Houston Rockets offseason moves

[1CenT]

Man, i read so many comments, how basically every1 is critizing Yao Ming...

After reading articles on how hard he works, i really like him, but then it showed.. he isn't a superstar but he is treated and hyped as a superstar..

With the physical western power Jazz, it showed, he got his shot blocked like 12-13 times this series? He was so much of a fadeaway jump shooter.. He couldn't play def or rebound the ball ( game 7 esp )..

They were +5 with mutombo, -15 with Yao?

I think Yao is great as a 2ndary option, he will get u 25 points a game easily without him taking THAT many shots, hes hella accurate as a FT shooter, but wouldn't it better off trading him?

Sure houston will prob go far as trading Tmac before Yao cuz Yao is a walking stock market, i don't know how much $ was made ever since Yao was drafted...

But I am sure teams will take Yao...

I'll love to see an up and coming PF and a pg for Yao, and i'm sure it'll be stupid for any team not to take Yao, he'll make u million of dollars b/c hes da only asian all-star...

Yao for for Eddy Curry + Marbury? Curry is almost as effective as Yao as a 2ndary scorer... But ya he is kinda soft.. ,but u get Starbury who Tmac can feed if he is running the plays... and Marbury is still a capable defender who can score and run the offence..

They also add a bit more athletism... I am sure NY will want Yao, A frontline of Yao and David Lee.. I am sure they will make the playoffs in the east.. And with favourable matchups, they should be fine to maybe even get out of 1st round...

Or Yao & Rafer for Blount, KG, Randy Foye?

I think Houston can get to 2nd round as long as they add a little small piece and as Yao gets tougher, i still think he can prob get tough enuf where he gets 2-3 more dunks and rebounds a game..

[shadowgrin]

Yao for for Eddy Curry + Marbury?

Are you on weed?
Yao is more effective than Eddy 'Burger' Curry, even as a rebounder. Yao is even more tougher than Curry.
JVG doesn't want the problem of a ballhog PG in Francis that's why he was traded, getting Marbury will only bring back JVG's problems.

Yao & Rafer for Blount, KG, Randy Foye?

This would be possible if KG really wants out of Minny.

[1CenT]

Yao for for Eddy Curry + Marbury?

Are you on weed?
Yao is more effective than Eddy 'Burger' Curry, even as a rebounder. Yao is even more tougher than Curry.
JVG doesn't want the problem of a ballhog PG in Francis that's why he was traded, getting Marbury will only bring back JVG's problems.

Yao & Rafer for Blount, KG, Randy Foye?

This would be possible if KG really wants out of Minny.

It is hard to tell by Curry's #'s, i don't understand how can rebound so little, he is a lively body? no? I mean hes quite athletic from what i've seen.. Yao is prob 1 of the most unathletc players and slower players in the NBA, but with his skills and height, he is still 1 of the best players 12 feet and in...

I am unwilling to accept Marbury is that horrible, yes i was a Suns fan when marbury was there ( due to Penny ).. i see the potential there... But i guess when he was under Larry Brown, he wasn't much better than Rafer is now.. Larry Brown's system is prob as slow as Van Gundy's... If however they do trade Yao Ming 0.001%, and wanted to get athletic, i don't see how it is that bad..

[shadowgrin]

Yes, Curry is more athletic than Yao but Curry just doesn't "want it".
His former coach Skiles simply wanted him to jump to get those rebounds, while Zeke wanted him to be "angry" and play with intensity.
Yao shows more emotion and intensity than Curry.

Marbury is a basketball blackhole when he's the star of the team.

[Dean]

I imagine you are a Rockets fan? So i'm at a loss as to why you wanna kill the team by trading for Marbury

[1CenT]

Because I just don't see how the Rockets can improve their roster by adding 1-2 more key guys and adding athletism..

I would say only Yao, Battier and Tmac are keepers.. Rafer is an alright starter...

You look at any of the other elite teams

Mavs - Dirk, Howard, Stackhouse, Harris, Terry, Diop/Dampier
Suns - Amare, Nash, Marion, Barbosa, Bell, Thomas, Diaw
Spurs - Duncan, Finley, Ginobilli, Parker, Bowen
Pistons - Cwebb, Sheed, Prince, Rip, Billups, Dice
Cavs - Z, Gooden, Lebron, Hughes, Anderson
Bulls - Ben, Deng, Gordon, Hinrich, Nocioni, Duhon, Thomas
Jazz - Okur, Boozer, AK47, Harping, Deron, Millsap

You look at the starter level players on these teams...

Rockets is like the only team with a crappy roster, with about 4 starter level players..

They are almost as bad as the Lakers.........

[maes]

Why in the world would you want Curry & Marbury for Yao? Those two got the Knicks to one of the worst records in the league, and now you want that for your team?

