Sure they need defense, but I think that Josh Smith takes away from the offense and he's not anything that TRob couldn't end up being. I think it would be wasted money that would only make the Rockets worse.
A bird in the hand is worth more than 2 in the bush.... We either get Smith or Milsap this offseason, with my money going on Milsap due to price. Either player can guard multiple positions, with Smith being the better defender and athlete. From what I've seen Milsap has the better overall game and is a pretty good passer for his position.
LOL why don't they have time? They are the youngest team in the league! If they don't have time, no team does. This year is a rebuilding year, the Rockets aren't in "win now" mode which is why they shouldn't waste money on someone like Josh Smith when they have his clone on the bench already.
I think Morey would rather wait for Dmo/Trob instead of overpaying Josh Smith. Out of curiosity, what has Morey done in his tenure with the Rockets to make so many people think that he would grossly overpay Josh Smith?
He can also knock down the jumper with ease and can rebound pretty well. I do not think he would put us over the top like Smith would. With Smith, you can switch pick and roll coverages better defensively and a guy who can give you 3 more blocks a game. This team doesn't need offense. We need a premier defensive player, hello Josh Smith. Make a trade for a Carl Landry,Ben Gordon, or another quality player who can come off the bench and spark the offense. If I had to choose, id take Barrea.
I would pick Josh Smith over Paul Millsap. Both are hustle type of player, however, I think Josh is a better defender. When we play against the Thunder and Durant gets hot, at least we have someone to slow him down a little instead of letting Delfino guard him. I would only pay Josh around $10-14 mil a year though, not the max contract he wanted.
Anything I say can easily be argued away. And clearly this is my opinion, so please do not make this a pointless debate. That being said, watching Sampson coaching those 13 games or so made me think this guy had a good grasp of rotations and getting the best out of his team. That has nothing to do with McHale. As for Mchale I am just not crazy about his rotations. And he just seems to be miserable on the court. Just an observation but if you watch someone like Scotty Brooks who is always motivating his players and trying to instill confidence in them. And you see McHale saying, "Every morning you should get up and get on your knees and thank God..." and shaking his head because he hears someone say the team needs to recharge their batteries. I remember Rudy T say that a large percentage of what they did with players was try to build their confidence. I no some of you like the old school approach and perhaps that does still work. It certainly worked for Bobby Knight for many years. I just don't think it works with contending teams in the NBA. Not for the long haul. Just my opinion
To win a championship you need a: Top 5 caliber player (Harden could be that guy soon), and a top ten caliber player or top ten defender. Josh Smith would be perfect at a price of no more than 11-12m (Most likely he will be paid 14-15m). At that price range his contract is also trade able if a chance to snag a better player comes around. You can't win a championship without a top 10 defender on the team (Dallas had one top 5 player in Dirk and a top 2 defender in Chandler that year). Rockets have nobody close to that on the roster. If Rockets do manage to get Smith, my only concern who can consistently step up and be that secondary scorer on the team? Smith isn't efficient enough to be that guy, Lin is too inconsistent. If Lin can manage to be that consistent secondary scorer, or Josh Smith in the unlikely event manages to become a very efficient player, Rockets will be a contender. Milsap makes the team better for sure, but he is neither a top 30 player or even a great defender. That move would keep the team mediocre unless the front office believes he will be a much more attractive trade chip for a top 10 caliber player then Smith. i.e. a trade for Kevin Love if he demands a trade. If Morey is able to get Smith, he should also look to go after a backup center like Mozgov or sign Jermaine O'neal for the short term. And maybe sign try to sign Corey Brewer from free agency or resign Delfino as plan B Lin/Beverley Harden/Anderson (He is a solid player) Parsons/Brewer Smith/Motiejunas Asik/Oneal Good lineup on offense and defense.
yes, I would love to have him on our team, but if he wants a max contract, then we won't have much room to add another good player on our team.
I'd argue that Asik either is, or could be a top ten defender. I see no reason to waste cap space on a guy like Josh Smith when you have his clone on the bench already. There are plenty of places that money could be better spent.
No way he gets the max. If he does, then there is no way Morey pulls the trigger. Take Love in 2014, who is great friends with Harden.
I agree Josh is not worth the max and I hope Morey doesn't give him this offer. Our offense would be crazy with Love on the team, but I'm not sure if getting Love would solve the poor defense that we have.
I would love inking smith or milsap to a one year deal with either a team option or player option for about 10 mil and then signing a solid reserve guard like JJ Reddick. That would put us in prime position to challenge the better teams in the west and possibly gun for the 2nd seed. Plus it would make us more attractive to free agents in 2014
Love makes our offense unguardable, you have a guy who opens up the lane even more so for Harden and Lin to dribble drive. Less responsibilities on Harden and Parsons to score(more energy on defense). You will also get two of the best rebounders in the League. You then flip Thomas Robinson, and Motue for quality players like Demar Derozan,Kemba Walker,LARRY SANDERS.....
I find it funny that people hate the Heat and Lakers so much. Sometimes it seems like fans won't call a theoretical team a contender unless it has even more talent than the Heat. Yeah, let's get Paul+Harden+Howard! lol Each year, only one team can be the favorite (and it's probably going to be Miami). It's silly to discount a course of action just because you're not guaranteed a championship, because as we see with the Lakers, no one ever is. Is tanking a dumb decision, just because you only get a small chance at best to get the first pick? If you can get a great team, then you do it, even if you lose to a superteam on paper.
Top 10 defensive center yeah, but in the league heck no. In no particular order: Paul George Lebron James Larry Sanders Roy Hibbert Serge Ibaka Marc Gasol Joakim Noah Tony Allen Josh Smith Tim Duncan Dwight Howard Rudy Gay Kevin Garnett Tyson Chandler Heck even if you go by defensive win shares: Durant, David West, Conley, Horford are also rated higher.
Yeah, I'm all in for JSmith or KLove. Getting either one of them would be a huge upgrade for our team. I Just hope this won't happen.
Well that's why I said "or could be". Asik is a fairly young player who is still developing just like the rest of the Rockets. When he hits the middle of his prime he could easily be considered one of the top 10 defensive players in the league.
