Assuming that we all want what we can't have - Finley included - if you were GM, who would you sign for LLE? Personally, I think it won't get better than it is right now since the league is "flooded" with amnesty players so I think this is the year to spend the LLE. I'd take Spree over DA because I think JVG would bring out the best of Spree. DA - while I would also be happy to have - I think would not do as well.
I think you gotta be concerned with DAs ability to defend and his durability throughout the year. On a team where we have Sura, Wesley, and Barry as our backcourt rotation we have to be careful that we dont get another person who could potentially miss lots of time with injury. Spree can defend better but can be a distraction and is older than DA. Looking at the cost-benefit ratio I think we should go for Spree. Just my 2 cents.
I think Anderson would be a better fit. He is 4 years younger than Spree. Almost the same defender as Spree. Better 3 point shooter than Spree that we need at SG. Better passer than Spree. And is more explosive and athletic than Spree.
when looking at stats they are very similar. while DA is younger, I think we all know that both of these guys would only be here for the next couple of years anyway. age makes no difference in my deicsion. DA's health worries me. and believe it or not, his attitude worries me as well. he left SAS for a bigger deal even though they were a championship team. he b****ed about PT in portland. i wouldn't want that mentality here. spree is a head case as well but under JVG in NY he didn't act up at all. i doubt that under JVG spree would cuase any problems. his health isnt an inssue.
Both are significantly past their prime, this team MUST get younger. I am strongly against Spreewell and Anderson is not the answer. Why just plug in someone. I say wait for the right fit.
I agree that both are past their primes, but are we ready to go to war with just wesley and sura in our backcourt. If Spree or Derek Anderson are an upgrade to wesley and can be had for cheap why not pick one of them up. I would like to get younger but who else is there that we can pick up? Any suggestions to who is still young, an effective 3rd scorer/defender, CHEAP and would not mind being 3rd fiddle to Yao and Mcgrady's show?
Why are they the Rockets only two choices? Spreewell is a chemistry disaster; the guy has been a jerk his whole career. Anderson is an injury waiting to happen. Pass
Spree may be a nut off the court, but he has been an excellent team player. He also has be one of the key guys for the Knicks EC champ team and Minny's WCF team. Two of his most league wide respected former coaches (JVG, Flip) apparently want him. These are not signs of a player likely to be a chemistry disaster waiting to happen. Anderson has had some injury problems, but he is played the majority of games every season since 99. I have at least equal chemistry questions for DA on the court as Spree based on reports of him complaining about PT--the fact he would take our LLE if in fact he does so eases some of these concerns. We are talking a 1 year for sure, at most a two year commitment (max of an LLE) for a very modest salary. Why not "plug" someone in under the circumstances. Next year we have a full MLE we can target a younger, better, guard who fits more in medium to long term plans. Right now we just want to find another guard/swingman who can contribute and provide some different combinations on the floor. MY RECOMMENDATION. Earlier this offseason I would have favored Spree. But now I lean slightly towards Anderson. One reason is DA has a much better 3 ball last year (38% to 33%), though they are close and what I would say indicates "average" long range shooters over their careers (33.7 to 34.3). The more Rocket perimiter players drain shots, the more impossible it becomes to defend the Rockets. Both are not what I would call dead eyes (e.g., Jon Barry, Kenny Smith, etc), but are usually good enough you can't leave them wide open or they will make you pay. My second reason is DA is more able to fill in at PG if Sura breaks down. As long as either DA or Sura stayed healthy, he and James would be able to give you a solid 48 minutes of PG play. One the other hand Spree would be a fine addition for the LLE as well. Like DA, the versatility and size for guard is a strength. Either guy lets you rest Tmac more because those guys can do most of the things Tmac can (yes in an ultra poor mans form, but in such a form nonetheless) allowing us to run most of the same sets and such. Putting DW (too short, not the penetraitor), JB (too limited athletically) or Bowen (obviously) into Tmac's role just more radically changes things than plugging DA or Spree there does. Additionally, as noted before, Spree is a proven playoff player and I think a little tougher/more physical than DA. Overall I would expect either to be a miracle worker, but either could give you a solid 26-28-30 minutes as needed, and really add a lot of depth and versitlity to the backcourt/back-up SF positions. I have mixed feelings between these two, but either would be a great LLE signing.
