Now my comment is all kinds of messed up.

Now my comment is all kinds of messed up.

Basically, what I’m asking is this:
Given that most steals come from teams trying to shed salary, and that teams with exceptions can’t use them to overpay players (since they can only come from trades, excepting perhaps S&Ts), will the many and vast trade exceptions enable those teams to steal valuable contracts from others trying to shed salary?

Which is better for a bottom line? Trading a $12 million player for a $2 million player with 3 years left (say $7 million), or an $11 million expiring contract? Unless there are special financial considerations in a mid-season trade for an expiring contract (I did not find one), the exception is going to enable a better deal for a salary-shedding team.

I’m sure that, with our assets, we can trade with teams seeking assets or pieces, but I’m not sure that we can take advantage of “fire sales” with so many exceptions floating around.

Basically, what I’m asking is this:
Given that most steals come from teams trying to shed salary, and that teams with exceptions can’t use them to overpay players (since they can only come from trades, excepting perhaps S&Ts), will the many and vast trade exceptions enable those teams to steal valuable contracts from others trying to shed salary?

Which is better for a bottom line? Trading a $12 million player for a $2 million player with 3 years left (say $7 million), or an $11 million expiring contract? Unless there are special financial considerations in a mid-season trade for an expiring contract (I did not find one), the exception is going to enable a better deal for a salary-shedding team.

I’m sure that, with our assets, we can trade with teams seeking assets or pieces, but I’m not sure that we can take advantage of “fire sales” with so many exceptions floating around.

Being a fan of the underdog, I am enjoying watching JTs progress, from small school star to NBA hopefull. A major difference in JT vs. Wafer, is that JT approaches the game humbly. Every possesion gets the same amount of effort. One of the announcers said “I think someone forgot to tell JT that this was summer league” That says alot about his work ethic and attitude. The little time I watched, him, he kinda seems like a Lowry/Martin hybrid, with the quickness and ability to shoot off the dribble of Martin, but with the bulk and fearlessness Lowry shows during dribble penetration. Not afraid to pass from dribble penetration but if the outlet fails again and again, then it’s time to go after and-1s. Not someone the opposition will look foward to chasing around all night.

In contrast to JT’s background, Pat-Pat, looks well coached, refined and ready to go as most Kentucky products. I think he’s the reason they’re grooming Hill at center is because of Pat’s immediate value at PF surpassing his own.

But, Rahat I’m with you, not witnessing any SL games in the past, coupled with our outstanding record over the past 5 years makes me wonder how much effort and emphasis the other teams are putting in. If the others re putting what the Rox are into the SL, then id bodes well for us and our young guys having such a high success level. If other teams are blowing the SL off, then it makes me proud to be a fan of such a team that seizes every opportunity it can to improve itself.

Being a fan of the underdog, I am enjoying watching JTs progress, from small school star to NBA hopefull. A major difference in JT vs. Wafer, is that JT approaches the game humbly. Every possesion gets the same amount of effort. One of the announcers said “I think someone forgot to tell JT that this was summer league” That says alot about his work ethic and attitude. The little time I watched, him, he kinda seems like a Lowry/Martin hybrid, with the quickness and ability to shoot off the dribble of Martin, but with the bulk and fearlessness Lowry shows during dribble penetration. Not afraid to pass from dribble penetration but if the outlet fails again and again, then it’s time to go after and-1s. Not someone the opposition will look foward to chasing around all night.

In contrast to JT’s background, Pat-Pat, looks well coached, refined and ready to go as most Kentucky products. I think he’s the reason they’re grooming Hill at center is because of Pat’s immediate value at PF surpassing his own.

But, Rahat I’m with you, not witnessing any SL games in the past, coupled with our outstanding record over the past 5 years makes me wonder how much effort and emphasis the other teams are putting in. If the others re putting what the Rox are into the SL, then id bodes well for us and our young guys having such a high success level. If other teams are blowing the SL off, then it makes me proud to be a fan of such a team that seizes every opportunity it can to improve itself.

first off, with Jordan Hill, I watched the game vs Phoenix, and he looked like a deer in head lights at times! I know it was only the first game but come on! Why does it always seem like we have 2 different forward in our rotation? Hill- the defender, Paterson- offense. Like last season with David Andersen- great shooter and poor defender, and Jeffries- Great energy and defense guy, poor coordination and offensive skills. When are we going to find the Power Forward with both skills?

Anyway, on offense with a healthy Yao we don’t need a great offensive player bc Yao is that good, he can make up for the lack of skills in player X.

I know that I am biased but lets say that Yao is healthy for the entire season. He makes life so much easier for everyone on the roster. We all know why so I will not go into detail, spread floor for shooters, draws double teams and finds open man, clogs the lane on D, ex-cetera. Now here comes the biased part, I think we can make a very deep playoff run, think Western conference finals. We have an amazing group of players. Guys that can play very well together. I know that there are some chemistry concerns out there but it is always much easier to incorporate a big guy than a guard. Ok Brooks, Ariza, Martin, Scola, Yao. I love our starting lineup, and we have almost all energy guys on the bench.

Rahat what are your thoughts on when the next “fire sale” will happen? How would we go about with a petition to change the rockets uniforms? If anyone would be able to pull something like that off it would be you. Oh and heres to Jordan Hill, hopefully he just had first game jitters.

I love the updates, keep them coming.

Go Rockets.

first off, with Jordan Hill, I watched the game vs Phoenix, and he looked like a deer in head lights at times! I know it was only the first game but come on! Why does it always seem like we have 2 different forward in our rotation? Hill- the defender, Paterson- offense. Like last season with David Andersen- great shooter and poor defender, and Jeffries- Great energy and defense guy, poor coordination and offensive skills. When are we going to find the Power Forward with both skills?

