I love this trade, getting Shane Battier, which gets an intimate starter. A great defensive player who averages 1.5 blocks per game and 1.1 steals per game. This dude is a hustler, and will most likely be the 3rd scoring option and will get more touches if hes open, and the fact that he can hit open jumpshots is great because teams love to double team yao and t-mac.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chutney:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, I was just reading through this thread. Rockets fans sound like Steven A. Smith. They haven't seen enough of either player and are completely dismissing Battier's game. There's a reason he got owned by Greg Anthony. Seriously, you'll love this guy after half the season is over.</div> Please don't mistake 10-year olds in this thread for Rockets fans. <font size="-2">Yes, I know I'm not supposed to say that but I'm quite frustrated that most of the guys in this thread are this gullible and narrow-minded. Expect an apology or something tomorrow.</font>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chutney:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, I was just reading through this thread. Rockets fans sound like Steven A. Smith. They haven't seen enough of either player and are completely dismissing Battier's game. There's a reason he got owned by Greg Anthony. Seriously, you'll love this guy after half the season is over.</div> I don't think anyone is denying that Battier is a solid role player. I just think the Rockets gave up too much for him. Trading a lottery pick for Battier is bad enough, but also including Stromile in the trade is just unfathomable. Stro has been a dissappointment, but the Rockets could probably have gotten a pretty good role player for him alone. For me, the dissapointment is not only on what we got in the trade, but what we should have gotten in a trade involving Gay and stro. I'm sure the Rockets could've gotten a better deal.
what makes me mad is that we are even older now than before. gay is not proven but the sky is the limit for this kid. in 2-3 years when battier is 30 and gay is just developing his game we will kick ourselves. it looks like we are tryin to make another run for the championship but if it doesn't work in a few years our team is done with. and it will be hard as hell to get out of the west with pho, dal, and san an.
<font color=""Red"">Ok. Well anyone go to the Draft Party. WTF was the big surprise? Was it all the nonsense that went on 2day? I bet nothing happened...I am glad I didn't waste gas going their. I would be in a jail cell if I did.</font>
Sorry about that Locke. Good to see some sense in this forum. Well, I don't understand why you're not more happy to get rid of Swift, first of all. His lack of production is one thing, but coupled with his huge contract, he was a burden on your organization. You should be happy you got rid of him without taking on a big contract in return. Secondly, and most importantly, labelling Battier as simply a role player is a huge understatement. He'll be an anchor for your defense. When you look at Gay, you see that he had the tools to do everything that Battier is doing right now. He may not get you the 20 pt. statline, but, if watch the game, you'll see that he's often the most important player on your team. Seriously, there's a reason he was invited to Team USA.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting evolidiot:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think anyone is denying that Battier is a solid role player. I just think the Rockets gave up too much for him. Trading a lottery pick for Battier is bad enough, but also including Stromile in the trade is just unfathomable. Stro has been a dissappointment, but the Rockets could probably have gotten a pretty good role player for him alone. For me, the dissapointment is not only on what we got in the trade, but what we should have gotten in a trade involving Gay and stro. I'm sure the Rockets could've gotten a better deal.</div> Exactly! We've already seen how pathetic the Rockets looked on offense at times, Gay has the upside to become a good scoring option. But I honestly think CD isn't done yet, we cannot go into the season with Howard as our PF.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting KfrumHTOWN!:</div><div class="quote_post">what makes me mad is that we are even older now than before. gay is not proven but the sky is the limit for this kid. in 2-3 years when battier is 30 and gay is just developing his game we will kick ourselves. it looks like we are tryin to make another run for the championship but if it doesn't work in a few years our team is done with. and it will be hard as hell to get out of the west with pho, dal, and san an.</div> After 3 years, keep in mind the Rockets would be restricted by the amount of money the could spend to resign Gay. So even in the scenario that he does turn out to be a star, would the Rockets be willing to pay the big bucks to retain him, with Tracy and Yao earning max dollars?
