I don't see much point in re-acquiring any of the cast-off Rockets. As much as I like Lowry, he wasn't happy here. And all the serviceable power forwards have been replaced with other serviceable power forwards, and Terrence Jones actually looks more promising than any of the others. I wouldn't mind Chuck Hayes, actually, as a 9th/10th man, but his contract might be too big for that role. As for Toronto and Sac, I think it's a decent trade for both of them. Sacramento gets a good player to help them rebuild some credibility as a professional team, which they have sorely lacked. Toronto gets to undo everything that last GM did and start over -- and get to play the Wiggins lottery at the same time.
As an aside, I think its hilarious that Chuckwagon all of a sudden got playing time and averaged ~18 min/gm over the last 4 games. The writing was on the wall
I like this trade for both teams. Sacramento had no meaningful cap space this summer anyway (3-4 mil, depending on their draft position), and they didn't need any of those players. So they get a starter, and they give up nothing. If they had a lot of cap space this summer, I'd understand the criticism, but since they don't then who cares? They'll have a lot of cap space 2015, which would've been the case either way. And I like it for the Raptors even more. They wanted flexibility and young pieces, and that's what they get. They'll probably make more trades because they don't get much worse with this trade. Backup point guard was a big hole for them, and Gay wasn't a good fit.
This. Vasquez will fit into the system in Toronto. We all know PPat can get better stats there as well. I think Toronto got away with a fantastic trade while clearing the books a bit. Not to mention Rudy was probably going to opt out of his contract anyway.
Yes and agreed. According to Hollinger, the Rockets were like a 96% lock to make the playoffs with 10 games to go. When Lowry returned to the team, he purposely killed the lockerroom and team chemistry. Matt Bullard was interviewed on the radio before last season and basically said as much. It surprised me how direct he was. The Rockets lost 6 games in-a-row to very beatable teams and missed the playoffs. Lowry is not on my list of favorite playersq.
I wish I could hear that Bullard interview. Not only is Bull a fellow Hawkeye alum, I just think he's an overall cool guy, and I like his interviews. He can't say everything he believes or feels---he does have a job to consider---but he can be fairly honest. I thought the collapse was due that year to a combination of (a) Lowry killing chemistry by coming back from injury (b) Lowry killing chemistry by being demoted, and from his own Napoleon complex (your post) and (c) McHale being our coach (instead of X's and O's? "Push....push the ball! [clap clap] Come on guys!"])
Kings should be trying to shed contracts. Taking on Gay's albatross of a contract costs them flexibility. They may not have had much in cap space next season, but they are now even farther away from creating cap space and more flexibility.
good article on it: http://www.philly.com/philly/sports...dy_Gay_traded_again__A_tale_of_two_deals.html
this is why i've always said Gays shouldn't be allowed in the nba. they just ruin everything. can you imagine how uncomfortable it would be to be in the lockerroom with a Gay, wondering what he's thinking about? Wondering what he's thinking that allows him to shoot 24 times while only making 7 of them? and you'd want to correct his Gay play style, but it would be awkward. what do you say? "hey Gay, could you let the rest of us touch the ball occasionally? could you play more like, say, a jason collins? he'd always let us touch the ball because he didn't shoot much. when you're out there, it's like we need to play with two balls just so the rest of us can get in on the action." but you know he'd just say it wasn't a choice, that he had to be that way because his teammates couldn't get their own shot. he'd never change. it can't be much fun having a Gay on your team.
To be fair, I recall that Lowry was coming back from some kind of serious stomach infection that caused him to lose like 10 or 15 lbs and he wasn't nearly 100% even when he came back to play. I don't know if the situation was totally related to Lowry's "attitude" as opposed to his physical condition. One more note: I think that Lowry's issue with McHale started way before the Dragic-Lowry Starting PG Controversy began. Specifically, I think there was a game in the early part of that season where an annoyed Lowry complained about the lack of "adjustments" made by his team during a game that the Rockets lost. When a reporter (Jonathan Feigen, I think) followed up by asking Lowry whether by "adjustments" he meant guys stepping up their intensity or a matter of schemes and tactics, Lowry said it was a matter of schemes a tactics. When Lowry's comments was brought up to McHale during an interview, McHale was not happy about it. And then, at the next practice, the reporters entered the court area right before the Rockets players broke huddle, Luis Scola was heard breaking the huddle by saying "One, two, three! Shut the **** up and play!"
i think that lineup can struggle mightly..defensively. they have shooters to stretch the floor..but the question really is, will gay/cousins duo help each others game..or not.
I think this was more about getting the young guys into the lineup (Thomas, McLemore, Williams) than actually about getting Gay. Probably just hoping to be somewhat competitive until they have some cap space.
i do admit there's quite a bit of luck involved with the current rockets roster. If David Stern didn't veto the Chris Paul to Lakers trade, the current Rockets roster will have Pau Gasol and Nene as the 2 center pieces.
Gay only has a year and a half left on his deal so I don't see how this costs the Kings long term flexibility.
