Some of you guys realize that a big reason why the Rockets run right now is that they don't have a low post game, right? I would think with a proven half court lost post presence that the Rockets offense would look differently. I'm sure the pace would still be quick, but not as fast as it is now.
Listen, I don't think anyone really thinks a old Gasol is the ideal or long term solution. But he is a reasonable stop gap....one that doesn't cripple us from a real bonafide upgrade for the 2nd legit Allstar. Priority Plan #1A: sign a star/superstar (lbj, love, lma, etc) Priority Plan #1B (if A is not an option): sign an significant contributor on a friendly contract that helps or at least doesn't hurt 1A if/when it becomes available. Plan 2: sign a borderline Allstar (jsmith, milsap, etc) to a multi year deal to compete and improve now. This essentially limits your ability to go after Plan 1 unless you can parlay this players contract as a trade chip. But you'd no longer have cap space when cap space is king in getting a deal done. No cap space means having to give up a lot more in a trade if the other team is willing to deal with you.
You know what team plays very a similar style of basketball as the Rockets current team???...The Spanish National team. Go look up Pau's stats in international play, and see how he played this last Summer against team US... a team that featured Lebron, Durant, and CP3 "storming towards the basket." No Wade though... Also- How many rings does Josh Smith have? How many does Gasol have? Look, you obviously love Josh Smith, and that's fine. I just hope that you and other Smith fans realize what signing Josh Smith this Summer means for the Rockets. It means that the Rockets believe Josh Smith alone with the current team is a contender because the financial situation he will put the Rockets in by signing with them as a free agent will tie them up from going after another max free agent. Trading for Gasol as an alternate plan if either they miss out of Dwight or Love, LMA, Cousins' etc. aren't available to trade for first, does quite a few things that signing Josh Smith does not do. -Give flexibility with him only being on a one year expiring. Can still trade him in a package easily for a max player should one come available at any time. -Gives them a more dynamic offensive player that you are capable of running your offense through -Gives you the ability to plan for 2014 free agency. Check out the list below(not updated after trade deadline transactions). Im sure you will see some names of player you might like to see in Rockets red. http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8589693/nba-free-agents-2013-2014 With a successful year next year with a young core, and cap space, I would be willing to bet at 34 years old, Pau Gasol would be willing to re-sign back in Houston after next season as well if you weren't able to pull another massive trade and wanted to focus on free agency 2014. You could look at adding a major free agent in 2014, and still hold the bird rights to sign Pau Gasol as well. Look, I know everyone can't stand Pau Gasol on here, but you can't ignore the amazing flexibility the Rockets would have next year if they aren't any other max salary worthy players available. I like Josh Smith, but I think he's the kind of player you try to add AFTER you have your core 2 or 3 star players in tact. If your banking on him to be the key to this team winning a championship... I think you will be wildly disappointed.
Gasol is the most EMO person. JLin is a tough guy off the court in comparison. Not entirely over. Morey is only regretting his interest in Nene whose production has been a tad down. Morey still likes his rebounding. However you ask yourself are his knees ok? His antics with the National team being racist sticks. And him being demolished and humiliated, dunked upon by Griffin does not help either. BTW did I mention that his knees are shot? True. I won't gamble here. Yet again his knees are done.
Truth...it's not that I like Pau better than Smith for this team. I don't really like either. But I like pau's contract better than the one smith would require.
Daywalker- So a 32 year old professional athlete that has been playing basketball almost every day since he was 12 years old for the first time gets diagnosed with tendonitis in his knees is somehow done with basketball and injury prone? I dont want to point fingers at people and say "you've obviously never played organized sports" or anything, but your inside knowledge of the health of Gasol's knees is questionable at best especially when tendonitis is extremely common. I had bad tendonitis in my left knee when I was 24. Im not a doctor or anything but i have enough experience playing sports to know that tendonitis is very normal in ANY athlete, and while it could slow you down a bit, and require more rest, its in no way going to make you retire from ever playing the game at a high level. Here is a video segment from Open Court where Kenny Smith tells a story about the first time Hakeem(at around the same age as Gasol) first started getting tendonitis. Fast forward to the 7:20 mark, and get your insight from an athletes standpoint of tendonitis. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJF85jF2zJI Do your homework first before you start to claim that Gasol's knees are done please. I hate hearing this BS time and time again that he is now all the sudden injury prone, old(32 years old), and his knees have given out to where he wont even be able to play for another year to finish out his contract. Its getting completely ridiculous. Again, you just dont like guy cause you think he is annoying looking, a Laker, or whatever just own up to it. Using his health as a campaign is insulting our intelligence.
In no way is Josh on my fav list, I prefer Aldridge. Its just easy to realize josh has more to offer than an aging Gasol. Athleticism, Defense, and fresh legs...
I guess the more appropriate question in my mind then is do you prefer Smith over the chance to sign LMA, Love, or any of the 2014 FA class? Because I don't think you can do both.
if all else fail with our pursue of getting love or aldridge I would bring in josh. Gasol needs to stay away from houston with those noodle legs, and lazy ethics.
If Morey doesn't like any of the '13 FA, I can see him rent an amnestied Gasol for a year and trade him in a deadline deal to get more assets (if they appears to not be a title contender next season).
We run because as Morey has stated, that is the style Alexander has been trying to put in place for while.
Losses like tonight just hammer home the fact to me that a team as reliant as we are on the 3 ball could really, really use a reliable low post scoring option for the stretches when the jumpers stop falling.
Of course, I would rather acquire Love, Aldridge, or even Cousins. That's not the point. The point is assuming those guys are not available on draft night, I think it might make sense to try and steal away Gasol from the Lakers for a one year rental(tryout). You say you would rather have Aldridge.. well then why settle for the guy about to get overpaid that will kill the Rockets flexibility to go after a true #2 option. At this point its going to take that little bit extra that they can get from that second go-to player thats going to put them over the top. Why lock yourself into someone that isn't really that guy. FYI, trading for Gasol wouldn't hurt the Rockets pursuit whatsoever of a high caliber target like Love or Aldridge. It actually might help it with the large expiring that they can use to help clean the books of that team of bad contracts in a full blown rebuild ALA the T-Mac/K-Mart trade. However, a Smith free agent signing would most likely ultimately kill the Rockets ability to go after a big name second player for possibly up to 5 years assuming he's going to get between 10 and 15 mil a year for 4 to 5 years. If you sign him to a max contract, you better damn well think he's the man, or you are really, really confident in someone else already on the roster becoming a superstar.
A one year rental of Gasol then going after Love / LMA in 2014 makes much more sense then trying to sign Dwight who is A) A locker room cancer B) A crybaby when he doesn't get his way C) A terrible offensive player other than dunks yet he demands the ball D) A TERRIBLE free throw shooter E) Injury questions. Gasol may not be the healthiest player but we would not be going after him for the long term. He would be a one year rental until the REAL target Love / LMA become available. Gasol has the skill set to really help this team. Heck, he would be a good guy to resign in 2014 if he would consider taking a lesser contract who could offer good depth at both front court positions assuming we do lure either Love / LMA to come here.
