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We are about to really get started with the long-awaited 2010 postseason!

Unlike many teams, the Rockets did not choose to clear a lot of cap space; but rather acquired a large number of assets which could prove to be attractive in a sign & trade, or in other trades.

First off, I want to list the players on the Rockets whom I feel to be untouchable:

1. Yao Ming


OK, now that we have that list out of the way, let's look at the current players on the roster who are least likely to be traded, after Yao:

1. Kevin Martin - I just don't see him going anywhere. Morey has a lot of faith in this guy & is probably going to use him as a selling point to free agents.

2. Trevor Ariza - yes, the "bricklayer" is not very likely to be traded in my eyes. Again, I think that Morey is very high on him; and as long as he's not the #1 or #2 guy on offense then I think that people's opinion of him can change. He did much better last season after Kevin Martin started to get comfortable.


There we go. Those are the three guys whom I believe have the highest chances of not going anywhere this offseason. After that I think that everyone is a "trade asset" of some kind.

Now let’s look at:

The Restricted Free Agents:

Luis Scola – I think that the odds are very heavy that he’s a Rocket this season after they match any offer that he gets…but, he could be a key piece in a sign & trade for a clear upgrade. Not many names fit the “clear upgrade,” description, so I’m sure you know who I mean.

Kyle Lowry – I can’t see him going anywhere. I just don’t see the Rockets – with the open checkbook – not matching any deal he gets. He could be a part of a sign & trade; but I just can’t think of any realistic scenario where he’d be the featured piece of a deal.


The Expirings:

Jared Jeffries – his 6.8 million dollar expiring deal would probably fetch more value at the trade deadline; but he could be useful filler on a bigger deal. Despite his rep, he could offer value on the floor as a defensive specialist; but let’s not fool ourselves. His value is his expiring deal.

Shane Battier – his 7.3 million dollar expiring is actually not the appeal, unlike Jeffries. Battier brings a lot to the table for teams in a position to contend. I am not being a homer by saying that every team would love a guy like Shane Battier; so if he was to be traded his value would be better now rather than the trade deadline, as the team trading for him would want him as a key part of their team for the 2010-2011 season. Pie-in-the-sky scenario would be to include him on a deal with cash and a “wink wink” agreement to buy him out so that he can return.

Chuck Hayes – The Truck is getting about 2.3 million dollars in 2010-2011 after the team picked up his option. Despite his grit and heart, I don’t think that his “David & Goliath” season starting 82 games at center garnered enough attention to make him a target for trade…but he might cost a trade partner a bit more for Morey to “let him go.”


The Guys under Contract:

Aaron Brooks – reigning MIP, and one of the more exciting players in the game right now; but he is far from untouchable. He, like fan-favorite Carl Landry before him, could be sent out of town on a “sell high” type of deal. I see him as being one of the Rockets most appealing trade assets.

Chase Budinger – one of the real steals of the 2009 draft, Chase (who played volleyball, if you hadn’t heard) is on a criminally cheap contract through 2013 (never going over 1 million per). Granted, he’ll be in line for a contract re-negotiation at some point; but the fact is that he’s an underrated player who has tremendous upside at a very low price.

Jordan Hill – This guy was a steal for the Rockets in the McGrady trade. Why the Knicks didn’t even give him a chance, I’ll never know. Yes, he is raw; but his potential – and more importantly his desire to improve – makes him an intriguing piece to consider. He’s on a rookie deal paying 2.6 in 2010/11; 2.8 in 2011/12 (team option); 3.6 in 2012/2013 (team option); and has a 4.8 million dollar qualifying offer in 2013/2014. All in all that’s not a big price to pay to see what the kid can do – especially if a team can just choose not to pick up his contract after this season. All that said – I do NOT want to lose this kid in a trade.

Jermaine Taylor – on an even friendlier deal than Budinger, but with less upside. If he is involved in a trade it is simply as filler. I don’t think that any team in the NBA is calling Morey about him.

David Andersen – owed 2.5 million this season with a team option next season. I think that he was misused by the Rockets last season; but I don’t think that any team is going to want to bring him in at that price to be a perimeter-shooting big man. I see his role in a trade as filler as well.

