Where Do the Rockets Go From Here – The Power Forward Position

Again, we're looking at starting them and playing them at most 17 mins per game together. Asik would play 13 mins without Howard on the court and Howard would play 18 mins without Asik on the court. Our other lineups would feature either Parsons at the 4 or jones/d-Mo at the 4 depending on matchups and in-game success. I just want Asik to start because he is much more deserving than D-Mo or Jones and I think that the Asik-Howard pairing can be very effective at times, especially against teams like Memphis with big front courts.

 

There is absolutely no question that Howard and Asik would be great together on the defensive end. No question about it.

 

Definitely would be. Lin, D-Mo, and Smith (and possibly a pick) for Ilyasova and Ridnour would be great and fit under the cap.

Obviously this weakens the backcourt, but gives the Rockets the perfect fit for the 4 next to Dwight and still keeps Asik.

 

The problem with Ersan and Anderson is they take out of the running for LMA and Love in free agency.

My money is on Milsap.

 

Nah, I have no desire to trade Lin at this point. Last year was his first full season as a starting PG. Let's see what kind of improvements he has made over the summer and give him another year as our starting PG, at least. He could still develop into one of the better PGs in the league.

 

We already have our power forward. His name is Dwight Howard.

 

Why wait 2 years to put together that team? Ilyasova fits and makes them better for 2 years rather than hoping you can move enough money (because even just losing Lin and Asik won't do it, even if no one else is signed above min next offseason) to even have a chance with Love or LMA.

If you could do that deal for Ilyasova now, you do it and use your exceptions next offseason to build the best contender possible by filling in gaps with bench role players.

 

Ersan Ilyasova is absolutely the right PF for the Rockets, plus, he's very reasonably priced. I totally agree with the original poster's thesis here.

A three-team deal, or two two-team deals that occur at about the same time, that ship out Jeremy Lin, Omer Asik, and either Terrence Jones or Donatas Motiejunas, and brings back Ilyasova, a replacement backup C (Robin Lopez?), a first round draft pick (from Portland?), and maybe an expiring contract (Luke Ridnour?) would be terrific. Follow that up by trading Greg Smith for a high second rounder (i.e., a pick projected in the 31-40 overall range) and you create a roster spot for Robert Covington. This would be your 15 man roster entering the season:

Starting lineup

PG Patrick Beverly
SG James Harden
SF Chandler Parsons
PF Ersan Ilyasova
C Dwight Howard

Remaining rotation guys

Francisco Garcia
Robin Lopez
Aaron Brooks
Donatas Motiejunas/Terrence Jones (whoever isn't traded)

End of the bench (little or no playing time)

Marcus Camby
Luke Ridnour
Omri Casspi
Reggie Williams

Developmental league

Isaiah Canaan
Robert Covington

Waived: B.J. Young, Jordan Henriquez (probably neither player gets claimed and both are on the developmental league roster)

Note that Ridnour's expiring contract can later be packaged with Motiejunas/Jones and/or the first round pick acquired in the trade(s) above for an upgrade at PG, e.g., Steve Nash, who will be very available when the Lakers are 10-15 games under .500 at midseason. Nash replaces Beverly, Beverly replaces Brooks. A starting lineup of Nash-Harden-Parsons-Ilyasova-Howard is phenomenal; this is a team that can win a championship sooner (this season?) rather than later.

 

If Lin is not the there, then we need to find a good backup to carry/sub Harden, whenever he has limited play (injury, sick, resting, etc)

As Morey mentioned, he prefer all 5 to be attacking players, and I agree to that, any replacement, should have that in mind as well. PB brings good vibe and at this point, we its still too early to say, he brings offensive value to our team.

 

Nash is like 85 yrs old and is done. I wouldn't do this trade. Id rather keep Lin and start Asik with Howard.

 

And what if adding Ersan isn't enough to win a ring?

Once that move is made, you are done, that is as good as it gets.

 

I don't get your argument at all. Nothing is ever done with Darryl Morey. Ever. It is not good enough, all the contracts we will still be assets because none of them are terrible.

