I would love to grab D.Marshall, K.Martin or A.Davis

Funny, I just made a post in the thread in the NBA Dish where I show one possible way for us to get in on that:

http://bbs.clutchcity.net/php3/showthread.php?s=&threadid=68767

 

We could throw E. Griffin into the mix. Teams need equipment managers on road trips. That way, whoever we trade wouldn't have to carry their own bags. And they might find some smaller bags in their bags.

 

First, I have been avoiding 99% of all trade threads because 1) they are flat-out unrealistic and 2) most are knee-jerk reactions. Since you have posed this fairly logically, I will respond.

IMHO...

1) The Rockets are still learning how to play the way JVG wants them to play. I'm not convinced the final result will require a "true PG".

2) True rotations haven't been established because AGriff and Pike have yet to play a single minute. Much of NBA success comes from mental toughness and overall team chemistry. It's hard to have a complete feel for these aspects without seeing how much AGriff and Pike impact the Rockets.

3) Power Forward by committee is not such a bad idea. Cato, Taylor and Braggs (and sometimes Padgett) are all very diverse. Once (if?) the Rockets learn to play at a higher offensive level, they should be able to make the other team respond to the mismatches they dictate instead of the current reactive mode.

4) Most of posters on this board tend to overvalue Cuttino in a trade. It is very easy to lose sight of the fact that the NBA is awash is SG's...particularly the EC.

5) The stats put up by Mo Taylor do not warrant his current $8.5m salary. He will have to be alot more productive (an indication he has totally recoverd from all previously sustained injuries) to have a solid trade value.

6) A 2 Rox for 1 trade is probably not a good option for many teams which currently have 6 to 9 2004-05 player contracts. The Charlotte expansion draft is going to impact things like...which SG do we protect? Do we protect that young, inexpensive PF or Taylor. If the former, why do we need Taylor given we will be giving away talent to get him?

Summary...trading or changing players always has a period of adjustment (see MINN or SA). Why not let the entire current process (learning VG's entire system...a solid, fully injury free rotation, etc.) fully sink in before changes are made?

BTW...right now Kelvin Cato is too valuable to trade IMO and I'm not all that enamored with KMart (question his abilities in the WC) or Davis (way too much money for a player his age and the Rox WC Finals timetable).

 

Just want to let you know that EVERY SINGLE TEAM in the NBAm regardless of style, needs AT LEAST one true PG. Off the bench, starting, Point-Forward, Princeton offense, I don't care.

Every single team needs at least one, and we have none. So even if it means Francis and Mobley stay, we need one off the bench.

 

wasn't jvg quoted not long after being signed that the nba is dynamically changing and he doesn't necessarily believe in the need for true PG's anymore? (i'm still in favor of getting rid of francis/mobley)

 

Regarding the original post,

There are lots of names out there right now, and I think the Rockets need to make a move, but not before AG and Pike come back. Although our offense isn't clicking right now, we need to see who fits in with a complete roster. I think Pike will dramatically improve our team, and AG is another solid bench player.

Yao, Cato, JJ, Mobley, Francis, MoT, AG, Pike, Boki is the rotation. let's give it another 8 or 9 games, then decide WHO we should deal.

Ofcourse, if a deal is too good to pass up, I think we should go for it.

For example, it would be interesting to see what Portland would want in exchange for Bonzi Wells and Jeff McInnis. Would they do Bonzi for Mobley straight up? Bonzi and McInnis for Mobley, Boki and Moochie?

I don't see why we shouldn't improve our team if the talent we're gettign is better. the loss in chemistry will be replaced by the increase in talent, and eventually the chemistry will come back.

 

@gator....this was a great reply!!

i think, we won´t be in the mix, simply because we don´t have any players (beside yao and francis) the raptors, bulls or nets would be interested

 

Sane -
The two hardest postions to fill - PG and C.

There are plenty of examples of teams that win/won without a Center or "true" PG...Celtics with DJ and Ainge, MJ's Bulls and the current Mavs. The trick is to fit the system to the players. Otherwise, these are your only options:

1) Francis to SG.
2) Trade Francis. Obtain/use and "average PG".

Regarding #1, here is a list of teams with a true PG and All Star or near All Star caliber players at other positions...

Celtics...Marcus Banks and Mike James
Heat...Dwayne Wade, Rafer Alston, Bimbo Coles
Knicks...Howard Eisley, Charlie Ward and Frank Williams
Magic...Tyronne Lue and Reece Gaines
Hawks...Jason Terry, Jacque Vaughn and Dan Dickau
Raptors...Alvin Williams, Milt Palacio, Rick Brunson
Clipps...Marko Jaric, Eddie House, Doug Overton
Sonics...Brent Barry and Luke Ridnour

Notice a trend?

Regarding #2, I can't think of a reasonable trade scenario (and I haven't read one on this BBS) that would increase the Rockets level of productivity without being an economic nightmare (Jalen Rose), a risk of not being able to re-sign the player next summer (Rasheed Wallace), the player being too young for the Rox playoffs/Finals timetable, severally decrease the defensive abilities and/or upset chemistry.

I am in an extreme minority, but I have always felt that the current Rockets team needs a point forward (arrgghh...a young Pippen...ouch). I'll skip all the logic for now.

Basically, if Steve Francis is not a true PG and if a majority of NBA GM's feel that way, what reasonable trade scenario brings in a:

1) A WC PF and an average PG...
or
2) A near All Star caliber SF and an average PG...

(Because if you trade Francis, you still have Yao and Cat).

I have not seen one posted that I would pull the trigger on that would tempt a potential Rockets trading partner.

 

Houkom -
I ask this in all sincerity...do you honestly think the Bulls place any value at all on Taylor, Nachbar, or Moochie? The Bulls currently have 9 players under contract for 04-05. If they trade Rose (a single dimensional, high $ contract...ring a bell?), that number likely rises to 10 (and they can only protect 8). Why would they take any of the 3 Rockets if they were unable to protect them?

Or IOW...
* Why would they need Moochie when the already have Crawford and Hinrich (and Jay Williams) and possibly Alvin Williams if they trade Rose?
* Why would they pay Taylor $8.5m to backup Chandler? Especially when they can re-sign Fizer for less? And they may be getting Jerome Williams in a trade?
* Why do they need Nachbar when they already have Pippen and ERobb at SF and Fizer plays minutes there, too?

The only way I could see the Rox involved is if they use the Trade Exception to facilitiate the Chi and TOR trade. And personally, I hope we get more bang out of the TE than Marshall.

 

If Alvin Williams is fit we should try and explore the chances of getting him with the exception. However I don't think the Rockets are involved in this potential trade between Chi-Raptors.