<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">Locke, you still got Steve Francis listed as a favorite player? You need to let go, man. </div> To be true, he was the one who really got me into the Rockets, and I've always been a fan of him. Sadly, I haven't been keeping up with him much lately but he does hold sentimental value. I still think he should've won the 2000 Dunk Contest. Vince put on a show but Stevie had some serious dunks.
Man i feel sorry for Francis now.. He was popular and good because he was in Houston. and now since he's been traded, he lost all his popularity. He didnt even make the allstar game after he started for West 1 year ago. I think if we could some how get Francis, he won't be sorry because he was good and popular in Houston, and I think if he comes back he will be popular and get his game back.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting antonyo09:</div><div class="quote_post">its gonna be a mistake trading gay and swift for battier</div> umm not right now though.. maybe in the future if gay gets real get good.. then everyone will regret the trade. but for right now.. i think its a good trade..becasue we need help now and battier will give us that.. gay will give us the help in 2-3 years.. and we cant wait that long.. so right now im happy with the trade..but in future.. if gay gets real good..then i'll regret it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Umair15:</div><div class="quote_post">Get Bonzi Wells.. How about trade Wells for Howard and Rybo.. and use MLE to get Mike James? Alston/ James/Sura Battier/Head McGrady/Wells Hayes/Novak/Battier Yao/ Deke</div> oooo I like. Is that possible?? and whos the closest FA to signing with us anyway?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting drunkenbarden:</div><div class="quote_post">oooo I like. Is that possible?? and whos the closest FA to signing with us anyway?</div> well i was just making a suggestion which i would like. It looks like Wells is gonna prolly sign with Nuggets. I think Mike James is prolly close to signing with us.
Another update: Speedy Claxton- Atlanta Hawks for 4 years, $25 million Matt Harpring- Staying in Utah for 4 yars, $25 million Nazr Mohammed- Detroit Pistons for 5 years, $30 million Joel Pryzbilla- Staying with Portland Trailblazers for 5 years at more than $30 million Ben Wallace- Chicago Bulls with a 4 year, $60 million The Bulls look like they're going to be a really good team next year. I would love to trade for Tyson Chandler, but it is being reported that he will be traded to the Hornets for PJ Brown.
So as of now if possible here's what I would hope could happen Deal with Raps for the trade exception and extension of Mike James contract. MLE split, higher end to Rasual Butler( do you think he will command the full MLE?) and V.Span Will Cato/Ervin Jounson either be worth at all the minimum, or get more than the min? I think the vet min can be used to get one. Skip James Sura? VSpan TMac Butler Head Shane Novak J.Howard Hayes Yao (Cato/E.Johnson) Deke
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting moeinhouston:</div><div class="quote_post">Skip James Sura? VSpan TMac Butler Head Shane Novak J.Howard Hayes Yao (Cato/E.Johnson) Deke</div> See, that's the problem. That line up is what we settled for by trading Gay. We traded probably our best asset in Gay for 1 role player. I'm sure we could've traded Gay, Swift, and Howard for multiple players in return. Now we're stuck because nobody wants Howard and Head is a keeper.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting moeinhouston:</div><div class="quote_post">So as of now if possible here's what I would hope could happen Deal with Raps for the trade exception and extension of Mike James contract. MLE split, higher end to Rasual Butler( do you think he will command the full MLE?) and V.Span Will Cato/Ervin Jounson either be worth at all the minimum, or get more than the min? I think the vet min can be used to get one. Skip James Sura? VSpan TMac Butler Head Shane Novak J.Howard Hayes Yao (Cato/E.Johnson) Deke</div> Rasual will probably end up in NJ, where he'll be on a decent team and get more minutes and shots in a transition offense. If we end up with James and Cato, I'd be happy. Both would shore up needs of ours, and I like Cato because he can play the 4 or 5. I don't think we have a shot at Bonzi. Someone will offer him a lot more money elsewhere, especially if James gets our MLE.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rocket:</div><div class="quote_post">Rasual will probably end up in NJ, where he'll be on a decent team and get more minutes and shots in a transition offense. If we end up with James and Cato, I'd be happy. Both would shore up needs of ours, and I like Cato because he can play the 4 or 5. I don't think we have a shot at Bonzi. Someone will offer him a lot more money elsewhere, especially if James gets our MLE.</div> Not really, we can use Cato but it's not our biggest need. We're still the most unathletic team in a very athletic conference. We need a athletic combo SG/SF who can get to the line and finish. While Battie is a good defender, we still don't have somebody who can defend the quicker guards. That was one of our biggest problems last year too.
