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[Yahoo] Lowry is younger, better, cheaper than Alston.

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Spacemoth, Feb 19, 2009.

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Spacemoth Contributing Member

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I thought all the apocalyptos out here would welcome some Rockets support from the media somewhere, even if it was Kelly Dwyer's:
LINK

KD said:

Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:45 pm EST
Rafer Alston to Orlando, Lowry to Houston, Cook to Memphis

By Kelly Dwyer

Rafer Alston headlines this deal. People know who he is, they know Orlando needs a point guard, and all the attention will be focused along those lines.

But the Houston Rockets made a huge move, here. Picking up Lowry, who is younger, better, and comes cheaper than Alston? Big, big move.

The Rockets also got Brian Cook, who badly needed a re-start to his career, while the Grizzlies get a first-round pick from Orlando. I wonder if the pick is deferred, or if there are some stipulations to it. You see, Memphis is trying to cut costs, at any, uh, cost. And a lower-rung first round pick (Orlando is due to select 27th in this June's Draft) comes with a guaranteed salary.

And that's fine, if you get the right player. But if the pickings are slim, and you get a second round-type talent that you have to pay guaranteed money for a few years, you're kind of left holding the bag. No matter what your salary structure is.

Coincidentally, the Grizzlies have the 27th selection in last year's Draft already on their team, in goofball big man Darrell Arthur.

Lowry is definitely worth a first-rounder, the guy can really contribute across the board, but I'd be surprised if the Grizzlies don't trade the pick come draft night. The team has the cap space to take on a good player without giving anyone up save for a draft choice, and even if the Grizz pass on making a big move, this pick seems due to sell off to a team like Portland.

Back to Alston. He can help the Magic, make no mistake, but I can't help but think the Magic would have been better served just sending Cook and a pick to Memphis for Lowry. The Grizzlies have the cap space to absorb the difference in salaries, Lowry is contributing more per-minute than Alston is, and he's nowhere near as inconsistent as Rafer can be.

I'm not trying to pump up Lowry to be more than he is, he's an average point guard with Kidd-like abilities on the glass, but Rockets fans should be quite chuffed with this move. Magic fans should be too, this is an upgrade over Anthony Johnson, but I can't help but think they should have gone for Lowry.
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#1 Spacemoth, Feb 19, 2009

henGoOink Member

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lowry>alston

#2 henGoOink, Feb 19, 2009
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Spacemoth said:

I thought all the apocalyptos out here would welcome some Rockets support from the media somewhere, even if it was Kelly Dwyer's:
LINK
Click to expand...

It looks as if Magic got fools gold.

#3 UrlPerlMonroe, Feb 19, 2009
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Nice, definatley some positives in there.

#4 larsv8, Feb 19, 2009
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When do I get to see the Yahoo reports of T-Slacks fake injury,and how he isn't having surgery .

#5 RocketMania1991, Feb 19, 2009
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Rafer is more proven, although he has not proven much there is no denying that as a player he has proved/accomplished more. By the end of their careers I am not sure who will be better. This deal is for the present and the future. In my opinion when I first saw this trade I wasn't a fan of it. I had to read a lot of Lowry's scouting reports and understand what kind of player he was before realizing this trade is good.

#6 Olajuwon2Yao, Feb 19, 2009
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how come Magic didn't tale Lawry?

#7 RocketsHero, Feb 19, 2009

michecon Contributing Member

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The title should be:

This author thinks Orlando is so dumb that they have absolutely no clue.

#8 michecon, Feb 19, 2009
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RocketsHero said:

how come Magic didn't tale Lawry?
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because they wanted a veteran pg

#9 Blake, Feb 19, 2009
Spacemoth Contributing Member

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Here's Hollinger's trade grade, which just came out a couple minutes ago. I didn't think it deserved it's own thread so here you go:

LINK

JH said:

Houston: Once Tracy McGrady went down, it became clear that the Rockets needed to put their title hopes on hold for another year, which immediately made Alston more expendable. Alston is 32 and makes nearly $5 million, so he was a good candidate to be moved to a contender for some youth.

Instead they'll try to groom the 22-year-old Lowry as his successor. He's a defensive dynamo who is quick and tough and can push it in transition. The question is whether he can run a half-court offense. He's a little erratic as a driver and his 24.6 percent 3-point percentage tells you about his shooting prowess. But he's young and he'll be on an inexpensive rookie contract next year, freeing up money for the Rockets.

