The a.m. sports show here in Houston touched on how Shandon was unhappy, make that very disappointed and unhappy at his situation and sources indicated he would opt out. Hate to see him go, but with the emergence of Cuttino he has become replaceable. It seems we really need a certain kind of 3 in this system. Walt would be that if he could play defense and didn't play like he is 45 or 50 years old. Wanted small forward criteria: Strong defensive ability. A shooter. Athletic. Is that too much to ask for? ------------------ I'm just a nut, trying to get a squirrel!
Aw poor guy he probably read verse's meanie thread about him. Oh wait, who cares he sucks. ------------------ \../
If Shandon leaves, he will be alot harder to replace than some people might think. Not only is he a defensive stopper, but he has the respect of the refs, which keeps him on the floor when a rookie might be sent to the bench with early fouls. ------------------
Three competing threads... Personally, I'd like to see Shandon stay. I don't think he's irreplaceable, but I think his open-court game and defense are valuable, and complement Steve and Cuttino. Not everyone can have the ball. He also doesn't get injured often, which is important. His shooting abilities and lack of ball-handling skills are a big minus, but I think he can be a valuable part of our rotation, and more effective in the future if we run regularly. I do feel he needs to to reconcile himself to improving his spot-up shooting skills, but I don't have a problem paying him generously if he's willing to do that and be content coming off the bench. ------------------
let dat sucka go...theres plenty more of him around..he cant score wortha a ****..and thats why he plays good D..if he dont play D, then he'd be nuthin ------------------
Yep and they have some Small Forwards in this draft that will become much better players than Anderson. ------------------ President of the Steve Francis, Jamal Crawford,Larry Hughes, and Charles Woodson fan club.
You have no idea if your statement is true, because the players coming out are still unproven. Shandon is a known quantity, and banking on the draft to replace him is a crapshoot. I would much rather use the high draft pick on a C or PF, because that is where the Rockets are weakest for the future. ------------------
Say_Jack I totally agree about your draft priorities. I just don't think Shandon will negotiate with us, especially considering how he refused to negotiate with Utah last time. I'm to the point of acceptance, and trading him. I'm ready to throw everything at improving the frontline and upping the minutes on running Moochie at the point more in 3 guards with SF and CM, like we do for 10 minutes/gm anyhow. I'd bring up Langhi, and hope to land a SF somehow. Defensive small forward role player for a year or two is all we need if we get the freaking frontline beefed up. We can deal with the SF position later. Now we need BEEF!! Desparately, since Cato sucks, and Dream is gone soon, and Mo' might run. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited April 06, 2001).]
Yes he is irreplaceable. Can we find a guy with playoff experience, great defense and rebounds like at PF. NO!!!!!!! I could see from the middle of the season that we had very little chance to keep him. They only run plays for 2 guys on this team, why do you think Dream was ready to leave in the middle of the season. Same reason. They never post up Maurice in the post/same with Dream. Shandon doesn't even have a play for him its only for Stevie and the Cat. I could see this coming, I really saw it the night Moochie went off for 30 against Indiana. They always say "its not who starts but who finishes the game". Shandon hasn't been on the floor(at the end)most of the time its either Moochie or even Walt and neither are better than him. I wish he would stay but for what, he can go somewhere where he will start and yes have plays ran for him. He's a double-double guy everynight. He just doesn't get to show it in Houston. ------------------
What teams need Shandon? I can't think of too many teams that REALLY need Shandon. I could see him going back to his hometown and playing for the Hawks. They're gonna be under the cap, and if they move Terry to the point again, he would fit in nicely. ------------------
a double double guy??????? double cheeseburger? double dutch? double play? i'm lost. ------------------ Lt. Roastabotch reporting for duty!
