If we somehow make this trade ( 4+Miles for 8+ JH ), it would be a steal.Miles has a even bigger contract than JH,but trading up 4 spots is great! Juwan is an old,washed up PF who doesn't play D,and he is slow.He's only going to be worse.Miles is a young,athletic swingman with potential,but he has bad attitude.If I was CD,I'd take the risk and do this trade.I think that Miles can be a much better player than he was last year,if he comes to Houston.Almost every player that asks for a trade,when he gets to another team he plays much better than in his prev. team.It's exactly what's going to happen when (if) he starts playing for us.He can be a great defensive player,especially under JVG.I'm not saying that he's gonna be that 100%,but its most likely.This team doesn't need him to be a great offensive weapon,so he can concentrate on defense,which will be his primary role on this team.Houston is a much better team than Portland,maybe he starts playing with intensity and hunger when he's around 2 legit superstars,and with a good chance of winning a championship,and a defensive minded coach who will utilize his defensive potential.It's a good move for houston,getting rid of JH would be great,and his departure would open up some minutes for hayes and especially stro ,who I think with a healthly(sp?) team would be a nice PF.Now something about that 4th pick. If Aldridge somehow slips to 4th ( 99% not a chance ),I would pick him.Otherwise,Roy is the best choice and the best fit for this team in this year's draft.he's a stud.The most NBA ready player in the draft,he doesn't have any weakness in his game.Brandon ROY = Rookie of The Year
I am concerned with just how coachable that Miles is. JVG has done a good job developing Yao Ming & McGrady (to rebound and play harder defensively) but they both have work ethic. JVG and crew were seemingly unable to do much of anything for Steve Francis or Stromile Swift (who are both low work ethic head cases more like Miles). Thus, I remain gun shy on Miles.
That's not true. Francis was a horrible defender before Van Gundy got here. Van Gundy actually taught him how to play defense and he actually became a very decent defender for us in that one year. The jury is still out on Stro.
I don't mean to flame. I agree with you on both points. Francis did improve defensively under Van Gundy and the jury is perhaps still out on Swift. However, under Van Gundy Francis remained and still is a head case (witness the super bowl fiasco, his lunacy at Orlando and his still abysmal turnover ratio and continuous ball massaging). While I agree that Miles could become a defensive terror under Van Gundy, I doubt he ever achieves his body's potential to become a great NBA player. I believe he is more of an underachieving pot smoker like Mo Taylor who also didn't improve with Van Gundy (or elsewhere). In short, Miles long and highly paid contract scares the hell out of me.
Until JH is gone, we may never know what Stomile can do. Stromile showed some flashes, but one mistake and he was back on the bench. JH can miss 10 rebounds, have zero effect on defensive playmaking, and he stays in the game because JVG likes his mind set I think we might all be surprised with a combo of Stromile and Hayes getting all the minutes at PF.
That's what I'm looking forward to. It's a HUGE improvement in our front court defense and should cut down on quite a few second chance points for the opposition.
Christ, how did I miss all of this thread! Can someone give me a quick recap of what's happening? Thanks!
i think you guys have a great point. i always thought that stro just need the right conditions to thrive, most obvious having a point guard like steve nash. he lacks drive in most games but you often hear about players getting the ball early in games to motivate them or to help them find their groove. but then he does have butter fingers.
All you guys rooting for the Juwan for Miles trade must be high on crack. Juwan is a much better player the Miles, cheaper contract, and has a HEART! No way I do this trade Miles is a knucklehead. I'd rather keep Stromile and give him a second year chance to improve. I WILL PASS ON MILES.......thanks
Does anyone think this is doable. We trade 8 and howard for 4 and miles. Then we trade the 4 to NO for number 12, 15 and JR Smith. We could conceivable draft Redick and Carney at 12 and 15 or a PF (Alexander Johnson or Cedric Simmons) instead of Carney. Basically we would have gotten Darius miles and JR Smith to help at the 3 and 2 position. Redick adds shooting. We get carney or the PF. Then we still have the 32 pick and the MLE to look at PG or PF depending on who we draft. All we give up is #8 and Howard. Instantly we get depth and athleticism. Plus I think it is a realistic possibility.
