Like I said, he's a good player. But you know who else has been good for ~20 PER and impressive all around numbers a number of times over his career? Kevin Martin. Then you look at guys like Ryan Anderson (18.1 PER) and Ersan Ilyasova (18.3 PER) who have been nearly as good as LMA, but cost half as much AND fit the team's needs better (they can actually hit a three point shot and don't need the ball in their hands to produce). LMA is a pushover on D. Being tall doesn't automatically make you a good defender. The thing is LMA's effort level on defense is lacking, he doesn't have the strength to hold his ground against centers or bigger PF's, and his instincts are mediocre. All that said, would LMA make the Rockets better? Sure. He's a good offensive player, an OK rebounder, and better defensively than the PF's we have on our roster right now (except maybe TJones as he develops??). The problem with LMA is that he gets paid like a superstar but produces like a borderline all star. If we're going to give max money to another player, I want them to be LEGIT. At least with a guy like Kevin Love, you can see that he's produced a couple 25 PER seasons, and might return to that level when healthy. Otherwise, I'd rather spread that cap room around to Parsons, a slightly lower level player like Ilyasova, etc.
I agree, and I'm sure Morey does (hence why I'm glad we didn't pickup Smith). Although, I do think Aldridge would fit in great offensively. The question is whether or not he'd be worth the price (both in trade assets and $$$).
I know this is hind sight, but I like what Orlando did in that trade. Of the 4 teams involved, the Magic got the best out of it. Lakers lost Howard to FA. Sixers lost Bynum to FA. Nuggets lost Iguodala to FA. The Magic picked up 3 good young players in Affalo, Vucevic and Harkless. They picked up 2 second round picks and 3 first round picks. (also an indirect benefit is that they wound up getting the #2 draft pick). If I were Portland, and I were looking to trade LMA. It would be for young cheap players and a lot of draft picks also as was quoted in the article. And so if they do trade LMA, that is where Asik isn't a good fit for Portland's plans. Sure, he would fit in and make them a better team. But, the team would be fighting to be around 500. And that is exactly what they should be avoiding (it's better for them to tank) especially with the strong draft class coming up.
for now just leave it alone Not ready to trade T.Jones, yet. He has a lot of upside and will be Horry like with Howard on the floor. Howard has been a drama king in the past having a solid player like Asik as a back-up is nice and much needed. Lopez and 2 first round picks in the 2014 draft plus some oversea talent get it done for me (that is not happening) --> Lopez showed he is solid last year in NO. and Rookie contracts are nice and easy to move if needed. THOUGHT Parsons/Beverley are not always going to make less than a million a year; signing a third star is not going to leave room for them in a year or two. I would trade Asik / Lin (who will look like a new player with Howard) if the price was right --> their value only goes up as this year's rookie class's goes down --> trade deadline.
Lin needs Howard and Howard needs Lin. I think Lin was struggling because he was used to players like Tyson Chandler, Asik doesnt have the hands and athletic ability Chandler has. I think we should stand pat, Lin and Howard are going to blow up in a good way. I feel hes going to shoot much better and turn the ball over less. We need Lin to win, I feel like Beverely can start, but Lin would be a better fit in our starting lineup. Beverly is a much needed 6th man who can obliterate 2nd /3rd tier pgs.
Ilyasova, Martin, and Anderson aren't in the same universe as LMA. They are good role players with gaping flaws in their play. LMA is a complete player with an ELITE offensive game. Not average, or good.....elite. He is a "good" rebounder and defender simply by virture of his length. And the "max money" thing is deceiving. Superstars are worth significantly more than the max, thus they are underpaid. Stars like LMA are all worth their contracts, which is why the Rockets will have to empty the chest to get one of them. LMA is not on a "super-max" deal like Dwight or Kobe. He's paid $14.6 million this year. Him and Harden being on the smaller max contracts is what may facilitate Les writing the check to bring back Parsons. And even still, beyond Harden/Parsons/Aldridge/Howard, you still have one of Beverley/Canaan, one of TJones/DMo, Garcia, next year's MLE, rights to Llull and Papanikolaou, as well as several 2nd round picks and vet mins. Just to give you an idea, assuming the following trade... Asik TJones Beverley 2014 and 2016 1st Return 2 2nds from TRob trade for LMA The Rockets roster and assets would look like this.... Lin / Canaan / (Llull) Harden / Garcia / Williams Parsons / (Papanikolaou) / Casspi Aldridge / DMo Howard / Smith / (Todorovic) 2014-2015 MLE (~$5.5 million, probably used to sign Papanikolaou and Llull) NYK 2014 2nd rounder HOU 2015 1st rounder HOU 2015 2nd rounder NYK 2015 2nd rounder LAC 2015 2nd rounder Vet minimum contracts
http://bluemanhoop.com/2013/07/10/nba-player-power-rankings-top-10-power-forwards-in-the-nba/8/ Just saying but a lot of people believe LMA is the best pf in the league. And y'all are saying he is a borderline all-star? He is obviously our best option and Kevin love is a close second. http://www.hoopsworld.com/ranking-the-2012-13-nba-power-forwards Again,,, http://www.hoopsstats.com/basketball/fantasy/nba/playerstats/13/5/eff And one more time...
Anyone who's seen him play knows he isn't a borderline all-star. He's almost a borderline superstar. Most definitely the best PF in the game right now. He's just entered his prime too.
Exactly!!!! SOMEONE who knows he is the best PF in the league. I remember when he would absolutley kill us on that jump shot. It felt like he never missed
His 1st season he only started 22 games so im not going to count that season. But Year 2- 81 games Year 3 -78 games Year 4 -81 games Year 5 -55 games and Year 6-74 games. Year six Portland dialed it in because their playoff's hope was gone. So as far as injuries are concerned, what are you talking about.
A trade of Asik (along with other necessary parts to make salaries match) almost makes too much sense for POR. Even if they're targeting 2015 as a time to be competitive in the free agent market, they're a team who would benefit wildly from going all-in on tankathon 2014 to get one of these high-profile players that will be part of the draft class next year. Pairing Lillard with one of the studs coming out of the next draft class > Lillard with Aldridge.
Parsons is our third max guy. Another season of 15/5/4 with close to 40% from three makes him a 10mm guy.
Disagree. Aldridge is hitting his prime and will have four years of superior play on front of him. Randle at a rookie wage is a better investment, but Aldridge isn't so old that Portland should ship him out to tank necessarily.
People apparently REALLY overestimate the quality of LMA's game. His TS% is not great for a big man and his career average of 18 points per game is nothing special. He is NOT an elite offensive player. Not even close. The reason is that his entire game is based around the one shot that this Rockets team under Daryl Morey despises: The Mid-Range Jumper. Also known as the worst shot in basketball. I think ClutchFans overestimates LMA mainly because he's a Rockets killer who always seems to step up his game when he plays against us. He's not that good against the rest of the league. If he truly was a borderline superstar, Portland would have at least had a winning record last season. Not only did they NOT make the playoffs, they had a losing record. And you can't even say LMA didn't have help--he had Lillard and Batum giving him a hand, not exactly garbage players.
