Just how reliable is this source? And this Hughes guy, where does he supposedly get his info? It just seems weird that he's reporting it and no other sources are. I would love to get Rashard though. Third scorer, going to be loved by the fans. I'm sure we can find someone who will be close to Battier's defense.
I don't see this trade going to happen either. Jonathan Feigen from Houston Chronicles said that it was just a rumor. He also added that The Rockets had hired Morey to find good value contract players with reliability in contributing to the team's offense and defense. I just hope he's not like Carroll Dawson. Take a look at these if we have 3 maxed out contract players with Yao, TMac plus Lewis they alone could cost between $45 - $50M per Year. The current NBA salary cap limit per team(except the Bobcats due to their expansion team salary cap limit) is about $55 M and the projected amount for the next season will be about $56M. BTW luxury tax kicks in a dollar per dollar in excess of $65M. Since the Rockets are well over the salary cap limit which is currently at $62,598,285 for the next season without including any free agents to be signed as well as rookies contracts, that would leave between $10-$20M for the rest of the 12 players to share. Unless owner Leslie Alexander plans to spend beyond $65M and pay luxury tax to have a potent team. IMO I would still prefer Battier over Lewis and or Wilcox. With a new coach like Adelman, Battier might flourish. Give it a year. Another thing this year's draft will be one of the deepest we might get lucky who knows.
<div class="quote_poster">blueracer Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">IIMO I would still prefer Battier over Lewis and or Wilcox. With a new coach like Adelman, Battier might flourish. Give it a year. Another thing this year's draft will be one of the deepest we might get lucky who knows.</div> I like Battier. But you have to realize the direction in which the NBA's going. Teams are gettin younger and more athletic. The older teams are strugglin and the younger, more athletic teams are flourishing. In that aspect, Rashard would be a better fit along side Tmac & Yao. Battier might do all the little things good, but let's not forget that Rashard is an ALLSTAR player. Ur giving up a valuable role player for a ALLSTAR caliber player. It's a tough trade considering Battier's professionalism. But if you think about what Adelman's trying to create here, then you'll see exactly why we'd do this trade.
I'm all for Rashard Coming to the Rockets through this trade, but the Aftermath on the team salary will hurt us in the long run. We will have to use our MLE to get quality role players 4-5 after 2008. It will be hard to stay under 70 million and if we don't win a championship it will be for nothing.
As much as I love Battier, it's definitely an upgrade talent-wise. But no way Seattle falls for this. They know they can get much more in return.
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I like Battier. But you have to realize the direction in which the NBA's going. Teams are gettin younger and more athletic. The older teams are strugglin and the younger, more athletic teams are flourishing. In that aspect, Rashard would be a better fit along side Tmac & Yao. Battier might do all the little things good, but let's not forget that Rashard is an ALLSTAR player. Ur giving up a valuable role player for a ALLSTAR caliber player. It's a tough trade considering Battier's professionalism. But if you think about what Adelman's trying to create here, then you'll see exactly why we'd do this trade.</div> I guess the San Antonio Spurs didn't receive the memo.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I guess the San Antonio Spurs didn't receive the memo.</div> San Antonio has the advantage of bein a half court team with the speed to run up and down the court. Their veterans are mostly athletic and full of energy (Mike Finley, Robert Horry, Brent Barry). Not a good example
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">San Antonio has the advantage of bein a half court team with the speed to run up and down the court. Their veterans are mostly athletic and full of energy (Mike Finley, Robert Horry, Brent Barry). Not a good example</div> They have the advantage of controlling tempo with defense and rebounding. It's not so much they have the speed, but they have the players to force teams to beat them in a halfcourt game. I wouldn't consider Horry or Barry athletic at this point in their careers. Savvy yes, but they're not going to out run or out jump the younger forwards in the league. However, they understand angles and Horry is great at boxing out and letting a teammate grab a rebound. I just think the Spurs and Cavs success is going to be duplicated for teams who want to make a playoff run. Teams like the Suns and Warriors are exciting to watch, but until an uptempo team actually wins a title, I don't think there's going to be a dramatic change.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">They have the advantage of controlling tempo with defense and rebounding. It's not so much they have the speed, but they have the players to force teams to beat them in a halfcourt game. I wouldn't consider Horry or Barry athletic at this point in their careers. Savvy yes, but they're not going to out run or out jump the younger forwards in the league. However, they understand angles and Horry is great at boxing out and letting a teammate grab a rebound. I just think the Spurs and Cavs success is going to be duplicated for teams who want to make a playoff run. Teams like the Suns and Warriors are exciting to watch, but until an uptempo team actually wins a title, I don't think there's going to be a dramatic change.</div> But heres the thing, we have YAO. If we can impliment a more uptempo style of play, we can still resort back to the half court game (unlike Phoenix or Golden State). The problem with the current uptempo teams is they don't really have solid half court options. Even Amare is best when in the open court. Rashard Lewis could help us with that............
