112 replies to this topic

[Drew in Abilene]

The NBA allows for no more than 15 players on the roster once the season starts. As of a few minutes ago, the Rockets have cut/waived B.J. Young, which leaves them with 18 player vying for those 15 spots on the roster. There are a bevy of players who need not worry about being let loose (Howard and Harden jump to mind...) but there are several players who are on the bubble. I'm wondering who y'all believe are the unfortunate three to be cut, who sticks around, and what the deciding factors for Morey and McHale will be in those choices. Also, if you think some of these players might be heading out in a trade, feel free to speculate on what that could look like and how it would affect trimming the roster to 15.

 

For me, the most likely to be cut is Henriquez. A rookie center just doesn't seem like someone to keep around when minutes are already being split between Dwight and Asik, with Camby waiting to mop up extra minutes and Greg Smith being a serviceable alternative if needed. That's too many 5s in my opinion, and I think Henriquez gets cut.

 

I keep hearing good things about Covington, but he also strikes me as someone who will be cut. His shooting and ability to play multiple positions are strong positives in his favor, but with the Rockets in win-now mode I think the team will part ways with him in favor of more experience and consistency.

 

I'll be looking at this more over the next couple of days, but would love to read y'all's thoughts as well. If nothing else, it was exciting to look at Houston's roster and think, "Wait, I don't want to cut any of these guys!"

[rocketrick]

Henriquez is likely the next player to be cut by the Rockets, allowing him an opportunity to join the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (although as a free agent since the Rockets can only have a maximum of 15 players on their roster and under contract at any given time).

After that, it becomes more difficult. I would expect that it might be awhile before the last 2 players are cut, allowing everyone an opportunity in pre-season to prove their worth.

Personally, I don't see how Greg Smith fits on our roster this season with D12 and Camby new to this season's roster. Greg Smith's game, unfortunately, is too one-dimensional. Plus Chandler Parsons can slide over and play some PF minutes as clearly proven last year with the usage of Carlos Delfino at that spot.

Any significant pre-season injury that does tend to occur may help resolve the situation as well.

Certainly, the competition level will be fierce this pre-season for those last couple of precious roster spots!

[RollingWave]

Henriquez is likely the next player to be cut by the Rockets, allowing him an opportunity to join the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (although as a free agent since the Rockets can only have a maximum of 15 players on their roster and under contract at any given time).

After that, it becomes more difficult. I would expect that it might be awhile before the last 2 players are cut, allowing everyone an opportunity in pre-season to prove their worth.

Personally, I don't see how Greg Smith fits on our roster this season with D12 and Camby new to this season's roster. Greg Smith's game, unfortunately, is too one-dimensional. Plus Chandler Parsons can slide over and play some PF minutes as clearly proven last year with the usage of Carlos Delfino at that spot.

Any significant pre-season injury that does tend to occur may help resolve the situation as well.

Certainly, the competition level will be fierce this pre-season for those last couple of precious roster spots!

 

Here's a fun stats for you, true shooting percentage of all NBA players last year that played over 1000 minutes.

 

1.Tyson Chandler .671

2. Kevin Durant .647

3. Lebron James .640

4. Kyle Korver .637

5. Greg Smith .636

 

He is one dimensional, but when your one dimensional and was among the league's very best at that one dimension, at age 22, your not being waived. your looking at a 10+ year career.

 

Greg Smith is a couple months younger than Canaan and almost a full year younger than Dmo, btw. he was also probably our 7th best player last year, and the youngest of those 7 guys by nearly 2 years. Your not waiving a guy like that so you can have Marcus Camby in suits and announcing his retirement mid season.

 

I feel they probably should just not carry Camby, he's not going to play unless one of Dwight / Asik gets hurt and even then last year Greg Smith was clearly the superior player, This is 39 year old Marcus Camby who made less than 20 shots all of last year while shooting under .33% from the field folks (not under 33% from 3, 33% from 2), giving him a roster spot over anyone that has any chance of doing anything is silly. he's about as toast as it gets. hoping that someone who's been injury prone througout his career, and is nearly 40, and was almost unable to take the field last year on a team ravaged by injury, over a 22 year old that showed considerable promise, is about as absurd as it gets.