Sprewell had one bad year following a contract dispute. He played 7 less minutes last year and scored 6 points less per game than his career average. I think he'll be fine if he's happy.
Why bother? The Rockets have 4 solid guards in Sura, DW, MJ and JB. Adding another solid guard with size who can play back up SF like DA or Spree would add a lot, but adding two of them really would not. I would gladly take either for an LLE, but honestly I see them as no better than the 4 vet guards what we have. But adding either gives us depth and flexibility, and either Spree or DA makes a better back-up to Tmac (allowing him to rest more) than the alternatives. These guys won't provide a radical change, but either one could help.
How about talking to Demarr Johnson and Greg Buckner? Denver hasn't even offered a contract to Buckner yet, and only offered Johnson 1.67 mil. Spurs offered 2.5mil, which is enough to make us a long shot. But either one of these guys would be nice to have on the roster for the LLE, especially Johnson. Between DA and Spree, I'm not choosing because I haven't seen DA play much. Spree has potential to rebound from a bad year even at 35 years old, but I'm not too high on him. DA intrigues me more because I hear he can play 3 spots, and the possibility of having him play PG well is enticing. If he can replace James' spot at PG, that's great for us.
Why not look into a S&T for Damon Jones? Let's see if the brotherly love is strong in the Van Gundy family. There's also, Gary Payton.
I think both of them represents great "value" at the LLE salary. And seeing how this team is looking for size at the 2 guard spot and someone to play some backup 3 behind Tmac I think both are good candidates. I voted for Derek Anderson because he is less of a chemistry 'risk' and to me would be the better 3pt shooter. I think his post passing to Yao would be important as well. He just seems like he would fit in better with our group of guys. I think our chances of trading Wesley's expiring deal during the season are very high so whoever we get could play a sizeable role for us this season. On the other hand, as Desert Scar said, our investment in either player will be 1 or 2 years. We can go after the "younger" swingman option next year with the MLE or via the draft. Right now we are just looking for a stop gap player. But at least with DA, we could get someone that is 31 and has a chance to play a couple of years here for us and be a contributor, especially if Barry retires after the end of the upcoming season.
Too many people keep saying Spree will cause "chemistry" problems. He's never caused chemistry problems anywhere. JVG knows that. Now DA, he's the one that could cause chemistry problems. When people start b****ing about lack of playing time, that is a red flag. Since his agent was recently quoted as saying that DA wants to sign a 1-2 year contract so he can prove his abilities and sign a good contract later...that sounds like he'll b**** about PT on the Rockets too. That also makes DA's age irrelevant since he's a short-timer. I'll pass on DA. If he doesn't get hurt, he'll kill our chemistry. So by default, I'll take Spree. He adds height and is a legit 3rd scoring threat.
I understand what you are saying, but you are, somewhat, living in the past. Your evaluations are based on how both players used to be, skillwise. Both have negatively affected team chemistry according to news reports. I think that the Rockets can do better eventually.
Maybe Van Gundy doesn't yell like the GS coach. Maybe he is more the college professor type and Spree accepts that. (spoken calmly) "You stinking piece of cr@p you sucked the big one against the lakers and I don't know if I can ever play you again without risking a major coronary you f***ing idiot! My mother plays better than you do!" Now doesn't that come across a lot better than if a coach is yelling? Either that or JVG has a doctor who provides Ritalin freely to the players. Maybe Yao's dosage is too high? I would probably choke some a$$h013 talking to me that way, but then call me irresponsible. I just hope Spree can still run pass and shoot.
