Can the Rocket gets some? I see Bonzi Wells and the #8 and other folx that we need to start but I think depth is something we will need also Who are some good CHEAP off the bench type players out there? Rocket River
If we could get quality starters at PG, SG & PF, I wouldn't be so worried about depth. I feel like we have a quality bench in place already, the problem is that they're starting!
Pallilo was talking about our depth versus Dallas yesterday. Our #1 and #2 best players match up with anyone but at our 3rd and 4th best player we have Head and Howard where Dallas has Howard, Terry or Stackhouse depending on who you call Dallas' second option. You could make the same comparison with San Antonio. It's a problem. We absolutley have to score a hit in this draft. Getting Swift was one of those shots we have take but damn, we need a little Josh Howard type of luck.
IMO, w/ the exceptions of YM, TM, (and ML), Houston should clean house, rebuild the roster through the draft/trades/free agency, and target a prime time PG. Houston has two, possibly three, picks in this year's draft. Swift, Head, and Alston have trade value. KVH, Radmonovic, Hilario, Welsch, Michael Bradley, Harpring (and Padgett) are quality free agents. If Houston signs a PF w/ a perimeter game, they will need tall guards who can rebound. If Houston signs a rebounding PF, they will need guards w/ consistent perimeter games. Houston will go nowhere, however, w/o a legitimate PG to relieve the ballhandling pressure from TM.
Sorry but Howard, Swift, Mutombo, Sura, Wesley & Bowan etc are not good enough for a present day NBA Championship calibre Team. Both as starters or second level players.
I believe the MLE could get us both Rasual Butler and Qyntel Woods. Then we draft Brewer and Novak and we've got... Alston/Sura/Head Brewer/Head/Woods McGrady/Butler/Woods/Bowen Howard/Swift/Novak/Hayes Yao/Mutombo/Swift Sura is of course a huge "if", but even if he's not back, Brewer is more than capable of some minutes at the PG. Personally, I'd be pretty content with that team there. Woods, Butler, and Novak can all stroke the 3, and have great size. Woods and Butler are both young, have great athleticism, and they can play SG or SF. Novak can play SF or PF. Brewer can play all 3 backcourt spots and should be a defensive gem. Woods has the tools to be a defensive stopper as well. I think overall we get a lot more versatile, young, and big in the backcourt while still getting our starting-caliber SG (also the 3rd PG), and our shooting PF.
I think we will draft a wing player like brewer, carney, redick, hopefully roy if he falls to us. the most likely at this point is brewer. his versitility and defense make him a really interesting pick and because of his strength and ball handling along with his defense, he could start right away. The MLE needs ot go to the most talented player available. that person is probably MJ. I would draft novak in the second round to give us an option of playing a shooter at the 4. those additions with a healthy tmac should be enough to compete in the west. of course we will need to find a good fit at the 4 in order to contend.
unlike others, i think the Rox are very close. Barring injuries and adding depth is critical. I still think the first call should be made to Minny for Ricky Davis. Get Davis, that gives you a quality 3rd scorer who on some nights be a 2nd or a 1st. Take the Mle and get James Jones and Kandi. Take the veterans minimum and get walter Mccarty as a guy who can defend the Dirks and the Garnetts of the world. Use the draft pick for the bet availible big guy to play behind Howard since Swift was moved for Ricky Davis.
What is the trade for Davis that Minny would do? Kandi-No. He is useless. The only thing he does is score a little in the post and we don't need that. James Jones is not a free agent. And McCarty is a 3 point bomber and the furthest thing from a defender we could possibly get.
You could actually make the argument that our bench has excellent depth. Rafer, Wesley, Head, and Bogans, etc. would all be great bench players. What we lack are quality starters at 1, 2, and 4
I love a guy who agrees with me! Also, I know people are really down on him on this board (including me) but I think Howard would be fine as a back up playing 10 minutes a game. We definitely need more depth in the front court though. Howard and Swift aren't going to cut it and Mutumbo is definitely coming to the end of his career.
I really meant I'm fine with Alston, Wesley, Head, Bogans, Hayes and yes, even Howard in limited minutes.
Radman definately impressed me this Playoff season I hope he doesn't go Austin Croshere on folx Rocket River
The Rockets only have two quality starters. If that can be addressed, they would have a relatively decent bench (Howard, Alston, Head, Swift, etc.), at least the lower end of it. Oh please, don't start the season with Wesley and Alston at the guards, that would be so depressing. The "brick brigade" must be reduced in number and relegated to the far end of the bench.
doug christie should never step on the court again... With the pieces we have, I don't think we would be able to get Dallas type depth unless we draft some great players. Dallas drafted Josh Howard and Marquis Daniels. If we can have as good a draft as they had, then those are 2 quality players right there. Add a MLE, LLE, do a few trades, then we can be talking
