And the best part of this strategy is that it's risk free. Well, I guess you run the risk of losing the entire fan base and running one of the more profitable franchises in the league into the ground, resulting in the owner moving the team to another city since for Alexander this is his sole source of revenue. But yeah, besides that it's practical risk free.
Nothing you said makes any sense at all. There are tons of examples (including the Rockets with Dream) where fans cheered for their team to tank. Nor is Les moving the team, not happening. What should concern Les (and I'm sure it does) is that season ticket holders are staying home. That's because fans know the score. The Rockets are screwed until they acquire a healthy superstar. And how do you get that superstar? You tank, that's how, just like every other NBA team that isn't lucky enough to be in LA, NY, Chicago, or Miami.
This was before the lotto. We won a coin flip for the #1 pick. If we were guaranteed a 50% chance of the #1 pick next year than I would reluctantly agree with the pro tankers. But thats not how it works anymore.
You must've missed the part where I said if we had a hypothetical 6-8 pick rather than the 14th. At 14, I agree with you. Hence, the need to move up.
Just curious. Would you like for the Rockets to draft someone like Dwyane Wade? Or CP3? Or Russell Westbrook? Or Dirk Nowitzki? Or Kevin Garnett? Or any other superstar that not only weren't the #1 pick, but not even top 3? In the hands of a GM who knows talent, you don't need the #1. Just like the general consensus for best player in the history of NBA was not a number one pick.
My point is one that I think anyone with a basic comprehension of statistics and probability understands. There is just a lot of risk in the lotto and draft as a whole. No pick is guaranteed to be yours and even when you do have that top 5 pick that still doesn't guarantee you anything. The lotto has yielded more busts than superstars, like you said the best player isn't always taken in the top 5 picks, the possibility of being stuck perpetually in the lotto like so many other franchises have been are all HUGE risks involved with tanking. I just don't see an overwhelming edge to tanking in our current situation. We are far from terrible and with the possibility of being a player for any of the 3 elite guys coming on the market who we know above any doubt are already superstars. Until all hope is lost on that front I don't see why continuing to improve where we can and continuing to bring at least an attempt at a winning attitude and wreaping the benefits that comes with a winning atmosphere is such a bad thing.
I do not at all think they need to rebuild, though I like the idea of trading enough veterans every year to have two 1st-round picks, hopefully turning those into a higher one. I would trade Scola for Nene, if for no other reason than we really need a center. Note that we could always give Hayes time at PF. Oh, and I really hope we bring Hayes back. And for what it's worth, I have no problem with the Chronicle writers except Jesse Solomon.
Seriously? Perhaps not. No to Nene or Chandler. We've got 3 very good players and maybe one might still be around before we're competitive. Making the playoffs in the NBA is less impressive than winning the NFC West or AFC South. Ugh...
He doesn't have to be but he could be one piece to the puzzle. Morey ain't gonna tank. If he will upgrade the center spot, he will. I think Nene to Houston is a strong possibility if Nene wants to be here.
I can see why Morey might go "all in on Nene", as some journalists have said. Assuming Morris makes 1.9 m, which is in line with last years rookie scale, D-Mo and Parsons play overseas next year, Chuck Hayes is not resigned, Thabeet is amnestied and Blakey/Cousins are cut.... The max amount of money that the Rockets could offer Nene would be: 13.9 million He turned down 12.5 million a year with the Nuggets, so its possible he would take this offer. I am not sure Denver would offer a similar deal and I think Indiana/Sac would be hesistant to match or if those are even desirable locations to him. Going into 2011 our lineup would be: Lowry / Dragic / Flynn Martin / Lee / Williams Budinger / Morris Scola / Patterson Nene / Hill In an 82 game season, that is probably a 45-50 win team, and possible 8 seed. That would leave us with 44 million in guaranteed money for five players going into free agency 2012. I don't know the min roster cap hold rules, but even with Nene, we would still have a large amount of money to offer a max caliber player with a solid lineup in place with Lowry/Martin/Scola/Nene/Morris. The really nice thing here is that the Rockets could still end up with 2 max caliber players if the cards fall right. If CP3 (or Dwill) and Howard are theoretically coming in, Lowry and Scola can be moved, while still maintaining an elite lineup. If you make a play at the deadline for CP3 or Howard, you can offer Scola/Lowry/Morris/2012 #1 for either one, which just about as competitive offer we can make, while leaving near max money for another in free agency. Even if they aren't moved at the deadline, the same deal could be used in a SnT in free agency while having significant money to offer the other. Its important to point out however that in order for this to work, say goodbye to Flynn, Hill, Twill, Dragic, Lee, Patterson and Budinger whose options would have to be passed in order for money to be available. I am not sure on the timeline of the options in regards to free agency, but there is risk here. I would not be surprised to see these guys moved even as early as this offseason for future salary to fill in roster spots later for a gutted team. Luckily we have many guys overseas who could be called over to fill out a roster (Llull, Parsons, Dmo, Harris, Newley, Leunen, etc.) Regardless, even with Nene getting significant money from the Rockets, we would still be major players in the Howard/Cp3 sweepstakes, perhaps even in a better position.
