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**Dean the Master** · 10-27-2007, 04:50 PM

Quote:

With their preseason schedule complete, the Rockets returned to practice on Saturday without center Jackie Butler and guard John Lucas III who are expected to be placed on waivers on Monday.

Lucas had been considered likely to be released or traded since the Rockets acquired Mike James and drafted Aaron Brooks in June, with the Rockets working to deal him since early July. Butler's prospects, however, were much less certain.

Acquired from San Antonio in the trade for forward Luis Scola, Butler would have been the third center, behind Yao Ming and Dikembe Mutombo. At just 22-years-old, he was thought to be a project that could develop and insurance in the event of injuries to Yao, who has missed large portions of the past two seasons, and Mutombo, the NBA's oldest player at 41-years-old.

With the expected release of Lucas and Butler, the Rockets would have 17 players on the roster, including Bob Sura who is not with the team. In addition to Sura, they will have to trim one more player by the Monday deadline to be at the roster limit of 15 players.

We will be down to 17 players on the team. Sura is still here by the way. I don't think we are going to move him. He is likely to be a dead weight for another season in my opinion. I don't really like to cut Butler because it will be nice to have a backup center in case Yao or Deke goes down. Then again, Scola is more likely to play 5 if this happens.

I don't really know what Morey is doing. I think he should ship JLIII to Sacramento for a second round draft pick or cash consideration since Mike Bibby has an injury wrist and wont be back for 10-12 weeks, and they will like to have a backup PG.

hroz · 10-27-2007, 05:30 PM

Butler has to stay.

This is ridiculous why are we keeping Novak,Reed,Landry & Snyder ahead of Butler????

You need 3 Cs in your side. Frankly none of the PFs are close to tall enough to play C.

We can not cut Butler. I would understand if we traded him but cutting him????? Seriously?

Cornholio · 10-27-2007, 06:09 PM

The next cuts will probably be Sura and Reed.

**HayesFan** · 10-27-2007, 08:44 PM

honestly with what little we have seen of butler would you put him on a court with real NBA competition?

I would imagine that Morey has been trying to do something like send Lucas some where for a pick, but people don't want to trade with someone when they can pick these players up after we drop them or pick them up off waivers for free.

Krimzon · 10-27-2007, 09:19 PM

We need Butler. He barely got to play and he's getting released. I thought Novak would be release. I really hope it's worth keeping him.

**Yao Mania** · 10-27-2007, 10:32 PM

Meh, I don't think Butler has anything going for him other than his youth. We can always pick up a prospect C in next year's draft, and if Yao goes down this year (knock on wood) we'll just have to compromise by playing Scola and Hayes at the 5, and sign a back-up from FA.

The article from another thread made a good point about Boki developing slowly but eventually hitting his stride by season 4 - that convinced me that we should keep Novak around.

Ballscientist · 10-27-2007, 10:53 PM

Butler and Reed have zero trade value. If you are a 12th man, you need to get Minimum salaries.

Landry and Novak have a little bit trade value.

Example:

If you pack Butler/Reed to warriors for TE, we say "hell no".

If you trade Landry/Novak for TE, we say "heavenly yes".

**Pimped Out** · 10-27-2007, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ballscientist

Butler and Reed have zero trade value. If you are a 12th man, you need to get Minimum salaries.

Landry and Novak have a little bit trade value.

Example:

If you pack Butler/Reed to warriors for TE, we say "hell no".

If you trade Landry/Novak for TE, we say "heavenly yes".

considering you always claim to be a warriors fan, i find it odd that you never post in the warriors forum

**Hakeem** · 10-28-2007, 01:17 AM

I'll be sorry to see Butler go. I really liked what little I saw of him in New York. He was very active. And he's only 22 and came straight from high school and hasn't had much of a chance to develop. Plus, that's a frightening beard.