Jeff, that was just an example for my team comparison. I'm sure if we had the chance to get Lewis you wouldn't mind. My point was that if we can get a higher quality player at each position that just helps our chances for long term success. What's possible? I'll leave that to the capologists -> You, GATER, SJC, and Alleiott.
By the way, agree with this to a point. But disagree on its absoluteness. Dallas loaded up on offensive players, but neglected defense, rebounder and specialist. That's why they struggled. Everyone wanted to score. No one wanted to play defense or be relegated to a lower role: Finley, Dirk, Nash, Jamison, Antoine Walker! I mean damn! There's only one ball! Portland had NO leaders. A lot of quality talented players. But no one *in-charge.* Not even the coach (Maurice Cheeks). Was Sheed the leader? Nah. Too much a hot head. This team was a bunch of egos that didn't want to follow. No one knew their roles. Memphis is ripe for a "star." They are missing one great player. Kobe would flourish on that team. I cringed the thought that Jerry West would lure him there. Or imagine Kidd there. I agree with your statement about "diversity of tools." I just think we are missing one more semi-star on this team. Someone better than MoT/Howard. Someone better than Ward/Lue. One key player. A third man that could do more on a lesser team, but would be willing to take a lesser scoring role on this one.
Yao will continue to improve and unlike a certain two-guard on the Lakers, McGrady embraces voluntary cooperation and wants to build a partnership with Yao, not simply winning championships. His goals are team-oriented, unlike that other superstar in purple and gold. And T-Mac's original, not a clone.
It really isn't about the cap. We have the player salaries to trade for guys who make the max. The problem is that the players we have to offer don't make other teams want to fork over their best players. Let's take a bad team with a good player that makes the max but would be great for our team for comparison purposes. LA Clippers - Elton Brand Brand makes the max and would be an ideal addition to the Rockets. We certainly have the salaries to match. A deal of Howard and Weatherspoon would easily work. But, why would the Clippers do that deal? That is where the problem comes in. In reality, we traded away all of our tradeable commodities with the T-Mac deal. Guys who have the salary to make a deal work like Taylor, Howard, Weatherspoon, etc. aren't coveted by other teams. It doesn't help that Howard's contract is long (4 more years) and the Rockets don't have any young talent with a small salary to package for another player. Ultimately, until we get some cap relief with expiring contracts or are able to get a draft pick or two in a decent position, we just don't have the valuable players to make significant moves. It doesn't mean we can't improve through minor trades, the draft and free agency. It just means we have very little to work with this season in terms of trades.
but the point that I, and I think Jeff is tryin to make is that it may not be possible to shore up our other positions with 'higher quality' players considering what we have already. sure, it would be great if a high quality player like Rashard wanted to come home and took a paycut to make it happen....but that is nothign more than a pipedream...that much should be obvious. Sometimes you have to just load up onthe best role players you can find and hope that they perform above their capabilities when playing with your two stars.... We have players that are good enough...a combination of sound team defense, great play from our stars and solid play form our role players can be good enough to achieve our dreams...look back at history...I know you know it...there are alot more teams that succeeded with good team play surrounding a star or two than there are chmpionship teams consisting of many stars or semistars As I stated before...Im not argueing that we dont need better players...just that considering the financial state of the league and the Rockets in general, it may not be possible to do much better in overall quality....It is gonna require getting players that have specific skills even if they do have certain weaknesses...kinda like we have now...we have players that are skilled, the problem is that we percieve their weaknesses instead of focusing on their strengths and how those strengths can help the ROckets.
I hear ya! A perfect example of this is MoT. He's weakness were glaring under Francis. But they shine under McGrady. And combining MoT/Howard can be done only THIS team, only because we have McGrady/Yao. Even if both of them have weakness (MoT's rebounding is one). So, yes. I understand this....but... ...It comes down to that not much is possible THIS year, right? But R2K/Jeff. What about next year? What's possible then? We're going to have to address it sooner or later. Especially after we feel the pain of the play-offs. That's what I'm getting at. What *better* players would be possible next year?
I beg to differ, Jeff. It's all about the cap. Or, more accurately, about the feared luxury tax. Even if the Clips were to be stupid enough to take Howard and Spoon for Brand (and they are sometimes that stupid, believe me), we would be treading in luxury tax territory in the season after next, when Yao's max contract kicks in. I would assume that the idea presently is to wait for Spoon's contract to expire to make room for Yao's. Except, of course Les is ready to go for it. I would if it would bring championships.
right...I agree with that. While we may not be in a position to upgrade anyone this year...that doesnt mean that CD and Co arent gonna be looking around and tryin to find someone better after the season. What we have to hope for is that some decent FAs that are willing to accept the MLE for the chance to be that missing link that will propel this team to the promised land. As Jeff mentioned, as of right now we really dont have anyone that most other teams are willing to take(one of our PF's might be tradeable based on level of play this year if we are lucky)...but other than that...until our next expiring copntract is up or they increase the salarycap(not likely) we are pretty much hamstrung on what we can do short of praying for a quality FA as described above.
Yao need figure out how to deal with the fronting defence for him before this team go go to next level. I do not know we have a solution yet.
With the CBA expiring, the luxury tax may not even exist in a few years, never mind the fact that it isn't even always enacted. The luxury tax deters teams from making marginal upgrades at high costs (ie, signing a borderline at best starter to full MLE/above MLE levels)- the luxury tax has no bearing on stars. In hypothetical dream world, Les would trade Howard and Spoon for Brand right this instant and ask questions later. Stars/superstars bring in the revenue. If it could be done, this team would love to bring in a Rashard Lewis or an Elton Brand, but we really don't have many tradeable assets. At the most, I could see us trading for Payton if a.)he's unhappy in Boston around the deadline b.) Boston's stumbling c.) Sura's return to health doesn't improve the point guard situation. As for the future, we have the allure of two great, young superstars inside and on the perimeter, a well known coach, first rate facilities, in a state with no income tax, and in a city with a good amount of night life. We won't have to overpay for talent.
Good Post, Jeff. I am optimistic about the season -- and spring, but it is tempered by the fact that the West is loaded with quality teams. Injuries, serendipitous events whatever could topple any plans for almost any team. BTW - Brand, for example, available? Yes. If The Dunce-old (Donald) were to believe in Wilcox' value then why not move EB? Perhaps for a player with an expiring contract or one with 15% less on this year's cost? Or in a deal with Jersey for Zo then try to get out from under Zo's smaller contract? The Rox do not have much to parley trades with, I agree, except JuWann who is most likely to be dealt to fill a need because he is deemed valuable for the money by several teams IMO.
Just an aside about a difference I noticed between T-Mac and Francis... when Francis made a pass, it seemed exaggerated, almost a forced motion... I am not trying to insinuate anything by this, but when T-Mac passes the ball, its much more smooth, in the flow, and seems like a natural instinct. I can't wait for this team to all get on the same page. Stuart
Thank you for your support. Stuart P.S. I'm going to average more than 10 rebounds per game this year so everyone at cc.net can be happy.
you may of had us if you would not have made a post in the last game thread at the same time Yao was being interviewed by Bill and Van. ; D
it was recycled as a part of the Orlando trade....basically, it is slightly smaller now, but doesnt expire till nextyear around July or August IIRC.. look thru the threads fom that time period(July/Aug 04) and you will find a thread discussing the specifics of it... EDIT: found it...http://bbs2.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81993 Gater, aelliott, HP and Nike clarify the condition of the TE.
