have a situation where they both get into foul trouble we can always just go small. Move Swift to Center where he has experience and bring up Howard to the PF spot.</div> We might have been fine with Yao and Deke last year, but Deke ain't getting any younger. By the end of his contract he will be 41. Do you honestly think he'll be a good contributor in the 2nd year of this contract? I don't think so. We need some young blood as back up in case he can't handle himself after the 05-06 season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dakeem1:</div><div class="quote_post">We might have been fine with Yao and Deke last year, but Deke ain't getting any younger. By the end of his contract he will be 41. Do you honestly think he'll be a good contributor in the 2nd year of this contract? I don't think so. We need some young blood as back up in case he can't handle himself after the 05-06 season.</div> Of course we could always use an extra player, but If we cant get someone we can still be ok. Atleast for a year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dakeem1:</div><div class="quote_post">We might have been fine with Yao and Deke last year, but Deke ain't getting any younger. By the end of his contract he will be 41. Do you honestly think he'll be a good contributor in the 2nd year of this contract? I don't think so. We need some young blood as back up in case he can't handle himself after the 05-06 season.</div> I think we'll be fine, I mean before this season people were saying he's too old to contribute anything and we don't even know, he could be 41 right now (Since I believe his real age is unknown) He's still a great defensive presence on the court and I think we won't see a huge decline in his game in 2 years, but I could be wrong. But aside from that, another Center wouldn't hurt us too much either, but like Julio said, Swift could play center and Juwan PF, Swift has had experience playing in that position before and both our Centers getting into foul trouble won't happen too often anyway...I would of like'd to of picked up Lonny Baxter as well but that wouldn't solve those C problems we're discussing, since he's quite short for his position..Right?
Baxtor is 6-8, undersized for even a power forward. Mutombo has always been a veteran who gives his all every night, and continued to play with the same intensity at age 39 as he did 10 years ago during his peak. I don't think the two more years will affect his oncourt performance, but expect his minutes and appearances to be limited due to injuries.
Great sign by the rockets.Mutombo was a great off the bench player that will provide the rockets with that defensive spark off the bench.Mutombo will continue to be a great defensive player for the rockets and take some minutes from Yao.
Good Deal Rockets. The Rockets made this off-season more memorable than last years. Here's to the 95 Hou-...I mean Here's to the 2005 Houston Rockets.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dakeem1:</div><div class="quote_post">We might have been fine with Yao and Deke last year, but Deke ain't getting any younger. By the end of his contract he will be 41. Do you honestly think he'll be a good contributor in the 2nd year of this contract? I don't think so. We need some young blood as back up in case he can't handle himself after the 05-06 season.</div> Mutumbo can honestly play another 5 years. I'm serious. He takes pride in his job, and probably was the best back up Center in the league last year. He ain't getting younger, but who cares when all you have to do is block shots, and rebound for 15-20 minutes. That's the easiest job in the world.
I'm sure that Mutombo will do great nest season.. Just not sure of the season after that. Out centers can hold up, that's true. It just we have no assurance if they don't. Coz if Stromile started getting minutes at center, our PF situation will have probs again.
I'm just speculating so don't accuse me of fully supporting something in this or believing this will go through, but T-Wolves are shopping Kandi Man and they DID lose Cassel and will probably lose Spree...so...they need a guard whether that be point or shooting.......and we seem to have a ton of them.... I'm just saying we could have an option of getting Kandi Man as a backup and could host a big lineup if Juwan goes down again by running two centers at once....slow, but scary.... anyways just a thought I wanted to run by and see what yall think of it....please don't butcher me..lol
Nah, Minnesota's acquired Marko Jaric and are right now trying to woo Michael Finley so unless they are starting the season without a shooting guard, I don't see a trade coming between the two teams. With that said, I really don't like Kandiman that much- a lazy underachiever. I'd much rather have Mutumbo as backup for Yao and if Howard goes out, there's always Bowen who can handle limited duties at powerforward. Good suggestion though.
Im not a big fan of kandi because hes a lazy guy whos really not into his position i dont see a rox/minnesota trade going through b/c of one reason RASHAD MCCANTS im positive that since minnesota did not get that seattle swingman(srry dont know his name) they are leaning towards having mccants starting unless they are not confident with his game. but CD/minnesota GM can always prove me wrong
thanks for not killing my suggestion..alotta people usually see my suggestions as if I totally wanted it to happen and what not...I just wanted to get that out there and see everyone's opinion....btw if my suggestions ever seem naive just let me know...I AM only 16 so I might sound childish at times oh and the Seattle guard is Damien Wilkins entering his second year.....related to Nique
yeah never been a big fan of Olwakandi.......he's like Mo Taylor, except he's a worst player and even lazier.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting THE DREAM:</div><div class="quote_post">yeah never been a big fan of Olwakandi.......he's like Mo Taylor, except he's a worst player and even lazier.</div> enough said...no kandi man, but how about CATO (ain't he a fa next season??...for **** pay of course ...imagine him and Swift doing them monster blocks on anybody who steps in the paint )
I could see us getting Olowakandi for salary purposes, as he has an expiring contract, but I don't think he'll play into the rotation, what with Yao and Mutombo already taking the lion's share of the minutes at center. Olowakandi is a solid post defender and rebounder but his offensive game might be worse than Deke's. The Rockets won't be in need of a center now with two great centers already and even getting Olowakandi might not get the team better.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting RoXoR:</div><div class="quote_post">enough said...no kandi man, but how about CATO (ain't he a fa next season??...for **** pay of course ...imagine him and Swift doing them monster blocks on anybody who steps in the paint )</div> cato is getting older and especially with our top 3 being the youngest on team (swift,yao,tmac) id like to get younger for backups. This is why i believe head will be a solid player. I hope we trade for a first rounder and james augustin from the fighting illini drops in the lottery. I know im dreaming and that likely wont happen
