http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Rockets_Si...-129117-34.html Rockets sign 38-year-old PG Rod Strickland and release Brandin Knight...I think this is a decent move and I would rather have a veteran than a rookie anyday....I'm not sure how much in shape Rod is, but he's played with T-Mac before (last season) and is a penetrator who can score and get to the basket...It'll be interesting to see how quickly he gets PT with the injuries to Sura and the lack of depth at the 1 spot...
Why? Rod Strickland is a team cancer and has nothing left at age 38. He's a shoot first point guard, who doesn't like playing defense. He also has terrible range from behind the arc. He's the complete opposite of what the Rockets need at PG. After 10 days, the next point guard experiment ... Tim Hardaway. The Rockets have played with Ward, Lue, Wesley, Barry, Barret and Sura at the point guard spot so far this season. It's obvious they are not happy with any of these guys, so why not make a trade. When a player like Carlos Arroyo or Baron Davis is on the trade block, a team like the Rockets should jump at that opportunity. They have two soft power forwards with Howard & Taylor. Plenty of teams could use their lost post scoring, so ship one off for a point guard who's going to work.
Actually, they're pretty happy with Sura at the point, with Barrett backing up I think. I mean, he did have a lot of clutch performances so far and Barrett is doing a great job of adding energy to the court. However, this change is more of an injury that Sura is suffering from- his knee I believe. Oh yeah and not to mention Carlos Arroyos isn't doing all that great this season while I have huge doubts about Baron Davis. I mean, so far the guy is being injuried so much- infact I think he's played 17 games so far into this season. How would that be helping us? Plus, who would we trade for him? If we lose one of our power forwards, we definitely lose a lot of our depth and I don't really think New Orleans would do it. However, I'm pretty disappointed in Houston for picking up Rod Strickland. This guy is 38 years old, while Brevin Knight was still pretty young. Strickland doesn't really bring any explosiveness whiel Knight does just that. What's Houston thinking? Do we really need another "veteran"? We've got plenty with Weatherspoon, Mutumbo, Wesley, Sura, and Howard. Houston must be averaging as the oldest team in the NBA right now.
I am totally dissappointment with CD's management ability. Another player of 38 years old? Don't we have enough "veterans"? We still need experience? Why we need him?
Carlos Arroyo has not had a chance to play this season because he is in Jerry Sloan's doghouse. Regardless, of his fight with Sloan, he's a tremendous upgrade over all of the point guards the Rockets currently have. He can defend, hit big shots, and gets teammates involved. He's also young and would be a nice role player for Yao & TMac. Baron Davis has always been injury prone, but he might be worth the gamble if the Rockets can get him for cheap. He's still one of the premiere guards in the league when healthy. Being the third option could prevent him from shouldering so much of the reponsibility and allow him to play more under control, which would keep him healthy. I don't think the Rockets would lose much if they traded Howard or Taylor. They still have Weatherspoon to play a bulk of those minutes, along with Scott Padgett. And if they finally get a point guard, they will probably trade away some of their guards for bigger players or go after some free agents like Marcus Haislip, Keon Clark, or Corie Blount.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Carlos Arroyo has not had a chance to play this season because he is in Jerry Sloan's doghouse. Regardless, of his fight with Sloan, he's a tremendous upgrade over all of the point guards the Rockets currently have. He can defend, hit big shots, and gets teammates involved. He's also young and would be a nice role player for Yao & TMac. Baron Davis has always been injury prone, but he might be worth the gamble if the Rockets can get him for cheap. He's still one of the premiere guards in the league when healthy. Being the third option could prevent him from shouldering so much of the reponsibility and allow him to play more under control, which would keep him healthy. </div> Actually, if that is true, then Arroyos would be a great player for the Rockets. However, didn't he just sign that contract last year that made his contract pretty darn hefty? Correct me if I'm wrong. However, I'm still pretty doubtful about Baron Davis. Hasn't he also had the likes of Jamal Mashburn, Jamal Magloire, and David Wesley play at his side? I know I know, Mashburn has been pretty banged up for quite a while, but wouldn't they help shoulder off some of the pressure and make him less injury prone? Oh yeah, and I don't really think he would accept being the third option. He wants to be a star. Second option is a stretch, but third option? Can he really take that while still keeping his pride and star power? You might've had a misunderstanding or something, because I didn't mean that we would lose much by trading Howard or Taylor. Although we would, a little offensively anyways. I was more leaning towards the fact that not much teams want them. They haven't been averaging great numbers and are only good offensively. Plus, they both have pretty hefty contracts and are not even making up for it on the court. However, if there was a way we can get rid of one of them and get a quality powerforward or point guard in return, I'd do it in a heart beat.
