Looking forward..

[NStav]

Obviously our season just ended and it hurts losing, especially in a game 7, but isn't everyone optimistic about what's next? We proved we belong on this level and we have what it takes. Our entire team gained invaluable playoff experience this season. Couple that with the fact that nearly the entire core is signed through next season, we stand only to build from this.

Yao is 28, Scola is 29, Shane is 30, TMac (if hes back) is 29, Brooks is 24, Lowry is 23, Landry is 25, Hayes is 25. This team has the ability to be playing games this late into the year for seasons to come.

With that said, there are some big decisions to make this upcoming summer, none bigger than what to do with Ron Artest. Also, I think its imperative to sign a QUALITY back-up big to spell Yao and control his minutes. Also, Von Wafer is an intriguing case as well but if the plan is to have TMac back he wouldn't see the court much in playoff basketball.

So what do you think should be the top priorities? I think I'd like to see Morey bring back Ron Artest. There aren't too many teams this summer that have the cap space to lure him away, coupled with the fact that Ron gets along well with Adelman and genuinely likes being a part of this team. Is it possible to get him signed to a deal at or under 10M a year for say 4 years? If so, I think we should get him signed. Also, signing someone like Zaza Pachulia (or Varejao or Gortat for that matter) for the MLE would be huge going forward in protecting Yao.

As for Tracy McGrady, if hes going to be part of the team next season and contributing, thats fine..I'm sure everyone could deal with a fully functioning TMac. Otherwise, with his contract expiring next summer, we could parlay his deal into 2 or 3 quality pieces that could put us over the top. Its a big summer people, one that could set us up for deeper runs for years to come.

So again I ask, what do you want to see Morey do this summer to have us take that next step?

[luhbron]

I love Yao and Tmac so much so it is very hard for me to say this, but it may be time to abandon that model. These playoffs have taught me 2 things.

1) Yao will ALWAYS have trouble with the front. there is no way around this so when its crunch time, yao can easily be sealed.

2) Hard work beats talent. passion, fire, work ethic...these things all mean more to me now than pure talent. as talented as tmac is, he hasn't shown me fire like any of the players during this series. despite this, i love him and would definitely resign him but only at a discount......a very significant discount.


what are your thoughts on trading yao for a couple really good players that fit adelman. im not saying we do this but i was really impressed by gasol and his passing skills which i think would be amazing with the princeton offense. maybe we can go after him later? or at least a big man like him? i definitely think we need bigger guys in here asap if we lose yao.

[artest420]

when in sac, artest always said he would take a pay cut to be on a winning team he likes and that he wanted an extention about 7-8 a year. one season he even said he would play for free if the kings kept adelman. hopefully he stays, i think arron brooks could play a 6th man role and if you guys could get a barron davis for t mac kinda trade i think you will be unstoppable.

[tisbee]

On another thread I put up Ron's shooting numbers for the Lakers Series.
In 3 games w/Yao Ron scored 71 pts on 50% shooting,9-21 3pt and went to FT line 13 times.
In 4 games w/out Yao, 38 pts on 28% shooting,4-26 3pt and went to FT line 3 times.

These are complementary piece numbers,not primary player numbers. Ron should not get a large offer from Rockets.

[dookieguy]

On another thread I put up Ron's shooting numbers for the Lakers Series.
In 3 games w/Yao Ron scored 71 pts on 50% shooting,9-21 3pt and went to FT line 13 times.
In 4 games w/out Yao, 38 pts on 28% shooting,4-26 3pt and went to FT line 3 times.

These are complementary piece numbers,not primary player numbers. Ron should not get a large offer from Rockets.

Totally agreed.

I would really like to keep Artest, but not to a 10m/year deal, maybe something similar to his current salary? Otherwise a S&T maybe.

Then sign a young quality back-up C like Gortat maybe?

Then trade Tmac's Expiring for someone who can contribute right away.

Insta-contenders.

[Teckon]

I don't see big market out there for Artest. I really doubt other teams will want to pay Artest above market value (greater than his current pay). If Artest can't get good deals from other teams, he may accept a modest offer from rockets probably around 8-9 million a year.

[YoungMoney23]

T-Mac will have more value this season now that he is an expiring contract and with the big names that may be available at the end of the season. Hopefully we can get one or two quality players to replace him. Baron Davis would be nice but his heart isn't much bigger than T-Mac's.

[moofs]

Yao is 28, Scola is 29, Shane is 30, TMac (if hes back) is 29, Brooks is 24, Lowry is 23, Landry is 25, Hayes is 25. This team has the ability to be playing games this late into the year for seasons to come.

With that said, there are some big decisions to make this upcoming summer, none bigger than what to do with Ron Artest. Also, I think its imperative to sign a QUALITY back-up big to spell Yao and control his minutes. Also, Von Wafer is an intriguing case as well but if the plan is to have TMac back he wouldn't see the court much in playoff basketball.

I see Scola being an even bigger part of the team next year. He's been huge both of the last two years, but with the decline of our other offensive sources, may well start into the 14-16's range in scoring, wouldn't surprise me. With the main financial reward in basketball being for scoring, that makes his price go up. Given that, I'd like to see him signed to an extension this summer, to take effect for 2-4 years after the expiration of his current rookie contract. Why 2-4? He's going to be 31 in the first season of his next contract. 2 = 33 (typical latest production dropoff age) 4 = 35 (typical last year anyone can possibly be a starter) I'm expecting Scola's non-athleticism-based game to hold up a bit better, like Duncan's, so he goes to the longer age assumptions, but there will still be dropoffs.

