Chronic: Time to make the Rockets' FA shopping list

Hey maybe Landry can play a bit at the 2 guard if he can get an outside shot developed in the off season. He and Mcgrady are the same height

 

I agree! I think he would be a good fit for the Rockets, better that most already suggested.

 

We need to understand that Jackson, Battier, Francis, Hayes and Head might be part of a trade inorder to gain the two or three players most needed. I know they are beloved by some and would be missed but it is just part of the game. Only Yao is for sure here on the 2008/2009 team.

 

Agree, but I just don't see them trading Battier. I think Yao, T-Mac, Battier, Landry and Scola are here for sure next year. I see the rockets adding depth using expiring contracts and maybe shopping their 1st round pick as part of a trade.

 

My opinion is if it ain't broke don't fix it. We can hardly be described as broken this year. Just freaky injuries and learning a new system. This team is pretty strong and it'd be hard to find the right guys to replace who we got. If someone on the free agency route falls in our lap then so be it but we don't have much money to give there. If we make a trade it better be some impact player for what we gotta give up. If we can get another big center that's capable of starting that be cool. Ya know if we could run the double high post offense with two 7 footers I'd be in heaven. Imagine if we had Brad Miller..hey I can dream

 

I bet we get Artest for the full MLE. I'm thinking that both he and the Kings are tired of each other, and no one is going to give him a Rashard Lewis-type deal in this summer's market. Man, I'd love to see him and Shane takes turns on Kobe and Manu.

 

i agree with your point about a possible trade before a signing. however, i think all of our starters are safe going into next season.

i don't think the rockets want to add a first round pick to the cap either. i would bet on a draft day deal that send our first round pick + some of our trading chips (jackson, francis, butler, woods [all ending], head, hayes).

 

I said the same thing after listening to his interview with Sportsradio 610. He said something along the lines of giving up some of their assets in trade to get the cutter/slasher that they need.

All I can say is they better trade Chuck to a team closer to me than Houston. Farther out West is not allowed!

But who would be a target in that scenario to fit our system and not be a total waste on defense? And what team would also benefit from a low first round draft pick.

 

Teams that would probably benifit from aquiring a 1st round pick are the teams that currently are stockpiling draft picks and want to kinda start from scratch and make room for some of their youth. ie the grizzlies, sonics ect. If the grizzlies want a late 1st round draft pick and some expiring contracts for Mike Miller, then this draft is the time to do it. Although I don't think Miller is the type of slasher that gets to the basket type that maybe the rockets are looking for, but he can sure as hell shoot and so can Novak.

I would really like to see the rockets go after Pietrus from Golden State, he can really put defenses on their heals with his slashing and is extremely athletic.

 

i don't have much hope for the rockets with any of golden state's free agents. rockets won't have enough of the mle money left after re-signing landry. if the warriors are letting them go because of luxury tax a s&t does not make any sense for them it defeats the purpose.

another thing pietrus and barnes are coming off one year deals because they couldn't get the full mle or more money they wanted.

having a look at the available free agents i think these players are the most realistic ones that won't require a s&t.

2/3
jamario moon
carlos delfino
mikael gelabale
maurice evans

4/5
ronny turiaf

 

/\ also add walter herrmann to that list

 

good choice there.

 

landry can be had with the bi-annual exception. i think that's where his price range will end up with.

moon... don't think raptors will let him go.

petrius and barnes ... if they couldn't get the mle money last year, they're unlikely to get it this time. so either can be had if we pursue.

carlos delfino, mikael gelabale, maurice evans are all reasonable choices imo. but ronny turiaf is too undersized; doesn't fit our team. if deke isn't coming back, i say kwame brown is a viable choice if he comes cheap.

 

the draft pick is a sweetener. the real asset is ending contracts.

the grizz are looking to cut costs. mike millers name has been brought up enough. what about mobley? the clippers would love to get out of his contract. mike dunleavy might be available for endings and a pick (if they choose to rebuild).

 

I don't think the pacers are going to give up Dunleavy.. he ended the season strong. Jermaine O'Neal they might give up, but who really wants him.

Cat Mobley, though I probably shouldn't say it while Tinman is online, is a lot like Bobby Jax in my mind. He's okay, but I think we could do better.

We have done a lot of trading with the Griz in the past couple of years, but do you really think they are going to give up Miller? I don't. I think when they were having their fire sale and let Gasol get stolen, then maybe. But now they are trying to save face. Giving up your only real asset other than Rudy Gay looks bad. Really bad.

Of course, "Wizard" Morey may be able to make one of those deals work, but I can't see any of them really working out to improve the team with what we have to give with the pick in order to make it happen.

 

if they rebuild i'd guess they keep granger and dunleavy. the rest are either constantly injured, trouble the law, or both.

marquis daniels probably fits the description of what morey and adelman want best. a slashing 2/3 with size and plays defense. jackson + head for daniels = -$1.19M for the rockets.

 

Daniels doesn't really shoot that well though. Especially not from range... which we need if he's going to play any with Yao.

That is more likely than trading with Indy for Dunleavy though.

Edit: plus he's another one that can't shoot free throws! LOL That should be a requirement that the guy can make it from the stripe at over 70%

 

Yes and yes. These are the 2 we should be looking at. Smith is exactly what we are missing. Good athalete, good range and is still very young and just coming into his own. All this talk about Ron Arrtest being a trouble maker is over blown. When is the last time he was in any trouble? Artest would give us a strong low post option when Ming isnt in the game. He adds more defense to an already good defensive team without giving up any offense...cough cough hayes....He just brings so much to the table he is worth the risk.

Lets face it this team is built around 2 players that have a long injury history. Its been 4 years now and we havent even gotten past the first round. How much more time do you really think this team has if it doesnt show big time next year. Time is running out, its time to take chances.

 

Is Ricky Davis not a free agent?

Am I blind, or was he not mentioned on that list

Sure, he's had behavioural problems in the past (but when was the last one?) - but strikes me as the ideal 'slasher/ shooter' combo that we'd be looking for off the bench?

He's not an awful defender either.

His last 2 seasons have been 39.7 and 40.5 from the 3pt line
83.9 and 78.7 from the stripe
46 and 43 from the field

Probably fell into the rut of taking too many 3s last season at Miami - but he was hardly given much incentive to play for a win considering the teammates he ended up with!

Did I mention he's a good passer of the ball too?

 

I should have added that IF we are simply looking for someone to draw fouls (and thus make Ming all the more dangerous on the offensive end) then don't we have that already in Steve Francis?

A career 80% FT shooter who gets to the line 6.1 times per contest

His 2 seasons in New York weren't real good (he did get a minute reduction), but I think that he was 4th in the league in terms of trips to the line per 48 minutes?

Considering it's now his 'contract year' you'd think that if he wants to play another season in the NBA he'd need to get himself into the lineup somehow! I know there are the 'Steve's done' brigade, but if he was working himself into the lineup with a bad leg (this season) then there's every reason to believe that (with a good leg) he can do at least as well!