Agree with you but in a nutshell, it's not simeple because that's pretty much what 80% of the teams out there are looking for, so it's a seller's market in terms of insisting on quality in return. Only exacerbated by the fact that everyone is under the gun to make something happen in just 10 days. The result is bound to be for most teams, you're going to wind up overpaying to reel in a fish like that unless you're just stupid lucky. As an example, I guarantee you that If the Rockets show interest in Chris Kaman, they're going to get the same treatment from Stern again that they got in December, which is that he won't trade him unless he gets a package of young players and picks in return. He'd rather have Kaman walk in the summer then to be accused by the other owners like Dan Gilbert of playing favorites and not getting enough value in return for a deal made in the next 10 days. So it's not going to be simple IMO to land a quality "big" that adds much to the Rockets playoff run. It's going to be costly to engage in any of that I'm afraid. What I'm not sure about is how much pressure Morey is under after these number of years to pull a rabbit out of hat. It's not impossible that he's at the point with this thing where he needs to roll the dice or this thing is not survivable for him. I'm not saying that's true. I'm saying that could be true. Absent that kind of pressure, my view is to refrain from indulging after a "big" until the summer arrives and some of this stuff starts to loosen up a little bit. The Rockets can go ahead and play the hand they've been dealt with some minor alterations.
Here is my logic with regards to trading for D-Will or Dwight this year. There are two possibilities. We somehow convince D-Will or Dwight to stay with us, which would probably lure us the other partner and turn us into annual championship contenders. The second possibility is he doesn't re-sign with us and we're left with a bad starless team. What people need to understand is either scenario is an upgrade to where we are right now. Whether he deserves blame for this or not, the truth is Daryl Morey has the Rockets currently positioned in the absolute worst place a franchise can be located in - the Black Hole of Mediocrity. We're too good to get a good draft pick (props to Morey for continuously finding gold in the draft), but never good enough to contend for an NBA championship. Even if the second scenario occurs and we're terrible, at least for a few years we can stack a couple of lottery picks, which will hopefully bloom into a young superstar. Or, we could always trade for one in the future. All I know is I'm freaking bored and tired of being stuck in the black hole. What's basically separating us from a third straight year of barely missing the playoffs is Denver's health and Minny acquiring a shooting guard (and who would be shocked if it were Martin, just like when Battier helped Memphis squeak in last year). At least trading for even a few months of Deron Williams or Dwight Howard would make things more interesting around here. More importantly, it would remove us from that dreaded black hole.
A couple of problems with that. First, it's most likely not the way Morey or Les see it, so going the "scorched earth" route isn't a decision that would be made before the regular season plays out here and the Rockets finish competing for a playoff slot. Second, part of the reason these superstars (Howard and D Williams) have bothered to be as cooperative with these teams they are currently on in their expiring seasons in the first place, is because they want to avoid being temporarily sent to a destination where they don't want to be. That complicates their lives enormously. And these superstars are trying to make it known to these other franchises that they have no interest in residing there in the hopes of discouraging them from getting involved in this thing. Imagining that you're going to rent these players and in return get the maximum result from them over the remaining couple of months of the season is just crazy. All they'd be playing for is their contract with the league and a small bit of pride. It just wouldn't turn out well for anyone including both NJ and Orlando who would've established themselves to future free agent superstars as a destinations to avoid wherever possible. Howard and D Williams are nearing the end of their dutiful servitude to these franchises. In a couple of months they will have satisfied their rookie obligation to the league and had these franchises done more in succeeding to transform themselves over a period of 6 years or so, into winners, these players would have remained there. But they haven't succeeded and now it's the players' right to assert their free agent will. The Rockets have no business getting in the middle of that unless the players have indicated that Houston is a desirable destination for them. I think all FO's understand that is a step that should not be undertaken because it will not end well for either the league or the franchises that get involved.
Well he makes it seems like it will be vastly different. I didn't expect we would land a major trade. I expected minor trade as always.
I think its funny how interest in Pau keeps getting fabricated... Orlando doesnt want his contract.. Rondo for Pau - nope, just a Kupchek quote that media jumped on... Rose wants Pau - nope denied it... Minnie wants Pau - have Love and Pekovic (higher per at 25% of salary) - dont see it.. Lakers are so over the luxury tax, they turnd down Beasley... That 18.7M+/yr to a 31, 32 and then 33 yr old gasol is poison. The Lakers know it and most of the league knows it. Yet the media keeps speculating as if Gasol's contract is coveted... The Lakers are tryin to 'morey' Morey... and either get Lowry or let DM do the leg work to get them a pg (for Kmart) in a 3 way, while changing out Scola for pau and saving 10M/yr... Jut say NO to Pau! Seriously, who is actually interested in aquiring Pau - other than us?
He keeps saying this. If we have a separate deal for a really good PG, or if Morey is convinced he can bring over Llull and offer the money that Llull wants (not to mention the idea that Llull would be excited to have Pau as a teammate...) But it's too many ifs. I still wonder if Puker is just pulling a Rocket Guy. Make it up, who cares? As long as I get hits on my tweet and ESPN keeps me around.
here's a thought... WE had the pieces to get Chris Paul ('basketball reasons' aside)... and then we coulda traded Lowry for Pau... THAT woulda been brilliant - but Pau's contract would still be poison...
What's up with the media blackballing us ?? Cut the bull**** please, there's no way we trade Lowry and Scola for a washed up animal from the zoo! If Morey is stupid enough to do that, all hell will break loose
I honsetly think there is no interest left in Pau Gasol from our point of view. The only reason we traded for him in the beginning of the year was to have the opportunity to also sign Nene and put out a great front court of Nene/Gasol. Unless it's a 3 way trade in which we only give up a Martin/Scola/Dragic (which I think is alot already...) I don't see Gasol coming here.
With the Lakers playing well recently, including a good win vs the Heat (their first win vs Heat with LeBron), I'll be surprised at this point if the Lakers trade Gasol. With the West so wide open this year, I'm sure Lakers brass feel they have shot to win the conference. They might upgrade the team with some minor moves but not trade Gasol/Bynum.
I think you're right. I don't think they'll come back to the Dwight sweepstakes until after the year....unless word leaks that there is a big deal going down that unites Dwight and Deron somewhere else. Then I think Mitch jumps in at the last minute and offers up Bynum and a pick for Dwight or tries to work out a 3-way that leaves him with enough cap to pick up Dwill in the offseason (practically impossible).
Gasol was not good in the last few games where the Lakers won. Do not need him. St some point the Lakers will slowly decline into oblivian with him and Kobe. Now of course they will rebuild quickly but let them go quietly to the Heat and Thunder in this years playoffs. Do not help them while also not helping us that much.