I don't know how big signing Artest really is. I'd like to have him back, but not at too big of a price. He did not impress me to the 10m range this year, though it wouldn't be a TERRIBLE contract (Rashard), it's definitely not matched to his production. He's also lost some movement ability on defense at only 29, and will be 33 by the time his new contract expires, at best. I really don't like him as one of our main pieces until that time, and think that barring a reasonable mid-level contract, WHICH IS WHAT HE IS, that he should be allowed to walk or S&T if there's a good deal available. As mentioned in a prior post, his production-correlated value is probably closer to the 6.5-8 million range, but I doubt he'll go for anything under his current salary. Just remember, we're talking about a 30 year old who just averaged 40/40 shooting with only 5rpg, 3apg, while playing average to slightly above-average defense with subpar offensive awareness, and who crashed and burned in the playoffs.

As for Tracy McGrady, if hes going to be part of the team next season and contributing, thats fine..I'm sure everyone could deal with a fully functioning TMac. Otherwise, with his contract expiring next summer, we could parlay his deal into 2 or 3 quality pieces that could put us over the top. Its a big summer people, one that could set us up for deeper runs for years to come.

Could be, but not likely to happen in the offseason.

[knicksNOTslick]

What's up guys, Knicks fan here. But I do applaud your team for taking the Lakers to 7. Your team showed a lot of grit and were so close to upsetting them. Really big Artest fan though I do agree that he tries to do too much sometimes. With that said, I think that the Rockets should forget about McGrady and move on. Watching the games, I felt that the Rockets need a versatile player at the 3-4 (possibly 5) that can score and defend. Al Harrington would be perfect for the Rockets and he has played with RonRon before with the Pacers, where he was more of a defender than a chucker. What do you guys think of a trade...

Mobley's insured contract (which can save the Rockets a lot of money)
AL Harrington
Jared Jeffries

for

TMac
Brian Cook
future 2nd round pick

What do you guys think? The Rockets get to cut costs while getting players who are not injury prone in AL and Jeffries who provide scoring punch for Yao and provide more versatile defense (especially from Jeffries).

[moofs]

Nope. We take on salary and neither of those players are particularly good. Thanks though.

[Mr. E]

No thanks on that NY deal. I don't see Harrington fitting in well when we already have guys like Scola, Landry, Battier and (hopefully) Artest. Jeffries....wow - just no thanks on that one! He'd be an even bigger albatross down here than he is in New York!

As for our off-season - we need to find a quality big man to take some minutes for Yao in every game. I don't know who fits that bill, but I would be surprised if the Rockets weren't scouting overseas for someone like that. I don't think that the answer is playing in the NBA right now at an affordable rate.

We need to address the Artest situation quickly. Let him test the waters, see that no one is biting at the price he wants and get him under contract.

Find out what Joey Dorsey & James White can do for this team. I don't know much about White, but I still think that a healthy Dorsey could play a valuable "enforcer" type role for us.

[knicksNOTslick]

Nope. We take on salary and neither of those players are particularly good. Thanks though.

Most of Mobley's contract is paid for by insurance, so you take on less salary. Jeffries runs a year longer than McGrady's but he doesn't make max, he's around the MLE. And Harrington's pretty good, he averaged 20 and 6 on the Knicks on 44% shooting. I just don't want him on the Knicks because he takes away time from our young players that need to develop (and he does make the occasional dumb play.)

No thanks on that NY deal. I don't see Harrington fitting in well when we already have guys like Scola, Landry, Battier and (hopefully) Artest. Jeffries....wow - just no thanks on that one! He'd be an even bigger albatross down here than he is in New York!

As for our off-season - we need to find a quality big man to take some minutes for Yao in every game. I don't know who fits that bill, but I would be surprised if the Rockets weren't scouting overseas for someone like that. I don't think that the answer is playing in the NBA right now at an affordable rate.

We need to address the Artest situation quickly. Let him test the waters, see that no one is biting at the price he wants and get him under contract.

Find out what Joey Dorsey & James White can do for this team. I don't know much about White, but I still think that a healthy Dorsey could play a valuable "enforcer" type role for us.

Harrington has played the 3-4-5 for the Knicks and he's 6-10 so he can fit pretty much anywhere in your lineup. Jeffries might be too much on your roster but he's also productive in assignments (such as shutting down Rondo when the Knicks beat the Celtics). What these moves do though is make your team deeper and taller, and more potent offensively on a consistent basis (since McGrady might not be healthy).

I do understand why you guys don't like the trade. It doesn't seem attractive but I could see your GM exploring something like this. Just checking with you guys, thanks.

[moofs]

Nope. We take on salary and neither of those players are particularly good. Thanks though.

Most of Mobley's contract is paid for by insurance, so you take on less salary. Jeffries runs a year longer than McGrady's but he doesn't make max, he's around the MLE. And Harrington's pretty good, he averaged 20 and 6 on the Knicks on 44% shooting. I just don't want him on the Knicks because he takes away time from our young players that need to develop (and he does make the occasional dumb play.)

26m against the cap/tax, but yes, only 16.5 out of pocket, assuming insurance boots the whole tab. It'd figure into any luxury tax calculations. I don't know if we're hard-set against that this year, but would assume so.

I do understand why you guys don't like the trade. It doesn't seem attractive but I could see your GM exploring something like this. Just checking with you guys, thanks.

Np man.

[M4P]

Why not make a trade with Washington? They have a decent amount of quality bigs and is expected to hit the luxury tax next year.