Everybody gets criticized when they lose a playoff series, Jordan did, Pippen Did, Magic, everyone. Doesn't mean you trade Jordan or Magic.

If you're a Houston fan i think you're insane to want to trade Yao, but if that happens i hope you get a lot better than Curry. It should at least be on the level of Dwight Howard.

When you have classic big men like Yao, it's up to the guards to deliver where they can score easily, and to sink shots reliably when the big scorer gets doubled. Rafer didn't do much of either.

When your only PG (since Rafer plays all the minutes) is your worst shooter (33%) and has more rebounds than he does asissts, something is out of whack. Deron had more assists in G 7 than Rafer did in the last 3 games.

[BZ]

Yao is one of the top centers in the NBA... it'd be ludicrous for a GM to trade him for Curry and Marbury.. heck, throw in Francis and the deal is still not worth it. Personally, I think the Rockets really need to dump Alston. They need a point guard who's a reliable shooter and has extensive playoff experience. A decent backup PF/C is needed as well as a stronger lineup on the bench.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

Maybe if they went on and kept Rudy Gay in the draft they would have some more athleticism like Tmac wanted. Bonzi would've helped them out, but he didn't last too long. They need to try and draft a bonafide athlete in the draft and maybe get ready of JVG and get a coach in there who lets them run.

[Jackal]

I really don't see Houston as a running team. Not with Yao there. Were you thinking of Memphis when you wrote that post?

[beau_boy04]

Curry is the second coming of Wilt Chamberlain/Bill Russell.

This off season he's working on his conditioning, post up moves and even adding some range to his game.

By the end of next season he will be knwon as:
- Best low block scorer
- Best post up player
- Imposing interior defender
- Uncanny blocking ability
- Best jumpshooter bigman

Per Isiah Thomas.

So with that being said Eddy Curry for Yao Ming straight up

[TSquared]

all i think about after reading the earlier posts.. if u wanna improve houston.. or yao... why not trade tmac, bonzi, and rafer for kobe and lamar.. kobe wants out of LA anyways.. and tmac doesn't show his spirit unlike the way he did the past few years.. he just tends to shoot the ball midrange rather than going in for the slasher.. damn.. i really miss those tmac days.. since 24 wants out of LA.. it's a fair trade.. then the lakers wud also love tmac to be there.. since i think the zen master wants a new superstar to coach.. as for the rockets, they can sign a point guard who has experience and speedy enough to make plays under van gundy.. hmm.. maybe sebastian telfair? but i doubt that since he didn't show his skills in boston.. or they cud sign 24's former teammate who is also out of LA.. smush "the push" parker.. then the lineup wud be:

PG - Smush / Telfair / or draft a PG in offseason
SG - Kobe
SF - Battier
PF - Odom
C - Yao

I almost forgot.. since KG wants out of Minny.. and wants in with kobe, getting KG to Houston wud definitely boost their lineup.. but its up to KG if he wants to opt for a smaller salary.. aka the minimum for superstars..
I think they're gonna be contenders that way... so ill add up kg to the lineup and BOOM!

PG - Smush / Telfair / or draft a PG in offseason
SG - Kobe
SF - Odom
PF - KG
C - Yao

But if u think u can find a better PG free agent for the Rockets.. feel free to change the lineup.. as i wud also like to see whom u guys can add...

[Ckidd--]

yea i can see why 1cenT wanted to trade Yao. He is a little bit overrated, yet the media surrounds him like cheesecake. But I dont think that would be a good idea.

My opinion: Keep him( excellent 2ndary player if you give him touches), trade T-Mac for KG(he needs to be out of Minny IMO), and a point guard who can distribute the ball and run the court effeciently(he doesnt need to be a scorer, but who can make shots when KG/Yao get doubled).

[dizzle]

im pretty sure yao isnt going to be traded..especially on yao's special contract terms he has..like the part where he HAS to play for china national team

[1CenT]

all i think about after reading the earlier posts.. if u wanna improve houston.. or yao... why not trade tmac, bonzi, and rafer for kobe and lamar.. kobe wants out of LA anyways.. and tmac doesn't show his spirit unlike the way he did the past few years.. he just tends to shoot the ball midrange rather than going in for the slasher.. damn.. i really miss those tmac days.. since 24 wants out of LA.. it's a fair trade.. then the lakers wud also love tmac to be there.. since i think the zen master wants a new superstar to coach.. as for the rockets, they can sign a point guard who has experience and speedy enough to make plays under van gundy.. hmm.. maybe sebastian telfair? but i doubt that since he didn't show his skills in boston.. or they cud sign 24's former teammate who is also out of LA.. smush "the push" parker.. then the lineup wud be:

PG - Smush / Telfair / or draft a PG in offseason
SG - Kobe
SF - Battier
PF - Odom
C - Yao

I almost forgot.. since KG wants out of Minny.. and wants in with kobe, getting KG to Houston wud definitely boost their lineup.. but its up to KG if he wants to opt for a smaller salary.. aka the minimum for superstars..
I think they're gonna be contenders that way... so ill add up kg to the lineup and BOOM!

