I like how we're dismissing his performance as a rookie because he team was too bad, and dismissing his performance as a college freshman because his team was too good. Well done. The off chance? C'mon. The book's not closed on him, he's 21. How mature were you when you were 21? Either way, if he turns into a 20pt 11reb 3ast guy (which isn't far-fetched), I don't give a crap about his maturity. You're acting like he's Thabeet or something. This I agree with. B. the guy is not a leader[/quote] This I don't give a crap about. For starters, he's 21. Young Akeem was a bit of a nutbag too before he embraced Islam in the late 80s, early 90s. Guys mature. Either way, guys with Cousins' talent and Tim Duncan's makeup don't become available, ever. And who says if we trade for him he has to be THE cornerstone guy? I'm not saying blow up the team for him, but if he can be had for guys like Scola, Hill, Courtney Lee, Morris, Patterson etc (and again, I don't think he's getting traded), it would be insane not to pursue.
Feel the opposite way. The Rockets are rebuilding even if it is on the fly. I would try to protect the future core of the team. I think Lowry, Patterson, Morris, and Motiejunas are envisioned as part of future rotation. I would try to keep any trade limited to other players on the team. The worst thing that happens if Cousins flops is that the Rockets get a better lottery pick this season. I haven't seen him much in Sactown, but Cousins was my favorite his draft year. He has demonstrated he is at least an NBA rebounder.
Kyle Lowry is the leader of this team. We don't need everyone on this team to be a leader. Trading for this guy would be really risky, but I think at this point you have to consider taking the risk... because if he pans out it's HUGE. With McHale as the coach? I think we might be able to teach him the fundamentals to be a good big in the NBA. Also, remember, one of McHale's strength is supposed to be motivation. He's not a hard-nosed JVG type that throws anyone that won't play his system in the doghouse. If this risk turns out to be a complete flop, it costs us a few young guys and picks. It wouldn't be a franchise ruining move.
It wouldn't surprise me if Cousins is traded within the next 72 hours. My hunch is that he just hates playing in Sacramento and wants to be in a larger city.
I never left the J Hill bandwagon. J Hill has improved tremendously this year. His touch around the basket is looking good and his jumper has improved. His rebounding has been great. J Hill has been picking up too many fouls and has had some trouble on post defense. J Hill had a late start in basketball. If we show some patience with J Hill he will continue to develop. J Hill can eventually average at least 10 and 10 with a block. Lets just give J Hill the same chance C Bud is getting and lets see what happens.
Why? To me that would be the only way I pull it off. Folks have to get over the fantasy that we can build a contender out of our current core. Joe Joe makes an excellent point. Youth is what is most valuable to us right now. Kevin Martin and Scola aren't awesome guy and good players but they need to be moved for both themselves and the team. They are preventing us from getting into the lottery and take up a lot of cap space. Better if cousins busts that we are a lottery team vs. we bust and we are back to square one.
This goes away for now but its far from over. Kings let the cat out of the bag and now they are just trying to cover up. I'm guessing he's gone by the deadline. Getting rid of a coach because a 20 year old player who has proven nothing, decides he wants him out, sets a dangerous precedent. Guessing they got more Jordan Hills being offered than Patrick Pattersons on the phone lines. I reckon this will be Morey's PR strategy from now on.. deny deny deny until it happens. Fair enough.
Thank you, now maybe we can start looking at his performance in the context of what he actually accomplished. His team at Kentucky was loaded, he had a veteran presence at power forward to do the dirty work so he could hang around the basket and catch passes from John Wall. He was not the focal point of the offense and he never played against anyone who was as big and athletic as him and the best players on the court were always on his team. What he accomplished only has slight relevance because he will never face a situation like that in the NBA. And unless a player does something truly remarkable, then anything done on a 24 win team is meaningless. Every team is going to score 90 points a game, and someone has to get them. Scoring 15 a game on a low shooting percentage isn't something to trumpet. The only thing remarkable he did last year was foul people. a) it is pretty far-fetched that he'll get to 20/11/3. That's basically Tim Duncan's career line. b) I don't care about his maturity except that it will keep him from realizing his talent - which is all he has now. The Rockets won't trade for him, because to do so they'll have to give up more than he's work - which is basically a couple back-ups and maybe a future draft pick.
Wow 26 pages. Did something really newsworthy happen with the Rockets that I missed, or are people just really excited about the possibility of landing this guy?
Trade two starters, who happen to be our two highest scorers, for Cousins? The salaries wouldn't match, even if we were willing to do it, which would be crazy. This isn't trading for an established star in a position of need. This is trading for a second year player in a position of need who may, or may not, work out. A guy suspended by his coach for his "behavior." I'm willing to trade for the guy, but not for that price. I'm also not a "tanker," and clearly you are. A combination of things. Casting about for the move that has not been made, and wondering if this might be a balm for our frustrations.
I think KMart has already done the Sacremento thing and they are not interested in him there either, now they might take Scola, but they are loaded at the PF spot right now. It would probably require some of our young pieces, maybe Llull or DMo, and PPat or CBud and a pick etc.... I doubt they want Kmart or Scola, and IMO, they should be flipped to a contender for draft considerations later anyway. DD
I agree. And lets remember who else isn't a "tanker": Leslie Alexander. So I doubt he signs off on a trade that has a decent likelihood of resulting in "tanking." Also, the Martin+Scola trade from earlier would have landed Pau Gasol + Nene (via cap room created). I doubt the front office view Cousins as having the same value as the Pau+Nene combo.
Apparently Feigen is kind of excited about this, too: http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterocke...k-up-the-sacramento-to-houston-express-again/ It's a guy the team had genuine interest in not long ago maybe becoming available. Speculation, yes, but not baseless.
I keep reading the Nene would have come here part, but he signed for more money in Denver than Houston would have been able to offer. I have serious doubts that the Nene portion was a done deal. DD
