I wouldn't want Sura at the 2. I was just trying to say that Damon/Sura vs. Sura/Wesley is essentially the same in terms of shooting. So saying that signing Damon is hurting us by "underestimating Wesley's ability to hit 3's" is dumb because we don't lose a whole lot in terms of shooting. I agree that Sura at the 2 isn't a great solution. I'd much rather have Sura as what I hoped he'd be at the beginning of last year--a backup 1/2/3 who gets 30ish mpg
If we can land Swift & Damon than T-Mac will have the team he wants. Like he said him self, "I want Swift & Damon."
Adding a guy like Stoudemire gives us a perimeter threat, a legit point guard, and most of all gives us the flexibility we may need in order to get a PF or SG. With Damon on board, that frees up Mike James to be included in a deal, maybe a package with Wesley to upgrade our SG spot...and it wouldn't even have to be in the offseason, it could easily be a mid-season trade. Hopefully Damon would take the vet. exception, still allowing us to grab a PF with the MLE. That way we can evaluate the team during the season and decide what position to go after toward the trade deadline. A lineup at the start of the season looking like this: PG: Stoudamire / Sura / James SG: Wesley / Barry / James / Head SF: Mcgrady / Barry PF: (Swift, Marshall, etc) / Howard C: Yao / Deke We obviously still have too many similar guards, but we'd be okay short term. Sura won't get as many minutes, which is a good thing considering he is always beat up. Hopefully we could swing a deal involving any of James, Wesley, Spoon, and Baker later in the season to get a good, athletic swingman.
He's too small to do anything defensively besides play the passing lanes and pick up full court, forcing the PG to have to pick up the dribble and pass in the backcourt or at least burn some of the 24 second clock up.
How much $$$ is the LLE and usual length of contracts? Who was the last LLE player for the Rockets? Wasn't the MLE split last season between Sura/Ward?
Damon is a classic PG. He's the kind of player who looks to set everyone else up first, but who can also create his own shot if the play breaks down. You'd like him to be bigger and/or to be a better outside shooter, but there's no doubt that he's a pure point. Whenever Damon has shot the ball a lot, it's always been because his team's talent level has been low. Why bother passing to guys who can shoot? Sam, on the other hand, is always looking for his shot. That's okay, because Sam has been a better player and a better scorer than Damon throughout their careers - he deserves more shots. But I don't think it's right to compare the two.
DS will never sign for the LLE. I would expect that his discussions with CD were for the MLE. The MLE would be > than a 50% pay cut for DS and he still has some game left, he lit up NO for 54 pts last season, you don't pay a guy like that the LLE.
I absolutely am 100% for this move if it is for the LLE or Vetrans exemption. If he signs for part of all of the MLE it doesn't make me too happy because i think at his age and size he isn't worth that much more. I would like us to trade Wesley and Sura (Sura only because of durabilty issues and i feel James would be better off the bench than Sura) But i think James has better trade value.
he is also 32 years old and hasn't won anything since that rookie of the year award. This is his best shot to not only be on a winning team, but a contributer and starter on a winning team. He isn't strapped for cash, and i'm sure he can find a good weed hookup here.
I'm not sure why the Rockets would need both Damon and MJames. Damon is very quick, can really push the ball on the break, can drive, and is a very streaky shooter. he's in no way a pure point guard. These seem like MJames strengths also. I can see the benefit of having one of them but not both.
Man, I wonder whose going to leave the Rockets now with Swift (maybe) and Damon (maybe) coming to town....
Its becuase Mike james is a bench warmer, and will most probably just get 15-20 minutes, or be traded(hopefully)
If we do end up signing Mighty Mouse, I wouldn't expect it to happen until a trade of our guards goes down. We wouldn't want to commit to him until we know the logjam is cleared. So, I'm not expecting imminent news.
i hope he is past his cheech phase,that did cross my mind,that and that chappelle skit,funny but dont want those problems out here
If you need further verification, you can see Damon for yourself on KPRC coming up in our 6pm sportscast.
I'd rather keep Mike James than bring in Stoudamire. At this point in his career, Damon's not much more than a name. Granted, Damon might be a better passer, but Mike James has a better jumper and plays better defense.
It seems kind of obvious that if we were to sign stoudemire, that we are going to unload some of our current PG's to get a PF. The question is, who are we going to unload to get a PF, if we do end up with this scenario.
