Magic Lands Rafer Alston in 3 way deal.

[NovU]

Just before the deadline, a three-way deal was consummated between Orlando, Houston and Memphis that sent Rockets guard Rafer Alston to the Magic, with Memphis guard Kyle Lowry and Orlando forward Brian Cook going to the Rockets. Memphis is getting a future first-round pick from Orlando as part of the deal.

The move is big for the Magic, which has been reeling since the shoulder injury to starting point guard Jameer Nelson that is likely to keep him out the rest of the season. Alston has been a starter in Houston the past two seasons and brings toughness and defense most every night, but the Rockets believe that second-year guard Aaron Brooks is their point guard of the future and have been looking to move either Alston or Luther Head for the past few months.

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/d ... index.html

I hope this won't hurt Houston. Houston still has 3 star players in Yao, Battier, and Artest.

[Alejandrov011]

So Aaron Brooks will start and Lowry the backup...

Houston is still short in PG...


Now a point apart... Everybody was talking about the Suns and their lack of winning... so they should get rid of Amare...

Look the seasons since Amare and Yao were drafted... The Suns had better seasons in general than the rockets... They never got past the 1st round in 7 years...

So why not trading Yao?

[Dan's Brain]

Because Yao hasnt been THE reason for them not winning. And the Suns winning was probably less to do with Amare and more to do with Steve Nash, Shawn Marion and Mike D'Antoni. And the trade talk surrounding Amare wasn't completely due to the Suns not winning, it was more to do with him being unhappy and not playing as well for Terry Porter. Now that Porter's gone, the trade talk just died.

[TheBigEasy]

So why not trading Yao?

Cause after 7 years they are still waiting for him to be that monster down low everybody thought he would be at 7'5'' ... same reason they are not trading McGrady. They still think he is that super star that will carry them to a title ... they should have traded his ass. Than again, his 22 million dollar contract will come off the books after next season (iirc) ... that either gives them a ton of cap space to throw at a FA in that summer or they'll trade his expiring contract at the deadline next season.

[Modifly]

That hurts... eventhough Brooks is a very capable player he still needs a year or two to improve his game. Meanwhile, Alston have been playing superb point guard lately, dishing out assists and scoring when necessary. This deal will probably forces Brooks to start, which is good because it gives him the opportunity to emerge, and Lowry will back him up. Brooks only average 2 points less than Alston, so hopefully he can fully replace Alston soon. What Brooks need to do though is step up his assists.

[NovU]

So why not trading Yao?

Simplifed answer? Money man... Money. : )

[Al Ka Pwn]

yeah, he was playing pretty good lately.
nice trade. can't wait to see how he will gel with the magic.

[Modifly]

Actually it's a good trade for the Magics, and a bad one for the Rockets.

[kevC]

Kyle Lowry is better, younger, and cheaper?

[Modifly]

Kyle Lowry is better, younger, and cheaper?

Indeed, and I think another reason why the Rockets feel it's safe to trade Alston was because they have Brooks, who average only 1 point less than Alston (I said 2 points earlier, my mistake) and have the potential to emerge as a better player in the next couple of years. In turns, Alston has reached his prime and is 33 years old. There is no room for improvement and his game will only decrease in quality as time pass by. Still, he have been playing excellent basketball lately and I still think this trade was a bust.

[NovU]

Indeed, and I think another reason why the Rockets feel it's safe to trade Alston was because they have Brooks, who average only 1 point less than Alston (I said 2 points earlier, my mistake) and have the potential to emerge as a better player in the next couple of years. In turns, Alston has reached his prime and is 33 years old. There is no room for improvement and his game will only decrease in quality as time pass by. Still, he have been playing excellent basketball lately and I still think this trade was a bust.

Great point. I also don't think Alston can be that easily replaceable with Brooks and Lowry at the moment. I'm just hoping remaining big 3 will play better together and make others better too. Houston still does have a strong starting 5 as well as somewhat deep bench in Landry, Hayes and Head. Even without T-Mac, I think they're capable of doing some serious damage into the deep playoffs if mingled right. They always have been a team with great potential thus an exciting team to watch. I think it's just a chemistry that's being questioned in Houston.

