There's more to this than just trading TRob to make room for Dwight. Morey is trying to get somebody else as well. Can't say for sure it's Zeller. But it wouldn't surprise me if it was.
I think they just like their chances. Remember last offseason all they did to go after Howard like Amnestying Scola who would have been a great PF to have this season. Wasn't that a move towards getting Howard? Sure could have used Scola this year. I agree though unless this trade gets more than expected it's not going to be a good trade if Howard doesn't come. No matter what you think of Robinson he still has that new player smell to him, still young, and most GMs aren't as impatient and rash as fans and understand for some guys it could take a year or two before they really start producing.
Its a good leak and good approach since its a weak draft. Its taking advantage of the fact some teams might not like prospective players that'd be at their draft position. Maybe teams would rather deal a mid/low round 1st rounder on this past year's "top 5 upside" and T-Rob's good story than selecting some marginal player with even lower odds of panning out. Its then if they have the cap space to do it.
I meant his trade value is bad this offseason. That with a year under McHale and the Rockets staff he might get better and provide more value.
We should find out what TROB improved this summer before trading him out. He has all the tools....he just need to learn how to score in the paint...
Really doesn't matter if Dwight signs here or not. We have to reset with these young power forwards. We can't continue to carry all these guys. At least 2 of them won't get any minutes and their trade values will tank anyways. Better to trade some of them away for future draft picks or possibly a pick in this draft.
I'm willing to bet that we are lookin to get a future 1rst rd pick like we did with lowry last season and then flip it to get our 3rd allstar. Also to try &package white to go alongwith Robinson
Interesting move. I have feeling Morey has bigger picture! I wont be surprised if we sign two additional max agents. Go Morey!
No. The Scola amnesty was done for Asik and/or Lin. The Rockets could've gotten Howard regardless of Scola. And the ROckets weren't going to bring Scola back regardless because they had gazillion young PFs already.
Do you think the Rockets don't know what he's working on? We just had a report yesterday that he is training with the Rockets staff right now. Regardless, this is about freeing up cap space for Dwight. And I doubt Robinson will EVER be good enough to risk losing out on Dwight.
Charlotte makes the most sense, but I can't see them trading a pick that isnt heavily protected, meaning we will never get it.
I agree with this! By dangling Robinson PRIOR to the draft, it gives teams an extra player to 'draft' in the mix--due to the general consensus that this draft is bereft of superstar talent. I think Morey calculated that he has 3 solid PFs with upside on the team (DMO, Jones, TROB) and he needs to clear cap space, making TROB a relatively painless casualty in the hunt to sign Howard or another superstar to the team. I think DMO & TJones both showed considerable upside and cost about half as much. Thus knowing that TROB is a likely candidate to free up cap space, Morey had to figure out WHEN the best time was to trade him. If he waited until after the draft, other teams may have filled their needs ( we need a team with future picks, expiring contracts, desperate for an upside player etc), or as the free-agency period neared, would only offer the Rockets low-ball offers for TROB knowing that the FO would be desperate to clear cap space. Hence, leaking that he is available NOW, keeps the options open, sets the stage for a potential bidding war, and offers an alternative to a crappy draft for a player who basically didn't play much his rookie year, is still young, and has huge upside. Knowing the Rocket's goals and who they are potentially targeting, this makes all the sense in the world.
Since its obviously about the pursuit of Howard, thats the immediate goal in mind. And anything after Howard and free agency start is a bridge to cross once they get there. I suppose they could squeeze in Howard without moving T-Rob, and wait for T-Rob to have a good summer league or preseason. But there's risk T-Rob might play worse, or he's plays the same which will still decrease his value more. Or maybe they plan to take best offer, but Rockets WON'T accept a lowball desperation move. (Though they did amnesty Scola what seemed preemptively. But even that move has clear cap space benefits)
Well the Rockets were ready to bet the farm on Dwight either way. Which in hindsight now would have been horrible because the one thing people kept saying is "Dwight is not going to turn down the 5th year." and now it almost seems like that extra 30 million is not going to count. Just imagine had we traded our picks to Orlando now for a Dwight that was partially injured? Rockets maybe don't make the playoffs and Dwight still leaves...Harden is traded else where. So compare to what they were almost ready to give up for Dwight and now to just giving up a few bench players I think this is more like another Morey gamble. It sure sounds like when you add everything up that Morey and the FO is pretty confident in getting Dwight.
I guess it would help to create more cap space, but I see this as mainly the Rockets wanting to get rid of Robinson. The Rockets got a look at him for a couple of months and they didn't like what they saw. D-Mo and TJones are better and cheaper options at this point. I don't think Morey wants a first round pick, I think he would be perfectly happy with a future second rounder or two.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23sixers">#sixers</a> obviously in no hurry 2 name HC. Another asst gets job. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23warriors">#warriors</a> asst mike malone goes to <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23kings">#kings</a>. Still think chris finch 2 sixers</p>— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) <a href="https://twitter.com/howardeskin/status/340284490775674880">May 31, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> I still think Howard has a legit point here. Could it be that we've already got a deal with the Sixers? TRob and Finch for their #11 pick? And Morey is simply searching for a better asset for TRob at the request of the Sixers?
True. The Rockets were ready to bet the farm last season, and I guess in a way it makes sense. But in that case, the deadline trade seems kind of a moot point. I'm not big on Patterson, but I think he can be had for a 2nd round pick pick(certainly more value than Morris) or something to that extent due to his ability as a big stretch 4. As for the 5th year thing, it matters who's giving it. If Howard is currently a Rocket, then we're competing against Atlanta and Dallas rather than LA. And our contract has no tax. California has a huge state tax. But yeah, overall I agree that everything has worked out much better with getting Harden instead of Howard last season.