Today's interview of CD, he said we've got 7 guards and forgot to count Charlie Ward. So clearly he isn't in our plans. On the ESPN interview of JVG today, he said our 4 big guys won't cut it and we need another big body. He clearly didn't count Baker in that count. We've heard in the past the Rox are looking for a 2-1 trade. So as great an offseason this has been, they OBVIOUSLY are not done. It'll be really interesting to see how they shed these final few contracts considering how close they are to lux tax land.
Probably not. Baker and Ward are very likely to be dealt and Moochie money goes to Yao's pocket next year.
i think spoon being cut pretty much opened up a spot for baxter upfront. and i agree looking at the guard glut it's pretty obvious the rox aren't done wheeling and dealing.
Well, it sounded like we will have TWO more spots open up. Ward and Baker. Spoon's spot is already used by DA, right? Interesting.
Well I dont know if Rockets will sign Baxter. When asked about Baxter to CD on 610 this afternoon, he said he peformed well and everything but he also mentioned that we do not have that much money as well. So it seems that Baxter might have got a better offer elsewhere. Also JVG likes a veteran type of player so he might be interested in a proven decent player that can play at PF position. JHO might be improving but I think they want another backup PF.
Besides a PG, the Rox need a big bruising PF/C. What if Deke and Yao get hurt...knock on wood. Deke is old and Yao is coming off surgery. They need somebody to fill in. Frankly, they need somebody to take fouls on Shaq. That showdown is definately possible and Deke ain't gonna hold up. Stro can't lean too hard on folks and JHow is also coming off surgury. Where's Antoine Carr these days?
Brian Grant would have fit that model perfectly (though I wouldn't want him on our team). Either the Rox didn't pursue him or he got a better offer from Phoenix.
I don't think Grant would be happy sitting on the bench most of the season. We need a cheap perennial bench warmer that can put a body on people and not embarass us playing spot minutes. A taller and cheaper Spoon would be nice. Maybe Baxter is it but we know JVG isn't fond of rookies.
krosfyah, sorry, I think this argument is bogus. I don't see how anyone would look at our current roster and think: "Yeah, what they need is a big bruiser". We have 8 frikkin' guards on our roster and that makes it pretty obvious another big man is in order. By the way when did JHo have surgery? I know it's off-season but the mis-info seems to gather peculiar momentum this year.
ward and baker for a 4/5. we won't get anyone good, but then again we are only looking to add a 5th big guy.
True. The Rockets were offering up Juwan Howard in trade this summer in order to acquire Stoudamire (a rumor that was offered as fact, I think by an ESPN analyst, maybe Bucher), so is Howard pretty much OK or is he not? CD or JVG (I forget now) mentioned yesterday that Juwan can resume on-court physical activity again. You almost get a picture of Juwan no longer hobbling around dragging his IV with him. And yet they were not long ago offering him in trade....?