 

The reason we didn't take any midrange jumpers was because after we lost pat we had no one to take it.

The midrange jumper is something we could use to open the lane for harden and to keep the help defender away from Dwight.

 

The reason why we don't take very many midrange jumpers is by design. We know it is the least efficient shot in basketball. So, we are going to take the least amount of those shots possible. It has nothing to do with whether Pat Patterson is on the team or not. We want shots at the rim or behind the 3-point line...period.

 

You are missing the big picture.

We have a limited window of opportunity to operate below the cap (at near max dollars) before Parsons big contract kicks in. The summer of 2015 is pretty much the only chance the Howard/Harden/Parsons core will have to add a legit third star through free agency. With Lin and Asik coming off the books, Parsons small cap hold, and team options on Jones/Motie, the Rockets can throw 15 million at Kevin Love, then subsequently re-sign Chandler Parsons.

If you trade Asik for Ersan or Anderson, for example, which is the trendy "no-brainer" trade being thrown out there, you kill that window immediately, since both of those guys have 3 year deals. You then are relying on being able to dump that stretch four in a trade, or hoping Portland/Minny would be willing to sign and trade.

Is a stretch four that much of an upgrade from Asik to disrupt your max cap space? I highly doubt it, considering there are other slightly less effective guys out there on two year deals, especially when you consider just playing a SF at PF, or developing Jones/Motie.

 

ok

This has been said many times here now but it keeps getting ignored. The only argument I seen that says we start hitting that shot is because we get the trading for a player that makes those shots and the team then needs to work with what they have. The argument back is of course we already have gotten the players to continue playing the 3 point and the attacking the basket. All I can figure is they expect the team to now change their whole philosophy.

 

I am not sure what he said earlier but Ersan would be a good enough fit for WC finals at the least.

Hedo comparisons there

 

Why is everyone so eager to trade Asik. Why cant we just wait and see how things play out. The Rockets have answers on this team itself, without having to look outside right now.

1. Donatas might be the initial choice, based on his international experience and post skill level.
2. TJones might prove to be a excellent bench scoring threat, but right now TJones has to show that he can excel with Dwight in the post. We dont know this yet, and time will tell
3. As Dwight has mentioned this himself, the Rockets will try experimenting with Howard in the 4 spot and Asik at the 5 on a situational basis. This could work but we have to wait and see.
4. As Daryl Morey starts acquiring players with real value, he will be able to make midseason trades to teams that need to offload talent if their teams are not going to make the playoffs, or if they are at the luxury tax level.

Asik and Jeremy right now are going to be on this team. One of them will be gone either by mid season or by next off season.

My take on this PF situation after having acquired Dwight is simple. Let us see how Dwight is able to play from the post. If the paint is too clogged, look for the Rockets to move someone to help open the floor. But every Rockets fan should be excited that we have young and very valuable assets on our team that compliment our 2 stars. This is the ingredients for a title...you dont need a star at every position, but you do need a star. The Rockets now have two, and they will have to deliver...

 

The ideal PF for this team would be a great defender, an OK rebounder, can shoot the 3 but also drive and pass-- similar to Delfino but bigger. A PF/C pick and roll would be deadly with a point forward type and Dwight. The guy who fits the description best is Lebron James. Morey should go after him in 2014 when he becomes a FA. A sign and trade with Lebron for Harden+young prospects and draft picks would do it if Lebron wants to play here.

Short of Lebron, a good realistic option would be Hedo Turkoglu. Hedo is about the same size as Lebron. Is an elite shooter, passer and has great handles like Lebron. He isnt quite as good on D or rebounding but those are not bog deals. Hedo is also Dwight's good friend and has great chemistry with Dwight. Moreover, Hedo didn't play much last year partly due to a steroids ban. Steroids is what I call a "performance enhancing drug." So we will get not just the normal Hedo but a rested and performance enhanced Hedo.

So, Morey is likely waiting for Hedo to be bought out and use him this season as starting PF before handing the job to Lebron.