How about Monta Ellis?

No, Monta does not have it all, none of it all actually.

 

Seems like we need a spot-up shooter/playmaker at PG opposite Harden.

When James gets double teamed, someone needs to be available to either spot up and make them pay, or slash to the bucket and finish.

Too bad we missed out on Dragic

 

But Dragic also needs the ball to be effective. Might as well just move Harden to PG and get a true SG.

 

only if he brings his own basketball

 

I know they both have James in their name, but please lets not get James Harden confused with Lebron James. That said we may not need a true point guard, but we need a player that can execute the role of point guard duties for periods in a game at least at an average level (no turnovers). Jameer Nelson comes to mind, someone who can definitely contribute to the improvement of this team for cheap.

 

You would need two basketballs.

 

He literally fits zero needs. The Rockets need a pass-first PG who knocks down open 3's when he gets them, and actually shows a pulse on the defensive end. Ellis does none of those things.

 

He is literally the exact opposite of what we need.

 

Conley isn't available. Why do you people keep acting like Conley is available?

 

Because he hasn't signed an extension and they could be rebuilding.

Zach and Gasol are both UFA.

 

If Gasol and Z-Bo leave, then we can start talking about Conley as a possibility. Until then, I don't see them moving him.

 

Zbo isnt a free agent. He signed a 2 year extension.

 

What I wonder about Monta, is how much of his bad defense is because he just isn't good at it, versus the fact that at shooting guard he always has a size disadvantage? My guess would be the latter, because he looks athletic enough. If that is indeed the case, then he would be one of the few guys that would make sense next to Harden. He could guard point guards, and share ballhandling duties with Harden. He's not the outside shooter Houston needs but he's good in the pick and roll, a good passer, draws fouls and gets to the rim, all things Houston values.

According to ESPN insider:

 

It's so crazy that it just might work. Normally I would be 100% against this type of move, but Monta is a game-changer and might not carry a price tag reflecting that. His defense is terrible (I kept an eye on him in our series and he was terrible; you could make a 10 minute video of him sucking on D just from those 5 games) but going the non-traditional route and grabbing someone like him could be good for us.

 

agree.

though he's not among the first choices in my mind, he's not as too absurd of a choice as many have painted either.

 

Defense is only partly athleticism. Mostly, it's work ethic and positioning. Some guys just don't have those going for them.

Going with this logic I'd take him to replace Brewer on the bench, but not in the starting 5.

 

Calling this a horrible fit is just being nice. This is a stupider idea that is going after Rondo.

 

Fine with me. Re-sign Bev, bring over Llull, and add Monta. Boom. Vastly improved backcourt. Maybe keep Terry as our 5th guard.

(I have no idea if this is at all possible cap-wise.)

 

True, but all the work ethic and positioning in the world can't make up for big enough athletic disadvantages (e.g. chuck hayes, any guard asked to guard a big guy).

That being said, interesting to see Mavericks writers also contemplate moving Ellis to PG. They seem to agree with you, that his main weakness is work ethic and positioning:

A Complete Mavericks Free Agency Primer

For the record, I don't think this should be Rockets Plan A, B, or C, but under the right circumstances it should be considered (e.g. Ellis ops out but finds a cold market, Houston has struck out on other PG options and signs Ellis to relatively palatable deal). I would put this ahead of any plan to bring in Rondo or even Rubio, no shoot point guards whose fit is even trickier.