Looks like there was no trade. However, Rockets were close to dealing JHo for Mike James and Eddie Grifin(probably would have been waived shortly after). Then they would have traded JL3 for Linas Kleiza. Last year, I probably would have jumped on this trade. THis year though, after Juwan stepped up after Yao got hurt and Mike James's poor performance, it is a no brainer. Thank goodness for JVG stepping in. Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writ...reaction/1.html "Also Thursday, Houston had been expected to acquire Mike James (and potentially Eddie Griffin) in a multiplayer deal that would have sent Juwan Howard to Minnesota. But the Rockets pulled back when coach Jeff Van Gundy pointed out that his team has benefited from excellent chemistry, and did Houston want to risk upsetting the balance? There's no arguing with that claim: GM Carroll Dawson has said this is the best locker room he has seen in 28 years. The Rockets were also looking at a complementary deal to send one of their point guards (possibly John Lucas) for a power forward (potentially Denver's Linas Kleiza), but that fell through when they decided to stick with Howard."
I would of taken Kleiza he can play D and has a nice j. Eddie Griffin back in H town he would of got garbage minutes or waived If Mike James could of turned his season around with a trade I'm all for it but what would be the likeliness of that happening. I like the Kleiza deal but wouldn't of taken the J Howard trade we've already got Head and Alston.
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Chemistry is important and all that, but I would have made those trades.</div> Mike James for Juwan Howard? Are you serious Who's gonna start at PF then? Where are we gonna get offense from at PF? We don't have a legit PF outside of Juwan Howard. Mike James lured us in this offseasn, only to trash us by signing with Minnesota (even rubbed in our faces too!). He's a player that can only play at one speed, which isn't right for our team. If he's hitting, he's good. If he's not hitting, he's useless. That trade is TERRIBLE. We'd be givin up a solid bigman for an erratic point guard. Great move
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Mike James for Juwan Howard? Are you serious Who's gonna start at PF then? Where are we gonna get offense from at PF? We don't have a legit PF outside of Juwan Howard. Mike James lured us in this offseasn, only to trash us by signing with Minnesota (even rubbed in our faces too!). He's a player that can only play at one speed, which isn't right for our team. If he's hitting, he's good. If he's not hitting, he's useless. That trade is TERRIBLE. We'd be givin up a solid bigman for an erratic point guard. Great move</div> If we have Mike James, Bonzi Wells, Tracy McGrady, and Yao Ming, we don't need that much offense from our PF. What we need is rebounding/defense. If we could have traded Lucas for a serviceable PF who can rebound/defend for 15-20 a night, that would have been adequate. If we really need extra scoring at PF during a game, we could always go with a McGrady-Battier-Wells lineup. As it is right now, it's going to be tough giving McGrady, Battier, AND Wells 30+ minutes a night in the playoffs. Right now, I'm just really concerned about our PG situation. You think Mike James is erratic -- what about Rafer Alston? Yeek. At least with the two of them, we increase our chances of having one who's playing decently in a given playoff game. Luther Head's suspect ball-handling/passing is not something I want to depend on if Rafer slumps (which he is liable to do about every other game).
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">If we have Mike James, Bonzi Wells, Tracy McGrady, and Yao Ming, we don't need that much offense from our PF. What we need is rebounding/defense. If we could have traded Lucas for a serviceable PF who can rebound/defend for 15-20 a night, that would have been adequate. </div> Yea, I agree with not needing a scoring PF on the Rockets............IF WE WERE IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE. I don't know if you realize who were up against. All the elite teams have size on there rosters. Without Howard, we're pretty much the same undersized team we were two years ago. You also said we need rebounding/defense, huh? What team are you watching? The Comets or Rockets? The Rockets are the BEST rebounding team along with the BEST defensive team currently in the NBA. That's hardly a issue. <div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">If we really need extra scoring at PF during a game, we could always go with a McGrady-Battier-Wells lineup. As it is right now, it's going to be tough giving McGrady, Battier, AND Wells 30+ minutes a night in the playoffs.</div> Not really......The Rockets are a diverse team with Bonzi. He can play 3 positions well. It's JVG's short rotation that's the problem. Tmac doesn't necessarily have to play big minutes every nite, niether do Head or Rafer. We can play Bonzi & Snyder any given night and still be competitive for stretches. Wade's season prolly wouldn't have been over if he hadn't played all those damn minutes. I say rest Tmac when possible, and give players like Bonzi & Snyder minutes. <div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Right now, I'm just really concerned about our PG situation. You think Mike James is erratic -- what about Rafer Alston? Yeek. At least with the two of them, we increase our chances of having one who's playing decently in a given playoff game. Luther Head's suspect ball-handling/passing is not something I want to depend on if Rafer slumps (which he is liable to do about every other game).</div> Rafer is erratic at times. But Mike James takes the cake The difference is there playin styles. Rafer is consistent in the fact that he likes to pass. Mike James likes to shoot. Rafer is better at balancing two. James isn't. Though Rafer annoys me some games, he's done a great job running the team even when he doesn't score big some nights. Giving Juwan Howard isn't worth getting another erratic guard.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4Life:</div><div class="quote_post">Yea, I agree with not needing a scoring PF on the Rockets............IF WE WERE IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE. I don't know if you realize who were up against. All the elite teams have size on there rosters. Without Howard, we're pretty much the same undersized team we were two years ago.</div> I'm not following your argument. You're making a case that we need size to compete against some of the elite Western teams, and I agree with that. That's why I said we should try to acquire an extra PF who can defend and rebound decently against such teams if we trade Juwan. But the need for a "PF with size" and the need for a "scoring PF" are two separate issues.
