Let me preface this first by saying if this scenario has been mentioned before, I apologize. I also want to say that Tmac has improved this franchise not only in wins and losses (not including last year), but is a nice draw at the box office (when he's healthy) and just in general (adidas, etc...). The trade I would do if I were the Rockets is: Tmac and Rafer to Sacto for Bibby and Artest. A thread title that includes the word "sensible" and Artest in the body should not deter you from reading on Don't get me wrong, Tmac is wonderful talent and a player who is a bonafide superstar and difference maker because he can get any shot he wants at anytime he wants. He can also be a lockdown defender when he wants and if there are enough offensive weapons around him in order to save his energy for both defense and offense. To be clear, to not only win in the NBA, but win a title, you need superstars, period. If for no other reason than when you get to the gut of a ballgame, the superstar will get the call over a non-superstar. In my opinion, Ron Artest is a risk, but a legit superstar. I've seen this guy literally SHUT DOWN Lebron without a doubleteam, neutralize Kobe and provide helpside defense on Duncan without fouling him and forcing him to give up the ball. Artest can guard nearly every backcourt player in the NBA, at least every 2 guard. He eats small forwards for lunch and can guard at lest 1/2 of all the 4s in the league. On the defensive end of the court, there is no better and that includes Ben Wallace. On offense, he's crude, but effective, particularly on the low block. He can draw fouls when the game gets ugly (one thing Yao seemingly has yet to master) and also hit the 3. Granted, he's a bit of a unreliable nut job, but hey, I'd be willing to take the risk on JVG being able to control the guy vs. Tmac's waffee back. If the guy can't go physically, there is nothing in the mental category anyone can do. Artest is a malcontent, but he still plays with heart and hustles on both ends when he's out there most of the time. Mike Bibby is a second tier superstar, but one that the Rockets desperately need. Bibby can consistently shoot from the outside, all the way out to 3. The S.A. series aside, Bibby has been known throughout his career as an unselfish player. Bibby is more than capable of taking and making the last shot of a game. He can also be counted upon to PROTECT THE BALL and not turn the ball over, make the right play and control tempo. Additionally, he's playoff tested. To win a championship or at least to get to the title game, you need players that have advanced to Conference championship. Both players have advanced that far. Collectively, why Artest/Bibby? Mainly, because I just think Artest and Bibby are better fits for Yao. Yao needs a post feeder who can also hit a long ranged J. Also, the team and Yao need players with playoff experience. Additionally, in general, Houston just needs better defense and an snarly edge, along with less turnovers. Look at last year's game 7 when the Spurs edged the Piston is game 7. If you noticed, only the proven, mistake free players got a whiff of the court in that game. Do you really want your starting point guard in a series like that to be Rafer Alston? Honestly, Rafer was on the And1 mixed tape before he started raining 3s for Miami and Rob "I drafted Rafael Arujo before Iguodala, Al Jefferson, Josh Smith and David Harrison" Babcock gave Rafer an obscene $30M when everyone else was only willing to pay half. Rafer put up decent numbers because he played 39 minutes a game (12pts, 6.8 assists), but please, this is not the guy to run the 2nd most important position on a championship team. Bibby is proven commodity that comes with some playoff cache' and experience. As previoulsy mentioned, Artest is just the defensive animal that any coach would need, particularly JVG. With Yao clogging the middle and Artest locking down the perimeter, we take away the drive and the outside shot. This would also keep Yao out of foul trouble more often. Why trade Tmac? Well, it's hard to rebound from a year like last year. Tmac is a 28 year old with a bad back. Also, this team needs depth and positional reliability particularly at the PG position, no necessarily a player who can create a bunch of shots going 1-1. This team is built around Yao's low post game and passing ability. This is what generates a double team and having 2 other guys that can hit an outside shot is of great value. Tmac's shot creating and making ability are great, but I'd argue that Artest's defensive abilities are more rare than Tmac's offensive ability. This trade also lets the Rockets get out from under Rafer and Tmac's longterm lucrative deals. Additionally, and this is one of the biggest reasons of them all - Tmac has never been out of the first round with much of his career in the East. Granted, it took KG Spree and Cassell to make it out too, but Tmac was a legit superstar playing in the Least-ern conference in the late 90s and early 2000s. Looking at the salary cap, this trade actually works according to the Trade Analyzer on realgm.com.
