Daryl Morey has swung hard for high profile free agent names the past two summers and we've finally struck gold with the addition of an elite point guard - Ty Lawson. However, who, in your opinion, would have made the biggest impact? Do you still wish we could have pulled have prior trades and signings? Polled are the 4 players that Morey seriously targeted - all subject to meetings or close to agreements. Also, proceed as though Melo and Bosh would not have succumbed to season-ending injuries/blood clots. Carmelo Anthony - An elite scorer who could play small forward and in the stretch 4 role. His scoring prowess is one of the best around and would have made the Rockets one of the best offensive teams but known for questionable defensive qualities. Chris Bosh - An all-star and 2 time championship winner who would have thrived in the stretch 4 role - post ups and 3s. Experience in playoffs would have been invaluable. His signing would have meant that Parsons would remain in Rockets colours with a max contract and no signing of Ariza. Lamarcus Aldridge - A quality post-playing PF who would stretch opposition defences, recently hitting 35% on 3s this past season. His mid-range and post-up game is one of the best in the league. Rebounding and defence are two of his finest qualities. Ty Lawson - One of the top PGs of the NBA. Offensive skills in contrast to defensive weaknesses. One of a select few to average 15pt, 9.5ast and 3reb in since 1995 which he managed to do this past season. Off court issues (4 DUIs) and alcoholism problems has led to a placement in rehab for a month. Note that we traded scraps for Ty. So each one of these players would/will have made the Rockets significantly stronger and the signing of Lawson is great for the team but 'what-ifs' remain with these players discussed. Do you wish things have gone differently or are you happy with the events of this week?
I'd go with carmelo Anthony. He's one of the top tier superstars. One of the best play makers and size wise is like lebron as he can play multiple positions Melo Bosh [clutch and experienced] Lma Ty
Lawson's obviously not as good as those 3 players, but he's the only guy who we wouldn't have had to gut the team to acquire him, and we ended up basically getting him for free. With that in mind, he's probably the guy I'd want the most. In a vacuum and assuming health, I'd probably rather have Carmelo or Bosh, but given the price tag, Lawson. I was never really on board with adding Lamarcus. Didn't seem like a great fit, IMO.
Bosh would have been an excellent fit with Harden and especially with Howard. That squad with Parsons would have been expensive, but an absolutely unstoppable offensive juggernaut with the interior talent to survive on defense.
1. Bosh. Perfect fit offensively and defensively. Willing to play tertiary role. 2. Aldridge (if retaining Ariza). Great fit, but there might have been clashes with role. 3. Melo. Good fit. 4. Aldridge (if losing Ariza). Would lose a lot on defense. 5. Lawson. Worst fit and player, but got him for absolutely nothing allowing for future moves.
Are you saying Lawson is the worst fit out of anyone or of the guys listed? Either way I disagree. I think Aldridge would have been the worst fit out of the ones listed. I even don't think Melo would mesh well. He's another Harden (needs the ball a lot) but Harden is better and much younger. Bosh would have been great but given his blood clot issues (who knows how he will be health wise later) we dodged a huge bullet there. Lawson is perfect for this team. A facilitator that can drive and finish, pass out to open guys, hit threes and shoots FTs well. Couldn't ask for anything more.
We obviously get hindsight but Bosh and it's not close. Bosh & Lawson. Aldridge & Anthony had little to no interest in coming here. Bosh had some interest and there was a real chance he was going to come. With Lawson, they got a solid player, albeit with issues, for peanuts. If Carmelo was "The key to a championship", what are the other guys?
i'll take bosh over any of them. a stretch 4 that can rebound and play good d is like cheating in 2k for the rockets.
Am I missing something? Was Lawson a free agent? If you count players we tried to trade for, there may be other names that we don't even know about.
Chris Bosh would be the best fit LMA would be a swiss army knife as well Lawson is a serviceable guy but not renowned enough Carmelo is the biggest name here but not the biggest contributor
Lawson wasn't a FA, but regardless I'd have to go with Bosh, assuming the rumor that Parsons would have been matched is true. Beverly Harden Parsons Bosh Howard is about as well balanced of a starting 5 as you could imagine. But I'm pretty damn happy with where we ended up, especially with DMo seemingly coming into his own as a legit post threat.
1. Bosh - Best overall fit, offense & defense. We keep Parsons, who can take some of the playmaking duties off Harden. 2. Lawson - When Harden sits, we still have a playmaker in the game. Harden gets more rest & is fresher for the playoffs. Defense may suffer some though. 3. Melo - Needs ball to be effective. Melo & Harden would be too much iso. Defense would suffer a little. 4. LMA - Would have to improve 3's shooting, but JSmoove did. Does not want to play the 5. Harden still the only ball handler. I'm warming to the Lawson trade. Let him have the steering wheel some on the court, but not off the court.
Seems like the role of the stretch 4 star is the most attractive according to the poll rather than the playmaking abilities of a point guard. Hopefully Dmos development can negate Morey's wishes of the Bosh/Aldridge type player - he was the one right in front of us the entire time!
Harden gonna go absolutely nuts this year not being double/triple teamed as much anymore and our offense should not sputter when Harden goes to the bench for rest