Anyway, on offense with a healthy Yao we don’t need a great offensive player bc Yao is that good, he can make up for the lack of skills in player X.

I know that I am biased but lets say that Yao is healthy for the entire season. He makes life so much easier for everyone on the roster. We all know why so I will not go into detail, spread floor for shooters, draws double teams and finds open man, clogs the lane on D, ex-cetera. Now here comes the biased part, I think we can make a very deep playoff run, think Western conference finals. We have an amazing group of players. Guys that can play very well together. I know that there are some chemistry concerns out there but it is always much easier to incorporate a big guy than a guard. Ok Brooks, Ariza, Martin, Scola, Yao. I love our starting lineup, and we have almost all energy guys on the bench.

Rahat what are your thoughts on when the next “fire sale” will happen? How would we go about with a petition to change the rockets uniforms? If anyone would be able to pull something like that off it would be you. Oh and heres to Jordan Hill, hopefully he just had first game jitters.

I love the updates, keep them coming.

Go Rockets.

Player A? Kevin Martin.
Player B? Jermaine Taylor.

Not saying Taylor is going to become the reliably effecient scoring machine Martin worked to become,but it is kind of interesting.(Martin dramatically increased his shooting %s across board in second yr and became a 20pp scorer in his third.Still has never been an assist machine,w/a career of 1.9/game and 2.3/game as a Rocket.)

After 2 games Rocket assist leaders are:
Smith 7
JT 6
Bud 5
Ahearn 4
Lewis 4

Player A? Kevin Martin.
Player B? Jermaine Taylor.

Not saying Taylor is going to become the reliably effecient scoring machine Martin worked to become,but it is kind of interesting.(Martin dramatically increased his shooting %s across board in second yr and became a 20pp scorer in his third.Still has never been an assist machine,w/a career of 1.9/game and 2.3/game as a Rocket.)

After 2 games Rocket assist leaders are:
Smith 7
JT 6
Bud 5
Ahearn 4
Lewis 4

Charlie Boy,
while its ugly, i don’t see the aesthetics of the release being a problem in terms of accuracy/getting blocked.

tah,
that’s true. that’s why i don’t want to come out and say something like “JT looks ready to be the starter!” he looked great but its all relative.

bob schmidt,
kind of ironic that there were few turnovers yet we have awful PG’s, lol.

Stephen,
completely agree. people are making it seem like JT was just chucking but it was all within the flow. he was just attacking every chance he got.

jodorowski,
i missed the post game interview.

Kade,
i had a heart attack when i read houston had signed him.

purvisshort,
thanks, i appreciate that. the discussion here has been great the past few weeks and I hope it continues next season. great to see the same names. and i don’t foresee myself or red94 going anywhere anytime soon.

Charlie Boy,
while its ugly, i don’t see the aesthetics of the release being a problem in terms of accuracy/getting blocked.

tah,
that’s true. that’s why i don’t want to come out and say something like “JT looks ready to be the starter!” he looked great but its all relative.

bob schmidt,
kind of ironic that there were few turnovers yet we have awful PG’s, lol.

Stephen,
completely agree. people are making it seem like JT was just chucking but it was all within the flow. he was just attacking every chance he got.

jodorowski,
i missed the post game interview.

Kade,
i had a heart attack when i read houston had signed him.

purvisshort,
thanks, i appreciate that. the discussion here has been great the past few weeks and I hope it continues next season. great to see the same names. and i don’t foresee myself or red94 going anywhere anytime soon.

(1) Patterson’s looks ready to step in and play–just not too many holes in his game. It will be interesting to see how he adapts to the speed of the NBA game, and I could not agree more about his demeanor, he’s wise beyond his years.

(2) And this comes from a guy who is super high on Hill’s offensive upside: he continues to struggle playing one-on-one defense down low. Not sure whether it’s lack of leg strength, core strength or interest, but his guy can get to the rim every time he catches it on the block. I realize what he brings in blocks off ball, but regardless of that skill and his utility on offense, his porous defense will become an obstacle to more playing time.

(3) JT just has a nose for the basket. And, I agree with Stephen’s take that it’s not vintage Francis or Marbury style ball-hogging: he’s just in relentless pursuit of the rim. I like that. And the jumper looked OK.

Lastly, to pile on to others’ comments, Rahat, thanks for creating such a great board. It’s middle of July, and I have somewhere people are posting intelligent and otherwise interesting perspectives on Rox basketball. When you move on to bigger and better things, we will all be sorry.

(1) Patterson’s looks ready to step in and play–just not too many holes in his game. It will be interesting to see how he adapts to the speed of the NBA game, and I could not agree more about his demeanor, he’s wise beyond his years.

(2) And this comes from a guy who is super high on Hill’s offensive upside: he continues to struggle playing one-on-one defense down low. Not sure whether it’s lack of leg strength, core strength or interest, but his guy can get to the rim every time he catches it on the block. I realize what he brings in blocks off ball, but regardless of that skill and his utility on offense, his porous defense will become an obstacle to more playing time.

(3) JT just has a nose for the basket. And, I agree with Stephen’s take that it’s not vintage Francis or Marbury style ball-hogging: he’s just in relentless pursuit of the rim. I like that. And the jumper looked OK.

Lastly, to pile on to others’ comments, Rahat, thanks for creating such a great board. It’s middle of July, and I have somewhere people are posting intelligent and otherwise interesting perspectives on Rox basketball. When you move on to bigger and better things, we will all be sorry.