9 Players definitely On the team? PG Francis, Norris SG Mobley, SF Nachbar, Rice PF Griffin, Taylor C Cato, Yao 3 more on the active roster? A Willis? B Thomas? C Mystery SG? 2 more on the IL A Collier? B Morris? On the bubble? Williams(FA) On the block? Maddox, Torres(RFA), Langhi(RFA), Brown(RFA) So if we're gonna make a trade for that mystery SG, it'll be with one of these last five players, I guess. Maybe Willis will be traded again? What can a package with Willis, Wizard, and Torres fetch?
I think our starters will be: C- Yao Ming PF- Maurice taylor SF- B. nachbar SG- Mobley PG- Francis The backups will be Cato (C), Griffin (PF), Rice (SF) and Norris. We still need a backup shooting guard, maybe Oscar Torres or a free agent pickup. Willis is gone and KT will be traded.
Cato is going to start until Yao can prove he knows the Rocket system and is familiar enough with it. Remember, he will miss half of the preseason this year. The starting 5 spot is Cato's to lose. Yao doesn't just get it for being the number 1 pick.