If we trade Shane, we lose an identity...

Great post! Lots of good info!

I'd like to include that like Scola was a steal for us, so was Aaron Brooks. Brooks and Scola were huge in the playoffs and Brooks should be on the most improved player list next season.

 

I agree. Shane Battier basically characterizes our team. A never say die attitude. A giving it all attitude. Amazing commitment to defense.

Battier is an excellant leader.

 

Sorry. I am with you on most of your comment but I cannot see why we gave Trevor a 5 - year contract and deal him the next moment.
Shane and Luis are valuable players without a doubt but I think you cannot be blind about their age, they are not getting younger. In 2-3 years I am not sure if a Shane or Luis becomes injury prone. You'll never know.
IMO if we deal somebody, we better not deal them all and we are supposed to keep Chuck because he comes cheap anyway.

 

Mostly agree.

Shane and Luis are completely different kettles of fish though. Shane is a perimeter defensive expert, Luis is a genuinely good PF at the NBA level who hustles his heart out and can generate his own offence if needs be. Ariza makes Battier that much more expendable - however I'm not saying I'd deal Shane definitely.

Luis is infinitely more valuable than pretty much any other fit player on this team at the moment.

Landry is a fairly "dealable" piece - he's not a starter on a contender, but yet he's young enough to be tantalising for a team to try him out. But I'm not sure what we'd get in return that we'd want?

 

The word identity is hard to define. Because I still think Shane Battiers are kind of a JVG system player who can fit into an Adelman's system but they are replaceable somehow. Battier's defense is fabulous but is too hesitant on the offensive end alot of times except his 3 point shooting.
In RA's system a player like a more mobile version of Artest, an offensive and a defensive player would be an ideal fit IMHO.
He stresses both, offense and defense, but he is more adept at offense. I could be wrong. It is the question if we keep all our old defensive minded players or try to find one or two of those two way players who I suppose will be younger.

 

Interesting post, and I agree to an extent.

BTW - Ariza is untradable (until at least 12/15 or so).

I could envision Riles and DM the GM talking, with PR making the call to try and acquire Battier. I think a deal with him and the expirings for Beeze and Haslim is not farfetched.

I believe Landry and B'cats could be destined.

McGrady is a whole other story. Does he suddenly 'get it'? For his sake, I hope so. Or is he suddenly wanting to 'get it' - his next, and possibly last, big payday? What will the man be like after signing his next deal?

I believe the major moves of the off-season are complete. Potential mega, landscape affecting deal pieces like Amar'e and Bosh...and TMac are not being moved before the new year, probably not til February. Or July.

The biggest move maybes are of the Shane caliber guys. Landry, Lowry and the expirings could conceivably move before training camp. Do the Rox not have more contracts than possible slots? That will need to be sorted.

 

Personally I hate to lose Battier because he is a consumate pro, a great help and position defender and a leader in the locker room. I still cannot look away from the business side and the bigger picture, Battier's talent level is limited.

 

IMO you have to give Trevor time to develop into an near borderline allstar to pull it through

 

wow I can see Ariza alley oop it to Aaron or vice versa

 

Yep, me too. Altho I think Landry + Lowry are too much sweetener; Cook + BB seems righter. or some combo.

I believe Beeze will grow into Duranthood. Be nice if it were at the Toy Shop. Plus, the guy is without a position. He could create mismatches at 2, 3, or 4 depending on (mis)match-ups...

 

we have "T-BAG" still .....................

 

Uh, no we don't. Not even close, actually. We have two broken players earning max contracts, one with a chronically broken foot and the other with a chronically broken attitude. We have too much money tied up in a defensive specialist and we have a nice power forward who'll probably kill our cap space if we re-sign him.

And regardless of what the CF cap gurus say, I still think Morey wants to be a player next Summer. It's one of the reasons he's acquiring so many high production low salary role players, so if we loose Shane or loose Scola, we'll still have enough pieces to fit around a guy like Bosh or someone else.

And anyone who doesn't think the Rockets plan to ditch Tracy simply isn't paying attention. Just take a look at the Rockets cap since Morey came on board. Each year it has shrunk a bit more. Seriously, you think this is by accident?

Nope, Tracy is gone, gone, gone, and I expect the Rockets to try and move Shane, while his value is high. The only player I'm less sure about is Scola. My guess is that the Rockets don't want to overpay him but are concerned they might have to, so it wouldn't surprise me to see them move him, though it wouldn't surprise me as much if they didn't. On Tracy and Shane, I'd be very surprised if they weren't moved before the deadline, very surprised.

 

We lost an identity when we lost Artest.

But I see your point.

 

Shane proved in the playoffs that his lack of offensive ability hurt the Rockets in the playoffs more than his defensive production helped.

Shane is one of the most classiest players to ever suit up for the Rockets. It takes effort on both ends of the court, and sad to say, but Shane doesn't hold up his end on the offensive side.

 

I know this is off topic, but good times here guys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgAKGbKHgEo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFig71NfRSs&feature=related

 

I admit Artest brought Mental Toughness, some brawn and Intensity.
the difference is he never intended to commit himself long time to really identify himself with the franchise
Battier has quietly become a houstonian I would say although he played for Memphis.