I'm pretty comfortable with Ariza, but in reply to the OP I'm just thinking that Ariza, Brewer, and Smith / and Parsons was not an either/or decision.
Trevor Ariza $8.5mil, Corey Brewer $4.7mil, and Josh Smith $2.1mil. Thats some great value compared to Parsons $14.7mil contract. Morey is a beast.
1/2 this board cried DOOM over losing Parsons this summer and having a quote "horrible offseason"... I quite enjoy this team and I think this is the most talented team HOU has produced since 94-95!! Hope they can gel and do great things this season
Parsons wanted more money to go with that ego... Motet had a plan B and I think it turned out WAAAY BETTER!!
When we need a bucket, can any of them be trusted to deliver - clearly our defense is way better, but our offense has gotten a lot worse. Seems we have swung the pendulum completely to the defensive side, would be nice to have a little better balance. DD
A lot worse? I don't think so. It's gotten worse, sure, but we also have been changing lineups non-stop. I would say with DMo's superior play (superior to the last several years) we're closer to 100%. I think you can count on him for 16ppg, which is what Parsons was giving us. Asik was a non-factor on offense, so that just leaves Lin to make up for. With that said, I also don't believe for a second this is the last move we'll make. Dmo or Tjones will be gone by the trade deadline, if this holds I believe. I think they're going to go after, and get Dragic. We have too many "assets" right now. I'm not worried about our offense. I'm worried about team health, if that remains static (as a positive) I think we're in for an interesting ride.
Yes, but both TJo and DMo are way better offensive players than J. Smith - or any of the players listed here. We have moved Parsons who was a better basketball player than Ariza - but that was ok because Ariza is a much more committed defender - which frees up Harden to take the weaker guard on defense to rest a bit. However, now we are adding defenders, but not guys that can score the ball - the Spurs are a great example of having a good mix of offensively oriented players and defenders, that they can mix and match. Right now, we have swung really heavily towards defense, IMO. DD
You replace Parsons and the potential of grabbing Bosh with Ariza and Smith and the development of your frontcourt guys? It's unreal how much the Rockets made out on this.
But, but, the salary cap is going waaaay up any day now! Chandler Parsons' contract will totally be worth it! Eventually...
Easy - Regarding Smith - We had been talking to Detroit about Drummond/Smith ....I don't think it would be too much of a STRETCH ...that an under the table agreement was struck where Les moved some $$$$ in the Pistons direction to help cover SOME of Josh's remaining dough that was owed. I mean, really..how often has this happened? This much waived...without apparent incentive. You've got a would be contender with a window open NOW(best man on team)...and a team headed nowhere. Under the current circumstances, I'm under the impression, Les would gladly pony up the dough. With the rarity of all these variables lining up, it makes sense.