I'd keep Hayes and see what you can get for Scola on the open Market. Maybe see if Indy or Philly would bite on a Scola+Williams+Budinger for Granger/Iguodala. Remember the Rockets were interested in Granger at the deadline. Besides, I think a package of Patterson instead of Scola in your scenario would be more attractive. We'd roll into the season, assuming we can get an Iguodala/Granger for Scola fillers with this lineup with the addition of Nene. Lowry/Dragic Martin/Lee Iggy or Granger/Morris Hayes/Patterson Nene/Hill We could still then offer up Patterson+Morris+Lowry+Fillers for CP3 or Howard at the deadline, assuming we have a Melo situation at hand. I doubt that any of that happens though....but you can believe, can't you?
No. We have tried this, except instead of nene we had chuck, who is arguably among the best big man defenders in the league, even at his height. And you're wrong, with a team like the rockets it is all about blocked shots and being a dominant presence in the paint. That's why we went from being one of the best defensive teams in the NBA to among the worst after Yao went down and we lost deke. That is also something that nene, who averaged less than a block a game and 7.5 ****ing rebounds ( yeah that's pathetic ), and chuck ( little more than half a block ) will never be able to provide. Nene isn't an answer, neither is chuck. Someone like Bogut is perfect for the rockets. A dominant defensive presence that can protect the rim. A solid center is the cornerstone to a defense. Saying that blocks, or the actual threat of a block ( the ability to change a shot ) isn't important is borderline ****ing r****ded. That is all that is important.
lets keep prayin that DM will make a big time move for a Center...but my hunch tellin me that we gonna end up with Okur via amnesty cut...sadness!
Nene is going to get pizzaid We've already told you that Nene is the top free agent in the market. But the thing is, it's a weak market. The best players are in restricted free agency and therefore are difficult to acquire. The unrestricted market is full of players with huge limitations or age and injury concerns. As such, you'd expect spending to be limited. After all, teams just got done holding a five-month lockout based on saying that spending to much on players is the problem. Nope! Back to the market with their pockets full of change they go! First, from the New York Post: The players the Nets likely will pursue have been out there: Nene, Tayshaun Prince, Jamal Crawford. Then there is always the sign-and-trade route, which seems more feasible again as the new deal apparently will allow for immediate sign-and-trades like in the past. via Nets ready to get to work on Williams, 'going home soon'. OK, well, sure, the Nets want to sign him. The Nets are always looking to overpay for a free agent. See: Outlaw, Travis. But surely there's not some sort of huge buyer's market for him, right? Nene is excellent at what he does, but he's not a star. Teams aren't goin to go gaga... oh. From the Houston Chronicle: The Rockets have some hard decisions to make. They’re going all out for free-agent center Nene. He’s 29 years old and coming off a season in which he averaged 14.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Nene is 6-11, 250 pounds, and Morey believes putting him in a lineup with Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin would give the Rockets three to build around. via Rockets will target Nene in free agency, and if they don’t get him, will consider a full-blown reconstruction. | SportsJustice | a Chron.com blog. Then you have the Nuggets, who have a world of cap space and every intention of re-signing the Brazillian center. If this winds up being an arms race, they have a good chance as anyone, given Nene's comfort level there. Then there's the possibility Nene could forgo the money and instead opt to chase a ring, putting the Knicks and Heat on the radar. Either way, Nene's goin to be the most sought-after player on December 9th, and there's a pretty good possibility that after a summer talking about controlling costs, a team is going to dramatically over-commit in pursuit of Nene. http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22748484/33526064