While I think that Shandon is replacable, I don't think we should let him go if he'll take a relatively cheap payday. OTOH, don't want us to waste our cap giving him a fat pay-day. Offer him market value, and if he turns it down... well, we did our best. Lil Francis: Yes, there are better SG-SF's available in the draft... problem is, we're going to be LATE in the lottery, barring a miracle. Perhaps we can trade up or something... but that's pretty difficult to do in the NBA. I mean, there's a chance that someone will slip to us... but don't bet the house on it. Shandon can play great D, and score 12 a game. You're not going to get tons of people in the middle of the first round who can do that. Even if we DID get a SF... the odds of him playing great defense are pretty small in the first year. Anderson does that... and is unselfish. he's the type of guy who you want on your team, even if they're not starting. WE NEED MORE ROLEPLAYERS, not fewer. ------------------ I would believe only in a God who could dance. - Friedrich Nietzsche
bravo, haven. but does Shandn agree with you. i'd like to think that Shandn knows he has his downfalls, but i'm not sure. what scares me is that Shandn has not improved his game at all. Shandn has not learned to do anything different that he was doing when he first got here. still, i would not mind him as a low to mid cost off the bench stacey augmon-like role player.
I know many here assume that Shandon doesn't practice his game, but you would be wrong. I get to the games very early, and Shandon is always working on his jumper. The guy can shoot the ball, I just think he second guesses himself sometimes in games, and that he's not always in a comfortable position on the court when he shoots. He's always hesitant on the long jumper, because his instincts are telling him to drive, but his basketball smarts are telling him to fire away. Just trying to point out the guy is working to improve his game, and doesn't have the work ethic of a Cato, whose pregame routine consists of having a 3 point contest from the baseline with Mooch. ------------------ [This message has been edited by tacoma park legend (edited April 06, 2001).]
This developing situation with Shandon is reminding me of the Pippen days...a slasher getting stuck out on the 3-point line. But, Shandon is handling it in a much more mature manner and not being a baby about it by putting down our players and organization. Right now I just cannot decide whether it would be best for us to have him next year or not. If we keep him, we are assured a decent starting SF that plays D and hustles. But, if we let him go, we get extra cap room and might be able to sign/draft a SF with at least as good of defense and a better shot. What it comes down to, if he keeps the Rockets as an option, is how much money he wants. He is a well respected player around the league and I'm sure someone will pay him decent money if we won't. ------------------
I'd agree that Shandon hasn't improved that much. But I don't think it's from lack of effort; I simply don't think he has that much innate ability... and that he's already gotten where he is through basketball smarts and hard work. Can't get any further by hustling. I'm also afraid that slasher's don't fit with Rudy's system. Come to think of it, I really can't remember *any* slashers who played well for Houston. ------------------ I would believe only in a God who could dance. - Friedrich Nietzsche
Battier Joe Johnson Griffin Morris Jefferson Richardson I know Richardson was a 2 in college but pro scouts say he will proably be a 3 in the NBA. I think all of those players will be better than Anderson. Richardson reminds me of D.A. Jefferson reminds me of Paul Pierce and Griffin reminds me of McGrady. ------------------ President of the Steve Francis, Jamal Crawford,Larry Hughes, and Charles Woodson fan club.
Semi-affordable 2/3 options via free agency. I'm only listing guys that will probably cost less than $5 mill, no Houstons or Derek Andersons. (Consider Patterson and Bowen out too) -Eddie Robinson (VERY porous D, bad shot) -Rodney Rogers (not a bad choice considering our rebounding woes) -Kendall Gill (perfect fit. Super defense, shot, veteran. but NJ is giving him $$) -Jim Jackson (if we went small, he'd give us another scorer) -Cedric Ceballos -Stacy Augmon Gill has had an injury filled, and bad year. Let's call it the NJ curse. He's 32, and only 6'5'', but he played SF last year. Very versatile, he's averaged 20 points twice, 6 rebounds once, and 6 assists once. Gets lots of steals=fast breaks. Made 7 mill this year, though. An SF I really like is Rod Grizzard, if he were to come out. ------------------ "That's been a lifelong dream of mine." -Vince Carter, after laying it in on a breakaway, much to the Vancouver crowd's displeasure.
