I agree that adding more players will still cut into minutes elsewhere on the team, we should be concentrating on trimming payroll and adding draft picks at this point IMO. I say let Sura's contract expire and package Skip to a team at the trade deadline for picks, a TE, cash, etc... JLIII will be traded before camp starts, Landry's going to the D-League...
It is important to note he is only rating imrpovement, not quality of the team. While the Celtics are the most improved team according to the rating they only won 24 games last year. They had no where to go but up. They would have to double their win total from last year just to come within 4 games of the rockets. It is amazing that the rockets won 52 games, had almost no real assets and managed to pull off one of the most improved offseasons in the league. Phoenix at 6 is the only other team in the top 10 with a winning record. I mean think about the facts that the Celtics had to pull in two superstars and trade away almost all of their young talent to surpass the rockets in terms of improvement. Not too shabby Morey.
here is my idea if we trade with clippers we get tim thomas and maggate we trade rafer, battier, novak, and lucas
how the clips lose? they get a good starter (battier) imo, battier isn't a good bench player, and maggate is a great instant offense, off bench. and tim thomas, can be our 3rd pf, we're looking for. While they get rafer which they need a pg. lucas and novak is for fillers, and also roster space. they are young, and can be developed.
clips lose big time. they already have a defensive specialist. Quinton Ross. They don't battier as well. Thats like getting two Bruce Bowen's.
Ross got no offense. battier has a legit 3 point shooting. it wouldn't be getting 2 bruce bowens, its having 1 bruce bowen, and 1 ryan bowen. (sort of)
I would probably do that trade. Tim would add some extra depth in the front court and he also has the ability to spread the defense with the ability to knock down the 3pt shot. Maggette is not a great 3pt shooter but he is very aggresive on offense and has the ability to take over a game. He can also create his own shot which is something that Battier can not do. If Maggette could stay healthy the guy IMO is an all star caliber player. IMO that trade would definitely make the Rockets better but I'm not sure that the Clipps would be interested in that deal. Maybe they would but who knows. They could certainly use Rafer and Battier does not have the health issues that Maggette has had over the years.
I'd be concerned with our defense if we made that trade. Neither Maggette or Thomas are considered good defensive players, and we're already lacking in perimeter defense as it is. It would be sad if whatever improvement we make in our offense is offset by a drop in defense. That's why retaining players like Battier and Chuck Hayes is vital, in my view.
I think Battier is a great help defender and a great defender in transition but I think when TMac decides he wants to defend he is a better one on one defender than Battier. I really like the idea of Maggette (who is a high energy player that can dominate) coming off of the bench. He can flat out run the break as well. I also really like having someone like Tim Thomas that can spread the floor from the 4 spot and even start at PF or C in a pinch. No he is not a great defender. IMO TMac going back to the small forward position would be a great move for the Rockets and one that I really believe Adelman will do. This would send Battier to the bench. I like Battier but I would rather have Maggette's offense coming off of the Bench than Battier. Of course this all hinges on the question...Can Maggette stay healthy? Who knows.
I don't know but I am going to go out on a limb and say that if you asked 30 NBA coaches that 30 of them would take Battier over Ross. Battier is a starting caliber player and a damn good one. Ross IMO is no more than a rotation player and will never be more than that. Besides Ross is a true guard and Battier is a true small forward. Battier in the starting line up improves the Clippers.
I've said it before...I don't think we will be looking to upgrade anymore unless it miraculously gets us under the lux tax number. Thats about as likely to happen as Les paying the tax.
I know that, but i'm saying that Ross is a very good defender and so is Battier. Neither of them can create there own shot really. Clippers wouldn't do that trade i don't think unless they really want a 3 point shooter.
y wouldnt clipper do it? we got francis when we already have james. they trade away something good for something they need, which is rafer (a point guard) and if your not a clippers fan, u no that clippers are no where near contending level especialy in the west. they might as well try to get expiernce for their young ones, livingston, lucas, novak.i think thats their main goal should be. having veterans that are classy (rafer and battier; cassel, brand) that can help young ones.
they would not trade maggette and tim thomas for those guys though. They would want more in return. Tim Thomas for Shane Battier is the only thing the clippers would be interested in not the Corey Maggette one.
