<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Suns Looking At James Jones; Payton No Longer A Consideration? Arizona Republic - 08/18 - 5:31 AM EST The Suns have swingmen called JJ staying (Jim Jackson), departing (Joe Johnson) and under consideration (Indiana's James Jones). Jones, 24, would have to be acquired in a sign and trade because he wants more than a minimum offer. Phoenix will receive a trade exception, worth as much as $6 million, from Atlanta in the Johnson deal that should close Friday. The Suns could use the exception for a trade in which they take on as much as $6.1 million more than they send away in contracts. It can be split up but must be used within a year. Phoenix may hold it to see what is available at midseason or next summer. Jones, 6 feet 8 and 225 pounds, averaged 17.7 minutes, 4.9 points and 2.3 rebounds last season after sitting most of his rookie year. He is a hard worker with a good shot (39.8 percent on three-pointers). He may not have played much last season if not for the suspensions from the Indiana-Detroit brawl. He shoots with slightly less accuracy (39.6 percent) from inside the arc. The Pacers would like Jones back, but can only offer him the $1.67 biannual exception unless they clear salary space with a trade. New York also has interest in him. It appears doubtful that the Suns would pursue Gary Payton.</div> SOURCE aren't we looking for a veteran pg??...one with experiance, play D, could pass, shoot, slash in...u name it, he could do it...even though he is old and pretty slow, he still got some bite to his constant bitching bark ...he wouldn't cost us much nor would he be much of a burden if we were to add him to the roster..sooo, why don't we make a run at him??...what is there to lose, really ??
Who said we were looking for a Veteran? We have a whole bench of vets. That being said, if we can get him, then maybe we should pull the trigger. Payton is only a band aid solution to our PG problems though. I think its moreimportant to look for that SG/SF player we need.. ie. Finley
I'm fine with the point guard situation we have now, with Sura, James and Head all figuring into the rotation. Payton would be great but at this stage in his career, does he bring much more than Sura would? Sure, Payton is a better scorer, but that won't be taken advantage of within the Rockets' offensive system. Passing-wise, I would already be happy with what Sura can give us at 100%. Payton might play better defense but it's no longer outstanding. Sura also has an advantage on the rebounding side, so I don't think Payton's arrival would give the Rockets a major upgrade. We also only have one roster spot to sign free agents, and I'd be much happier if we used it on a swingman.
Your right, our PG situation might be our biggest weakness in the season. I think we'll snatch up a SG pretty soon so it won't be as bad, but Sura is coming off surgery, James isn't a starter, and the only thing we can expect from Head is good defense. Bringing in Payton would be great, mainly because his size, but don't forget about Van Exel. He could be the missin piece.
Sura (6-5), James (6-2), and Head (6-3), already have good size for point guards, so I don't really think we would be so desperate for size as to bring Payton in "solely" for it. I also can't see Van Exel as our point guard. He is someone who thrives in a Phoenix or Detroit-like situation, where the point guard does a fair amount of the scoring. With Houston, I don't think he would be at home. Van Exel has never been a good passer so him averaging 5 assists per might even be out of the question. I'd be much more for it if we spent our LLE and sole roster spot on a swingman.
Not to say they don't have size, but Gary Payton has a nice post game that will open the offense up. Van Exel would be great for the Rockets, especially in the playoffs where he really goes crazy. Tmac can't win all the games for us, we'll need somebody else to hit a jumpshot. I gurantee if Van Exel was playing that Game 7 against Dallas, it would have been a WAR. But your right in getting a swingman, I've been saying that since the season ended.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm fine with the point guard situation we have now, with Sura, James and Head all figuring into the rotation. Payton would be great but at this stage in his career, does he bring much more than Sura would? Sure, Payton is a better scorer, but that won't be taken advantage of within the Rockets' offensive system. Passing-wise, I would already be happy with what Sura can give us at 100%. Payton might play better defense but it's no longer outstanding. Sura also has an advantage on the rebounding side, so I don't think Payton's arrival would give the Rockets a major upgrade. We also only have one roster spot to sign free agents, and I'd be much happier if we used it on a swingman.</div> o yea, I pretty much forgot about our bench full of guards..but imo they more of the shooting-type guards then a passing guard...and just like Rock mentioned about GP's post game, that's another one of his attributes that I like that could actually do some good for the team
I really would like to see the Rockets go after payton more than anderson...I think its much more significant to have a solid point guard than a solid 2-guard, particularly when you already have one of the top 5 swingmen in the league...When you have your two big guns in Ming and McGrady, and the role players like Swift, Payton, James, Sura, Wesley, Barry and Deke...you cant go wrong...thats a very veteran lineup sparked with youth in Swift, James and Luther Head...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Shooter:</div><div class="quote_post">I really would like to see the Rockets go after payton more than anderson...I think its much more significant to have a solid point guard than a solid 2-guard, particularly when you already have one of the top 5 swingmen in the league...When you have your two big guns in Ming and McGrady, and the role players like Swift, Payton, James, Sura, Wesley, Barry and Deke...you cant go wrong...thats a very veteran lineup sparked with youth in Swift, James and Luther Head...</div> I just don't believe that the Rockets should go about trying to fix what's not broken when there is a hole in the team: the lack of a backup small forward, and lack of size at shooting guard. Getting Payton would definitely not have any positive effect on the former, and might just bring a little improvement to the latter, if Sura moves over to start at shooting guard. By adding Anderson, we will get a 6-5 shooting guard, and also someone who can slide over to small forward when McGrady leaves the game. Although Anderson is injury-prone, adding him will only be a positive. Payton might solidify the point guard even more, but he won't help the small forward problem. I don't think it's best we waste our only available roster spot and LLE on him.
