Props to Jordan Hill for contributing in the playoffs for a title contending team. I hope he keeps it up as the Lakers move on. I dont hate him now that he is no longer on our team.
I thought he was better than Patterson because he is the better rebounder. He also blocks more shots and dunks/plays above the rim, is taller, and his jump shot is not much worse than Patterson's. Probably a worse team defender and not a clean-cut guy like Patterson and not as smart, but I think he is more athletic and would have been more useful for the Rockets. Not sure why the Rockets apparently thought much more highly of Patterson than Hill.
Hill>Patterson, Trouble>Hill. I didn't watch much, but if Morey had to this again, 100% he would do this. We are getting a draft pick and who knows about the uncertainty of his availbility throught free-agency, his troublesome off-court issues. I'm not losing sleep over TWill and JHill, slightly over Lin if we can't keep Dragic.
You have been on Patterson the whole season as I have been with Martin. Face it.... We have a lot of bench players and some starting material. The difference between Patterson and Hill is not that great. Hill is taller and has less bulk. I trade either one - if I could when Hill was still a Rocket, Scola, Dally and Martin for an upgrade.
Please, anyone who follows the Rockets knows that Jordan is capable of putting up these types of performances. You are forgetting about the 6 out of every 7 games where he seemed uninterested, unfocused, and didnt know where he was supposed to be on the court of every possesion. When Jordan brings the energy, he's a nice energy big off the bench. The Rockets didn't pick up his option because they didnt feel like he was worth the 6 or 7 million dollars he would have been due next season. I would have to agree with them on that front. Instead of loosing him for nothing in the summer, they got a draft pick out of him. What happens next season when the Lakers give him a decent sized contract, and then they find out quickly what happens 3 out of every 4 games when he plays uninspired basketball???.... I hope he does well and earns a permanent spot on a team. I really do. I like the guy and root for him even though I hate the Lakers. However, based on his performance in Houston, the Rockets did the right thing in moving him for a draft pick.
If Patterson was the expiring and Hill still had two years left in his rookie deal Morey would have traded Patterson.
maury got mauryball'd. they didn't have to give up much for him and they're getting value out of him in the playoffs. good move for the lakers.(for the right now)
Are they in the playoffs Reek? Isn't that what you wanted? They are in a better spot than the Rockets, they have assets other teams want. DD
Why are people making it seem like there has to be a winner and a loser with every trade? Why can't we just say it was a great trade for both teams? Hill is contributing more for the Lakers than Fisher would. And they don't really need more draft picks anyway. While there's zero chance Hill will be retained, especially with DMo, Patterson, and possibly even Morris getting spot minutes at the position. And I'm even assuming Scola gets traded here. It's a win-win, which actually is the type of trade Morey usually makes. The best way to keep up relationships with other teams is to make trades that both sides like. This would be one of them.
Meh, What I am saying is that if the Org was really good at evaluating talent (Way up in the air, IMO) then they could have made the same deal with the Lakers for PPat instead of Hill. But, the team took the cheaper route, again and failed to pick up JHill's option whom was productive BTW and playing out of position all year. There is a reason JHill went 8 in the draft and PPat 14....... Yes, the trade was ok for both teams - but the Rox do not need to be jettising talent, they need to be developing it, and if you are constantly turning that talent over - and hoping the next guy gets it, you are stuck in Neutral. DD
I didn't want us in the playoffs. I wanted us to build a contender. You don't do that by signing role players to extensions without having a franchise player. The Hawks are NOT in a better place than the Rockets. No money and locked into mediocre players with no hustle. That's where you're wrong. Morey needed to make room to bring in talent (Motiejunas) next season and the trade landed us another asset (future pick). No need to overpay Hill when Motiejunas has more upside. Don't you complain about that?
So what you're saying is that if Jordan Hiill was Patrick Patterson, the Rockets would have traded him to the Lakers for a 1st round pick. And you are putting the cherry on top by saying that dumping expiring contracts for first round draft picks isn't a sound rebuilding strategy. Staggeringly trenchant.
So if we had traded Patterson for the pick instead of Hill, how does that make the Rockets better significantly? It's not like the Rockets has Gasol and Bynum to keep Hill from getting exposed as a horrible interior defender. Nor do we have Gasol/Bynum/Kobe type offensive talent to get attention away from Hill on offense.