Rubio talk? I thought "insiders" said the Rockets were getting Dragic and it was 'soon'/'close'? :grin:
Knowing that Dragic will opt out and be an UNrestricted FA, as the Rockets you would be willing to part with that asset packaging knowing there is a decent chance Dragic could sign elsewhere (e.g. Dallas) and the Rockets couldn't do anything about it? To me, the Rockets would have to be VERY SURE (wink wink) about their ability to resign Dragic to give up the NOP 1st + TJones package. Rockets probably want to sign Dragic to a 12M per year deal like Lowry got. But if some team offers 15M per....Dragic could be gone...just like Parsons.
What I don't understand is why are we trying this again. We have tried picking up a showboat passer with below average scoring ability and it also got us first round exits every year. Yes I am talking about the Raefer Alston days. We do Not need a Rubio. We need a player like Kyle Lowry or Dragic or a healthy young Aaron brooks. We have to keep opposing defenses honest. We are starting to look like the Houston Rockets that are stuck in mediocrity again. Has everyone else forgotten? This may work in a NBA 2k game but we will get slaughtered in real games. Rubio is not a great 3 pt shooter nor is he great around the rim. I don't even think he is a great defender. No to Rubio please. It will make this team so predictable.
Don't disagree here either. Doesn't matter how good Rubio is at distributing if TJones is the one getting the ball on the perimeter. I thinking guys more like Beverley and Parsons. With Rubio on the team, and assuming a decent shooter at the 4, Harden and Parsons would've been 40%+ shooters instead of the league averages they were.
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Rubio would be a good fit if the Rockets had shooters but they don't outside of Harden, Ariza, and Daniels. If the Rockets trade for Rubio, then they need to use the TPE on a stretch 4 like Ilyasova and remaining excpetions on any other shooters they can find. Really, the Rockets should add nothing but shooters to round out the roster with or without a PG trade.
Different situations re: Dragic and Parsons. Adding Dragic means two things: 1) You have long term solutions at both the 1 and 3 2) 4 of your starting 5 are set We would go "all-in" to competing now mode, which would mean trading all other assets to find the best fit at the 4 we can afford (Millsap for everything, McRoberts for something, and Ilyasova for nothing). At that point, salary flexibility doesn't mean much. Pay Dragic what you must to keep him and move on.
Agreed. Our team last year: Harden at the top(left) operating off Dwight's pick, Parsons strong side(left), Terrence weakside(right) corner, Bev weakside(right) arc. Terrence's defender standing with both feet on the paint stripe. Parsons defender cheating inside allowing the pass to the corner. Imagine this: Our team with a premier playmaker like Rubio/Rondo: Rubio/Rondo at the top(right) operating off Dwight pick, Ariza strong side corner (right), Harden weak side (left) arc, DMo/othershooter weakside corner (left)
Great write up Basketballoholic, But lets talk about Jones verses Diaw first two season. Because you are making it sounds like Diaw was always stretch four. You do know he started off as a Shooting Guard. Now Diaw couldn't shoot the ball to save his life, especially the 3 ball. 1st season: 0.231 from three point range, 0.602 from the FT, 4.5 rebounds a game and 4.5 points a game. 2nd season: 0.180 from three point range, 0.740 from the FT, 4.8 rebounds a game and 4.8 points a game. Terrence Jones: 1st season: 0.263 from three point range, 0.765 from the FT, 3.4 rebounds a game and 5.5 points a game 2nd season: 0.307 from three point range, 0.605 from the FT, 6.9 rebounds a game and 12.1 points a game. Both players had about the same amount of shoot attempts a game. Diaw has never been a good consistent 3 point shooter. Now please explain to me how T. Jones can't improve in that area. As you can see he has improved from his rookie season. His game is a little better than Diaw in year 2. My thing is Jones might be that stretch 4 we are looking for. We have to give his development time. It's a good chance his three point shooting will get better next season. Working with and next to Howard could help his defensive woes. Now you are right about the game changing from the conventional low post power forward I grew up watching to this stretch four shooting three pointers. But I believe we could still win with an old school type of PF too.
So what you saying is, is that you don't care that Dragic will be a UFA, and don't fear losing him to another team because Morey will be willing to give him a MAX deal, and offer Dragic wouldn't refuse. If that is the case, fine. I just wanted to bring up the fact he will be a UFA and that giving up premium assets for him, we would have to be willing to go "all in" on him to make sure he doesn't bolt.
That's exactly what I'm saying. Dragic, now that we have Ariza, is an all-in move. No more positioning for tomorrow. You win or die with this roster, and I think Morey would be ok with that. He wasn't ok with Parsons only.
The poor free throw percentage is what concerns me. You don't shoot 60% from the line without some fundamental problems on your release. I think Jones will eventually develop into passable 3p shooter, but I doubt Morey is going to offer an extension past his rookie contract.
Agreed, he has to pick that back up to 75%. And you could be right about Morey trading him. We all know he loves flipping the roster.
What I was thinking as well. One of the reasons I've become moderately obsessed with McRoberts was when I looked at his shooting tendencies. He slightly favors the rights side, and is a better shooter from that area. Ariza also favors the right side, but is a significantly better shooter on the left. You get Harden and one of Rondo/Rubio/Dragic operating at the top of the key or one of the wings and have McRoberts and Ariza running pick and pops along the 3 point line and you've got a nightmare situation for defenses. Plus, with McRoberts, Harden, and a 3rd ball handler, you've got a 3 headed monster looking for entry passes and lobs to one of the best finishers in the game......Howard. I do worry about teams that could bully us like Memphis, which is why I lean a little more towards someone like Millsap. Still, if we can't get Millsap, McRoberts is a good pickup for his salary.
How open the look, how (un)rushed the shot helps determine how effective a shooter can be. Melo? You need a buffalo gun to stop him, but Diaw? BD cannot shoot when guarded.
