Watching the Olympics, I saw all those semi-big men that are SF/PF sized players that rebounds, plays solid/OK defense, and on offense all they do is set picks and shoots 3s off the pick and rolls. Most of those European teams don't really have a star player but instead, they all contributed equally as role players. Now just an idea, why don't we import one or two of them to come and be role players in our team. I think they would help us tremendously as I don't think we have enough role players that are great spot up shooters. Tmac and Yao would have some shooters to kick the ball to since the only pure shooter we really have is Pike and maybe Ward.
rockets roster is already full, i doubt they would. They have Boki who fits that description already.
Lik I said in the " A Playmaker for us" thread. If we want to import some help it would cost a lot of money do to us having to buy out the players contract from his European team. With the team tring to sign Tracy to a long term deal we need all the money we can get and to waiste it on yet another point guard or small forward would make no sence for the team.
Well, this is just my opinion, but I dont think the Rockets need any help, outside from what they already have. Boki developing, Badiane and Spanoulis (Who both had breakout seasons in Germany and Greece respectively), and Reece Gaines (hopefully) learning the game, we're ok from the youth stand point. We wont be a streaky, jump shooting type team, which is what Euro players bring. With that being said, we do still need some help, but we dont know in what areas we would need them. Obviously rebounding might be a factor, as will weak side defense, but if we land Mutumbo and/or Chandler (it was rumoured today about a trade with Chandler and Deke for Pike and some other player(s) ), those categories will be filled. Our bench got a whole lot stronger, and we have enough <u>consistent</u> offense in our starters (McGrady, J. Jackson, Howard, maybe Yao..?). Well, there is no point in signing 2 guards for 3 years to sit on the bench, so i dont think CD and Les are gonna sign anymore Guards. A big man is most probable, but I dont see one coming from Europe that we havent drafted.
The problem with European players is that they can go either way. Sometimes you get players like Dirk Nowitski and others times, well take a look at Darko Millicic. Some players just have a hard time adjusting to the farther away three point line in the NBA and may not be able to battle it out in the low post for the rebounds against players like Kenyon Martin, KG, Tim Duncan, and even some scrub players. In addition to that, signing them would be an enormous amount of cash and salary cap space, something which we do not have because of the McGrady trade. If the Mutumbo trade does go to ink, he would provide some rebounding and/or points when Yao is on the bench. However, Mutumbo is aging and cannot stay in the game for too many minutes so either Yao has to play more minutes and tire out himself, or we have to add another player to our low post even with Mutumbo.
Well, here's my take on this matter. What I think is that if the Mutombo trade does indeed collapse, I'd rather the Rockets go after an American ex-NBAer, rather than a rookie foreigner who does not know the NBA system. NBA veterans are more used to the style of playing, and the demands of playing in the NBA. They also wouldn't require much money, as a minimum contract would most likely be enough for their services. A few players I think we should take a look at are Ike Austin, Kevin Willis, Sean Rooks and Ken Johnson, who is still young and has the potential to be a big-time shot blocker like Mutombo.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, here's my take on this matter. What I think is that if the Mutombo trade does indeed collapse, I'd rather the Rockets go after an American ex-NBAer, rather than a rookie foreigner who does not know the NBA system. NBA veterans are more used to the style of playing, and the demands of playing in the NBA. They also wouldn't require much money, as a minimum contract would most likely be enough for their services. A few players I think we should take a look at are Ike Austin, Kevin Willis, Sean Rooks and Ken Johnson, who is still young and has the potential to be a big-time shot blocker like Mutombo.</div> Think we could convince Hakeem to come back out of retirement?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">Think we could convince Hakeem to come back out of retirement? </div> Doubt it, and I doubt it even more that he'll even score 4 points per game. I was in Toronto during his last season, and caught basically every game he was in, and I gotta tell you, it wasn't good. The Hakeem Olajuwon of the past is gone now, and I think the best way he can contribute to the Rockets is to become a mentor to Yao. After Yao's dream shake a few years back, I feel that Olajuwon can help him refine that move and turn it into a 'Yao Shake'.
Hakeem coming out of retirement? Thats a joke right, because he can barely score points nowadays. He hasn't been training or probably not even thought of coming back of retirement so its pointless. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Hakeem Olajuwon of the past is gone now, and I think the best way he can contribute to the Rockets is to become a mentor to Yao. After Yao's dream shake a few years back, I feel that Olajuwon can help him refine that move and turn it into a 'Yao Shake'.</div> Nah, Yao doesn't need another mentor. He's already got Patrick Ewing and plus he's a man now, he doesn't really need someone to teach him. Yao just needs his skills to mature on their own and find his own flow of things.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Hakeem coming out of retirement? Thats a joke right, because he can barely score points nowadays. He hasn't been training or probably not even thought of coming back of retirement so its pointless.</div>Yes, it was a joke. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Nah, Yao doesn't need another mentor. He's already got Patrick Ewing and plus he's a man now, he doesn't really need someone to teach him. Yao just needs his skills to mature on their own and find his own flow of things.</div>To me, Yao does need a mentor. NBA players are all better off had they had a NBA great teach them the ropes, as evident in Steve Francis once Mark Jackson joined the team. Sure, Yao's a man now, but which man doesn't need a teacher. If he can combine Ewing's and Olajuwon's moves into his own, surely he would be better than what he is now?
