None of these guys dominate the boards or have great shot blocking skills. I was really hoping for a defensive minded, great rebounding ( average around 10 a game ) and shot block ability. Howard really doesnt fit this roll. We dont need pts besides garbage pts from the 4 spot. The guys below are averaging around 4 to 5 rebounds a game. That's not good enough to take pressure off Yao. **Memphis' Stromile Swift, Toronto's Donyell Marshall and New Orleans' Chris Andersen will be quickly targeted, though Swift and Marshall likely will expect contracts richer than the Rockets can offer. Boston's Antoine Walker and Portland's Shareef Abdur-Rahim also likely will expect contracts only teams with cap space can offer.** http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/s.../bk/bkn/3248904
Marshall, anderson, and swift average 5-6 boards because they only play 21 mpg. They are actually good reabounders. I think the best PF fit would be marshall or anderson. Both fill our needs wiht rebounding and shot blocking, along with being cheap. Abdul-Rahim is basically the same thing as howard, he cant rebound great or block. Walker seems like he a guy out of our money range. And i dont think he really fits, although he can rebound, he cant block, is turnover prone, and would demand the ball a lot.
I hate Antoine Walker... can we please not even suggest the ridiculous possibility of him coming here...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SupraJames:</div><div class="quote_post">I hate Antoine Walker... can we please not even suggest the ridiculous possibility of him coming here...</div> Ironic that he is one of the Free Agents the Rockets are looking at. Heard it on multiple TV Stations, and it was said on 790 AM (Local). Walker, Shareef, Stro', Chris Anderson (who is resigning with the Hornets), Bobby Simmons, Donyell Marsall, and Potapenko are all the guys the Rockets are interested in. I am sure there are more, but these are the guys they've been in contact with. Simmons for the MLE and a S&T for either Stro' or 'Reef sounds good. If the Rockets signed Walker for cheap, I could care less, because he's cheap. That being said, he might just breakout or something ( ).
Bobby Simmons would NEVER take the MLE. He has worked extremely hard in Clippers one a very small contract. Now that he has made a name for himself, I'm surehe is looking for the $$$. He might look for somethingi n the $8M per year reange.
I'm with SupraJames, I've never liked Antoine Walker...I'd rather not sign anybody, than to sign that thick headed cry baby........pleeeeeeeease don't bring Walker here.
I like what Antoine brings to the table. He's a point foward that is built for a fast break team. The only problem is we don't have anybody to run the break with him besides Tmac. We don't have any wing player that is athletic, or that can play above the rim. Therefore, Walker would be confined to a half court game in which he'll be allowed to jack up 3's. I wouldn't be opposed to aquiring him, but we still need some more pieces. I just don't think you can compete in this league if you ain't got size. Van Gundy is a good coach, don't get me wrong. But even with his old Knicks teams, they always played that kiddy small ball with Anthony Mason at Center. Unfortunatley, that ain't gon cut it in the 2005 Western Conference. You have to have size and quickness to win, you can't win a championship with Clarence Weatherspoon backing up Yao. Like I said, I like Walker, but out of all bigman F/A'a on the market why would he be the first choice?
Marshall and Andersen are all capable of averaging 10 boards if given 35 minutes. In fact, that's exactly what Marshall averaged in the 2003-04 season. Walker, though, I am very opposed to getting. This is a guy who takes six threes a game no matter the type of offense, and isn't athletic to say the least. A ball-hog, mediocre rebounder, no height and not a good defender. Rockfan06, I don't get why you of all people would be for Walker when it is evident he is nothing that you'd like in a power forward.
Reggie Evans, Nazr Mohammed, or Udonis Haslem would be perfect compliment players for Yao Ming. They would benefit from all the attention Yao and McGrady get when they are in the paint. All 3 work hard on the glass, and are more than capable of defending. Haslem will be hard to lure away from Miami for just the MLE, but Evans should be affordable for all or part of the MLE. I think he was among the league leaders for rebounds per game.
Braggs is a free agent as far as I know. Although he isn't the ideal guy to sign as a starter, I think the team should still pitch him an offer. Braggs might not be a top calibre player but his hustle and physicalness is something the team should benefit from. Let him have a role of third string PF and practice player.