Arroyo's contract is for only $4M a year and signed through the 2007/08 season. Yes Baron played with Mashburn and Wesley, and when the trio was healthy they made it to the playoffs and Baron lead the way for them. I don't think Baron would have a problem being the third option behind TMac and Yao. He's getting a chance to win a championship and at the worst make it to post season. He's already accomplished a lot as a player, and at this point in his career he'll be more inticed by winning than putting up big numbers. Yeah I know, most teams are not interested in Howard or Taylor, and the Rockets would have to give up some draft picks to land someone like Davis. I could see the Jazz making use of either Howard or Taylor. Jerry Sloan likes having a deep big team, and the only offensive post player they have is Okur.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Yes Baron played with Mashburn and Wesley, and when the trio was healthy they made it to the playoffs and Baron lead the way for them. I don't think Baron would have a problem being the third option behind TMac and Yao. He's getting a chance to win a championship and at the worst make it to post season. He's already accomplished a lot as a player, and at this point in his career he'll be more inticed by winning than putting up big numbers.</div> Well, Baron Davis is actually the same age as McGrady who's 26, so he might still have a few more years ahead of him. I mean, Iverson is already 29 and he's still playing hard. But yeah I can see where you're coming from, I mean if McGrady wasn't inticed by winning a championship, he would have stayed in Orlando. However, you can't forget that Baron Davis has a large contract. I'm not sure trading just one powerforward and draft picks would match it. Try it on RealGM. If we trade another powerforward, we would be left with Weatherspoon and Padgett- a pretty weak position. It would be deepening our powerforward problem. It's already a problem as it is. In fact, I actually think its a bigger problem that point guard. At least for point guard Houston has Sura (who actually is a pretty quality role player) and Barrett (who is developing) backing him up. Plus, we won't know if Davis will be healthy playing as the third option- I don't think it really changes anything. A player should be playing hard probably every other night- so with his body being so injury prone, he's bound to be out some time. And when that happens, we'll be left with a completely trashed up roster.
Bad thing about Baron Davis is that he takes a lot three-pointers, and although he makes a fair amount, a lot misses are resulted as well. He is an excellent passer though, and the trio of Yao/McGrady/Davis would be terrific. However, the Hornets have much better trade possibilities from other teams. We should look at drafting a PG in the summer.
Trip, I agree we should draft a PG rather than getting one through free agency or trade. Good guards are more plentiful coming out of college than are NBA-caliber big men (therefore we should not use our pick on a PF). There's this one white guy they should look at named Brian Dalton. He is a very good passer, plays solid defense, and can shoot from anywhere if need be. Wait, nevermind. That's some guy I drafted in Live 2005 Dynasty Mode On a serious note, I think playing musical point guard all season while neglecting the glaring problem at PF is hurting the Rockets. They need to either go with what they have and worry about it in the offseason, or make a move for a PF before the trade deadline, if they can find a way.
Just checked Rods profile, he doesn't seem too bad, last season he played he had 4 assists and 6 points in 19 minutes of play, not great but quite decent.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting JuLiO-R-:</div><div class="quote_post">YEY ROCKETS GETTING OLDER! Dont know much about Strickland. So ima look up his stats.</div> Exactly the rockets are major old. I will be looking forward to seeing how rod works with the rockets. The rockets are clearly desperate for point gaurd play.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sniper:</div><div class="quote_post"> On a serious note, I think playing musical point guard all season while neglecting the glaring problem at PF is hurting the Rockets. They need to either go with what they have and worry about it in the offseason, or make a move for a PF before the trade deadline, if they can find a way.</div>Totally agreed. While our point guards haven't exactly been consistent, the power forwards are even worse. We shouldn't shift through point guards right now. Instead, sign guys like Keon Clark, Tyrone Clark and even Charles Oakley. I guarantee that they would do a better job of defending the post and rebounding than Howard and Taylor. Btw Sniper, you're gonna have to remove that sig of yours. The limit on signature size is 468x100.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sniper:</div><div class="quote_post"> On a serious note, I think playing musical point guard all season while neglecting the glaring problem at PF is hurting the Rockets. They need to either go with what they have and worry about it in the offseason, or make a move for a PF before the trade deadline, if they can find a way.</div>Totally agreed. While our point guards haven't exactly been consistent, the power forwards are even worse. We shouldn't shift through point guards right now. Instead, sign guys like Keon Clark, Tyrone Clark and even Charles Oakley. I guarantee that they would do a better job of defending the post and rebounding than Howard and Taylor. Btw Sniper, you're gonna have to remove that sig of yours. The limit on signature size is 468x100. There are plenty of designers in the Members Union that would be happy to make sigs for you.
So let see how many veterans do we have? Jon Barry Juwan Howard Dikembe Mutombo Rod Strickland Charlie Ward Clarence Weatherspoon David Wesley wow thats a long list we should trade yao for shaq and then trade t-mac for webber and we will be the most veteran team in history
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting YugoRocketsfan:</div><div class="quote_post">So let see how many veterans do we have? Jon Barry Juwan Howard Dikembe Mutombo Rod Strickland Charlie Ward Clarence Weatherspoon David Wesley wow thats a long list we should trade yao for shaq and then trade t-mac for webber and we will be the most veteran team in history</div> Good idea, and while we're at it lets trade Barrett for Kidd and maybe Gaines for Kobe sheeesh...
We'll see if he's a good fit in tonight's game against Orlando. After seeing his stats I don't think he's too bad, hopefully he opens up his career with us with a bang. Get assists and helping us with the scoring. Good luck to him for the game.
I don't know why CD is concentrating so much on our PG situation. Sure our PG rotation isn't very strong but there are other roster problems that we're having, most importantly our PF rotation. What are we gonna do about that? All these rumpours about Donyell are arising, i know there isn'y much bait for him but we do need to look at other areas of our roster other than point guards.
