To me, it seems the top priority is getting a servicable big who can defend, block shots, and be atleast a factor offensively. If Yao goes down, you don't want to be stuck with just Scola (like we are right now) or even Bosh and Scola. Maybe that's Hill, maybe we draft for it, maybe we trade for it. If you can do that, then I think we are solid no matter what. DM would be best to lock that issue up, then see if we can get a Bosh, Stoudamire, etc without losing Brooks...although I really don't like losing Scola either.
ahh the ad hominem when nothing else works. oh, here's a word that you might consider that you never mentioned in your post about why we aren't winning. Defense.
Well we could have gotten brendan haywood or dalembert if we really wanted to. I don't think morey has it high on his todo list since he thinks Yao is coming back.
Ironically Bosh who you coveted so badly provides none of that. And the old JVG team had everything but offense. I never said offense alone win you championships. Balance between O and D prevails. Yeah give me a guy who can't create for himself in half-court set and has streaking shooting over a player who can not only shoot a 3 to complement Yao's inside-outside game but can also share the offense load by creating for himself and others please.
No way, no how, you trade Lowry. He was the # 1 draft pick per Morey's and Portland’s' "DEEP BLUE" systems-- AND he is playing like a "winner." We just have to have him for a championship run. If he focuses on the 3pt shot, which he has good form on, this summer--it’s over. I am hoping DM figures out how to keep Brooks and still get Bosh. After all, even I can do a trade for Brooks, Scola, & 2 picks for a Bosh that wants to leave. But as we all should know by now, DM has access to that advanced alien tech....
No he doesn't, but he is good enough offensively that we can play two defensive specialists at the starting positions in Lowry and Battier/Ariza and still be a legit contender.
After last night game, Brooks' value should be quite high for the Raptor. That would be good for us if Bosh wants to come here because we can get a better deal if they really want Brooks. One great thing for us to get Bosh is that he can play both 4 and 5, so we can play Yao less, and still do not lose the offensive power very much, that is not case for Chuck at five.
Please you are overstating the obvious. No one is taking brooks off the dribble anymore then they are taking all pg's off the dribble. Brooks is as quick as lightning he is likely to be beat to the basket than most points but he can be screened easily just like anyone and when they switch we don't have Yao or landry to help. It's not about brooks, we need them. Sure Brooks is undersized but Deron was hitting jump shot after jumpshot on Brooks. If he shoots like that Yes he will be able to burn brooks every game. Fortunately he doesn't shoot 4for4 behind the arc and 13-17 from the field against brooks normally. In fact he has never done that before.Yeah brooks is undersized but he is a testy defender. Deron won't shoot 75% from the field and 100% behind the arc on most nights against brooks. His first game against brooks he shot 6-20, second game 6-14 and 1-3 behind the arc. Everyone can have a great game shooting outside on occasion but he only made 2 layups. Don't jump to conclusions. We give a little on D at the guard spots but Arriza Battier and Yao make up for it at the other spots and if we can get one more shotblocking defensive big we will be a good defensive team again.
Having Aaron Brooks be our scorer is not in the future plans of this team. I don't see him, Kevin Martin, and Yao Ming coexisting very well in starting roles together. Get his value up and trade him.
We are in a conference with Steve Nash, Tony Parker, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Jason Terry, Chauncey Billups, Russell Westbrook as potential playoff PG matchups, would you feel comfortable with Brooks matching up with them with Yao, Scola, Battier, Martin OR would you rather Lowry match up with them and have Yao, Martin, Battier Bosh/Stoudemire at PF? That is a decision that Morey will most likely face this offseason. Aaron Brooks is our best trading chip, now that landry is gone, he has cheap contract, good stats, and a backup that is arguably just as good.
There is no reason for the Rockets to trade A.Brooks. In my opinion, he's our most valuable player on the team, yes, more than Y.Ming. You can depend on A.Brooks, you can't on Y.Ming. If its injuries that are stopping Yao, it's atheletic players that continue to front Yao giving him fits in the post. If I remember correctly, Alston and McGrady was probably the lowest shooting % guard combo in the league. Now, give Ming Brooks and Martin, I love the future outlook on that. Brooks, just like Deron Williams, Chris Paul, should be considered untouchable. He's getting better and better.
I would trade Brooks for Bosh... but that's just about the only person whom I'd trade him for. Yes I used the word "whom" in a forum, I'm educated. You also ended your sentence with a preposition.....so....
DD is owning y'all! My biggest worry about Brooks coming into this season was whether he would ever be able to finish consistently around the rim because he is undersized by traditional NBA standards; he has far exceeded my expectations and has IMO has pushed himself into the argument for being one of the top five point guards in the league. He is easily top ten point today. In summary AB should be a piece to build around and not a piece to be traded away. The Houston Rockets core for the future is AB, KMART and Yao (fingers crossed here), and if they all are able to play their roles, looking at you Yao, then we will have the pieces around this core to win and win big next year; this year I just hope we sneak into the playoffs where the world will get to appreciate what a special group we have here.
Brooks is playing extremely well, but if you can get Bosh for him you do it. It's a no brainer. We're short on bigs. We can't rely on Yao's health long-term and Scola's pushing 30. A Bosh/Martin combo is deadly inside and out. A starting lineup of Lowry/Martin/Ariza/Bosh is a great balance of offense and defense and they're all in their mid-20's. It's a lineup we can keep together for years. Anything extra Yao provides is just gravy. Also, good bigs are harder to acquire than good PG's. With Yao/Bosh/Martin on the floor all we'd need is a PG that can defend (priority #1) and shoot.
Agreed on all counts. Brooks has benefited the most from this dreaded "developmental" year, as was expected. He can score from practically anywhere on the court, and while he has trouble against big, deep front lines, he's gotten ridiculously good around the basket. If you're looking for a scoring point, you can't do much better than Aaron Brooks right now, and as he and Martin figure each other out, it's only going to get easier for him. I think Brooks would have to be the centerpiece of any sign-and-trade deal for Bosh. I'm hoping Morey can get something done on that front, because as much as I like Brooks, the chance to get Bosh in Houston is too tantalizing to pass up. I might consider swapping Brooks as part of a deal for Amare Stoudemire, too, but Bosh is far more attractive for a number of reasons.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but if Bosh demanded a S&T to Houston or he'll walk to NY or whoever, what choice does Toronto have? We could offer them Battier, Scola, picks, and filler to make the contracts work. Why would they pass on that? They get veteran leadership with production in Scola and to a lesser extent Battier (he's expiring next year anyways) and they get to bolster themselves with young talent through the draft. Or, they can let him walk and overpay someone in Free Agency and continue to be mediocre for the next 3 years. I think the choice would be pretty obvious. If it comes down to it and we have to give up Brooks for Bosh, yes you do it. Of course. But the idea of having 2 insanely fast guards who can create, slash, cut, and shoot at volume EFFICIENTLY to help spread teh floor and punish teams for trying to slow down Bosh and Yao is tantalizing. AB wouldn't score 20 a game next year with that lineup, but the threat that he could would cause havoc on opposing defenses.
DD is right, what does Bosh give us at max money.When scola can give us at a lower price?Please don't say shot blocking and Defense.
