Well since we all have different views on how to fix this team...I propose we all act as GM for a bit and list all the changes we would make this offseason. For the sake of the "game", the rockets will have the 11th and the 31st pick overall in the draft and salary cap limitations are still there. On sunday, Locke or any of the other moderators can pick the best and most reasonable(likely) 5 simulations to happen and then we can vote on what CD should most likely do based on those 5. I say... Draft Rodney Carney with #11(Randy Foye if Carney is allready taken) Draft Hassan Adams with #31(Guillermo Diaz or JP Batista if he is allready taken) Waive Rick Brunson and Bowen or Sign in trade Wesley, Bowen for Bonzi Wells(also a free agent Now that they have Kevin Martin doing really well for them as a starter) G- Alston, Luther Head G- Rodney Carney, Hassan Adams, Bogans SF- Tmac, Bonzi Wells PF- Howard, Swift, Hayes C- Yao, Deke Bob Sura Retires I didn't get another center to back up Yao because I'm assuming Swift takes that job and Hayes becomes our back up PF. Fitch wasn't included because he was waivedFitch Waived Link
If I may, I have one request. If anyone is going to be a judge, the participants have to talk about why they made the moves they made. The reasoning is very important, and can be used to solidify your moves.
If our PF rotation next season is still Howard, Swift, Hayes ... I'm not going to be happy. I want one of Howard/Swift to go (preferably Howard), and I'd like Hayes to get significant playing time. One thing he has to work on, though, is his jump shot. He's got a Bill Cartwright thing going on, and it's not pretty. On the perimeter, we have several needs. Better individual defenders on the perimeter, better shooters, and better passers/decision makers are desperately needed. And we need to get younger and bigger in the backcourt as well. Basically, we need an overhaul. I like Bogans (his bad shooting games of late notwithstanding). He'll be an adequate backup SF. I think Alston is decent, but I'm not very happy with his decision-making down the stretch or his defense. He needs to improve. Luther Head might be a spark of the bench, but unless he makes vast improvements in the summer I don't think he should get nearly as many minutes next season. Wesley should either come off the bench or retire. So we need to focus on acquiring a quality starting SG this offseason who has multifaceted skills -- ballhandling, shooting, defending.
If i ask of all particpants to also be very specific by naming the players they want to acquire and who they want out.
With out pick from 11th i am proposing we draft one of these players from best to worst: Ronnie Brewer, Rodney Carney, Brandon Rush and JJ Reddick or if the unexpected happens and Yi JianLian declares i would like for us to draft him. Our NY Pick in the second round i would love for us to pick: Richard Roby(if he falls there) Josh Boone same senario or Hassan Adams. Re sign Lampe if we see development and ability to be back up C Re sign Hayes for husle and rebound Re sign David Wesley for Locker room purposes for verts minimum Trade w/ NY Ryan Bowen or Bob Sura's contract/Juwan Howard for a now matured Stevie Franchise?? Since he seems to be sucking right now and I put it in trade checker and it works plus larry brown doesn't seem to be happy with the marbudy francis tradem. Trade ID 3017495 Reason for houston our third scorer or the Mike James off the bench scoring punch we seem to be lacking. Reason for NY clear some salary and larry brown likes the tough/husle types Bob Sura or Ryan Bowen Trade w/ NOK if Franchise trade doesn't happen. I would trade either Howard or Swift preferably Howard but unlikely to NOK for JR Smith and Arvydas Macijauskas So it would either be Howard and a Future Second Round Pick or the rights to Malik Badine for JR Smith and Arvydas Macijauskas or Stromile Swift for JR Smith and Arvydas Macijauskas. Since NOK was interested about Swift in off season. Trade w/ Dallas Mavericks for DeSagana Diop for a second round pick and money compensation. He is a VanGundy type player hustles, rebounds, block shots tough defence a beast beside yao who can clear the boards and get garbage baskets. Why dallas they want a center/pf who can provide more offence beside dirk and goes through the draft and free agency to do it. Trade w/ Cleveland for Luke Jackson with a future second round pick plus cash compensation. Reason for houston is that he is a good shooter who is supposedly atheletic(39 inch vertical) and has the potential to be an adequate defender. He also has potential to be the third scoring option of the rockets but as of now he would be good as a guy who just knocks down his open shots. Why for cleveland. Right now he is just dead cash in their caps space doing nothing besides looking like a bust. He does not seem to fit into their system and would do well with a change of scenary. Sign Harrington or Ben Wallace or Kelvim Cato or Demarr Johnson or Kareem Rush with MLE if possible. Your thoughts? By the way i am only willing to do the Franchise trade if he shows us in some shape or form that he isn't a selfish player anymore and defers to T-Mac and Yao Yao/Mutumbo/Lampe Swift/Diop/Hayes Mcgrady/Roby or Adams Brewer or Franchise/Franchise or Brewer or Head Alston/Head or Franchise
