robbie380
07-07-2009, 10:59 AM
http://blogs.chron.com/nba/2009/07/pondering_the_rockets_future_w.html
The Rockets have worked on ways to get Ariza and keep their mid-level exception. That would seem to mean coming together with the Lakers on a sign-and-trade exchange, with Ron Artest going to LA for the same money. There are apparently other ways.
The Rockets likely won't do much with that money if they get it, at least not right away. Anybody that they sign with mid-level money will still be on the books next summer. They are unlikely to get in the way of having spending room next summer unless for a player that could be a key part of a championship contender. The free agent centers out there don't qualify as that.
The same goes for trades. The Rockets are much more likely to fill the Yao Ming void through a trade than with one of the free agent leftovers. But they are unlikely to mess up next summer and years to come to get a few more wins next season, meaning any center they get will likely either be for one year, or someone they would want to have around for years. They won't let themselves be stuck with someone for years for the sake of next season.
It helps, however, to have options. They do have a trade exception worth about $2.5 million until late December. They might be able to get Ariza and keep their mid-level. Whether they pull that off or not, the idea is not to go on a spending spree to collect the sort of contracts that teams are now so desperate to give away. You never know what might come up, but anything they do will be done with the life of the contract in mind.
The Rockets have worked on ways to get Ariza and keep their mid-level exception. That would seem to mean coming together with the Lakers on a sign-and-trade exchange, with Ron Artest going to LA for the same money. There are apparently other ways.
The Rockets likely won't do much with that money if they get it, at least not right away. Anybody that they sign with mid-level money will still be on the books next summer. They are unlikely to get in the way of having spending room next summer unless for a player that could be a key part of a championship contender. The free agent centers out there don't qualify as that.
The same goes for trades. The Rockets are much more likely to fill the Yao Ming void through a trade than with one of the free agent leftovers. But they are unlikely to mess up next summer and years to come to get a few more wins next season, meaning any center they get will likely either be for one year, or someone they would want to have around for years. They won't let themselves be stuck with someone for years for the sake of next season.
It helps, however, to have options. They do have a trade exception worth about $2.5 million until late December. They might be able to get Ariza and keep their mid-level. Whether they pull that off or not, the idea is not to go on a spending spree to collect the sort of contracts that teams are now so desperate to give away. You never know what might come up, but anything they do will be done with the life of the contract in mind.