[Al Ka Pwn]

la cucha racha la cucha racha.

what? I can't be serious all the time.

[Modifly]

Great point. I also don't think Alston can be that easily replaceable with Brooks and Lowry at the moment. I'm just hoping remaining big 3 will play better together and make others better too. Houston still does have a strong starting 5 as well as somewhat deep bench in Landry, Hayes and Head. Even without T-Mac, I think they're capable of doing some serious damage into the deep playoffs if mingled right. They always have been a team with great potential thus an exciting team to watch. I think it's just a chemistry that's being questioned in Houston.

True, Alston have became somewhat "indispensable" lately. It wont be easy replacing him with Brooks or Lowry, but I'm quite confident that Brooks will eventually make up for Alston. Eventually. What hurts though is that the "Big 3" might be down to "Big 2" now. Regardless, Houston does have a very solid starting 5 and a very capable bench. I too think they're capable of going deep into the playoffs if they handle things correctly. With T-MAC out, the rest of the team will be heavily motivated to step up their game.

Think how it feels like if Houston managed to advance past the first round of the playoffs with T-MAC sitting watch on the bench.

[T-Time3]

with this trade happened,T-Mac out for the season, i think there will be no more playoffs for the Rockets.

but,
PROVE ME WRONG ROCKETS !!!!

[Modifly]

I dont think so. The team has already played without T-MAC for 19 games or something. It's an evidence that they dont need T-MAC to get into the playoffs. He hasn't been contributing much anyway. And dont forget that everyone on the team are forced to step up their game, look for Artest to carry much more work loads. In addition, Brooks have been extremely promising this season and his stats isn't much lower than those of Alston's. With the opportunity to start, I think his game will really develop and he'll soon be one of the better point guards in the NBA.

Houston will definitely make the playoffs. What's questionable though is whether they can get past the first round or not.

[Robert]

Real good deal for both team magic now has a pg that can score and can replace Nelson for now and Houston gets a younger justt as good as Rafer pg

[michael8610]

stupid trade for houston,Alston is very important for Rockets,he is the only one who can pass Yao the ball.
i don't know what the hell is Morey thinking about.And Alston may get the ring in Magic.Good luck, Skip to my lou
And one more thing is T-mac should be traded,he is the reason why the Rockets can not play well in the playoffs,he earns more than 20 million a year and does nothing.

[Andrew]

Better move for the Magic than the Rockets, with Nelson appearing to be out for the season a little more help at point guard won't go astray and Cook has been in and out of the rotation. Alston's contract also expires in 2010 if the Magic are looking to be players in that free agent shopping spree.

[Lamrock]

Desperate move by the Magic to opt for Wafer Alston. I think the Rockets are the winners of this trade; but it really doesn't matter, since they will be a bottom 3 seed and get destroyed in the first round again.

[Modifly]

But with T-MAC out, Houston has a better chance of getting pass the first round.

[Lenne]

I think Skip 2 My Lou is exactly what the magic need, a pass first pg...

[Andrew]

Well, he's a player they could certainly use in Nelson's absence.

[NovU]

But with T-MAC out, Houston has a better chance of getting pass the first round.

I think they have what it takes to get out of first round, even without T-Mac.

I'd say Rockets is a better team without T-mac at least for this year. He's been awful in every aspects this year. No T-Mac is better than Hurt T-Mac. Everyone thought he was fully recovered, but apparently, he was never himself and obviously wasn't a great teammate for anyone. Without him, I think everyone now can focus better on their roles now. They have been fine already this year without him, and I think they will keep this pace up till the end of the season, finishing somewhere between 3-5 seed. If they get homecourt advantage in first round, they will likely to pass the first round for the first time. I'm sorta glad that we won't have to hear T-Mac saying "It's on me" or "It's my fault" this year.

[Jeffx]

I think Skip 2 My Lou is exactly what the magic need, a pass first pg...

Yep, excellent move by Orlando.

[Robert]

So wil Jameer be ready by playoff time?