Even if Drew/Plowman are correct in their info regarding Dragic, then there cannot be any news until the Bledsoe situation settles. Phoenix will never announce to trading Dragic before they have Bledsoe under contract, even if there's already a handshake agreement.
If Young gets traded to the Wolves, it likely indicates they are refusing to rebuild......ie they are keeping Rubio. Like you, I'm in the Dragic/Millsap camp and would trade everyone and everything not named Harden, Ariza, and Howard to make it happen. I'd even trade Beverley (though I'd prefer not to). The offense right now relies way too much on Harden to be superman. He is the one that made Beverley, TJones, and even Parsons to some degree look so good. If we can add Dragic to this front court, the offense should level out a little more and allow Harden to take a few breathers. I think the thing most miss in the stretch 4 debate is if your PF can't shoot from deep, what is he doing? Unless you have a duo like Randolph/Gasol, both of whom have a wide variety of offensive skills besides a 3, it just won't work. Unfortunately, the problem is we probably don't have enough assets today to get both Dragic and Millsap, despite the fact that both will be free agents in a year. My hope is that we can get one before the season starts (hopefully Dragic), and the other at the trade deadline.
Beside the Rubio talent level factor keep, in mind the rumored Minnesota trad for T. Young official. To me if true that means they really want to run and say what you want about Rubio he will thrive more so in that system. I believe the T-Wolves want to keep him and he may not be available.
I am going to take a post off from my pro-plowman rhetoric and reflect on the absurd amount of turns this thread has taken. #WhatsUpUnsorted
Spacing isn't only accomplished by shooting. It can also be created through movement. The spurs are a perfect example of this. What broke Miami wasn't SA's shooting (although that was certainly part of it). It was the vision of Diaw, Ginobili, and Parker. The Spurs constant drive and kicks, PnRs, slashes, etc, plus the fact that Miami didn't have a center to control the paint, left Miami with no way to cover everything. Diaws vision, as much or more than his shooting ability, is what undid the Heat. This is one reason I like McRoberts. Great vision with solid shooting. Yeah, he's a JAG on defense, but what do you have Howard and Ariza for if not to help in that department?
Oh, I'm not saying that Rubio will happen (or that he won't).....He IS on our list of huge possible upgrades at the 1. I'm still hearing Dragon.....waiting, waiting, waiting...in Casablanca.
Mr. Plowman you do know that a 22 year T. Jones can improve in those area? Did he not improve from his rookie campaign? Every player has their weaknesses correct. So whoever you good gentleman wants might not provide some of the things that Jones provides. Rubio would be a nice floor general for us. Would take some of the ball handling responsibility off of Harden. Beverley will go back to being the hustle man off the bench. Honestly I would rather have an experienced Rondo though.
I like Jones...a lot..and others do too...that's why he has the value he does NOW. He was always going to be the most NBA ready of our two young PF's. I'm of the opinion that DMo is the guy with a different curve and much bigger upside...and he's making nice strides in that direction. I like them both, but for many reasons...Jones will be the one to go initially....Teams see what he's done and are overestimating his upside...The time to sell is now. We've managed to hang onto DMo this long...and he's going to really show it on the court this year...if not for us then someone else. I really hope we keep him though...Itr's time for him to start to strut hgis stuff....just in time...as our window is coming now.
I do not know if Rubio is on the market. I did read a snipet rumor that he wasn't exactly a fav of Flip's. If that is true (questionable) then if we could acquire Bledsoe or Dragic, we may be able to push that player to Minny plus another asset for Rubio plus a contract. All I'm saying about Rubio is he's going to be a great player in this league for many, many years. And he'd be a great fit here and would make this team great. I'd be satisfied with a 3-prong core of him, Harden, and Howard. Looking at Minny you can make an argument either way. With the acquisition of Wiggins and having 2 rookies on the wings to develop next to Ricky, you could argue they have no chance at the playoffs and should just tank out and rebuild. However....it appears they are going after Thad Young...for what reason I don't fully understand...other than they plan on running freestyle and letting Rubio throw dimes in transition. And I still doubt that is enough to get them to the playoffs. But it is enough to keep them around pick 14. So, I don't know. I don't know if Rubio is available or not. In my opinion, Minny is the quintessential riding-the-fence team at this point.
