Rockets sign Rashad McCants

by Tom Martin on Sep 24, 2009 3:13 PM CDT in Random Commentary Comment 13 comments

So the Rockets have officially lost Yao Ming, yes, but with players like Trevor Ariza, Carl Landry, Aaron Brooks, and Luis Scola, there's still plenty of excitement in Houston.

And even moreso, now the Rockets have signed Rashad McCants, who will provide offense in bunches off the bench. Yao or no Yao, the Rockets will be fun to watch next year.

So, uh, about Jermaine Taylor and Chase Budinger having to earn a roster spot? Yeah, it's going to be even tougher now. With our backcourt still shuffled the way it is, more competition isn't a bad thing.

Or perhaps the front office isn't as confident in the two rookies as once thought...

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Hmmm

I really think McCants is just training camp fodder. With his non-guaranteed contract, I really think Taylor would have to play horribly to get beat out for a roster spot by McCants. Then again…. Von Wafer came out of nowhere last year, too.

by grungedave on Sep 24, 2009 3:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I have to agree

Poor Jermaine Taylor. He was breathing easy for about 24 hours after White got traded. Now he’s got more competition. I think Chase makes the team. Also, we’ve kind of assumed Pops would get a spot, but I’m not so sure. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if McCants beats out those two to become our primary backup at the swingman position.

How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!

by ak2themax on Sep 24, 2009 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What's his contract?

by KGMN on Sep 24, 2009 3:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Future Viper!

"So do you keep open 3pt FG percentage?"
"Yeah, we'd have everything you'd want, Bill."
"I hate you."
Bill Simmons/Daryl Morey Podcast 5/8/09

by Xiane on Sep 24, 2009 4:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Practice Fodder

Non-guaranteed.

But his signing allows the Rockets to have 3 full squads for camp for scrimages,etc.
Brooks,Ariza,Battier,Scola,Andersen
Lowry,Taylor,Budinger,Landry,Hayes
Conroy,McCants,Temple,Cook,M-B
McGrady filling in as he can and prob Barry gone soon.

by Tisbee on Sep 24, 2009 6:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

practice fodder...

better than being Bantha fodder.

by grungedave on Sep 25, 2009 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really?

How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!

by ak2themax on Sep 25, 2009 9:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

McCants v. Wafer

Rashad didn’t play very well in Minnesota last season, but he’s had a couple of decent seasons. Even looking at his time in Sacramento after he got traded last year, he played in just 24 games and averaged 19mpg, and shot 44% from the field, 36% from three and scored 10ppg. If you look at Von’s averages from last season, he played in 63 games and averaged 19mpg, and shot 45% from the field, 39% from three and scored 10ppg. Their peripherals are similarly non-existent, and it would be impossible for Rashad to play any worse defense than Von.

Just looking at McCants’ stats from his time in Minnesota, he looks to have had a pretty solid rookie campaign and had an off year his sophomore season and then had another decent season his third year. I don’t know if he’s had injury issues, but it seems to me like he has proven that he can provide scoring off the bench. And you’ve got to give it to Daryl to find a guy who could probably step in and fill the exact role that Wafer filled last season for a minimum, non-guaranteed contract.

As to the roster moves, if it’s a competition between Taylor and McCants, I’d lean toward giving the edge to McCants just because he’s shown that he can at least score in the league, but it’s tough for me to imagine that Morey would pull the plug on Taylor after spending so much to acquire the draft pick. If McCants lights it up in training camp, my money’s on Pops or Dorsey heading out considering the Rockets are pretty loaded with undersized, high-energy fours.

by forshizzzle on Sep 25, 2009 12:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If i'm counting right

the Rockets currently have 13 active contracts (assuming Barry retires as rumored):

Brooks
Lowry
Ariza
McGrady
Battier
Scola
Landry
Andersen
Cook
Hayes
Budinger
Taylor
Dorsey

In addition to that, they have a few non-guaranteed players who might end up on the final roster:

Pops
Temple
Conroy
McCants

The Rockets can have up to 15 players on the complete roster (though only 12 can be suited up). So there are two spaces, basically, up for grabs.

So I don’t think this is really a case of Taylor possibly getting cut from the team. It’s more of a competition between Temple, Conroy, and McCants for that last spot on the roster.

Your friendly neighborhood Dream Shake mod.

by Only_A_Lad on Sep 25, 2009 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You left off Yao

I don’t know what Dorsey’s contract status is (whether guaranteed or not), but I can’t imagine his place on the team is set in stone. Feigen wrote numerous times that the Rockets staff didn’t like Dorsey’s effort and I don’t think the Rockets have as much financially invested in him as Taylor and Budinger. That said, if it’s between him and Pops, you’ve got to think the Rockets would keep the guy they drafted and paid close to a million dollars last year.

I don’t doubt that McCants can duplicate what Wafer gave the team last season. And given the lack of guys who can create their own shot, I think McCants makes the roster unless he just blows goats in training camp, which would put you at the 15 person limit for the roster. Maybe the Rockets take the hit and get rid of Cook somehow, but he has no value to anyone.

by forshizzzle on Sep 25, 2009 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right

Yao’s contract still counts as one of our 15. It’ll be those four up for the last spot on the team.

How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!

by ak2themax on Sep 25, 2009 9:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

In that case...who ya got?

I think it would either be Pops or McCants…just based on the fact that we don’t really have a need for a 3rd young point guard. I would have to go with McCants

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by n1ck34 on Sep 28, 2009 3:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs