Overall, I like this move, but it's not enough to contend. Nene would be an improvement over Chuck at the 5 and we'd probably go up to 48 wins. Unless we parlay our 4s into athletic shot-blockers or Kmart into someone who can keep people from strolling into the paint, we'd benefit more from a legit shotblocker at the 5 to be a contender than getting Nene. Chandler would've been perfect, but it's hard to imagine he won't re-sign w/ the Mavs to win another ring (and Cuban won't get outbid). Nene has just enough size to clog the paint, but not enough length to bother the shots of athletic wings that blow by Martin. On the plus side, getting Nene let's us play Chuck at the 4 more, which we can deploy against teams with athletic wings and good post players. Scola's role would be reduced, which would be a good thing since he gets exploited by 4s that are either bigger than him or can shoot from outside. If Pat can develop well, we can probably use Scola to trade for a good piece going forward.
Paul would be great and getting Nene here would help get him here. But Howard is going to LA at the trade deadline. He's got some weird Oedipal complex with his long-lost daddy Shaq whose life story he tries to recreate in slightly less grand fashion. In a year's time we will be treated to a Lakers-Mavs WCF and the first of several cameos of DH on a family friendly sit-com on Nickelodeon--not quite enjoying the critical success of Kazaam.
If the team actually knew they have a good chance to get 2 superstars just by clearing Scola's money to create two max room, they would have done it already.
Why would Nene want to play for a lottery team unless they throw money at him? (which is not going to happen) Nene WILL NOT be in a Rockets uniform. Mark.My.Words
The Rockets traditionally play the big man game, so we should be looking for a quality big man, Nene is not that man!
Good point,but we must retain Chuck along with him. He can cover for Nene's inconsistencies to some extent.
The rockets would be in a better situation than nj trying attract 2 max players because they would still have a good team already. If the rockets could somehow work a 3 team trade a get kaman by using scola and someone, this team would be 3 or 4 wins better bbecause kaman is a better defender. In the offseason, they would have the money to realistically get howard and paul/williams without sign and trade or whatever else. How many teams will be able to offer an already in place quality 3rd guy and the young players the rockets will have in morrs,chase,dragic,patterson. Not to mention houston is a great place to play with prestige. They will never get into the game unless they have the money to get these guys together. Now, orlando might get cold feet and jump on a bynum deal and thst nothing the rockets can prevent.
Nene would make us just good enough to make the playoffs for the next 4 years while never getting good draft picks. Unless Morris, Patterson or Donatas turns into a star between now and then.... I'd rather hold pieces in hopes we can finally go get the legit franchise center we need, or stay the same, try to develop our guys and get better draft picks.
I have no problem with people posting purely about their own opinions/speculation - I do it all the time. But what I don't do is state those opinions as if they are fact. How would acquiring Nene help get Chris Paul here? If you have some inside info here on how they'd love to play together, then by all means, share it. Because what I know is Chris Paul has openly talked of joining Amare and Melo in New York and I would assume unless he was presented with a better opportunity (i.e. joining up with Howard, Martin and a considerably deeper team in Houston) that's exactly what he's going to do. As for Howard - we all read the article last year about him fantasizing of playing in Los Angeles - but that destination became considerably less desirable after the Mavs beat them this season and Kobe has clearly declined. Unless the Lakers manage to really turn it around this season, it'll be an even less desirable location by years end. Without a prime Kobe, that team isn't much different from the Rockets - a whole bunch of great roleplayers. The difference? Theirs are all on HUGE undesirable contracts. Pau and Bynum could probably be moved in a rebuilding effort (and would probably be included in a trade for Howard) but guys like Artest and Odom have nearly immovable contracts. And what else do they even have? I really think the Lakers are about to start their own rebuilding process - but all of those long term big contracts are going to really hurt them in getting the ball rolling on that.
Pulease. I agree but this is Morey we are talking about here. I am starting to temper my expectations on the big moves he can pull off consistantly. Especially the ones he want.
Nene reportedly turned down a 4 year, $50 million extension from the Nuggets prior to opting for free agency. http://www.denverpost.com/krieger/ci_18399750 How much does a 29 year old averaging 14 and 7 expect to get?
how i feel exactly. i don't see that kind of worth in him. i hope the Rockets can do better than this.
We have to hope that the new CBA severely hampers the ability of an LA or Dallas to operate so far over the cap without any consequences. I'm rooting for the players to stay their ground against the owners, but hell if the end result is something that makes the Rockets more competitive then I'm all for it. Something to level the fiscal playing field will make a cap conscious management like ours that much more powerful. Right now that's the only way I can see Dwight changing his mind about moving to Hollywood. It would be the college bball equivalent of the NCAA putting a death penalty on a program, if a hard cap wins out.
maybe we can get him for the low, if not gasol. who da *** he think he is? if he just wants to be with another team, i understand. more money?
but i guess he's gonna take advantage of the decline of big men in the league just assuming... we'll see though... but something tells me he wanted out of Denver. who knows.....
