RealGM

With all the talk of McGrady and Artests' contracts, a lot of people have overlooked our other ones. To this end, for these players, do you think we'll resign them at the end of their contracts given their ages at that point in time (and barring an injury or other situation that makes it unfeasible), why, and to how many years and how much? (this last point is going to depend greatly on the economic and CBA situations at the time, so let's assume current conditions). Players are listed with the oldest age they will be for the next season in parenthesis. So when Scola's contract is expiring in 2010, for the 2010-2011 season, he will be 31 as of April. Don't be too surprised if I get an age off by a year.

This year, Von Wafer (24) expires.

Next year (i.e. end of 2009-2010 season) we have Scola (31), Barry (39), and a team option on Hayes (27), Dorsey (27 - yeah, he's only 5 months younger than Hayes), and Lowry (25).

The year after (2011), we have Hayes (28), Lowry (26), Landry (28), and the contract I'm most interested in, Battier (33).

Don't worry too much about Barry, as it's unlikely he resigns after next season. Do we keep Battier around at that age like Bruce Bowen, or decide he doesn't play dirty enough to keep up his defensive prowess in the same manner? Has Dorsey developed by then? Do we keep Hayes around for the min anyway, or let him wander off into free agency / nomadland? How many years should we look at resigning Scola for? (I'd expect another 3, but might not mind 4 or 5, his game might be able to hold up)

Tricky, innit?

Not much point really because the further you go out the more things can change. But just looking at how all the contracts are structured shows what a good job Morey has been doing.

Yeah, I know, and originally mentioned the pointlessness of it (which when you get down to it is the entire focal point of realgm and sports debate in general) and how I mainly wanted to try and shift the prevailing topics from "mcgrady is a traitor" "cut/trade mcgrady" (which has morphed into the prior since the deadline) "resign artest" "yao" with a few random topics, but cut it on the basis of undermining my post and it's other objective to start out. I guess rementioning it is now required since you called my hand with the first post Gotta admit, futilely arguing on this is better than futilely arguing on the others, and at the very least someone may come up with some decent points on the subject.

While we usually look at the Rockets as they are today and whether they've won(best team ever!) or lost(what a bunch of choking dogs!),the management has to keep the future in mind.

Myself,I tend to obssess over dollars. Moofs had done a fine job pointing out that the Rockets are positioned nicely as far as age goes. Over the next couple of yrs the supporting cast will be pretty much in their prime. Scola doesn't rely on outright speed and hops,so he'll prob be effective til his mid 30s(maybe not as a starter,but certainly as the first big off the bench.) If Battier doesn't get traded to Portland this summer,he'll prob be a Rocket for another 5-6 yrs. I can easily see him as a vet leader off the bench in 3 yrs.

It's too early to really focus on next yr's roster,but there are some things to keep in mind.

In 2010,as long as the salary cap stays above $52mil the Rockets could still sign a max player.

The Rockets under contract for next yr have @$64mil in salaries.

The Lux Tax next yr is going to be @ $69mil-and the Rockets refuse to go above the Lux Tax.

The Rockets under contract for next yr are by position:
C-Yao,Hayes
PF-Scola,Landry,Dorsey
SF-Battier
SG-McGrady,Barry
PG-Brooks,Lowry.

We're in an alright situation. If worse comes to worse, we aim for 2010.

We're gonna be contending, or at least trying to, over the next 2-4 years.

After that, we might struggle. Outside of flashes from Landry and Brooks, we don't have a 'future', though Yao could be able to play for a while yet.