i would seriously deubt the kinds will make this trade, why trade 2 protential allstars for a injured superstar and a backup pg on playoff teams.
yea, i thought about the same thing. why would the maloofs trade bibby and artest. they would for several reasons: 1. they recognize artest is a risk and one that could be alleviated if they receive an all star in return 2. bibby is on the outs in sacto, rumors abound, but the maloofs realize bibby probably can't take them to the promised land 3. the kings need star power, particularly if they have aspirations of moving to las vegas. do you really think the good people from vegas will give 2 sh!ts about a team with such marketable luminaries such as bibby, artest, shareef and brad miller?
while i agree with you that this trade will definatly make the rockets better i really dont see how the kings can get better with this trade, i know artest is a ticking time bomb but he still brought something to the kings that they serverly lack, defence. And as much as people baggin on bibby about how they cant win a championship with him in Sacramento he is still a allstar, that can shoot 3pts and score at will, something alston cant do. But i think it basically all comes down to TMAC's bad back and the kings not willing to risk it.
I say we wait for atleast next season to see how bad of shape Tmac really is in...i mean who knows he might jus pull thru and play like he did the first season and if he does that w/ the new Yao than i would rather have Tmac
I want to hate the idea, but strangely, I don't. Still, I think think the Kings would be unwilling to part with the ones who brung 'em. They made the playoffs this year. They're not desperate to make a move.
Mike Bibby Sacramento Kings Position: G Height: 6-2 Weight: 190 College : Arizona Player file | Team stats 2005-06 Statistics PPG 21.1 RPG 2.9 APG 5.4 SPG 1.00 BPG .12 FG% .432 FT% .849 3P% .386 MPG 38.6 Mike James Toronto Raptors Position: G Height: 6-2 Weight: 190 College : Duquesne Player file | Team stats 2005-06 Statistics PPG 20.3 RPG 3.3 APG 5.8 SPG .91 BPG .04 FG% .469 FT% .837 3P% .442 MPG 37.0 Bibby is the better player but give me the guy that can get you similar production at the far greater value. As for Artest, I was all about trying to get him mid-season and obviously it didn't happen. He is best suited to be a 3rd option, and not to underestimate his contributions on defense, but he's a very undisciplined offensive player that clearly carries some baggiage with him. I was willing to take that risk whenever the expiring contracts of the likes of David Wesley and our other limited assets (Head, draft pick, Stro) were at stake....but no, i'm not giving up a top 5 talent in the league for a talented ticking time bomb and a guy like Bibby, who Mike James, a guy practically begging to come back, could match his production.
Actually, this is a very good trade idea. Bibby's salary is a little large but Artest is underpaid given his talents. So Houston would be trading 1 starter (although the best player of the bunch) and a frindge starter for 2 all-star calibre players who make less money. The gap between Artest & McGrady would be made up by how much better Bibby is compared to Skip. Now, from Sacramento's standpoint would they be willing to take on more salary while taking a drop in talent in one of the 2 positions in which its the most difficult to find quality (these positons being PG & C)???? They're already overpaying Brad Miller would they wanna overpay Skip just to get McGrady??? Well, Houston did these things 2 years just to get McGrady and now they wanna trade him....funny how things work.
Bad trade. Tracy is a one-in-a-million, fun to watch even if we don't make it out of the first round.
In my opinion, this trade makes Houston a perennial playoff team but destroys any chance for a title. You can get better deal than that.
We all want to see our Tracy McGrady well and playing at the top of his game for 82 games next season. That being our starting point, we must then try and put ourselves in the mind set of the Management, at the Buisiness Office at Rockets Central. The big question should be submitted to expert medical advice. The big question is will Tracy McGrady ever recover from his back problem? If there is strong doubt about his being able to play at the level we all know, then the course of action presents its self. Other NBA Teams, at this point in time, like ourselves, only want to see Tracy recover and add to the quality of the NBA. With this in mind, some teams might be desperate enough to convince themselves that they can nurture Tracy back into his old self, as at this moment, there is still hope in their hearts and minds, just like it is in ours. Would you prefere another team in the 2007/2008 to come to the conclusion that TMcG's career is over or would you like it to happen with the Rockets? I don't know any of the answers but if the Rockets get negative expert medical advice and still decide to keep Tracy then they would not be acting in the best interest for the Team and for Les Alexander. Possibly there is a favourable reply from the medical advisors and with special treatments and loosing a little weight Tracy can continue his career with the Rockets but in a more limited role, where he becomes cautious of contact in physical play. If there is any hint that Tracy is damaged goods the Rockets will only have one opportunity to realize on their assets with a trade and it would have to be done this off season. After the start of the season if it is realized that he can only play a very limited number of games , no team will have the desire to trade for damaged goods. Which decission would you make trade or keep him?