PG - Smush / Telfair / or draft a PG in offseason
SG - Kobe
SF - Odom
PF - KG
C - Yao

But if u think u can find a better PG free agent for the Rockets.. feel free to change the lineup.. as i wud also like to see whom u guys can add...

I wish you can trade Tmac(injury prone), Rafer ( avg starter at best ), and Bonzi (he isn't even signed for the 2nd year) for Kobe aka the best SG in the league AND Odom.. Odom is a legit 18/10/4 guy...

I mean, I'll take that trade if it can ever happy..

Yao, Odom, Battier, Kobe.. .why do you even need a PG, Odom and Kobe can create... Kobe can feed Yao in the post, and Odom can create like a point forward at other times..

hmm ya and add KG to that... very unrealistic... they will definately be a dynasty, you prob win half your games if you had kobe and KG on a team, add Yao ( 25 points scorer ) and Odom, a all-star to it, you will realisticly predict the team can win 70 games and a couple of championships....

im pretty sure yao isnt going to be traded..especially on yao's special contract terms he has..like the part where he HAS to play for china national team

actually i think any team will trade for Yao Ming.. he will increase your tv rating and publicity by a fair amount... He mite be prob 2nd most popular player EVER to play the game after MJ...

Maybe if they went on and kept Rudy Gay in the draft they would have some more athleticism like Tmac wanted. Bonzi would've helped them out, but he didn't last too long. They need to try and draft a bonafide athlete in the draft and maybe get ready of JVG and get a coach in there who lets them run.

I'll take battier over Gay... They are fine with Tmac and Yao getting the ball... Battier was a good move, but i thought they could have kept Swift.
Battier 1 of the top defenders, 3point shooter in the league.. I think he is better than Bowen, because he isn't a problem on the FT line and is a better rebounder.


Seriously guys, Yao can't carry a team.. I think he is maybe on par with the great centers offensively (Hakeem, Shaq, Robinson, Ewing) Probably 2nd most skilled offensively after Hakeem compared to those 4... But Shaq, Robinson and Ewing had a lot better power game... And defensively, Yao doesn't compare to any of those guys...

[/quote]

[Dean]

Yao doesnt need to carry a team, thats what TMac is there for.. All Yao has to do is draw defence off him, by making plays when he gets the ball.. That'll open up TMac to go to work, which will give Yao even more room to move, as well as give them some free outside shooters..

Im not really sure if that made any sense, but hey, ive had a couple of drinkies

[Jackal]

Whoever suggested that LA trade Kobe to Houston for T-Mac is whack. (Ooh, I'm a rapper, I rhymed.)

But seriously, Kobe wants to be a focal point of the team, which he is in LA. If he wanted to defer to a Center...well you know where I'm going with this.

Besides, I wouldn't want T-Mac in LA, I like the dude, but I love Bryant a whole lot more. Not to mention him having a no trade clause in his contract. So everyone...anyone, like KG and the Wolves, don't expect Bryant to be heading out of LA anytime soon.

[---]

What i don't understand, why is Rafer the #3 option behind Yao & TMac? He keeps jacking shots up and can't hit a brick wall. He shot 33% from the field (worse from the arc) and continues to play 45 minutes a game.

Because behind Rafer the Rockets have Vassilis Spanoulis, the master of the turnover, and John Lucas III, only known for his name.

They need a point guard if they are going to go anywhere. The PG is the most important position on the floor, and they have the best center in the league along with one of the very top swingmen. I don't care if they trade Shane, Juwan, Rafer... Just get a decent point guard.

I would pull a Rafer + Juwan for Antonio Daniels + Etan Thomas/Brendan Haywood if I was the Rockets front office. Daniels is solid enough to run this team and they can get a decent backup later. If Brendan Haywood is on his way out of Washington as all signs are pointing to, I think Washington would do this deal. That way the Rockets get some rebounding help, a solid PG and Washington gets some post scoring (soon to expire contract) and a PG that is suited to be a back up.

That leaves:

C: Yao Ming
PF: Brendan Haywood
SF: Shane Battier
SG: Tracy McGrady
PG: Antonio Daniels

6th Men: Chuck Hayes, Luther Head, Dikembe Mutombo (if he doesn't retire)

[1CenT]

What i don't understand, why is Rafer the #3 option behind Yao & TMac? He keeps jacking shots up and can't hit a brick wall. He shot 33% from the field (worse from the arc) and continues to play 45 minutes a game.

Because behind Rafer the Rockets have Vassilis Spanoulis, the master of the turnover, and John Lucas III, only known for his name.

