The Rockets spent $2.4 million for: 1) Injury insurance for the playoffs in case Lin (or Beverly) got injured (which he did) 2) Not being able to promise Brooks playing time. They had to pay extra because I am sure there were other teams offering him ~$1.8 million (he was the best FA at the time scoring wise and teams bid the most during the time period he was signed during the regular season). 3) They wanted a team option as well to trade him if he returned to his old form. Morey always tries to find ways to create assets by leveraging what's available without sacrificing future financial flexibility. hahahaha, troll.
How anyone thinks AB is a scrub is beyond me. The guy was instant offense in the playoffs last year. Whether he was told he would be a 3rd stringer at best or that he would get pt, who cares. If Aaron Brooks is the last man on your bench, I think you have a solid bench. All these Lin fans are up in arms, sounds like they are scarred. Lin is injury prone, that is a fact, he has shown when given starter minutes he gets hurt. At worst Brooks is Beverlys back up for a stretch of the season (Lin will get hurt) at best he is our offensive punch off the bench that can create for himself.
By weakness getting exposed in the NBA, I assume you mean he sprained his ankle, didn't recover well from injury, and let his skills/conditioning atrophy in China. I would love to have the 2009-2010 Brooks back. I don't see any of his weaknesses from that season holding him back. He looked old out there in the playoff series. He is a guy that was dependent on his quickness. I agree he's a bit player, now. A bit player that isn't the worse third string PG out there. Basically, he would probably only be the third string PG while Canaan is in RGV or either Lin or Beverley is traded. I don't know who he would replace on the 15 man roster, though.
Its a risk/reward type situation. He might not be in the plans unless an injury or trade occurs but no one can deny he can score. Of course his defense is not the best. He is tiny. For the price, it is a great deal.
Lin played in all 82 games last season. I wouldn't consider that injury prone. I know everyone wants to look at just the playoffs, but that was a freak injury. Hardly some recurring injury we have to worry about long term. I really believe he's being brought in as a depth move so that we have a quality 3rd PG if and when we trade Lin.
Simple mistake. meant Bynum. Got Brooks/Bynum confused with Stevie/Shaq from years before. Brooks ran Fisher silly and made mincemeat out of Bynum and Odom and everybody else that series.
No. BY weakness I mean his tendency to avoid contact in the paint and his unwillingness to play on the ball D and his lack of floor vision. Those things were already exposed when the ankle injury occurred. Remember, he was barking about an extension and it wasn't coming. That was before the injury.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Rockets make it official, announce signings of Reggie Williams and Aaron Brooks: <a href="http://t.co/gOrFIbxpx3">http://t.co/gOrFIbxpx3</a></p>— Jason Friedman (@JasonCFriedman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonCFriedman/statuses/358254684538015744">July 19, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
My final comments on the Brooks signing: I hope we don't have 35+ pages of drivel being posted about how stupid Morey and McHale are when they decide to cut Brooks or trade him without him playing any substantial meaningful minutes. However, I know it's gonna happen. Most of the same posters that are raving about what a great addition he is, etc., will be the same guys dogging out Morey for being stupid and saying he's wasting money and doesn't know his talent, etc. as soon as Brooks is waived.
I think it is a great signing. It's not my money so I don't care if he is traded or cut or whatever. It's a one year contract, Brooks can shoot the 3, more 3pt shooters the better. I don't how this could be a bad move unless Brooks break Harden, Howards or Parsons legs in practice. I think he can contribute.
signing Brooks for the min was a smart move. Given his experience and his skill set having him come off the bench would be an added bonus. I thought Brooks did quite well in the playoffs when he did play. Morey saw that and with the team in 'win-now' mode it needs as many vets who have playoff experience and can help right away. even with Canaan in the d-league the team will have 3 pgs which is a good thing, but its hard to envision Brooks re-signing here without him knowing he would get some playing time. Last year when Brooks re-signed Beverly was still a bit of an unknown after Douglas was traded so there was a chance of Brooks being the PG off the bench. Beverly shined and Brooks was regulated to little to no minutes until the Lin injury. Brooks could easily sign on many times for the vet min (or more than that on certain teams) and get playing time but he didn't. I would guess to him getting some playing time is important because it gives him a chance to get the major payday he has always been hoping for. I feel Brooks has matured since the incidents that caused him to be traded from Houston in the first place and that he can be more valuable now in a much better role thats suited for him.
This just sounds like good depth to me. Canaan gonna be in the D-league for the majority of the season and I doubt most of the shooting guards behind Harden make it to the official start of the season. Pretty sure I wouldn't mind Bev and Brooks coming off the bench together with Cisco for some small ball
Brooks played well when he got the opportunity with us last year. I'm with those of you who believe that a trade involving Lin or Beverly being packaged with Asik to get a PF is a strong possibility. My hope is that this leads to us getting Aldridge.