PLEASE! WHAT WE REQUIRE HERE ARE PARAGRAPHS !!! THAT, WITH LINE BREAKS, WILL ALLOWS FOR SIMPLICITY AND EASE OF READING!!
i don't see why sacto would do this. tmac's health is as risky as artests attitude. both put up roughly the same #'s. then we get bibby for rafer. of course it's a good trade for the rockets. artest would look even scarier in JVG's defense. bibby's shooting and passing ability would make a killer P&R play with yao.
It sounds like the majority of folks on this thread don't think Sacto would give up Bibby and Artest for Tmac. 2 things: 1. I'd throw in other players, even a 1st round draft choice to get this deal done if I were the Rocks 2. Remember, these same Kings traded Cwebb for basically some spare parts. Granted, Cwebb was hobbling and a bit of a cancer on the team, but my point is that Sacto is aching to get back in the mix of things and need star power. I don't think the need for the Maloofs to have an identity, a superstar identity if you will, can be underestimated. Getting back to basketball for sec, the Rocks have admitted their shambled backcourt, so that just tells me how little confidence they have in any of the guards, that includes Luther Head. Head played well last year and hit some big shots, but I'd throw him into the mix in a heartbeat to get proven playoff tested perimeter shooting and top tier defense any day of any week. As for Mike James, yes, he could be a bargain, but only had really one good year, playing for a backcourtless Raptor team that plays an up tempo game. If his talents were so suited for the Rocks slow it down style, a style that requires good decision making and tempo setting from their PG, he'd still be with the Rocks. James gets his assists off in transition, not driving, dishing and setting up players in the halfcourt. That's what they were hoping to get with Rafer, but not sure they succeeded. Ideally, get Bibby AND James to be your 3rd guard. A lineup of Yao, Bibby and Artest with this year's 1st round draft choice and whatever Rocks PF you want to throw in is an exciting lineup. One with PLAYOFF experience, a nice blend of youth and age. I would take that lineup over one with Tmac and a 1st rounder for next year and maybe even Luther Head. I may be opening up myself for tons of criticism by including Head, but really, winning the title is the ultimate goal and this lineup could go up against any starters in the league, Pistons included. Sorry, Head fans.
Healthy Tracy, the Kings would be all over it, but after his season of injuries , i feel the kings wouldnt realistcaly entertain this idea. it's got alot of merit, but if tracy gets his back next season, there is noway in hell artest and bibby are enough. a healthy tracy is the best pure talent in the game. top 3 player.
i'd easily take a healthy t-mac over bibby and artest. by himself he brings us closer to a championship then those two would. i know the gamble is that he's not the same but i'd rather take the chance.
Damn Straight. healthy tracy and the new yao, will be close to unstoppable. get james for his scoring ability and we'll be awesom.i say get mike james and draft sheldon willams as a future PF.
Hehehe I had the same line of thinking (T-Mac + Yao would get us to the WCF, etc.), but after watching Dallas go up 3 - 1 on the Spurs, how can T-Mac and Yao take that team alone? Everyone they bring on the bench is talented, Jason Terry didn't miss in the clutch, everyone on that team is talented. I hate them so much. We need better supporting cast players PRONTO if we're even going to present a challenge to them. The Rockets suck other than Yao and T-Mac, yet that team is full of talented players. Granted, T-Mac (and Yao...) took us to 7 against them last season. However, last season they weren't as good as this season. It's better to take the risk on T-Mac because he's just too good to give up. Some players you give them the ball with 10 seconds left, and they can't make their own shot, create for themselves, their team, they can't make something happen. That's not enough time, they're guarded too tightly, no space, something. T-Mac isoed with 10 seconds left and the ball? Money.