The Picks:

2010 1st Round pick (#14)
2011 1st Round pick (rights to swap pick with the Knicks)
2012 1st Round pick
The New York Knicks 2012 1st Round Pick

Other:

You have the rights to Lull and some other overseas pieces. I can’t help but think that Morey would rather keep Lull stashed & not discussed all that much.


So…what do you think? Where am I wrong?

David Andersen should be classified as expiring contract since his 3rd year is a team option.

Agree the 3 likely to stay are Yao, Martin, and Ariza.
Scola and Lowry being RFA would probably stay unless they receive a crazy offer (like over $10 million each) from other team.

Brooks is on rookie salary and is very cheap for his output/contribution. As I have mentioned in many of my posts on similar subject, Rockets would only trade Brooks or Lowry (S&T) if they can get back a proven PG. Otherwise it would just weaken a position that is a strength for them and set them back.

Preferably, the rockets would like to have their starting 5 (Yao, Scola, Ariza, Martin, Brooks) and the 6th man Lowry. A good core to start with while trying to trade for another near allstar and better bench depth.

So the readily trade assets:
J. Jeffries
S. Battier
C. Hayes
D. Andersen,
C. Budinger
J. Taylor
J. Hill (I see J.Hill as better than most Big available in this coming draft outside Favors/Cousin)
2010 #14 pick
2011 1st rd pick (right to swap with Knicks - Top 1 protected.)
2012 1st rd pick
2012 1st rd pick (Knicks - Top 5 protected)
Rights to Llull

The value of Knicks picks will go up if Knicks failed to get Lebron (Bull or Cavs), Wade (Heats), Bosh (Bulls, Heats, Rockets, Nets), Amare (Heats, Bulls, Nets).

We should know pretty early in FA season as the teams will strike it fast to a get a Big FA instead of waiting for one particular FA and risk losing out on all major FA. I see borderline Max contract players like Johnson, Boozer, Gay & Lee to sign the Max offer sheet that they can get instead of waiting where the other big FA is going.

rights to eliyahu too...not as promising as lull but still...btw im a rockets fan and readthis site often just never feel the need to print my input seeing as how i usually agree with most of yall

#14,2010 First(could be quite high),2 2012 Firsts
NBA rights to Llull
Cash

Players:
Other than Yao I think anyone can be had on this roster-for the right player(s).
Morey offered Brooks and Battier for Rubio last yr,so we know he isn't sold on Brooks. Plus Brooks is going to be up for a pretty decent contract next yr-he's gone by trade deadline at latest.(Not only does Morey want to upgrade the PG,Adelman quite often put Lowry on the floor as the PG in crunch time.)
Martin is a very gifted scorer but doesn't offer much beyond that and has trouble staying healthy.(And maybe it meant nothing that Martin was often sitting out 4Qs in the last few games.)

Brooks and Martin are available for the right player/draft pick-Morey's not shopping them,but he is listening if their name comes up.
Scola and Lowry are the Rocket FA targets. Unless they get crazy offers they'll be back.(If they do get crazy offers,I can see Morey agreeing to a sign-n-trade for a TPE that may come in handy down the road.)
Andersen is a throw in,or a salary dump.
Ariza unlikely to be traded unless its to Clips for their #8.
Battier can be had,but it's gonna cost whoever wants him a quality young player.
Budinger is only getting traded as the sweetener for a top talent.(He fits system and is locked in for 3 more yrs at a very cheap salary.)
Hayes has more value to Rockets than to other teams.He stays.
Hill is available for a better player,or to get more potential.
Jeffries is a nice expiring contract. But unless the other team is going straight salary dump(always possible)he prob stays in Hou.(And it should be noted he was getting major minutes at end of season,esp on small ball second unit. Whereas Armstrong,Dorsey and Cook all got a couple of looks from Adelman then were superglued to the bench.)
Taylor is at best a throw in or part of salary match.

$3mil TPE (Landry trade)
$881k TPE (Dorsey trade)
$825k TPE (James White trade)

Rights to Lior Eliyahu
Rights to Maarty Leunen
Rights to Brad Newley

Forgot we had those TPE's.

jwise44 wrote:rights to eliyahu too...not as promising as lull but still...btw im a rockets fan and readthis site often just never feel the need to print my input seeing as how i usually agree with most of yall

Yeah, I knew there were some other guys overseas, but couldn't think of the names. Thanks, dude!

