[Chron] Don't rule out a trade despite Rockets' recent run

He isn't presenting posts as his own when they were written by someone else, like Jason Friedman of Rockets.com.

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=250810&page=4

 

What exactly are you talking about? Of course I know that Rondo is a terrible fit here. That cannot be more obvious. You just have to understand advanced stats like usage, player time of ball possession, player's methods of attack, relative worth of lineups as they impact defensive ratings, roster fit, offensive and defensive schemes, etc., etc., etc. I have posted endlessly on many of these topics. It would enlighten you if you read them.

 

Dude I wasn't presenting that article as if it was written by me. Yeah I should have put up the link. But I didn't. Hats off to you for staying on top of all your nba sources. Bwhahaha

sensitive jokers around here I see.

 

What argument? That I feel Rondo makes this team better? He is a cancer?

Mr self righteous over here. A little emotional are we? A tad insecure?

Proud to be an *******? Immaturity. And no bro, the reason you only played JV was because you probably lacked the game, but that's not a big deal!

There is no wrong or right. Rondo to Houston hasn't happened.

 

I don't understand the rondo talk. harden is ball dominant. of course rondo would keep that in check, but how well does harden do off the ball? the defensive bump seem negligible when you factor in the loss of asik.

i don't really think we need another star/big trade. rockets have 2 top 10/15 players. to me it's more about finding role players/complimentary pieces like a serviceable back up center and a productive wing player.

the wing/back up center seems repetitive by this point, but it honestly seems like the correct move. role players> another star player.

 

How is he a terrible fit though. Wasn't he not a great factor in helping thr Celtics win a chip. Wasn't he able to run the show with 3 hof Superstars needing the ball. Ive read some of your post and might I add you do a great job. My thing is the best way to know, is to see it live . We need a floor general and pimp Rondo fits that bill.

 

You're exactly right. Some people want the Rockets to operate like a 2k franchise, that's pretty much the only thing I can figure. I can't even imagine an intelligent argument in favor of killing the big man depth on the Rockets for a ball dominant guard and I certainly haven't heard one yet.

 

The Celtics won the chip when Rondo was not even the go to point guard if I remember correctly.

 

Yeap. People want to put the Rockets in a place where a two week long injury to D-Mo, Jones or Howard would end their season. Sad.

 

He's a ball dominant guard who shoots the ball like a drunk 12 year old....how would that fit on a team with another ball dominant superstar guard? Being able to shoot is absolutely a prerequisite to being a guard on the Rockets.

He was on one of those teams, but how is that relevant? The Rockets aren't the Celtics.

Was one of them a guard like Harden? No. If the Rockets stars were a center and a small forward then sure, he might be alright, but two ball dominant guards don't really work together.

 

jtr:

With all due respect, I think you grossly underestimate how much the Rockets front office values cap flexibility. Omer Asik makes $15 mil next season. So does Jeremy Lin. I realize that their cap hold is less than that, but still, that's $15 mil each. If a great player becomes available, you don't want somebody else to get the guy simply because you're unable to free up the cap space.

Also, Asik can't play alongside Dwight Howard, as we witnessed. So you're paying a ton of money to a backup C here. This is not ideal.

I agree that if/when you move Asik and company that you need to somehow find a replacement backup C. Morey obviously gets this.

 

Why are you being so critical towards Rondo.

You don't think Harden can play off the ball sometimes. You don't think Rondo can get Harden the ball where he needs it. Come on man lol you and jtr tripping. This man plays damn good defense, in the top 3 in assist. And you don't think he would improve this team. Bwhahaha ok pimp

 

I wish people would stop touting the 15 mil number, it's totally irrelevant to everyone but cheapskate owners. The only number that matters is 8.3, also, if someone was to become available for trade next year, wouldn't it be easier to trade two expiring contracts for 16 mil than it would be to trade a bunch of BS that you flipped that for? I'd much rather keep Asik around as insurance at the 5 in order to provide 48 minutes of solid D at the position than ditching that for anything less than an amazing trade.

 

I'm not being critical of Rondo, what he's good at is great, but it's not what the Rockets need so he simply doesn't fit. As to Harden playing off the ball sometimes, of course he can, and he does sometimes the problem is that Rondo absolutely can't play off the ball EVER.

He's a terrible fit for the team, and with what it would take to get him, it would make the team worse.

 

The thing is people can say harden needs the ball in his hands "basically play PG" but have a shoot first mentality, It is proven to be successful, score a lot of points & get the STAR label. But the jury is still out if it will take you deep in the playoffs or even beat elite teams in the regular season. See clippers, okc, pacers games.

Morey knows this so if he can make a play at rondo I'm sure he will. If not look for flexible cap trade moves.

 

Do you honestly think it will be a piece of cake to flip either Asik or Lin in July to a team that can absorb their contracts ($8.3 mil for cap purposes, $15 mil in actual salary)? At the drop of a hat? Because it won't be.

Do you honestly think Houston, or any team, is eager to pay $15 mil in actual salary to a guy who plays 12-15 minutes/game? C'mon, man.

Asik's a goner. If I'm wrong, you can come back with all of the "I told you so"s you want.

If the best package Morey can get is Miles Plumlee + Emeka Okafor's contract, so be it, Miles Plumlee is Houston's new backup C.

 

Another thing Paul Pierce even though was a SF he was ball dominant and carried that team before the big 3 was formed. At the end of the game the ball was in his hands at least 85% of the time.

I just believe Rondo will make things a lot easier for Harden. But hey that's just my opinion.

 

Absolutely, they have value as players PLUS they'd have value as expiring contracts, they wouldn't have to both go the same place either. They'd be VERY tradeable.

Neither would play 12-15 minutes elsewhere, plus only a cheapskate owner cares about anything but cap hit. Any owner who cares about things like that should sell their team now because they'll never win anything.

Asik's a goner. If I'm wrong, you can come back with all of the "I told you so"s you want.

If that's the best offered, there won't be a deal, Morey isn't stupid and he won't hurt the team, he'd let them walk in FA and have the cap space before he'd do that.

 

The closer this gets to the deadline the more I become convinced that Asik will be moved. It's hard to reconcile paying $23 million over 2 years to a player who makes no impact to your team because he won't agree to accept the role that the team has attempted to impose on him. I also see few scenarios where the Rockets get anything of value back unless Jeremy Lin is involved in the trade.

 

The Rockets will absorb Asik's contract if the possible trades do not net a player at a position of need or the salary cap flexibility they want. This isn't about Les not wanting to pay him $15,000,000 next year.