We've already the news by now. I don't want to get into doom and gloom, woe is me for being a Houston fan (my friend thinks Houston was built on an Indian burial ground...)

My thoughts are more in the "what can we do now?" vein.

Assuming Yao is out for the entirety of the season next year, we can use 50% of his salary to sign a replacement under the disabled player exception of the luxury tax. Obviously, we would have to eat that cost. But, since we paid 6 mil for draft picks, why not assume it's reasonable...

This gives us about 7 million play money for a replacement. If we assume Tracy is out for the season also, thats another 12 million.

I don't know exactly how this works, I'm just doing my best to interpret.

What are the options out there in the free agent market that can plug the holes in the short term? Any thoughts?

The field looks a bit thin...

As far as centers go, Gortat is a popular name, but restricted and hard to get. Zaza Pachulia is unrestricted, and seems to be signable at 7 mil. Then there is Rasheed, but he isn't going to take half his salary 2009 salary in 2010...

The majority of the free agent class are forwards, and the best are restricted free agents. No assumptions about who might be possible, but here are the names that I thought were interesting:

• Danny Granger - Pacers - will probably command better than we could pay
  
• Marvin Williams - Hawks - don't know if he would be a good fit.
  
• David Lee - Knicks - they will likely hold on to him
  
• Glen Davis - Celtics - probably not a good fit
  
• Shawn Marion  - Heat - could need more money than we could pay
  
• Trevor Ariza - Lakers - won't want to leave LA

We could move Landry and Battier, or sign and trade Artest to make get a center, and make room for one of the free agent forwards.Maybe I'm just trying to work through my grief with crazy trade machinations.

What do you think? Can we find a free agent to pick up the slack and have a viable season without Yao?

I just read this brief in the NY Daily News that states that the Rockets offered Battier and Brooks for Rubio. Can this be possible? Would we really offer a deal like that?

I'll be the first to admit that I know nothing of Rubio's game. Is he that impressive? I don't doubt it, but it seems to me that two proven and highly-valued commodities for a 19 year old point guard is a bit much. Should I be watching this guy that closely?

I'm hearing a great deal of rumors about trades involving Brooks. I thought Morey was high on him, especially after his performance in the playoffs. Do we think he has maxed out his upside already?

What do you knowledgeable folk of the Dream Shake think?

I was reading Bill Simmons Mailbag today, and came across this:

If Steve Nash can win two MVPs, Chris Paul can win one. Where is he playing in two seasons, though? Rumors are flying that New Orleans might gut the roster this summer and that, as crazy as this sounds, Chris Paul could be had if you can save them a boatload of money in the process. For instance, let's say they were offered the following "Godfather" package from Houston: T-Mac's expiring deal and Brent Barry's expiring deal ($24 million combined), Aaron Brooks, Carl Landry, Shane Battier and Luis Scola for Paul, Peja Stojakovic, James Posey and Tyson Chandler. That trade works even before Paul's extension kicks in, meaning it would save New Orleans $10 million next season and $4 million to $5 million more if they bought out T-Mac. Over the next three years, it saves them $45 million to $50 million potentially, keeps the team afloat in New Orleans, and might even keep them decent with the right moves. Wouldn't that make more sense than gutting the franchise like a fish (which they will), saddling Paul with a terrible team and eventually pushing him to demand a trade? I can't see any scenario in which Chris Paul is a happy New Orleans Hornet in two years. Which means he'll find a better team. Sorry, N'Awlins. Over.

Did you see that trade proposal? That's crazy. I know he is just throwing out food for thought, and it is a "deal they can't refuse" but even suggesting it scares me.

Morey knows better than doing silly things, no matter how good Paul is. But it does raise an interesting question. With so many tradeable assets (I forgot about Barry, just like Adelman did) is there another starving team we could raid?