The jury is out on Stro and will not be returning. 6 years in the NBA of the same thing has yielded it's own verdict. READ THIS: He will NEVER have the "perfect conditions" some say he needs to be a good player. Reality stinks sometimes. Trading JH and entrusting our PF position to only Stro and Hayes would be a stupid waste of season, especially one with Yao and Tracy on the team. But we also shouldn't waste another season keeping the status quo at PF. I'm no SF lover but pleeeeease don't compare him to Miles. I'll criticize Steve when he deserves it but he hasn't blown up and quit on two different coaches. He also developed some skills while in the NBA unlike Miles who probably won't develop anything more than a slam dunk and a turnaround jumper that clangs off the rim.
I feel the same way about your view on Stro is concerned. Although I would like to see him in the starting line up with a healthy Yao and Tmac for a fair gauge. For this reason, I think if the trade with the Blazers (Jho/8 for Dmiles/4) goes down, it's with the intent on selecting Tyrus Thomas. Thomas replaces Howard and we get Miles at the 3/4. If the trade with the Twolves (Luther/8 for 6) goes down, the Rockets are probably trying to nab Roy; although, this trade looks like it won't happen because there's a good chance Roy will go before 6.
100% agreed. "Just say no to Miles". "I wouldn't touch him with a 10 foot bong!" The dude is a chronic underachiever in every department except the paycheck. His locker room cancer and very long term contract would kill us for years to come. A deal with Atlanta to get #5 in exchange for #8 and Luther Head seems much more desireable. We still get one of the top 5 talents in this draft (Morrison, Gay, Roy, Aldridge, Bargnani or Thomas any of whom we could make good use of) and Atlanta still gets their PF/C in Sheldon Williams or at worst O'Bryant or Simons or they could want a PG they can get R. Foye or M. Williams. The last thing that Atlanta needs is another athletic 6'5" to 6'8" swingman. Everybody wins here and without out taking on Miles amazingly bloated contract and locker room cancer.
Miles haters are missing the point. It's not a trade FOR Miles. It's a trade FOR the #4 pick. An aging Juwan is worth 4 spots in a draft where there is significant dropoff outside the top picks. As it's been pointed out, the chance for superstars, allstars and solid players drops off significantly the deeper you go in the draft while the opportunity for busts increases significantly. Currently, we have Howard/Swift/Hayes at the PF position with only Alston & Head to man our backcourt and no one to backup TMac as well. Roy and Miles would provide us depth in those areas. A Mike James signing would also provide additional depth and relief on Alston's off nights. Yao/Swift/Deke Swift/Hayes/Miles TMac/Miles Roy/James/Head Alston/James That gives us quite a bit of flexibility in our matchups. JVG has been mentioning the need for slashers, which Miles would fit nicely. Also, our obvious need for shooters would appear to be bolstered by Roy and James. It also improves our front court defensive through the subtraction of Howard while limiting second chance points for the opposition. I also think that this roster would help to limit TMac's minutes during the regular season and have him in much better condition going into the playoffs.
If JVG can get Miles to play for him, this would be one hell of a steal. Miles would hopefully be inspired to play for a team that has a chance of going somewhere. Portland has no claims on playing for a title, only dumping salary (maybe even Randolph for Atlanta's pick after the fact?). Playing for a serious organization might get Miles to respond. And moving up to #4 would be priceless.
Why are some of ya'll putting so much value on Luther freaking Head? He's an undersized shooting guard playing the point with (at best) average passing skills. Don't get me wrong, I like what I saw in his first year, but in no way should he be a deal breaker for a Head +#8 for #5 type of deal.
Well said. Miles does come along with some baggage, but he is still young, hasn't played as a starter in a stable, team environment and does still have upside. I'll take my chances. Also remember that Isiah has a man-crush on him and we know the Rockets-Knicks trading history. Q-Rich? Frye? Francis? I'm not saying any of them are attainable, but another deal should not be ruled out.