And don't be so quiet in the future!

x- wrote:$3mil TPE (Landry trade)
$881k TPE (Dorsey trade)
$825k TPE (James White trade)

Rights to Lior Eliyahu
Rights to Maarty Leunen
Rights to Brad Newley

Wow...totally forgot about those TPE's! Those could be huge for Morey, especially that Landry TPE.

You think we could put a deal together for Al Jefferson and Rubio?

Brooks, Hill, Battier, 2012 1st Round Pick (via NY) for Jefferson & Rubio

(Re-sign Lowry, Scola and give minutes to Budinger, & Taylor)

PG: Lowry, Rubio
SG: Martin, Taylor
C: Yao, Scola, Hayes
SF: Ariza, Budinger
PF: Jefferson, Scola, Patterson

IR: Andersen

Thatd be nasty!

The Rockets also have the rights to swap second round picks with the Clippers next year (Steve Novak trade).

Well it is that time of year again. How about an update? Obviously Yao isn't going to be considered untouchable anymore.

This thread should also be stickied by the way.

Hopefully Lee, Martin, Yao, Hill, and one of the PGs are in the trading block and Morey is thinking about something to do soon, we have too many players and not a real superstar. Scola is a PERFECT third or second option not more.

I think the most likely assets to be moved/used are:

Yao $17.6mil expiring ($8mil covered by insurance)
Jeffries $6.8mil expiring
Brooks $2mil (RFA after this season)
Budinger $780k (under contract for two very cheap years after this season)
Hill/Patterson (both on relatively cheap rookie contracts)
Brad Miller $4.4mil [possibly more wishful thinking on my part ] (two years after this season, last year only 850k guaranteed)

$6.3TPE (Ariza trade)
$1.6TPE (Landry trade)
$5.7DPE (if granted)

2011 second round draft pick from L.A. Clippers
2012 first round pick from NY (top1 protected)
2014 first round pick

(Why not the 2011 & 2013 pick? Well .. the Rockets can't trade the 2011 first rounder, due the fact they traded their own 2012 first rounder to NJ and NY's 2012 first rounder is top1 protected. The Rockets therefore are technically not guaranteed a first rounder in that year, so trading their 2013 first would handicap them, since you can't trade future first rounders in back to back years, which means they wouldn't be able to trade their 2012 and 2014 first rounders, should they trade the 2013 one.)

Might as well add Lee onto that list. He's proving to be a hot commodity around the league.

Thompson and R. Lopez both look like they can be had for the right price as well. Biedrins can probably be had for Yao's expiring but he's injury/foul prone and can't shoot.

M4P wrote:Might as well add Lee onto that list. He's proving to be a hot commodity around the league.

Thompson and R. Lopez both look like they can be had for the right price as well. Biedrins can probably be had for Yao's expiring but he's injury/foul prone and can't shoot.

I like R.Lopez also, but gotta wonder about his constant back issues for a young guy. Maybe we can get his brother instead...

M4P wrote:Might as well add Lee onto that list.

Yeah, you're probably right. I think Morey would rather trade Brooks, but he won't get fair value for Brooks, so he might just trade Lee instead.

M4P wrote:Well it is that time of year again. How about an update? Obviously Yao isn't going to be considered untouchable anymore.

This thread should also be stickied by the way.

HAH!!! I was way off on this one!

Can we just copy x-'s response at the end of the first page and paste it in the original post?

M4P wrote:Might as well add Lee onto that list. He's proving to be a hot commodity around the league.

Thompson and R. Lopez both look like they can be had for the right price as well. Biedrins can probably be had for Yao's expiring but he's injury/foul prone and can't shoot.

Where are you getting this(source please) from and what are you considering the 'right price'?

JCT522 wrote:

M4P wrote:Might as well add Lee onto that list. He's proving to be a hot commodity around the league.

Thompson and R. Lopez both look like they can be had for the right price as well. Biedrins can probably be had for Yao's expiring but he's injury/foul prone and can't shoot.

Where are you getting this(source please) from and what are you considering the 'right price'?

Are you honestly going to tell me that Thompson was never on the market? Marc Stein and Sam Amick both reported that he was on the trade block back in November.

The "right price" can mean anything. Is it really that hard to believe that HOU and SAC can come to a compromise?

What would you want from the Bulls for Courtney Lee? The Bulls hold Charlotte's first round pick which can be cashed in within the next few years.