Trade proposals and trades are different things. And they stretch out over time. For example, the Rockets have followed Asik since his first year in Chicago, and continued to pursue him throughout his time there. There were at least rumors surrounding Courtney Lee or Kevin Martin in potential Asik trades. The Rockets also followed Lee too, as well as Lowry, and pounced when an opportunity came up. Morey look at trades in a very methodical, business manner. He does two things. One, he makes sure everyone knows who's available from the Rockets and who's not. Two, he would periodically check with other teams in case they need help and track players he follows from other teams. There are also huge amount of contingency plans and proposals. For example, Morey once said that he had 3 trades planned for Dwight Howard with Orlando. One in case we got both Asik and Lin. One in case we got one of them. And one in case we got neither. He also mentioned they were working on tons of stuff for each draft which were all contingent upon how the draft falls. For example, supposedly had Thomas Robinson been taken #2 in the draft, the Rockets would've traded with Sacramento for the 5th pick supposedly. And that's just the one leaked out because it was in its advanced stages. If you think about just the sheer number of moving parts that make up the NBA, and how few trades are actually done each year, if anything 99% is underestimating things.
No love, no trade. It's that simple. So go ahead and buy your T.Jones jerseys cause he ain't going no where.
I really don't think we should trade T-Jones. We have a great foundation between him, Harden, Howard, and Parsons. Parsons and Jones have potential to be superstars one day- meaning we could essentially have 3 or 4 superstars on our team (maybe not payroll wise?) in 2 or 3 years time. If we can keep Beverly, Lin, and Brooks for a while as well- that would be great. I think we currently have the talent to compete for a championship. If we're still a year or two or three away, I would say it's just in regards to experience (both individually and as a team). That said, Parsons should be our #1 priority in locking up long term IMO. He oozes talent and leadership/charisma.
Want to revisit this idea now that Jones has played a month worth of extra games-- and so have the Rockets. 1. Terrence Jones still has play like a high potential young player. Some inconsistencies, 3 point shooting regressed, but the guy can rebounds challenge shots, finish around the basket and has good handles and perimeter skills for a 6'9" 250lb guy. As such, he is still a very valuable trade chip, especially when it comes to a team that want future potential as oppose to present contribution. 2. The Rockets have so far played like a team one level below the NBA elite: about a mid-playoff seed in the West with an "dark horse" chance of getting to the finals (if they have good luck and favorable matchups) but not one of the co-favorites. In other words, the team can use an extra veteran impact player to take them to the next level-- kind of like what David West is doing for the Pacers. 3. So, the question is whether Jones is more valuable as a player or a trade asset in the market. I think it may be the latter. If Asik isn't going to land the team the guy to take them to the next level by himself, it would seem that Jones may be the guy you have to throw into the package.
Well I'm sure they would trade Jones and Asik for Kevin Love or Chris Bosh, but what other player out there do you have in mind that could potentially be available? I doubt either of the aforementioned are traded this year as Minny doesn't have to deal with the possibility of Love bolting just yet and I'm sure the Heat want to defend their back to back championships with the core of their roster in tact. LaMarcus Aldridge is certainly no longer available as Portland is currently a better team than the Rockets so they are definitely buying and not selling like many once presumed. Now what? Josh Smith is probably available, but there is no reason to trade for him and that contract. Paul Millsap in an overpay doesn't really excite either. Basically I'm just curious as to what players do you have in mind because I'm sure Jones is available, but it has to be for the right kind of guy and those players don't come available very often.
Miami won't trade Bosh,he is a Key piece to that team. Anyway I think we should go after Ilyasova, he had some Good Games recently and would become a star with our System He can pick and pop and can space the floor,so let's make a three team deal like Asik to Dallas,Ersan to Houston and Marion + picks to the Bucks since they are tanking and already have John Henson.
I discussed this in the Terrence Jones birthday thread. Now that Jones has turned 22, his value as a trading chip decreased drastically. His stats were good for a "potential guy" as a 21 year old but are nothing impressive for a 22 year old. I think teams going for "future potential" will offer us much less than they would have last week.
I don't think Morey is in a rush to make a trade that would make us a slightly better team this year. His focus is on making a big trade to make us the best team in the league. It may not happen for a year or two. Morey may even make a trade that makes us worse this year, but gives us more trade chips for the future. McHale is in win now mode, but Morey is still looking a year or two out I believe. I don't think Morey is too concerned about what happens this year.
Terrence Jones, at this stage of his career, is nothing more than a garbage man hustler power forward. He's in the same class as Tyler Hansbrough and Reggie Evans, guys that can't shoot but will lay the wood to you and will bang down low and will challenge defensively...although they are not very mentally sharp (Hansbrough the exception). Terrence Jones is a garbage man and as such he really doesn't have much trade value. He was drafted 18th and now he'll be 2 years into his rookie deal when the next draft rolls around. Draft pick??? Probably no higher than a high second rounder is all you can get for him. The best thing we can do with Jones is to play him major minutes and let him crank out some high rebounding and shot-blocking stats and then combine him in a trade with Asik or Lin for possibly a better single asset than Asik or Lin by themselves.
I'd suggest he has more value to the Rockets as a player. He's the only other big who can play 'large' and offer some rim protection. It's very hard to find a 6'10 PF who can rebound and block shots, while offering even a mild threat from outside. He's a definite rotation player in the NBA, will only improve over the coming seasons, and we have him locked away on a rookie deal for some time. The trick is using whatever other 'assets' we have to garner a starter at the position, or even a big minute '6th man' at the position (ie Thad Young?). We're not struggling in the big man department because of Jones, we're struggling because he's being asked to do too much at this stage of his career, and because we have no other option to play meaningful minutes at either the PF or C position. We're not a deep team in terms of legit NBA starters. I'd argue we have just 4, and unfortunately one of those is Asik. The 'other' big men (Casspi and Motie) are not regular rotation NBA players. Casspi is viable for a stretch of games as a rotation guy, but hasn't the size or strength to man the spot (nor the speed for the 3). Motie is a nice project, and hopefully we trade him this year before teams realize he's nothing more than that.
Your anti-Jones agenda is quite boring. You really make it look like you know less about basketball than the LOFs.
He does, but there's a very real chance that he's our best 2 way player outside of Dwight Howard. He's not great on either end, but he contributes, which is something the rest of the team really can't say. Inconsistency is his biggest flaw at this point.