Actually after Locke talked some sense into me and calmed me down this trade doesn't look as bad as it once did. Thought it still looks bad. We get our conveted SG who can hustle defend and knock down his shots basically the new old david wesley. I would still prefer Rudy Gay and see if its a home run or a 20 pt scorer type of thing but this gives us our shooting guard but if we can't get our pf situation fixed before next season we still can't win with this team. We need a playoff caliber pf and right now we definetly don't have that. Plus one other reason i am not so sure about Shane Battier is his playoff numbers sucks 6 points .286 3pt but 6 rebounds.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chutney:</div><div class="quote_post">Sorry about that Locke. Good to see some sense in this forum. Well, I don't understand why you're not more happy to get rid of Swift, first of all. His lack of production is one thing, but coupled with his huge contract, he was a burden on your organization. You should be happy you got rid of him without taking on a big contract in return. Secondly, and most importantly, labelling Battier as simply a role player is a huge understatement. He'll be an anchor for your defense. When you look at Gay, you see that he had the tools to do everything that Battier is doing right now. He may not get you the 20 pt. statline, but, if watch the game, you'll see that he's often the most important player on your team. Seriously, there's a reason he was invited to Team USA.</div> Battier's contract is longer and for more money so I don't know what you're talking about.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">After 3 years, keep in mind the Rockets would be restricted by the amount of money the could spend to resign Gay. So even in the scenario that he does turn out to be a star, would the Rockets be willing to pay the big bucks to retain him, with Tracy and Yao earning max dollars?</div> I actaully think it would work out very well for the Rockets. Mcgrady's contract is for four more seasons, so we will have a lot of salary cap relief when that happens. If Gay develops into a superstar like I beleive he will, we could trade Mcgrady (who would be attractive even at his older age because of his expiring contract) and sign Gay to whatever deal his play warranted. By the time Gay's rookie contract is up, Mcgrady's current contract will have expired so there will be plenty of options.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting evolidiot:</div><div class="quote_post">Battier's contract is longer and for more money so I don't know what you're talking about.</div> Oh yea, I forgot to mention that the contract would be given to a player that didn't deserve it. Battier clearly earns every bit of his contract.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm loving this trade. This guy is extremely versatile and is a jack of all trades. He is money from the corner, and I'd rather have him shooting an open three than Head, who most of you think is the best shooter we have. Swift was a waste anyways, and the fact that we unloaded his contract made the deal even sweeter. Rudy Gay might be good, sure, but he might also be a bust. The thing about the draft is that there is no sure thing, and that's why a lot of teams trade their picks for veterans. I don't see why getting a bona-fide NBA starter and top 10 defender is a bad deal. This deal makes us pretty much playoff locks.</div> Obcourse you like this trade, ur most hated player on the earth is gone and we got one of ur "perfect citizen" players in return. It works out perfect for you, now all we gotta do is resign David Wesley <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">EDIT: I'm really disappointed at the comments some of the Rockets fans have made. The hype surrounding Gay has everyone muffled. Gay hasn't played a game yet; stop crying about how bad the deal is. You don't know how good we have it.</div> Your not getting it. Our goal was to get YOUNGER & MORE ATHLETIC. We traded two VERY athletic players for another one of those "Jeff Van Gundy players" who like to grind it out. Battie is a younger Jim Jackson, which isn't that bad. But we traded Swift, our only athletic role player.We didn't get younger, and damn sure didn't get more athletic. It seems CD is catering too much to JVG's coaching style more so than to what's needed to win a ring in the West. We could have got ALOT more for Swift & Gay........bad move Alston Tmac Battie Howard Yao Juwan Howard needs to be traded asap.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">Obcourse you lose this trade, ur most hated player on the earth is gone and we got one of ur "perfect citizen" players in return. It works out perfect for you, now all we gotta do is resign David Wesley [OUOTE=Locke]EDIT: I'm really disappointed at the comments some of the Rockets fans have made. The hype surrounding Gay has everyone muffled. Gay hasn't played a game yet; stop crying about how bad the deal is. You don't know how good we have it.</div> Your not getting it. Our goal was to get YOUNGER & MORE ATHLETIC. We traded two VERY athletic players for another one of those "Jeff Van Gundy players" who like to grind it out. Battie is a younger Jim Jackson, which isn't that bad. But we traded Swift, our only athletic role player.We didn't get younger, and damn sure didn't get more athletic. It seems CD is catering too much to JVG's coaching style more so than to what's needed to win a ring in the West. We could have got ALOT more for Swift & Gay........Stupid Stupid Stupid move...........
dudes!!! im so envious of your starting lineup PG: Alston SG: Tmac SF: Battier PF: Stro C: Yao wow! defence and offence
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kobe23:</div><div class="quote_post">dudes!!! im so envious of your starting lineup PG: Alston SG: Tmac SF: Battier PF: Stro C: Yao wow! defence and offence</div> I hope ur being sarcastic........Stro's gone, Juwan Howard is still the starter.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bobcats:</div><div class="quote_post">Lol, I can't believe some Rocket fans STILL had faith in Stro.</div> I did. I did. I did. and just for kicks...I did. lol Shane Battier is an ok player, but Rock4life is right. We do need to get younger, more athletic, and get more depth. With this trade we lose depth and athletisism and youth. In return we get better defense. WHAT I DON"T GET IS WHY EVERYONE WHO LIKES THIS TRADE THINKS BATTIER WILL FIT RIGHT IN. Battier might have trouble adjusting to the system. Gay was on a team on UCONN that had 4 other scorers. Memphis isn't a defensive team. They play with Depth. Shane Battier has alot riding on his shoulders right now. Rockets keep Rudy Gay please. I think the trade wasn't announced because the CBY agreement. They have to set the salary cap figures first.
We now have BALANCE, in some sense. Thinking of McGrady's back flaring up again makes me want to cry, if we just get SHANE BATTIER. Solid, no doubt, but able to carry a scoring load? Apologies for the string of short posts, I am waiting for more substance from this trade. I will bust out the old long posts soon.
Well at first I was so excited like all Rockets fans to have Gay fall into our lap with the 8th pick. Although dissappointing to hear that he will be traded to the Grizzlies without even getting their 24th pick, somehow after all the weighins it makes sense. I would probably like to have Gay develop into a good player in the Rockets uniform. He's got great upsides and potentials but if you're a GM, a coach, or a team owner you might want to get someone that's ready to contribute right away now that Yao and TMac are playing in their prime years. Rocket fans will rejoice if the team improves tremendously. Battier would provide the Rockets another team leader that improves team chemistry like what Bobby sura has done for the Rockets in the 04-05 season. I will surely tell you that his hardworking attitude would bring a positive effect on the team. It will make everyone better. Never mind about his poor performance in the playoffs. Other players perform very well when traded to the right team. Take for example Diaw and Tim Thomas.