Here's my plan- With the top draft pick get Ronnie Brewer but if he's gone, take Rodney Carney. Both guys are athletic, swingmen, can score, have long arms, and are great defenders. While Brewer can create (insurance if McGrady misses some games next year), Carney can simply make things happen. With the later draft pick, trade down and get Taquan Dean. The guy can flat out shoot lights out and is a defensive specialist. Although he's more of a combo guard, he's got decent handles and makes good decisions. His stock kind of faltered when he couldn't lead Louisville anywhere, but nevertheless I think he'll fit pretty well in this system. Sign Bonzi Wells with the MLE if he takes it. He's a great player and would be a nice third option on the team playing along side the two stars. Wells is a decent defender and is known in the fantasy world as a steals machine. If we can't get him, sign Jumaine Jones for part of the MLE. Jones is a great three point shooter, rebounds well, and can score pretty well. Sign Wesley to a small contract and package him with Swift for PJ Brown. Not sure if the Hornets would take the chance with Swift, but they might take him on potential like we did. Plus, he would probably complement the more younger team with Chris Paul and David West more since they get up and down the court more with Byron Scott's offense. Meanwhile, PJ Brown is a nice inside defensive presence and grabs a bunch of boards. Although he has a hefty contract, its expiring next season anyway. Don't resign Bowen or any other free agent other than Wesley for sign and trade and Hayes. PG- Rafer Alston, Luther Head SG- Tracy McGrady, Taquan Dean SF- Jumaine Jones (unlikely Wells), Rodney Carney or Ronnie Brewer PF- PJ Brown, Chuck Hayes and Juwan Howard (split minutes between them) C- Yao Ming, Dikembe Mutombo, PJ Brown With that, you get a more defensively oriented team that would work to Van Gundy's grind it out styles. You also have a more diverse team with a bunch of young guys as wells as vets unlike this year. Plus, a couple shooters are also added in Dean and Jones who would essentially replace Wesley. Meanwhile, Brewer or Carney would get things done for us if McGrady's on the bench or injured. It also allows for more possiblity of McGrady not having to dribble the ball around all the time and instead, move off picks which would help him get more open shots. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">With out pick from 11th i am proposing we draft one of these players from best to worst: Ronnie Brewer, Rodney Carney, Brandon Rush and JJ Reddick or if the unexpected happens and Yi JianLian declares i would like for us to draft him.</div> If Yi Jian Lian does declare (no chance at all, but whatever), he's going to be a really high draft pick. Since we don't have that high of one, we aren't getting him. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Trade w/ NY Ryan Bowen or Bob Sura's contract/Juwan Howard for a now matured Stevie Franchise?? Since he seems to be sucking right now and I put it in trade checker and it works plus larry brown doesn't seem to be happy with the marbudy francis tradem. Trade ID 3017495 Reason for houston our third scorer or the Mike James off the bench scoring punch we seem to be lacking. Reason for NY clear some salary and larry brown likes the tough/husle types Bob Sura or Ryan Bowen</div> Okay, let me get this straight. You expect the Knicks to trade Steve Francis for Ryan Bowen (who can't shoot if his life depended on it) and Bob Sura (who might very well retire)? Francis' trade value has decreased, but definitely not that much. Isiah Thomas would need to be smoking some serious crack to consider that. If Francis is matured, why would the Knicks trade him? That whole trade idea just doesn't make sense to me. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Sign Harrington or Ben Wallace or Kelvim Cato with MLE if possible.</div> Keep dreaming, Harrington and Wallace are getting big money this offseason. We could get Cato, but I have a feeling we can get more for the MLE.