Aug. 23, 2005, 11:21PM Another deal looms to ease glut at guard By JOHN P. LOPEZ Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Without the big splash, like landing a Tracy McGrady or getting lucky in the Yao Ming lottery, the Rockets are making waves. There were no superstars coming to town, just super possibilities. In fact, this could be one of the most productive offseasons the Rockets have had in years, considering how much Stromile Swift and now Derek Anderson change things on both ends of the floor. The two biggest problems the Rockets had last season were getting to the rim offensively and keeping opponents from getting to the rim defensively. Both problems became much closer to getting solved with Tuesday's announcement of Anderson's signing. "As much as I loved the team last year and still do, when you lose in the first round (of the playoffs) you have to make some moves," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "It's all about the results we get. Hopefully, we're going to get some good results." Welcomed additions Surely, Swift will finish more fast breaks in one month than the team had in two a year ago. Many of those finishes figure to come courtesy of a pass or break started by Anderson. On the other end of the floor, Anderson will be much more equipped to play lock-down defense on perimeter guards. Better still, if he can't keep them from getting to the lane, having Swift able to cheat off his man for blocked shots is an even better deterrent. So everything we've seen thus far should be applauded. The Rockets have added nice pieces, gotten more athletic and certainly should be better. But here's the most important move the Rockets will make this offseason: the next one. As much as the Rockets are hoping this glut of guards will somehow work, it won't. Not this many — seven with legitimate cause to expect minutes and eight, if you count Charlie Ward. Tinkering with chemistry As much as the Rockets are telling themselves having this much depth and experience makes sense, because of age and recent injuries to players like Bob Sura and David Wesley, it doesn't. In a perfect world, maybe general manager Carroll Dawson's and Van Gundy's hopes would be realistic. That is, considering how happy a family this team became last season — and truly, it did — adding Swift and Anderson should not disrupt things too much. "The chemistry was so great last year," Dawson said. "Really, you would not believe how good this team got along and was in it together." Yes, it was one big, happy family. The chemistry was magnificent. Then the Mavericks threw a stink bomb at the Rockets in a 40-point Game 7 win. Thus, the need for a new look. In the real NBA world, it is rare that there's better chemistry in numbers, especially when you're trying to fit 10 players into barely more than two positions' worth of minutes. Yao and Dikembe Mutombo, after all, will gobble up the 48 minutes at center. Swift and Juwan Howard will fill the ever-important four spot. McGrady will get about 38 minutes, minimum, at the three. That leaves roughly eight minutes at the small forward and time at the point and shooting guard positions for Anderson, Sura, Wesley, Mike James, Moochie Norris, Ryan Bowen, Vin Baker, Ward, Jon Barry and draft choice Luther Head. Even if you count on the Rockets releasing Baker and Ward, that's eight players for basically two positions and a few minutes behind McGrady. "There will be a lot of sacrifices that have to be made," Van Gundy said. "We've sort of protected ourselves in case we're not as healthy as we hope to be. If everybody's healthy, there's only 240 minutes to go around. It'll be challenging." Van Gundy knows better. It's OK to count on 12- and 13-man rotations in church-league games, but in the real NBA world, eight- and nine-man arrangements work best. Head likely should start looking for an apartment in Austin, where an NBA Developmental League franchise will play and could be a Rockets affiliate. The most likely candidate who should stake out a little room on the bench? Barry. Still, there are too many chances for rifts and bad feelings to begin seeping into the closely knit Rockets locker room. And even if that isn't the case, there's another reason to believe the next deal the Rockets make will be the one that solidifies this team as a contender. For all the guards the Rockets have, they still need a big man to help behind Swift, Mutombo and Howard. Baker has nothing left. It might not happen until well into training camp, when coaches can better decide just which backcourt players fit into the plan, but it should happen. September? Early October? These offseason deals have been great. I love what Swift could bring to the fast break and how he will help Yao on both ends of the floor. I love the options for McGrady, who now can run the half-court offense sometimes, run the break sometimes, and has complementary guards who can either slash or shoot. This team has all the ingredients. Actually, it has too many. That's the only thing that could be a problem, unless one more deal is made. Check out Lopez@Large, John P. Lopez's blog at www.chron.com. john.lopez@chron.com http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/3322889
At 6:24 PM yesterday JVG was on 790 and made two very interesting statements ( I was coming out of Specs so I didn't hear the whole thing but) He said too much competition (for playing time) isn't always a good thing because some people get too jealous about their playing time (and it disrupts the team's chemistry). He said we clearly need one more player in the front court because we only have four, Yao Dekembe Swift and Juwan. It was pretty evident from that the Rox intend on moving one or more guards and bringing in another F/C. I'm was thinking "Well Vin, don't bother booking a hotel room for training camp" and "thanks for the effort last year David". (oops this thread was on top..didn't see the 790 thread down below... it's too early)
I think this damn Lopez guy read my thread!!! He basically stole everything I said. I want some royalties.