 

They want Camby for the FO / coaching anyway. why the hell wait.

 

My guess of the end roster after Henriquez gets cut is that Camby will retire and switch over while probably Reggie Williams gets cut if we assume Brooks has the advantage due to his past stint with the team.  between Williams and Casspi unless Williams clearly outplay the later he's shorter / older / just as bad defensively.

Edited by RollingWave, 03 October 2013 - 10:11 AM.

[bboley24]

I really hope we keep brewer.  Aside from the fact that he tears it up in 2k14, he is an above average player with a skillset that is difficult to find in this league.

[Freebird]

Isn't there a way to stay over 15 if someone is on the DL?  Not sure how long they could keep Camby there - especially when they list his injury as "age".  

 

Henriquez is probably gone, unless they keep him over Camby.  Doubtful, but anything is possible.  And I too doubt that Smith is going anywhere.

 

With 4 PGs on the roster, that's too much.  Methinks they let Brooks go - buy him out, or whatever.  Same with the SFs.  Parsons and Brewer are staying. Between Covington and Casspi, I think they let Casspi go.  He doesn't have a great PER, and while is rebounding is excellent, I wonder if that will drop due to the rebound hogs we already have on the team.  Brewer's 3P% is much lower, but I think his slashing ability gives us a dimension that we didn't have at the position.

[rocketrick]

Here's a fun stats for you, true shooting percentage of all NBA players last year that played over 1000 minutes.
 
1.Tyson Chandler .671
2. Kevin Durant .647
3. Lebron James .640
4. Kyle Korver .637
5. Greg Smith .636
 
He is one dimensional, but when your one dimensional and was among the league's very best at that one dimension, at age 22, your not being waived. your looking at a 10+ year career.
 
Greg Smith is a couple months younger than Canaan and almost a full year younger than Dmo, btw. he was also probably our 7th best player last year, and the youngest of those 7 guys by nearly 2 years. Your not waiving a guy like that so you can have Marcus Camby in suits and announcing his retirement mid season.
 
I feel they probably should just not carry Camby, he's not going to play unless one of Dwight / Asik gets hurt and even then last year Greg Smith was clearly the superior player, This is 39 year old Marcus Camby who made less than 20 shots all of last year while shooting under .33% from the field folks (not under 33% from 3, 33% from 2), giving him a roster spot over anyone that has any chance of doing anything is silly. he's about as toast as it gets. hoping that someone who's been injury prone througout his career, and is nearly 40, and was almost unable to take the field last year on a team ravaged by injury, over a 22 year old that showed considerable promise, is about as absurd as it gets.
 
They want Camby for the FO / coaching anyway. why the hell wait.
 
My guess of the end roster after Henriquez gets cut is that Camby will retire and switch over while probably Reggie Williams gets cut if we assume Brooks has the advantage due to his past stint with the team.  between Williams and Casspi unless Williams clearly outplay the later he's shorter / older / just as bad defensively.

Marcus Camby's value will become more evident toward the end of the regular season and the playoffs. Experience counts a lot.

Thus, I just don't see how the Rockets can afford to keep Greg Smith, too.

Anyway, it's not up to us to decide.

[RollingWave]

Marcus Camby's value will become more evident toward the end of the regular season and the playoffs. Experience counts a lot.

Thus, I just don't see how the Rockets can afford to keep Greg Smith, too.

Anyway, it's not up to us to decide.

It counted so much that the Knicks played him all of 3 minutes in the playoffs last year (in 3 separate games too.)  .this despite Tyson Chandler getting hurt.

 

It counts only as long as you can get on the floor, which there is extreme doubts as to if Camby can at this point in his career

[blakecouey]

I'd say Williams and Casspi(or Brooks).  We will likely take advantage of the 3 contracts we can send to the D League, which is why I think we get rid of two of the vets instead of another unproven prospect.  That leaves Canaan, Covington, and Henriquez getting time in the D-League, and I doubt they come up unless we suffer major injury problems.  I wont be surprised if we cut Henriquez too, and replace him with another team's cut player.

