Not to get all elitist about this, but the younger you are the more a year or two sounds like an eternity. Yes, the Rockets were in win now mode, but Yao's chronic foot injuries have changed the dynamic. In a nutshell, since we know the Rockets aren't winning a championship next season, there is nothing to be accomplished with a first round blow out. The alternative, developing the young players while getting into position for a high lottery pick is a far better strategy.
What I would like to see more of is Moreys ability to move players at max value. Clearly this would have helped with Tmac at least in his instance and now it proves that it could have helped with Yao also. Now he has Battier who has max potential in a trade and he wont be that use ful for many more years and he is old which this current team doesnt need since we arent competing for at least one more year now. Then there is Scola who we may lose to free agency next year for nothing if we sign a Chris Bosh we wouldnt be able to resign a Scola either. Thats 2 people we could waiste. He might consider packaging both to get a Allstar like Bosh this year instead. Maybe a Joe Johnson. Scola and Battier together could net us a huge All Star and have max value at age point were it could be prudent with a non contending team and may no longer be of use in the future or leaving anyways. If Morey doesnt get that right he is definately no genius but he can still make things happen that doesnt exactly involve those two and get things right. Like Tmac. However its either keep Scola and Battier and let them grow old and dont sign a 2010 free agent because you cant if you keep Scola or Trade Scola and Battier for youth, picks, and perhaps a scoring star. Maybe just Scola or just Battier but really one of the veterans have to go.
As much as i hate the idea of losing both Scola and Battier, it does make sense if we want to land a big name FA next year. If we want Bosh, we may have to part ways with Scola. I think Scola's going to demand at least $10mil/yr. Shane is already signed until 2011 - making $7.5mil in his final year. And If we make a run at Bosh/Wade/Joe Johnson, we cant expect to sign them at anything less than $17-18/year. And lets not forget, Yao's more than likely going to pick up his option at $17.7mil.
JVG was the major reason why Francis got traded, JVG wanted to ship out the knuckleheads with bloated contracts. The TMac trade may not have net us the results that we were hoping for, but in my mind we were better off ending the Francis era.
Well last time I checked, Les pays the bills... Until Yao says he's leaving, Les is going to keep him. DM will honor Les' wishes cause Les owns the Rockets, which means he owns DM.