I am all for the Rockets trying to get Dragic. But I agree that even if the Rockets have a chance at it, nothing will happen until the Bledsoe situation shakes out. They have to know financially where they stand. If the Suns tie up a solid amount of money in Bledsoe (plus newly minted Thomas) I think they would be leery of being able to re-sign Dragic to a sensible contract considering their front court needs. The question is, from the Rockets side, what would you be willing to give up for Dragic? Keep in mind, Dragic has a player option that he is likely to opt out of, and become an UNrestricted FA after this season (where he could sign anywhere).
If you didn't know this... Rubio is the worst at finishing at the rim in the entire league. Yes he gets there alot, but he sucks at finishing. Also you are right about his 3 point shoot shooting, he shot 35 percent from the wings this year. Still don't think he's a great fit personally but he would be an upgrade for sure.
Even if there were a "wink-wink" deal with DG's agent for a contract extension, there is the matter of memory - - remembering Parsons and before him Bosh and so many here/there/everywhere over the years where wink-winks and commitments didn't amount to a hill of beans.
I agree with you on DMo, and on TJo. I am beginning to wonder, tho, if all the remarks DMo has made this summer about Harden and DHo aren't just his way to try and get himself traded elsewhere???
That is the right question, but the longer this Bledsoe thing drags out, the more it seems like he will be delt and Dragic will be retained. For Dragic, I'd be willing to part with the NOP 1st, TJones, Capela, and Canaan. DMo is your starter at PF. If he can't get it done, you trade for Ilyasova, Millsap or McRoberts at the trade deadline.
Rubio is a terrible fit for the Rockets. We need a guy to spell Harden as a playmaker, not a bricklayer to take over. My point was it makes no sense to flog _ones because he can't shoot, and then advocate for a space killer like Rubio.
The Spurs shot 40% from the 3-point line as a team this last season. Movement creates seams and open shots but without shooters that can shoot the ball from distance those created shots mean nothing and without the shooters spacing the floor the ball movement winds up with guys trying to get to the rim with the defense stacked up there. The seams disappear when the shooters disappear. Being able to shoot the basketball from the 3-point line efficiently is what makes ball movement effective at creating seams for layups/dunks and wide open 3-point shots. Spacing is synonymous with shooting, fins. It starts with being able to shoot the basketball. Ball movement without the ability to shoot the basketball just winds up being a time and energy waster resulting in mediocre efficiency at best. The spacing caused by having guys on the floor that can hit shots from deep is what makes ball movement work. Not the other way around. You can have all the ball movement in the world but when the ball winds up in the hands of a 30% shooter at the 3-point line with the clock running down....the ball movement is meaningless. Spacing starts with shooting. Spacing is shooting.
Rubio is not a bricklayer. He simply doesn't shoot very much because he is ALWAYS creating. You don't have Rubio out there to shoot. You have Rubio out there to break down the D and get a shooter a wide open shot. What we need is a guy that will spell Harden while Harden is in the game and allow Harden to get more wide-open looks and then Harden can be the backup playmaker, playing against the second unit just killing them. Harden's efficiency would go to the moon with Rubio (or Rondo) and the Rox turnovers would fall substantially while our easy buckets would go up substantially.
I don't disagree that shooting isn't important. The ability to score from a wider area on the floor is better than a more limited space. But if we think in the simplest terms, a team that never moves from either under the basket or the 3 point line won't have an effective offense. They can be easily guarded. The ability to release and pull a defense through movement is what separates the great teams from the good ones. You are probably right that it starts with shooting....but it's not the end game. Otherwise teams like Golden State and Portland would be the contenders rather than the pretenders. That's why I agree with adding guys like Rubio and Rondo....they aren't elite shooters, but they create space through movement.They can make elite shooters out of good shooters by changing a contested shot into an open shot.
