RealGM

Best case scenario, Yao Ming returns in 2011 with his knee healthier that it's ever been in his career. Question --- do the Rockets have the salary cap flexibility and/or trade assets to become a serious playoff contender?

Or is the franchise dead in the water? Always good enough to avoid the lottery, but never good enough to contend for championships? Yao Ming will be 31 years old by the time he returns to court. I'm not sure the Rockets have the assets (and flexibility) to build a contending team around him.

I think the Yao-TMac-Artest-Battier combo in 2008 was truly their last best shot at title contention. But injuries ruined what could have been a season to remember, and that window has already closed.

depending on the move we make (or dont make)

but we do have a future.. Carl Landry, Brooks/Lowry, Budinger, and even Jermaine Taylor...

look at our GM... Calm down

as long as we have players who work as if their lives depends on it, we will always have a chance.

I think the Yao-TMac-Artest-Battier combo in 2008 was truly their last best shot at title contention. But injuries ruined what could have been a season to remember, and that window has already closed.

Unfortunately, I'd have to agree with this assessment. The Rockets need to get another all-star to build an identity around if they intend to call it an end to the Yao era. The T-Mac, we already know, is over.

Currently we house a bunch of good role players. Hopefully this organization isn't relying on Yao coming off yet another major foot injury to come back and save the day. Our future lies in free agency. Its unlikely we'll ever have a good draft pic b/c the role players we have will always make us average so not top 5 picks there. We need a franchise player.

<---Just a random Wolves fan's opinion.
Yao is a hard one to figure out, but assuming he comes back you have a very strong offensive/defensive/rebounding front court from C through SF. What you really needed was for T-Mac to evolve, which he just wasn't capable of doing. But it's not unheard of for you to find a good scoring SG that fits your system and players. Someone like Paul George in this years draft, who could shift to SG and shoot the lights out from 3 while playing stellar defense. Or one of many free agents that will be cheap in free agency (you will be surprised at how good a SG you can sign for the MLE).

I think you guys have a shot at putting together a championship run over the next 4 years. Duncan, Ginobli, Pierce, and KG are aging...and Kobe is too for that matter. While your team, on the other hand, is more "growing" than "aging". I definitely doubt you'll win a championship, but it's not out of the question. And it seems like you have a fun team to root for in the meantime. Nothing better than a team full of "little engines that could". The Twins won a title in '87 with a team like that after all

have to look for another star player if houston is gonna have a future. cannot depend on yao after next 2010/11 season, and even in that season we cant depend on yao until he shows he can play. andre iguodala is a great start .

If we assume Yao comes back healthy then the Rockets have three issues:

Back-up PG. Can/will the team re-sign Lowry? If yes,the team is pretty solid at the point and prob adding either Llull,Temple or some other combo gd who can play point in emergency.

SG.
Barring a trade or FA I wouldn't be too suprised to see Budinger starting at SG next yr. To be honest I've thought all along that Chase would be the Rockets' 6th Man for the next few yrs,but his ability to feed the post,run the court,catch and shoot and some ability to drive could be enough to to get the starting nod,allowing team to spend money elsewhere.
If Taylor can show enough in practice the rest of yr he could end up being the back-up SG and in that case the Rockets are pretty set at the smalls-Brooks,Budinger,Ariza starting and Lowry,Taylor,Battier second unit w/a Temple/Llull combo and some draft pick wing to develope.
If the team isn't confidant in Taylor(or w/Chase starting) I expect a serious run at Mike Miller.

PF.
At $31/2mil Scola is a heck of a player,but is he worth $6-7mil to Rockets? Can Landry learn to play D enough to justify starting-and stay out of foul trouble? Scola and Landry have been a strength of recent Rocket teams,but Scola has problems defending quick 4s who shoot from outside and the Rockets don't go to him enough to cause problems for his opponents. If Carl could defend starting PF's he'd be starting,but...
Unfortunately the 2010 PF FA class is very weak in good PFs that will settle for $5-7mil.After Bosh,Amare,maybe Boozer who's better than Scola? Lee can't defend and is Scola's height or shorter.Harrington is a gunner who plays no D and Haslem is an adequate caddy to a good big,but he prob won't leave Heat voluntarily and what will he ask for? Varejao isn't leaving Cleveland if LeBron stays. Best guess is Rockets offer their cap room and a First in trade for a young big who is just not working out for their team.

roxfashoballin wrote:have to look for another star player if houston is gonna have a future. cannot depend on yao after next 2010/11 season, and even in that season we cant depend on yao until he shows he can play. andre iguodala is a great start .

Iguodala is a horrible start. He's nicely overpaid even now, and will be 31 and a total burden to his team when his contract runs out.