They need a point guard if they are going to go anywhere. The PG is the most important position on the floor, and they have the best center in the league along with one of the very top swingmen. I don't care if they trade Shane, Juwan, Rafer... Just get a decent point guard.

I would pull a Rafer + Juwan for Antonio Daniels + Etan Thomas/Brendan Haywood if I was the Rockets front office. Daniels is solid enough to run this team and they can get a decent backup later. If Brendan Haywood is on his way out of Washington as all signs are pointing to, I think Washington would do this deal. That way the Rockets get some rebounding help, a solid PG and Washington gets some post scoring (soon to expire contract) and a PG that is suited to be a back up.

That leaves:

C: Yao Ming
PF: Brendan Haywood
SF: Shane Battier
SG: Tracy McGrady
PG: Antonio Daniels

6th Men: Chuck Hayes, Luther Head, Dikembe Mutombo (if he doesn't retire)

Daniels + Etan isn't exactly what the Wiz wants to get rid of... Unless they get something back.. It is more realistic that they get Daniels + Haywood... i don't like Haywood, Etan would be AMAZING... he can really hit the boards, a tough banger with size and def... Almost perfect fit for Yao..

Daniels would be great.. If a lineup of Yao, Thomas, Battier, Tmac, Daniels = further improved def... and Thomas will give u toughness that rockets lack..

[---]

Well Haywood is on his way out either way. If they don't get alot of offers for him then they might be willing to let Daniels go with him for a good backup PG and low post scoring that they will lose with Haywood gone, just so they at least get something. Otherwise I just see Haywood either being waived or traded for a player of far less value just to get something rather than nothing.

Haywood would do me just fine and I do think this is a deal that could happen. Brendan is a better scorer than Etan and is almost as good a rebounder, he hits the offensive boards hard and when playing real starters minutes (~35) he is a double double guy.

[TomCat]

Send T-Mac to the Blazers!

Nah, i think T-Mac needs to go to a team that is a 100% chance of making it to the second round of the playoffs next season. Yao can stay where he is.

[Awesom3]

No need to trade T-Mac. Sure he's played his 10th year in the league, but even after 10 years, HE'S ONLY 27. Michael Jordan, the best player in the league won his first championship when he was 28! STOP OVERREACTING AND STOP THINKING IT'S LIKE T-MAC'S LAST DAYS OF HIS CAREER. IT'S NO. HE'S 27.

Rockets should trade up and try and get Acie Law, or just do something.

[BZ]

Rockets should trade up and try and get Acie Law, or just do something.

I think the Rockets should trade up to get Yi Jianlian instead. Yao/Yi combo on the front court FTW

[maes]

They need a point guard if they are going to go anywhere.

You know more than the Rockets management it seems.

Quick factoid, of the teams currently still alive, how many do not have a PG that's been to All-Star weekend (either as an All Star or a All-Rook-Soph for younger guys)? One...and no guarantee the Cavs would have so easily beat the Wizards w/ Arenas & Caron healthy.

Well at least i found out why he shot so bad in the series...he always does:

"He also had the worst field goal percentage in the NBA among qualified players at 37.6%"

For a PG, that's quite an honor.

[---]

Brendan Haywood asks for a trade

Now that it's official, hopefully the Rockets management have the same trade in mind as I do.

You know more than the Rockets management it seems.

Quick factoid, of the teams currently still alive, how many do not have a PG that's been to All-Star weekend (either as an All Star or a All-Rook-Soph for younger guys)? One...and no guarantee the Cavs would have so easily beat the Wizards w/ Arenas & Caron healthy.

Well at least i found out why he shot so bad in the series...he always does:

"He also had the worst field goal percentage in the NBA among qualified players at 37.6%"

For a PG, that's quite an honor.

Exactly. Most of those games in that Cavs/Wiz series were very close also, so if you chucked two Wiz all stars into the mix I seriously doubt that the Cavs would have got the win. That would leave 0 teams without a "good" point guard moving on in the playoffs.

With the Rockets, I think they could get by with a point guard like Antonio Daniels because they have a huge low post presence and one of the top 2 or 3 swingmen in the league in Tracy McGrady, so there isn't as much pressure on Daniels to score. If he can run the offence well and realize he isn't a top scoring option, they should be fine. I also like how Antonio doesn't fall in love with the 3 like Rafer.

Antonio averaged 13/5/12 as a starter in the playoffs with basically just Antawn Jamison as a scoring target. That's impressive. I loved Rafer as a backup in Miami but he just isn't a starting PG, plain and simple.

By the way, per 40 minutes Daniels averages 6.6 assists and just 1.6 turnovers, compared to Rafers 5.8 and 2.2. Daniels also shoots 44% to Rafers 37%, and 83% on free throws to Rafers 73%.