Amick: Houston trying to lure a Smith/Dwight combo...

I think Smith is better than Artest of that age, but I think that's a pretty good comparison. The nice thing about the way a Lin, Harden, Parsons, Smith, Howard team is that Smith is almost the last option out there.

 

If we're able to get Dwight and Smith for Asik, Royce White, cash and a filler (say Olhbrecht), would people here be happy?

Don't think Josh Smith will get an offer more than $15M/yr, and even if it is slightly more, he'll recoup the difference from Texas tax savings or he may just be willing to play next to his buddy.

 

Asik+DMo gives you roughly $9.8M in combined salary, which allows you to give Smith a starting salary of about $14.7M under the 150% rule, which would be in his price range.

There are other minor contracts they can throw in to offer Smith a couple million dollars more. The max allowed for Smith will likely be slightly under $17M, I think, subject to the final cap numbers to be released on July 10.

 

Just curious, if Smith will help Dwight how does he not also help Asik? Smith's position flex, shot blocking and perimeter D should be invaluable to the Rockets with or without Howard.

Smith brings exactly what Rockets lacked last season, a 4 that can run, rebound, d up & stretch the floor. Smith's biggest weakness is the mid-range game, which the Rockets purposefully avoid. Smith should be a stud in Rocket's O.

 

I mean...nobody is going to defend Lebron really. But he's probably better than any other option we have currently.

 

He is really bad at shooting a basketball so that kind of limits his offensive game.

 

Honestly, if Smith would just stick to corner 3's and finishing at the rim, while playing excellent defense and using his above average passing skills to move the ball around, he'd be a great piece to a championship team

 

Incidentally, trading both Lin and Asik to the Hawks for Smith makes a good deal of sense for both teams. In Atlanta's case, they are without a starting point guard inked to a contract, and Lin does stand to get better. Furthermore, of all the franchises who make the playoffs on a semi regular basis, the Hawks could probably use the most brand boosting. Adding Jeremy Lin could do a great deal to help them sell jerseys and get 'on the radar.' Asik would allow Horford to slide in to his natural 4 position, would enable ATL to let Pachulia walk in FA, and is a legitimate talent defending the rim, something they need a lot of help with in a world without Smith. Lin's ability to get to the rim would also help open up shots for Lou Williams, who will be back from his ACL tear next season. The Hawks have oodles of cap space, so signing smith to a 4 year, 60M deal makes a lot of sense and allows the Rockets a little more cap maneuvering insofar as roughly 16.6M in salary would be heading ATL's way. For Houston, it gives us the ability to start a pg who doesn't need the ball to be effective (beverley), upgrades our wing and post defense (assuming Howard is also nabbed), and makes HOU as a whole a monstrous defense when considering shot blocking. It also, incidentally, increases our 3 point shooting ability by starting beverley over Lin, though Lin could very well improve in that dept.

 

Or Teague might stay with Atlanta. Still, good point. Given a choice, I'd rather keep Asik than Lin, simply because guys like Omer are so hard to find, and have real value, more value than Jeremy, IMO. Naturally, it's damned near impossible to figure out what Morey's thoughts are on the subject. I love the idea of Asik backing up Dwight and keeping his minutes down. They could be effective together at times, as well. Lin would be easier to replace, although I'm not sold on Beverley being a starting point at this stage of his career. Would like to keep both Omer and Jeremy, given the chance.

 

They avoid it because they've no one who can play it.

 

Probably true. Not as good a range shooter, but much better at finishing at the rim.

As much as I loved 2008-09 Ron, his explosiveness was almost gone. He was too heavy and could barely dunk. He was among America's Most Swatted, getting a large # of shots rejected at the rim. I remember joking that 4 out of the 5 starters on the Rockets, Yao+Scola+Ron+Battier, had 40 inches verticals combined.

Smith is physically closer to his best than Artest was back then.

 

Yeah, that's probably right and what Clutch was saying, I think. Smith being a Rocket can only be a positive from Howard's point of view, I imagine.

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I'm not anti-Smith. I like him, but don't feel he is essential. Smith has amazing athleticism and is an excellent defender. I think he could be a monster on, say, the Spurs if he had a hard-nosed coach like Popovich to make him more disciplined.

McHale probably could do the same thing, but I'm not sure I want to find out if Howard isn't here.

 

I would love to keep Asik on this team too.

I'm torn on Smith. I can say I don't want to pay him anywhere near 15 mill per. I just don't think he's worth that.

 

I will say that most teams in the league would be ecstatic to call Josh Smith their 2nd best player, let alone their 3rd...

 

Shooting is not the only skill that determines your value to a team.

He is not somebody who should be used as a first or second option. But as a third option, he brings very good defense and athleticism, with finishing ability down low. And he'd be at a position of need as well. He'd be a good get for the Rockets, but only if Howard signs. If he is our "backup plan" and ends up being our 2nd option, then that's a problem.

 

Yep, he'd be great in transition and a good compliment to Howard. I'm interested how Parsons would adjust to being the 2nd option to the fourth though.

 

Beverley is a perfect 5th starter if our other 4 are Dwight-Smith-Parsons-Harden.

Lin would be best in a 6th man role on that squad, I don't see how that is debatable.

 

I agree about Asik vs. Lin. It's just not easy to find good 7 foot rim protectors while there are a much bigger supply of decent PGs and Morey has shown an ability to find good PGs out of obscurity.

The thing is I suspect Danny Ferry agrees with us, too, and would choose Asik over Lin.

Anyhow, fluid situation, many factors at work. Could be S&T, could be multi-team trades. Maybe it doesn't happen. Maybe HOU misses out on both Smith and Howard. The good thing is that the Rockets will be in a decent position even in the worst case scenario as long as Morey doesn't make a stupid signing.
However, I suspect that Danny Ferry

 

I see what you mean. I was just talking about him being the 3rd option on offense. If Josh Smith is the 3rd best player on our team then we will have a pretty damn good team.

 

Yes. Throw him and Parsons at LeBron and the King will have a very not so good time.