Outside Scorer AthleticSG and a big thats the order of need On the Rockets website it said CD is meeting with M.James Thursday Moring. So I guess it will be known what happens by the afternoon. I think Jersey needs a big more than they need another outside guy. So i dont think they would be offering him close to the MLE. Rasual Qyntel Woods Deshawn Stevenson We need one of those guys. Deshawn wants the full MLE from Orland.
Mike James is likely to go anywhere because teams are trying to pay him high. But the good part is that he said..he isnt worried about the money at all. I think it will come down to Mavs and Houston. I think he'll choose Houston because.. who wants to play behind Terry and Harris? when he can come here and be a back up or possibly start.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">Not really, we can use Cato but it's not our biggest need. We're still the most unathletic team in a very athletic conference. We need a athletic combo SG/SF who can get to the line and finish. While Battie is a good defender, we still don't have somebody who can defend the quicker guards. That was one of our biggest problems last year too.</div> It shores up a need because we desperately need frontcourt depth and more rebounding.. We'll have athleticism in the backcourt with Bogans and Head. And of course, Alston and McGrady can stay in front of most people defensively. Right now our No. 1 concern is depth, period, but I don't think athleticism is essential. Besides, athleticism won't bode too well anyway since we're a halfcourt, defense-based squad that doesnt run.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rocket:</div><div class="quote_post">It shores up a need because we desperately need frontcourt depth and more rebounding.. We'll have athleticism in the backcourt with Bogans and Head. And of course, Alston and McGrady can stay in front of most people defensively. Right now our No. 1 concern is depth, period, but I don't think athleticism is essential. Besides, athleticism won't bode too well anyway since we're a halfcourt, defense-based squad that doesnt run.</div> Bogans can't hit a jumpshot, and Head is extremley undersized for a shooting guard. Right now, we're gonna get KILLED by the other teams in the Western Conference. Our starting line up is decent, but we have one of the weakest benches in league. The gap between defense & offense is too big and we simply don't have enough firepower to last an 82 game season. Even with Mike James, we have absolutley have no athleticism outside of Tmac.
So I think M.James will come to houston, but he hasn't made a decision yet. What if he doesn't come to Houston? that could put Houston in a hole other state of desperation. I've been saying the same three guys over and over, but they could all be good fits. Rasual Butler, D.Stevenson, Q.Woods. Sign and Trade Orlando for the exception for Stevenson, and split the MLE between Butler and Woods. Sounds reasonable. I would love to see a run at all 3 guys. Skip Sura? Head TMac Stevenson Shane Butler Woods Howard Hayes Novak Yao Deke That improves the athletic thing, but there still wouldn't be a guy other than TMac and Yao that can take over scoring by themselves, and Thats what M.James shows he can do. I'm trying to be optimistic on the Rockets getting one of those guys.
I don't think getting all three of Woods, Stevenson and Butler would be realistic. Woods and Stevenson are pretty much the same players, and Butler is to an extent as well. With Battier and TMac, we should have 35 minutes down pat at both positions, leaving little for three young, deserving players. Landing one of them would be enough IMHO. If we do end up splitting the MLE, I think we should look for some help at power forward. Maybe a starter-calibre player might be out of reach, but just getting a solid bench guy would shore it up.
I don't see that kind of PF on the market right now. and SG is slim too. Gooden, Jackie Butler, R.Evans, Cato, Othella Harrington,E.Johnson. Not a great class Those 3 guys are all defensive, athletic perimeter guys, two can hit the 3. Even if they play the same, I would want another guy just like that. It would be good for depth. But the Rockets do need another big to get min. at C. Shane could put in more time at four and still have plenty options on the perimeter.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">If we do end up splitting the MLE, I think we should look for some help at power forward. Maybe a starter-calibre player might be out of reach, but just getting a solid bench guy would shore it up.</div> Hypothetically speaking, if we did get another PF (in which we already have 3) Who would you have backing up the guard position. We still don't have an on the ball defender, or anybody that can create off the dribble.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">Hypothetically speaking, if we did get another PF (in which we already have 3) Who would you have backing up the guard position. We still don't have an on the ball defender, or anybody that can create off the dribble.</div> With the way that John Lucas Jr. has been playing in the summer league, I think having Alston start and Head/Lucas backing him up would be sufficient. Alston would ideally be a bench guy, and probably would be had Sura stayed healthy, but he suffices for now starting at the point. Head could guard the point guards on defense and TMac would play a point forward kind of role when Alston's off. It'll be a committee, and although it's definitely not the best situation we could find ourselves in, it's the best that could happen at this point. We're not going to get a starting point guard for a million or two. Jason Hart would be nice but he's too similar to Alston.
