[FOX] Rockets, Mensah-Bonsu Reach Verbal Agreement

[HtownPA]

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/sports/ ... ensahbonsu

Updated: Thursday, 20 Aug 2009, 11:32 AM CDT
Published : Thursday, 20 Aug 2009, 11:32 AM CDT

* MARK BERMAN

HOUSTON - NBA sources told FOX 26 Sports Thursday the Houston Rockets have reached a verbal agreement on a contract with free agent forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu, who has yet to sign the deal.

Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey, who has not been available for comment, has been working this off-season to add depth to his front court with Yao Ming out for the year because of injuries and Dikembe Mutombo has retired.

Mensah-Bonsu is 6'10, 206 pounds.

He played in 12 games for the Dallas Mavericks during the 2006-07 season and split time last year with the San Antonio Spurs and the Toronto Raptors.

Mensah-Bonsu has career averages of 4.1 points and 3.9 rebounds after playing a total of 34 games over two years.

[MaxRider]

who?
jeez
at least sign a player that i can pronounce his name

[rocketsballin]

well first he aint 206 lbs, he's 240. kinda messed up to have ANOTHER UNDERSIZED BIG WHO CANT BLOCK SHOTS!!!

what is this team doing w/ shot blocking? we need more than yao ming to block shots.

makes senes for this season but cmon, yao ming shouldnt be the only shot blocker in the paint. of corse next season we can find a lotta shot blockiing, so if its that then good. not bad to have another undersized big for our new fast pased offense. just hope next season we have mroe than yao ming for shot blocking.

he can play basketball, i've seen him before. but not even 50 games played in his 3 years in the nba. could be like von wafer

[TMACFORMVP]

I don't know what to think of this move. We already have Landry and Hayes who provide similar roles off the bench, and Pops seems to be more a natural 4. We don't have the minutes for him, especially when he brings a sense of redundancy to the roster. Trade looming?

[rocketsballin]

ya it looks like a trade or something. landry, scola, andersen should get the most minutes, then hayes, cook, dorsey.

white and barry could be trraded along w/ cook. or a sign and trade for allen iverson :0

[DP314]

Shot-blocking is overrated. The Rocket's point of emphasis is to prevent the ball from getting to the paint, with smart and skilled perimeter defenders like Ariza and Battier and hustle-players like Scola. But yes, they do need somebody more intimidating than David Anderson in the middle.

[Guy986]

Dorsey
Hayes
Pops

are similar types of players except that Pops isn't as good. Am i missing something?

[Guy986]

Ok with the addition of Pops, we now have 17 players on the roster.


Tracy McGrady
Yao Ming
Shane Battier
Trevor Ariza
Brian Cook
Luis Scola
Carl Landry
David Andersen
Chuck Hayes
Brent Barry
Kyle Lowry
Aaron Brooks
Joey Dorsey
James White
Jermaine Taylor
Chase Budinger
Pops

Is a 2 for 1 with Battier as the centerpiece in the work? Whose getting cut?

[HSOB SIRHC]

I really liked him in Toronto. Going to miss him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtYYP9nZPKc

[Moreyball]

His youtube video makes him look like a really good shot blocker?

Also he looks really athletic, quick and intense in the low post ala KG. It would be alot of fun to see him on the floor with Brooks, Lowry, Ariza and Landry.

[x-]

Sessions for Landry up next

[rockybalboa11]

good signing

seriously

[sanity]

He's not a good shot blocker imo. Too short to be effective in that category and the ones he did manage to get in Toronto have been overly praised. They either came from the weakside, or on broken plays when other defenders lost their man - and in all seriousness, Toronto fans have been overly supportive of the guy in a mere handful of games. The other ones, he was barely noticeable on the court.

He's a severely undersized big (not much bulk, but a lot of athleticism) - probably best be described as a poor man's Carl Landry. Apparently he has been working on his mid-range a lot this summer, so for his sake, I hope he actually finds a role on your team. I have doubts, though. I generally do like Pops and I hope he succeeds - he plays with a lot of heart, but his skillset leaves a lot to be desired when considering his physique/athleticism.

[Dr Positivity]

Dorsey
Hayes
Pops

are similar types of players except that Pops isn't as good. Am i missing something?

Pops is more like Landry except even more one-dimensional. He's a 100% undersized energy rebound big heart guy, he has no other basketball skills. Doesn't really have the muscle bulk or defensive capabilities of Hayes or Dorsey.

I'm guessing you guys are packaging Landry somewhere soon. Doesn't make sense to sign a worse version of him otherwise

[boshjonesford]

^^^ funniest banner/sig ever -- especially that bargs picture

i liked this guy, Rebounds like there's no tomorrow

[J08]

you guys are gonna love pops ! he was a fan favorite here in T.O! he brings alot of energy on the floor and he is really aggressive!

[Guy986]

If there isn't a trade pending. The likely depth chart for our bigs is going to be:

Andersen/Dorsey/Hayes
Scola/Landry/Pops

Alot of quantity but i don't see much quality.

[closg00]

Nice move, I'm sure Pops isn't going to cost you much and contrary to what someone posted earlier, he IS a very-good rebounder and energy guy who is going to go all-out during the scant minutes he'll be getting. It also adds some interesting line-up possibilities for you guys to field a running/athletic squad...I can see the Brooks to Pops alley-oops already.

[carmelbrownqueen]

Sessions for Landry up next

Some Bucks fans wouldn't agree.. but I would LOVE this deal (probably would have to give him more than what Landry is making to get him though). Problem is Ramon Sessions and his agent value him at the MLE level and there hasn't been a team thus far willing to give him that type of money. I'm not sure Houston wants him bad enough to give him close to the ML either, but I saw go for it, and we will take Landry and Cook off your hands (we would waive Cook though).

[KiDdFrESh]

I like it. I think he could be develop into a nice role player.

He can rebound, block shots, and finish the break with authority.

Maybe the team is giving up on Dorsey? I hope not.