 

As far as Camby goes, we knew what we were getting into when we signed him this offseason, nothing has changed, why would we decide to back out to give him a front office job now?  That makes no sense to me at all.

[rocketrick]

It counted so much that the Knicks played him all of 3 minutes in the playoffs last year (in 3 separate games too.)  .this despite Tyson Chandler getting hurt.
 
It counts only as long as you can get on the floor, which there is extreme doubts as to if Camby can at this point in his career

Tyson Chandler started in each of the 12 Knicks playoff games last season. I'm not 100% sure, but I thought Camby was not healthy towards the end of last season which would account for his lack of playoff minutes.

[Drew in Abilene]

Henriquez, as expected, has been released by the Rockets. Two down, two to go.

[Buckko]

I know as we are human beings like excitement but smith with his skills, contract and potential is not getting cut for Williams brewer canmby casspi or Covington. It's just redicously to think so, at the very least he would be traded.

[Mario Peña]

I'd take Camby over Smith any day, one could give you 10 minutes a game if necessary in the Finals while the other would fold under that pressure. One might give you a high FG% in December or January against bench players but that won't get you much in April, May or June.

[Cooper]

What is smiths potential? I honestly don't see him getting much better.

[BrentYen]

Well, his age maybe? He can be better if he has right guidance.

[Buckko]

Smith is very athletic, he didn't get to play much but do you need to re-watch the splitter posterization? Camby will be lucky if he doesn't get hurt and that's if he doesn't even suit up. If they train smith to learn defense, and become a paint protector like asik and Howard. He could make replacing asik a lot easier. Because everyone knows demo won't be able to do it. It still lacks logic to cut a talented big for a one year rental suit. Just hire Camby as an assistant already.

[Drew in Abilene]

I think Smith would be a better choice to keep over Camby, because of his youth and potential for the future. I agree that his ceiling isn't super high, but with Asik probably being traded this year or next, I would rather have a serviceable backup in Smith as opposed to an older, more injury-prone backup in Camby. If both are healthy, I think Camby might be better in the short term of this year, but Smith would probably be a better investment long term.

 

As mentioned above, I think a big part of this plan would be explaining to Smith that his spot on the roster is predicated primarily on improving his defense. Learning from Asik and Howard, under the tutelage of McHale, I think Smith has the potential to become a solid second-string center. I doubt Camby will be able to stay healthy and productive for much longer. If I'm wrong, I'll be happy to have Camby contributing, but I see Smith as a safer option.

[rockets best fan]

I think both Camby and G-Smith make the final roster. if Asik is indeed traded during the year both will be needed if we don't receive another big man in the deal. G-Smith is still young and while he may have limited upside he can still become a valued rotation player. more than likely we will release Williams and Brewer IMO. while Brewer's defense is good he is just to limited offensively. teams will simply sag off him to double other players. A lot depends on how high the Rockets are on Covington. after doing a little research on his contract......they are pretty high. he is an undrafted player yet received a 1st year guarantee and150 thousand partial guarantee for the 2nd year. some second round draft picks don't have a deal that good. that's very uncommon for an undrafted player. also to be considered Morey isn't one to be making a bunch of bad signings, so I think it speaks to how high he is on the guy. Casspi put a down payment on his position last night. so he looks good. many think Brooks will get cut........I say no......for the same reason as G-Smith. if Lin is moved in trade he will be needed if we don't get another PG in the deal. both Brooks and Camby are insurance policies, so they aren't going anywhere. that makes Williams and Brewer look like the odd men out to me

[Cooper]

If they do trade Lin. They had better be getting a starter/backup in the deal or have a plan to acquire another, brooks ain't gonna cut it.

[rockets best fan]

If they do trade Lin. They had better be getting a starter/backup in the deal or have a plan to acquire another, brooks ain't gonna cut it.

I wouldn't put to much stock in how he looked last night. we already know what Brooks is capable of. IMO he is a capable backup

[timetodienow1234567]

We all do know what brooks is capable of. Being a scrub. Unless they keep him out of loyalty he's going to be cut.