Is anyone else intrigued by the Rocket's situation?

[JSD]

Is anyone else intrigued by the Rockets situation?

- Top 2 players are injured
- Tracy's expiring deal
- Logjam at the 3 spot
- Thin up front
- Large Payroll


Would you consider letting Tracy expire? According to Shamsports, that would put the Rockets $15 million under the cap for next summer if they don't resign Brooks, pick up any player options or sign their draft picks. So while I'd probably go that route (look forward to a high pick and let Tracy walk), I'd also explore trading Tracy McGrady for some players that could help me win now.

What about this deal?

Clippers: Camby, Davis, Collins and a protected 1st round pick.

For

Houston: McGrady, Brooks and Barry

The Clippers set themselves up to clear $25 million for next summer while the Rockets form a competitive playoff team with Ming on the sideline rehabbing.

What would you do?


http://www.shamsports.com/content/pages/data/salaries/rockets.jsp

[GaBerkowitz]

they are gonna have problems scoring the ball.  With McGrady and Yao out, Artest in Laker Land and losing Von Wafer to Greece, they are going to need to replace a large chunk of their scoring from a year ago.

while Ariza will help. And they may have a good nucleus of complementary and roll players.  They still need a top wing scorer to be serious contenders.  If I were them I would let McGrady expire, and see what comes in the draft & free agency next year.

however, i do like their new jerseys
http://www.chron.com/sports/photogallery/Rockets_uniforms.html

[indeedproceed]

I like their odds. They have a scrappy squad, and they're gonna need it. I think they can make the #8 seed happen again if McGrady plays at a high level.

[greenwise]

The key question is how bad is TMac's health. I always liked him, so if I was a Rocket fan I guess I'd love him to stay. But business is business and a trade would be the best option for them IMO

[2short]

The most important thing to do with the Rockets situation is:
when are they going to trade us Battier for TA, Walker & Scal.
I'm not going to wait much longer...

[PosImpos]

As long as McGrady comes back healthy (and from recent reports it seems there is a good chance he will) then the Rockets will be a solid if unremarkable team.  They won't have any real scorers besides TMac, so their starting lineup will probably average around 65 or 70 points a game.  That's rough.

Brooks
McGrady
Ariza
Landry
Scola

with Battier off the bench.

That's a solid team, and they could fight their way to the 8th seed (though the Suns seem more likely to get there).  I think they'll probably let TMac expire and hope for a good draft pick and a decent free agent addition next year. 

[the_Bird]

The Ariza signing was weird given that they have Battier already, and I don't see playing the two of them together as making a lot of sense.  Has there been any real word on Yao's status?  Sounds like at one time that his injury was career-threatening, or at least threatened to make him a Walton-esque figure for the rest of his playing days.  

I think they'll play hard and be competitive, but it's hard to see how they're anything more than a 7 or 8 seed at best.  Definately intriguing, though, because they don't have a ton of salary on the books after this year.  As per Hoopshype, looks like they'd have about $30M committed next season IF they traded Battier for expiring deals - leaving them plenty to pursue a high-caliber free agent (and Bosh *is* a Texas guy).

They also might sit tight and wait until 2011, at which point they have no contracts of significance other than Ariza.  Still, seems like if they COULD push for a major free agent next summer, AND Battier is rendered redundant by the addition of Ariza, Battier might be available for the right price.  Since every other team in the league would also love to add Battier to their roster, the price will have to be more than just expiring contracts, which is where we fall short.  

[JSD]

What is this franchise doing? I'm curious what people think about their cap (largest expiring contract) and injury (Ming and McGrady) situation.

What about:

NY receives: Tracy
Houston receives: Curry, Lee and Jeffries

This would save the Rockets money off the bat and set them up for tons of cap room in 2011 with a young core to build around.

The Knicks get out Curry and Jeffries and are set to bring two major free agents in come 2010.

[Roy Hobbs]

What is this franchise doing? I'm curious what people think about their cap (largest expiring contract) and injury (Ming and McGrady) situation.

What about:

NY receives: Tracy
Houston receives: Curry, Lee and Jeffries

This would save the Rockets money off the bat and set them up for tons of cap room in 2011 with a young core to build around.

The Knicks get out Curry and Jeffries and are set to bring two major free agents in come 2010.

I think it's too much risk for Houston, because there's no guarantee that Lee will re-sign with them.  Taking on all that additional salary for potentially nothing is a scary thought.

Still, it's a good thought.  I just think potentially Houston can get a better package.

[JSD]

What is this franchise doing? I'm curious what people think about their cap (largest expiring contract) and injury (Ming and McGrady) situation.

What about:

NY receives: Tracy
Houston receives: Curry, Lee and Jeffries

This would save the Rockets money off the bat and set them up for tons of cap room in 2011 with a young core to build around.

The Knicks get out Curry and Jeffries and are set to bring two major free agents in come 2010.

I think it's too much risk for Houston, because there's no guarantee that Lee will re-sign with them.  Taking on all that additional salary for potentially nothing is a scary thought.

Still, it's a good thought.  I just think potentially Houston can get a better package.

Right, it's a risk but it aligns Curry and Jefferies expiration with Ming and Battier. If they can resign Lee and add him to the foundation of Scola, Ariza and Brooks they have a solid team that would be attractive to a 2011 FA and they'd have loads of cap room.

What would you look to do if you were the GM of the Rockets?

[Fafnir]

I think Yao opts out though.

[Roy Hobbs]

I think Yao opts out though.

Why so?

He's got a potentially career threatening injury, and his guaranteed salary is $17,686,100.  That's more than any team other than Houston can offer on the free agent market.

I understand that with his injury issues, he may be hoping to cash in one more time if he's physically unable to play in the future.  However, there's also the chance that he doesn't land a mega-deal, due to the most recent medical reports.

[JSD]

I think Yao opts out though.

  Really?

[Fafnir]

I think Yao opts out though.

Why so?

He's got a potentially career threatening injury, and his guaranteed salary is $17,686,100.  That's more than any team other than Houston can offer on the free agent market.

I understand that with his injury issues, he may be hoping to cash in one more time if he's physically unable to play in the future.  However, there's also the chance that he doesn't land a mega-deal, due to the most recent medical reports.

I think he'll want to cash in asap. I think he opts out and signs and extension with the Rockets. Though another team might get desperate and make a big offer that Houston won't match.

He could easily not, a lot depends on how his foot is healing, but that's how I see it playing out.

[JSD]

I think Yao opts out though.

Why so?

He's got a potentially career threatening injury, and his guaranteed salary is $17,686,100.  That's more than any team other than Houston can offer on the free agent market.

I understand that with his injury issues, he may be hoping to cash in one more time if he's physically unable to play in the future.  However, there's also the chance that he doesn't land a mega-deal, due to the most recent medical reports.

I think he'll want to cash in asap. I think he opts out and signs and extension with the Rockets. Though another team might get desperate and make a big offer that Houston won't match.

He could easily not, a lot depends on how his foot is healing, but that's how I see it playing out.

Well  Fafnir, you might be right. Elton Brand pulled such a move a few years back electing to opt out after spending virtually the entire season on the sideline. He got his doe too.

It really just depends on whether or not he can come back and show something before the season ends.