[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

From Daryl Morey’s twitter page

Congratulations to Kyle Lowry on signing his new deal. We plan to match the agreement and we are excited he will be returning to the Rockets

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I still think the Rockets are going to be really good with Yao coming back, but this along with the Trevor Ariza and Kevin Martin contracts are the signs of Morey screwing up Point B to Point C. It is hard to make roster improvements when Martin, Ariza, and Lowry make $22 million. Luckily for Houston, the pick from New York and the expiring deals of Jeffries and Battier still should give them hope for getting there but they have work to do.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Coming into a year where he still needs to sign an extension, you wonder if he is in their future. Kyle Lowry is a speedy and strong little dude, but Brooks was last seasons leading scorer, a great shooter and maybe one of the fastest players in the NBA. The huge problem with AB is he weighs 160 soaking wet and that has led to defensive issues, which ultimately leaves me wondering about his future as a Rocket. If Lowry is making about 6 a year as a back-up, where does that leave Aaron? If you play them both together, that means problems on defense. They are kind of creating a log jam on the wing, with larger than normal contracts. I am assuming they would want to keep AB, I mean, he was most improved player in the league for a reason, and can cause nightmares to match-ups against PG’s without a fraction of his quickness, but you have to guess he will want more than Lowry, which might cause salary issues for the Rockets. Nonetheless, for the time being Houston still maintains a solid PG foundation that they like a lot, but will this maybe signal a lean towards Lowry and trading Brooks while the iron is hot? I hope not, but it looks like a possiblity.

[JNixonParticipant]

They would be RETARDED to keep Kyle Lowry over Aaron Brooks. Lowry is only a backup PG, and he’s merely decent at that. It’s not like he’s an elite backup who could be a good starter if given chances.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Though I do think he is a good back-up, but at 6 per year? That is a lot for a back-up, especially when the starter has yet to sign a new contract. I do know that Aaron has his shortcomings as a defender and that the Rockets love Lowry’s solid build as far as that goes. They obviously see something in Kyle Lowry, their was a time where many thought he would be a lottery pick before he slipped to late first round, and he has been hurt and has yet to really live up to expectations. It would be a big mistake to trade Aaron, but the contract just makes it look like a possiblity. What a player makes I think plays a big factor in where teams are heading in the future, and paying Lowry that kind of money to keep him as a back-up will surely be a bar setter for Aaron’s new deal. Expect him to want 8-10, which is a lot for a team full of players making a good chunk of change. Also, they have still yet to sign Scola, and I would assume he would be a priority as well. I would love for Aaron to run point with Yao for a long time, but as soon as I see a back-up sign for that much, to me it just leads to issues. The Raptors are a prime example, with Ford/Calderon and Calderon/Jack. The Blazers with Blake/Miller last year. Granted, none of them had the number superiority that Brooks has over Lowry, but most of the ones that were or are going to be shipped are not making as much as Lowry. I would not know whether to be happy or worried if I am Aaron Brooks, I am sure he is a little bit of both. Happy because his price just got a nice boost, and worried because his team just signed essentially a small and athletic PG to 6 million dollars. I mean, you get what I’m saying, right?

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

Luke Ridnour was a fabulous backup point guard for Brandon Jennings too. Milwaukee let him go. Jennings is going to be a 40 minute guy, and you can’t have a $4 million to a guy who gets those minutes. Jennings is no bigger or stronger than Brooks. Yes, you can play Brooks and Lowry together like Milwaukee played Jennings and Ridnour together at times. Why pay to do it when you have already have Kevin Martin ($10.6 million), Shane Battier ($7.3 million), Trevor Ariza ($6.3 million), and less we forget Jermaine Taylor who they spent $2.5 million to acquire on draft night at the 2? It was nice that Milwaukee got to play Ridnour at the 2, but then they got Salmons and later Maggette so now their is not reason to do so.

I know it is popular sentiment when teams keep fan favorite, try hard, sleeper, bench players, but it is almost always bad business.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Also had a little size over those guys. I know Brandon is skinny, but I think he plays better pressure defense than AB. It kills me to say it, as I went to University of Oregon, but Brooks and Rid are not very good defenders. But like you were saying, Rid makes 4 and he goes to Minnesota. They got by with those guys sometimes playing together, as the Rockets do, but it is very hard for teams to stay competitive with small guards, and in the play-offs that will kill you (see Cleveland). I totally agree, it is bad business, and as much as the Rockets love Lowry, re-upping him at that clip creates more issues than it solves the problem of finding a suitable replacement. I always had hopes for Rid being more than a back-up, but it seems like he did really well on Milwaukee and we will see if he keeps it up in Minnesota. I honestly think Rid and Lowry will play near the same minutes, with maybe Lowry playing better defense, but for 2 million more? That is exactly why I agree that this contract causes major issues as far the Rockets plans for the future with all of their current salaries.

[PlatypusParticipant]

They need to sign Scola soon yes Lowry filled a need but on the bench, they need to take care of the starters first. i’m a big fan of Patterson too i just think he shouldnt start his first year. they also need another center incase / when yao gets hurt.

[bobbybParticipant]

hopefully the Nets can make a front loaded big offer to Luis Scola to out bid houston

[NashyMingParticipant]

Lowry is probably worth 3~5mil a season. 6mil is obviously overpaid, but the Rockets has the money and they can certainly match the offer. The Rockets is already over the cap and they have a franchise player in Yao (when healthy), so they will keep building on this team.

The owner is willing to spend, so it wouldn’t be a big issue. They can’t be offering maximum contract to potential future free agents anyway, so as long as the owner is willing to get into the luxury tax, then they can certainly pay Lowry 6mil a year to be a back. It’s not like Lowry contract would make or break the Rockets financially. Lowry’s return would not have anything to do with Brooks’ extension. I think the Rockets would probably not extend Brooks for now and wait until next season when Brooks become a RFA, then the Rockets can let the other team to determine his value and match the offer.

If you look at what Dallas Mavs have been doing (paying a lot of money to a lot of average players) for the past a few years, then Lowry’s deal doesn’t look bad at all.

Yao playing at a super star level would ensure the Rockets would make enough money for whatever salary it is operating on.

Also, the Rockets have a lot of assets for trading chips.

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