The guards of the west (and pretty much everywhere else) will man handle Gary Payton; we need defensive quickness and youth.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The guards of the west (and pretty much everywhere else) will man handle Gary Payton; we need defensive quickness and youth.</div> I couldn't agree more. At this point in his career, Payton is most serviceable as a backup point guard and probably wouldn't be too much of an upgrade over Sura or James. Plus, the small forward and guard position is too weak right now for us to be pursuing a point guard like Payton. However, I think we do need a better playmaking point guard to make the offense flow better, its just that Payton isn't that man and the wing position seems the weakest at this point.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dakeem1:</div><div class="quote_post">With Finley out of contention, DA should be our number 1 priority.</div> agree ...hopefully Finely picks Detroit so we could have an even better chance of snatching Spree as well (but that means somebody will have to get cut (moochie or baker), plus DA or Spree must decide who gets the low end of the pay cut (like GP and Malone situation, but involving waaay less money)...imagine CD pulling this off, I give the ROX offseason moves an A++ (and just another one of my wishful thinking)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Shooter:</div><div class="quote_post">I really would like to see the Rockets go after payton more than anderson...I think its much more significant to have a solid point guard than a solid 2-guard, particularly when you already have one of the top 5 swingmen in the league..</div> Good point.........But the need for athletism at shooting guard is crucial. When Tmac goes out of the game, we lose too much energy. If we don't get a SG/SF Tmac will be forced to play too many minutes, and will be prone to injury. Also, it will force us to play "small ball" with Wesley at SG, and that ain't gon cut it in West where teams are bigger, faster and stronger. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting TMacAttack:</div><div class="quote_post">The guards of the west (and pretty much everywhere else) will man handle Gary Payton; we need defensive quickness and youth.</div> With that said...............Payton isn't as bad as your makin it seem. If we could add both a SG/SF through trade and sign Payton it would be awesome even though I'm reaching. As far as defensive quickness and youth, how many defensive minded guards do you want on the team. Head is defensive minded and young, so why would we bring in somebody who is the same way?
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> With that said...............Payton isn't as bad as your makin it seem. If we could add both a SG/SF through trade and sign Payton it would be awesome even though I'm reaching. As far as defensive quickness and youth, how many defensive minded guards do you want on the team. Head is defensive minded and young, so why would we bring in somebody who is the same way?</div> You make a good point there, I gotta agree with that- Payton isn't that bad of a point guard. I can definitely see us signing Andersen now since its pretty much between us and the Lakers with about a couple thousand dollar difference so we most likely will be upgrading the point guard situation through trade if at all. However, what difference does Payton really make? At this point, he's pretty much most effective as backup and isn't too much of an upgrade over Sura. Sure, I've got to admit he is a better playmaker, but it doesn't make that much of a difference in this situation. Sura's averaging better numbers in a little less minutes compared to Payton and I would even dare to say that Bobby's defense is better as well.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AznxBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">You make a good point there, I gotta agree with that- Payton isn't that bad of a point guard. I can definitely see us signing Andersen now since its pretty much between us and the Lakers with about a couple thousand dollar difference so we most likely will be upgrading the point guard situation through trade if at all. However, what difference does Payton really make? At this point, he's pretty much most effective as backup and isn't too much of an upgrade over Sura. Sure, I've got to admit he is a better playmaker, but it doesn't make that much of a difference in this situation. Sura's averaging better numbers in a little less minutes compared to Payton and I would even dare to say that Bobby's defense is better as well.</div> Well I would agree that there are similarities in Sura and Payton's game being that there both tough minded, but I think Payton has the advantage. First off health, Payton has been one of the most durable PG's ever. Second, Payton has a really good post game. That's his best attribute, because he'll either get fouled, a high percentage shot, or a nice assist. His game spaces the floor out, backing down smaller guards. His 3pointer % suck, that's a negative. Sura has the advantage. I wouldn't say that Sura has better D than Payton, because it's too close to call. At the end of the day, Payton will probably play close to 82 games this season, while Sura is a big question mark.
I'm happy with our lineup of PG's at the moment and we can get by. I'm just worried about Sura's injury problems. Sura, James, and Head are a great combination. But with Sura out and Ward replacing him, we would be real weak. I guess that is the only reason why our PG situation isn't too thrilling.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">Well I would agree that there are similarities in Sura and Payton's game being that there both tough minded, but I think Payton has the advantage. First off health, Payton has been one of the most durable PG's ever. Second, Payton has a really good post game. That's his best attribute, because he'll either get fouled, a high percentage shot, or a nice assist. His game spaces the floor out, backing down smaller guards. His 3pointer % suck, that's a negative. Sura has the advantage. I wouldn't say that Sura has better D than Payton, because it's too close to call. At the end of the day, Payton will probably play close to 82 games this season, while Sura is a big question mark.</div> I really don't have much to argue against this time, as weird as it sounds . The only real advantage that I'd say he has on Sura is his durability and that you can count on him to play at least sixty games. Payton might have the advantage skillwise with his postgame but its all very close. But thats the point. The bottom line is that do you think he's worth going after through a trade when we can probably get better players with our arsenal of expiring contracts? Hypothetically, if we sign Andersen, we wouldn't have the roster space nor the cap space to sign another player. We would have to pursue a point guard through trade. Potentially, we can send our expiring contracts off along with either Wesley or Sura to some team struggling in the middle of the season before trade deadline for a good point guard.
