This article was in the Seattle Times on Saturday: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Backup point guard Antonio Daniels confirmed yesterday that he plans to opt out of a deal that would pay him $2.2 million next season, and test the free-agent market. Daniels' stellar performance in the playoffs, in which he outplayed Spurs guard Tony Parker, has increased his value, while injuries to reserve forward Vladimir Radmanovic might have decreased what teams will offer him. </div> Seattle Times I know there has been quite a bit of discussion on getting Antonio in a Rockets uniform for next year. Just wondering, what does everyone hear think about possibly signing him in Free Agency?
I think it would be an awesome pickup for us. He's a solid player and citizen, and another guy with championship experience (with the Spurs). He isn't a great outside shooter, but he's a very good one on one player who can create off the dribble. Similar to Mike James in that respect. I think Daniels/James would be a great combination for us at PG. Though I still like Sura, Wesley, and Barry. Having all five of those guys on the roster might be too much. They aren't all goign to get playing time. But Barry could be retiring, Wesley is aging, and Sura may never be fully healthy.
Yes, I think we're very interested in him...I know CD went after him hard last season, and I think theres a very high chance that he ends up with us...he takes care of the ball, is athletic, is a great penetrator and has nice height as a PG at 6'4"...him and Sura would be make a tough defensive backcourt...
He would fit very nicely into the Houston system and is a solid PG that could run your offense. He has a good upside and would be a great aqcuisition for the Rockets.
He'd be a great acquistion, but he'd be nuts if he expects us to pay him anywhere more than $3.5 million a year. He is not the youngest of available players and we should not go out of our minds and sign him to a contract any longer than four years. Him and Sura could form a nice tandem at the point guard position, but I feel there's younger prospects we can pursue before signing Daniels.
Certainly he would be a great pick up for Houston if they can pull it off- only if the contract isn't too expensive like Trip said. Daniels brings nice athleticism for the point guard spot as well as having the height to guard the bigger guards in the league. He isn't afraid to drive into traffic and also is a pretty nice playmaker. However, the downsides are that he's getting old and his body might not keep up so his game possibly will go down. Plus, the team is too old in my opinion already so I think we need to look at younger players to make the team stronger and more athletic. BTW Trip, what was the bet that you lost to MrJ?
I went for the Pacers over the Pistons. I lost. The team right now is too old to bring in even more 30-year olds. Veterans are great and it's not exactly wise to have a team full of veterans.
Daniels would be a perfect fit in Houston, where he has depth around him, and he wouldn't be under pressure to score. On a team of solid defensive guards, he'd instantly become the best one. I think the Rockets should definitely pursue Daniels.
I wouldn't mind signing Daniels..I think he still has 3 years of good basketball but like you guys said, don't give him a big contract because he won't be long term. Check out CF.net, they've got profiles about potential FAs we could get and Kidd too and the problems of getting him
I agree, Antonio Daniels would be a solid pick-up for the Rockets. He has the ability to play either guard position, and he knows his limitations on the court. What I like about Daniels is he doesn't settle for open 3 point shots or whatever else the defense gives him. Instead AD will attack a defense and put pressure on the interior defenders trying to draw a foul or create an easy dunk by a teammate. He's an excellent defender and is strong enough to defend the post when guards try to back him down.
Daniels' penetration I have doubts about. He is great at doing that, no doubt, but would his slashing skills be needed on a team like the Rockets? My ideal Houston point guard is someone who will defend well, be a steady ballhandler and passer, and to be a good spot up shooter, who will get looks off of double teams to Yao or McGrady. If Daniels were to pass up an open shot and choose to drive, he would allow Yao to drift out and shoot mid range shots, but if that happens, who will be down there to grab the offensive rebound in case Yao misses?
well i really think that before we should start looking at picking up point guards or what not there is a hole in our PF position, it would be great to have more point guards playing for us because that would mean that we would be able to play a small team set that could match up better with any substitutions that other teams have made like dallas did to us during the playoffs, it would be great but we still need to look at the other gaps taht we have.
I don't think that with the players we have, we're fit for small ball. The advantages of small ball is that everyone can run and there would be at least one mismatch when say, a center has to guard a power forward or even small forward. However, Van Gundy always makes certain that either one of Yao or Mutombo would be on the floor. Those guys can't run the open court and the fast break advantage of small ball would fall apart. I think we should be like the Spurs, with a mobile backcourt and power forward, and play fundamental basketball for most of the time, but also fast break ball when required to.