The thing is that larry brown would pay people picks right now to rid himself of Steve Franchise and Marbury. Since right now many teams are reluctant to want Franchise and they want Franchise out NY could make a lot of wierd moves. Remember Orlando offered Franchise to Minnesota with first round pick for Mcants and Jaric or somethin but they wouldn't bite. His trade value is decreasing do to his diminishing presence on the court. If he plays with some stars now i believe he can regain some of his game. To be perfectly honest i am very much aware of the unlikely hood of this trade but just stated that i would do it if possible. And Brown would just be happy with a guy who hustles and a vetran who can somewhat produce. Plus Yi JianLian's stock has taken a major hit since people are questioning what his birthday is. Plus the fact that i said if he is there. Plus, yah i no that we arn't gettin harington or wallace and thats why i didn't put them in the depth chart. I'd be happy if we got a shooter with the MLE who can defend. Maybe someone like Kareem Rush
Under contract next year. SkipSura Head TMac HowardSwift YaoDekeLampe I have 3 realistic free agent role player the Rockets should be interested in. Bobby Jackson. I think some decent money will be thrown his way. I'm sure everybody knows about his shooting, quickness and playmaking ability. Demarr Johnson(Den) 6-9 G-F. Tall athletic 2 or 3. I was sold on this guy a week or two ago when Denver was playing Philadelphia. He was put on Iverson in the 4th and played great D, getting a couple late blocks on him. Rasual Butler. 6-7. Another athletic guy with decent 3pt shooting percentage that can play 2 or 3. If Butler and Johnson can be picked up and solve some of the height problems in the back court, I would take J.J. Reddick in the first round. If the Rockets can land Bobby Jackson, I would say take Rod Carney, and still try to get one of the other two guys I mentioned.
With the 11th pick I say you draft Ronnie Brewer and with 31 I say Hassan Adams who is an absolut athletic freak.
haha Same as me. I'm a big Adam Morrison fan and with Yao in pain tonight...it looks like we might move down in the draft.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">it looks like we might move down in the draft.</div> You mean move up.
Yi JianLian won't be coming over until 2010. The Chinese Basketball Association had place an age restriction that prevents any Chinese player from declaring until he is 22.
Yah I no about the rule but there is rumors about Yi JianLians true birthdate being 1984 makin him eligible plus the fact that the Chinese entered him as 1984 in the olympics then they quickly said it typo and changed it back. So we don't actually know what his true birth date is and when he is going to declare. Though i don't know if he can contribute right away but he looks like a tyson chandler with a better offensive game in that he has a nice jumper out to 20ft and a decent hook shot but he playing against short guys who are 6'9"-6'7" but he looks good over here.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting tinyballer:</div><div class="quote_post">Yah I no about the rule but there is rumors about Yi JianLians true birthdate being 1984 makin him eligible plus the fact that the Chinese entered him as 1984 in the olympics then they quickly said it typo and changed it back. So we don't actually know what his true birth date is and when he is going to declare. Though i don't know if he can contribute right away but he looks like a tyson chandler with a better offensive game in that he has a nice jumper out to 20ft and a decent hook shot but he playing against short guys who are 6'9"-6'7" but he looks good over here.</div> The Chinese government set the rules. Of course things would go by them? If they say Yi is born in 1987, then he won't be eligible under their rules.
Peja Stojakovic has a player option next year. I would over pay for him a for a couple years if he decides not to pick up the option.
I think any future plans should assume that McGrady will NOT be our starting SG, but starting SF. That's his natural position. I don't think he has the quickness or energy to be chasing guards. If we're going to sign a big-time SF, he should be able to defend SGs.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting moeinhouston:</div><div class="quote_post">Peja Stojakovic has a player option next year. I would over pay for him a for a couple years if he decides not to pick up the option.</div> We can't overpay him because the salary cap situation doesn't allow us to. The most we can pay anyone is the same as any other team: the MLE.
ideas put up here that i like: jumaine jones / rashual butler (great, consistent outside shooters) kelvin cato (for about 2 million a season, physical presence off the bench if mutombo decides to retire) pj brown (MLE, consumate professional, hustles and grabs rebounds.. excellent mid-range shooter) bonzi wells (MLE? not sure if he would play in HOU for that salary, great rebounder for a SG and sometimes explosive scorer) re-sign bogans ideas put up here that i don't like: bobby jackson (injury prone) lampe (dead weight) It would also be interesting to see if HOU can pick up a good backup PG, maybe Jason Hart from SAC or Chucky Atkins from MEM
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> It would also be interesting to see if HOU can pick up a good backup PG, maybe Jason Hart from SAC or Chucky Atkins from MEM</div> Agreed, except not the Atkins part. We don't exactly have a good backup point guard, since Head is pretty inconsistent and isn't really a playmaker. My pick would be Hart. If I remember correctly, he has a player option.