Anything they get from Cook is gravy. He's 6-9 and can really shoot it, but has been out of shape and needs to hit the gym to get his career back on track. Grade: B

Orlando: A nice save for the Magic, who probably hit the phones in horror as soon as they saw Chris Paul tear through their stopgap point guards on Wednesday night. Alston makes a lot for what he produces, but he goes way back with Stan Van Gundy, so he should be able to run the offense from Day 1, and his ability to defend should allow Orlando to hold down the fort at point guard with Jameer Nelson out for the season.

This deal solidifies Orlando's standing as the East's No. 3 team and puts the Magic on a likely course for two playoff rounds. Alston also will upgrade the backup point guard spot next year when Nelson comes back.

Foyle and Wilks had to go to make the cap math work. Only their friends and families will notice. Grade: B

Memphis: I didn't like seeing them give up Lowry for a first-rounder, especially the late pick that they'll be getting from Orlando.

At the same time, I understand the logic. First, this settles the Conley-or-Lowry question -- as well as Mike Conley has played the past few weeks, he's clearly the team's point guard of the future. And the Griz probably weren't going to get any more than this for Lowry at this stage in his career, so it makes sense to get a pick they can use to address other needs.

That said, I just can't shake the feeling that he's worth more than this. Grade: C
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#10 Spacemoth, Feb 19, 2009
ivenovember Member

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I posted this a couple hours ago:
http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=163047

lock it up

#11 ivenovember, Feb 19, 2009
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I think Lowry will flourish with this more disciplined Team than with the messed up grizzlies.

#12 dkoune, Feb 19, 2009
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michecon said:

The title should be:

This author thinks Orlando is so dumb that they have absolutely no clue.
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Orlando and me thinks that this writer is so dumb he has absolutely no clue.

#13 Marsarinian, Feb 19, 2009

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Ok, some good news coming from informed sources, I'll give KD a pass here, I am really glad to be rid of Rafer Alston and the youtube video with The Logo talking up Lowry, along with our own GM talking him up as the most talented player in the trade has really got me hoping we got a steal here.

At worst we rid ourselves of the paper floor general so it's a win in that respect.

And before I'm jumped on, I would like to thank Rafer for playing and starting all 48 of our games, that effort was appreciated. However, I never thought he was as good as he thought he was and certainly not as good as all of the closet Rafer knob slobbers around here, glad he was traded for, and I'll remain guarded in my optimism, a potentially better player.

In my best DD Rocket's Talk impersonation, CccccccYa.

Rock on DD, like your vids.

#14 Summer Song Giver, Feb 19, 2009
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Blake said:

because they wanted a veteran pg
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And in all likelihood, Jeff Van Gundy made a strong recommendation to his brother Stan Van Gundy and the Magic for Alston.

#15 djperm, Feb 19, 2009
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RocketsHero said:

how come Magic didn't tale Lawry?
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Because Stan Van Gundy is very comfortable with Rafer.

#16 Donatello, Feb 19, 2009
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djperm said:

And in all likelihood, Jeff Van Gundy made a strong recommendation to his brother Stan Van Gundy and the Magic for Alston.
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And he already played with Stan Van Gundy...so he knows his game.

#17 djperm, Feb 19, 2009
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michecon said:

The title should be:

This author thinks Orlando is so dumb that they have absolutely no clue.
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All he said was he thinks they may have been better off trading for Lowry instead. That doesn't translate to "They are dumb and have no clue."

#18 durvasa, Feb 19, 2009

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yeah because Alston is just a rent-a-pg for now, he'll prob get traded again next year, i agree lowry would be better in the long run for the magic, they're a contender, but realistically they probably won't win a ring this year, so i dont think they needed that veteran pg, it's not like jameer was.

#19 RV6, Feb 19, 2009
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RocketsHero said:

how come Magic didn't tale Lawry?
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They need a proven pg that can spread the floor, protect the ball, and defend.

They don't need a slasher, they are a jump shooting team.

Lowry is not a proven player, he can't knock down 3's, and I'm not sold on his ball handling skills just yet. Only thing he has going for him is defense, slashing, and a higher ceiling then rafer.

The magic are going for the safer player.

#20 DrJB25, Feb 19, 2009

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