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

Regardless of whether you're right or not, or believe you do. You really shouldn't be confrontational. We already have enough of that with LOFs. Lay out your argument. If the other side doesn't agree, then just agree to disagree.

I think you and I both trust the management from top to bottom more than most fans. But if everyone feels the same way, there's no discussion because everyone would think the same.

 

As someone who has listened to Morey quite a bit last season in his interviews, it's definitely clear that Morey LOVES, and I mean LOVES Asik. Not trading Asik is definitely very much a Morey decision.

 

Morey loves Asik because he understands Asik's value to winning games.

 

i wish i had a delorean. id steal 2009 shane battier.

 

Why not steal 2006 Battier if you were going through the trouble of time travel?

 

But what if that player don't want to play here. Then what should Morey do? And wasn't Morey trying to trade him but didn't like what these other teams had to offer?

Im just asking Meh, not trying to start anything. Had to say that because some tends to take things to seriously.

 

Isn't he being paid $20 million over the next 2 years?

 

I was responding to someone who feels like McHale may be the driving force behind Morey's high valuing of Asik. I'm simply stating that Morey doesn't really need push from someone else to put a high value on Asik. Because he himself values Asik highly.

My own personal opinion of what's been happening.

1. Morey has a grad on Asik a grade. Say 80/100(arbitrary number).
2. Morey understand that Asik's value is lower due to Howard and lack of playing time. So he drops Asik down to 70 as his trade grade. Anyone who offers equivalent of that and Asik's traded.
3. Teams are offering guys that in Morey's mind, 50s and 60s or perhaps even lower.
4. Morey holds on to Asik.

I honestly believe it's just that simple. That even factoring in lack of playing time and pouting, Morey still has Asik rank higher than what he's been offered. Many fans may think that's crazy, but IMO Morey really think that highly of Asik. And generally team-oriented metrics back up Morey's thinking. When Asik plays, the Rockets are really good.

 

Agreed on all accounts Meh. Imo I think Asik will be traded next season, most likely during the off season. Right now like you stated we won't get equal value.

Great take as usual, and thanks for the response.

 

U mean this summer, or the next year feb 20 right? Cause by next summer he a free agent. But I still believe if he health and will to play then we might match up with okc.

 

A Rajon Rondo/Jeremy Lin Turnover Comaprison (from nba./com/stats):

One reason cited for replacing Lin with Rondo was turnovers. But the data suggest something different. In fact, statistically, Rondo is likely to turn it over more than Lin or Beverley. However, Rondo’s turnover rate is mitigated by the fact that he averages about 7 more assist than turnovers per game. There are multiple factors involved with Rondo acquisition (leader ship, playoff experience, etc), and most of them favor Rondo, but the one thing the stats show is that turnovers will not be reduced with Rondo at the helm. I based my conclusion on 2012-2013 TOV rather than 2013-2014 stats because both Rondo and Lin were injured most of this season.

Name::TOV(2013-14)---TOV(2012-13)---AST(2013-14)---AST(2012-13)

Jeremy Lin-----2.7-------2.7-------4.5-------6.1
Rajon Rondo---2.7-------3.9-------7.1-------11.1


Can Rondo instill and imprint his toughness and a killer instinct on this team withut disrupting team chemistry? That’s the question and noone knows the answer. There are other unknowns as well. When Howard and Harden demands the ball now, Jeremy and Bev defer immediately. I don’t know if Rondo will defer, maybe he will, but why would/should he? After all, he’s more accomplished an decorated than Harden or Howard. Also, in his last full season, Rondo averaged 12-13 FGA and eleven assists per game. Clearly, he needs the ball to be effective. If he ends up in Houston, Harden and Howard will need to allow Rondo to initiate the offense and determine shot selection. But why would/should Harden/Howard defer to Rondo? After all, they are the $80M max players on this team, and they need to validate the current salary and pad stats to set up future salary. Harden was shooting step back threes in utereo and as is, gets to do that at his pleasure. Even if he is somehow convinced to defer to Rondo, the acquiescence is fraught with danger because it is likely to be perceived as a demotion and/or a stripping/redistribution of power and/or a reduction in FGA by a max player. If the Rockets' history is an indicator, power struggles related to player personnel changes don’t end well. We’ve seen this movie played out three times in recent history; with Lowery/Dragic, Harden/Lin, and Howard/Asik. And we know how it ends; the victor is happy, the loser sulks, refuses to play, and either leaves the team ASAP or tries to force a trade. I know Lin accepted his new role but I doubt most NBA players would react the way Lin did. If Rondo becomes a Rocket, either Harden, Howard, or Rondo (possibly Parsons too since he wants a new contract and needs stats to match) will end up petulant, surly, sulking, pouting, or wanting out. The Rockets chemistry is at a season high right now and getting better each game. I don’t know what changes Morey will entertain next season, but in my opinion, our 2013-2014 ceiling will be a lot higher without Rajon Rondo on this roster.

 

Only three days until the trade deadline, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick.

 

All-star weekend is over. I hope we take an update soon from codman or any other insider.

 

Yes, nobody is saying that. But if your team's best players are Bosh and Wade with a bunch of average role players, you are pretty much stuck in the second tier.

You either have a LeBron/Durant kind of player or you have a guy who plays like that in the playoffs (Dirk) to win it all. Or you stack an 8-deep top notch role players core around your second tier stars.

 

You also have the Celtics and Pistons has shown that you can simply have a lot of 2nd tier stars and win that way. Both teams had 3 stars (KG/Allen/Pierce and Wallace/Wallace/Billups) with above average players to round out the top 5.

It's clear the above is what the Rockets have the highest likelihood of becoming, and what Morey's aiming for.

 

Cap space and flexibility is also crucial and could possibly override 1-4 even if they are met.

We're talking about a guy who let Dragic walk despite a nice last 30 games just because Goran wanted an extra guaranteed year.

 

codman/King Drew/ Doc Rocket/ Cyberx

we are desprately needing another clue from yall.. We cant take this anymore... Give us another hint to start a new riot of debate..

 

Craig Ackerman on radio this morning pretty much said what has been mentioned several times here.

Morey is definitely working the phone lines and would have several deals going on but WILL NOT sell Asik for 60 cents on the dollar.

 

The Rockets have no chance of cap flexibility in 2014. Not unless they trade away everyone. Asik expires in 2015. The Rockets cannot gain any extra financial flexibility by trading asik.