I just think most euro players that come over when there older lack the "man the **** up factor" DMo has footwork but he is a p***y on the boards and lacks toughness. I felt the same with pap
He was a key rotation player at the beginning of the season. He can't get off the bench now even with the injury to D-Mo. I'd say the Rockets are doing a great job loading the roster with quality depth given that Papa is at least a serviceable NBA player. It's not like the dude's a complete scrub.
Before the season started some were talking kpap like he was suppose to be like the MVP and lebron of euro ball Dorsey was the defensive player of the year for euro Where are they now?
I don't think anyone said anything of the sort regarding KPap. In fact, I think a lot of people had some trepidation about how KPap would translate.
I wouldn't describe DMo as someone who came over when he was older but I guess you mean after college... DMo is a weak rebounder and I don't think it's due to his lack of toughness. Although not European Mozgov is pretty tough. Valenciunas is much tougher than DMo. We also have Pekovic, Asik, Batum, Gortat, Deng, Diaw, Gasol, Parker, etc. who I would describe as tough. There's a general narrative that International players can only shoot which is pretty stupid.
I just can't believe people think he's a scrub. The entire playoff roster has at one point stepped up in a game and been a primary reason the Rockets won this season. You are only as good as your weakest link and while all not 6th man material, there are players on the roster you can call upon in a pinch to help. Essentially, this is the depth we all wanted last offseason and now it's starting to come to fruition. This has the makings of a really fun run if the team can close out the Mavs and keep that edge going forward they have displayed thus far.
But it's quite likely we'll lose at least one of Smith and Brewer next season, so people need to be more forward thinking. Yes, Pap isn't playing at all now, but as long as he is under contract, we have a good bench level player at SF who may develop even better.
Papa is an excellent defender and clever passer that badly needs to add a three point shot to his game. So, so smart out there when he is healthy and right.
Papa almost averaged 4 assists per 36 minutes while playing the 3/4 without every dominating the ball. That is really good for a rookie.
The part I put in bold...this is clear enough in the rest of your statements. The anti-Euro-player angle was strong enough that I almost thought you might be Jeff Van Gundy. Llull's getting the MLE, if rumors are true. Will Llull be good or very good? I don't know. We do need someone to keep the ship afloat when Harden sits. Bev? God love him, he has improved in some facets, and he'll probably get 7 or so million a year. Who knows? Cuban might overpay Bev, too, just to keep pissing on Morey's tree. But Bev isn't a floor general.
If you can ball then you can ball and I'll give credit where it is due, but I've seen years of players coming from over seas and only a few make I'm not "anti- euro", I just wait to see if they can "make the jump to the nba level of play". Is that politically correct for y'all thinking I just hate euro players
Unless we win a championship, you can bet that Morey already has a plan in place to acquire LaMarcus Aldridge. I know everybody here loves our core right now. But to be honest, I don't think T-Jones or D-Mo is the right solution at PF. Both are pretty inconsistent. To be fair, D-Mo was hot for a stretch and then cooled down. But here is the thing. LMA is probably THE best PF in the NBA and some of you don't want to chase him because of chemistry. But when it comes to KD, you'd be willing to move the world? I don't think KD is coming here anyways, but of course I could be wrong. Anyways, back to the point. For years now, Morey has been obsessed with acquiring a stretch four. Names include Love, Dirk, Bosh, Millsap, and even LMA. Think about this guys; Morey was willing to go ALL IN on Bosh which would have lead to us keeping/matching Parsons. So financial flexibility was out the window. That would have KILLED our chances of landing KD especially with the deal Cuban gave CP. It is clear that Morey is hell bent on landing that 3rd star and it has also been clear by his previous actions that he's not fully set on acquiring KD. If Morey can get him now, there is nothing other than a championship ring stopping him from acquiring LMA. Morey has always been about upgrading ASAP. He won't wait for KD if he comes to a verbal agreement with Aldridge. How do we go about this? Now if I'm not mistaken, K-Pap has a team option, which is likely to be declined anyways. Brewer has the player option, which I guess some people are saying he'd waive and then return? Smoove seems so comfortable here, yet I do feel like if he got the opportunity to make more money elswhere, he'd do it. Jet is a free agent. We could cut Prigioni. The biggest wild card here is Pat Beverley. He LOVES being here. I honestly don't think he wants to play for any other team. We could keep him with bird rights or MLE. Depends what goes on with Smoove. Also depends on if we give up Ariza to get Aldridge. We'd have to find a suitable backup for Brewer (assuming he returns). To get a quality player, we'd have to probably use the MLE or close to it. So here's my ideal way to get our 3rd star, of course none of this would have potential of happening if we win a title this year. Brewer waives P.O. Team decline's K-Pap's option. Waive: Prigioni Let FA's become FA's: Jet Bev Smoove REMEMBER: The cap is supposed to increase by $7M this year! That will be huge! First and foremost on Draft Night: Trade the Pelicans pick for a 2nd rounder this year and a future first rounder. Sign and Trade: Trevor Ariza, Nick Johnson, and T-Jones to Portland for LaMarcus Aldridge. With MLE: Sign Josh Smith with half. Sign KJ McDaniels with the other. (He was acquired for insurance in case Morey did something big this summer. That is nuts how well DM thinks ahead.) With Room Exception: Sign Corey Brewer SAVE THE BI-ANNUAL EXCEPTION for a Josh Smith like scenario. Match Patrick Beverley UNLESS he's overpaid. (Anything over $5M is "overpaid" for him) Vet min signings: Jason Terry Marcus Thornton Luis "The Ice Cream Man" Scola Our line-up would/could be: Beverley/Jet/2nd round selection Harden/Thornton/KJ Brewer/KJ LMA/Smoove/Scola Dwight/D-Mo/Capela NOTE: Brewer, Jet, Bev, KJ, and Smoove, in this scenario are ALL 1 year deals due to massive salary cap increase next summer.
Sorry for the back-to-back post. But I just had to say this, we are up 2-0 in the first round as the 2nd seed. Morey may not do anything but minor moves. He may just bring back the core and add a few pieces to it. Thats the delight of having Daryl Morey as your GM. Morey doesn't give, he takes. Only he knows what he wants to do. I don't care what happens, I just want a championship. I think we can all agree on that.
I might be crazy, but selling the farm for LMA seems really dicey to me. LMA has always been a good offensive player and at least holds his own on defense, based on BPM. But his PER is far out of proportion to his actual impact based on a slew of metrics. I'm not sure that sacrificing depth and versatility for him will necessarily improve this team. I'd love to have him as a free agent if we had the space but I wonder if giving up pieces like Ariza and Jones is going to definitely improve our talent.
I would really only want LMA if we can keep ariza,jones, and smith. I would move smith behind ariza and brewer off the bench for harden. I think smith is better when he's not trying to be a PF in the paint. I would let him play the 3 and be more of a facilitator for our bench and to run the fast break.
LMA is > Ariza and Jones, I do not think you need wonder it too much. Only question is that if LMA wants to come here or go to San Antonio. The rockets need a trade, some others do not need a trade.
I like Ariza, i don't think its completely necessary to trade him in order to get LMA.( according to ESPN Trade machine a trade of Kpap, Dmo or Prigioni, Tjones, JET would get it done)
