[Denver Post] Rockets Still interested in Wells...

i know he is a good player and he would bring us the fire power we need..but he is a punk...I hate rooting for punks....i passed on Randy Moss and Owens in my draft just cause I can't imagine myself cheering these guys on...i'm not naieve to think the current rockets are all good..but at least they don't have the rap sheet this guy has...you can be like TMAC and Yao and not be an ass...its easier to root for guys like that...

 

I agree. I think having a flake like Wells on the squad may actually make the team WORSE by everything he might do off he court in terms of the stress he could add to the rest of the team. If I was T-mac, or Yao, or even Ryan Bowen, and they signed Wells, I think I might request to be traded...

 

You raise a good point. One of the things that made the first championship so nice was it was fun rooting for THOSE guys. Max obviously had problems, but it was a group that had been together a while. Hakeem, Thorpe, Ellie, Rudie T were all good people, they knew their role on the team and were easy to cheer for.

That was the problem with the Barkley, Pippen and even Drexler teams. They had a sense fof being bought. They wern't OUR guys.

 

IMO, whoever Bonzi signs for he'll be good for the year, since he'll be playing for a big contract.

 

Yes, he will probably put up some nice stats to help with his contract but will he do this at the expense of the team? Bonzi had nice stats last season too, there is a reason he doesn't have a job. I think we should be thinking about filling some positions that we don't already have 6-7 players for like uh.... oh I don't know maybe PF or C. Just a though.

 

If Bonzi came here, he won't be a headcase. Van Gundy would personate him as a legit star on our team, and won't force him into "shooting 3 and defending for your life" mode that all perimeter role players must do.

Van Gundy, and Rockets style of basketball, is half-court, gritty, hard-nosed style. Bonzi would emerge in such a system. He'll use his post up, and mid-range techniques. Screw this crap of he won't post up since Yao is here, I guess there's a rule saying we can only have 1 post-up player? It'll help for matchups immensely, give ourselves a 3rd option, and be able to compete with most teams. If you put your smaller, weaker defender on our other perimeter player(which would be Bonzi, assuming Battier plays the 4), he'll post you up, it's safe to say we can't go into such detail of playbook stuff, but Bonzi will find a way to score, he'll give us 6rpg and be a physical defender.

 

Tracy is a 3 only nowadays and Battier will be the starting 4. The Rockets may have a lot of guards but none of them are ideal starter material at the 2.

 

Getting Bonzi wells would be more than a coup because I don't see how it would be possible. Our trading pieces: Luther, Juwan......and, uh....

Shane Battier, technically, could be traded now, but I don't think we acquired him to ship him out.

So, unless a third team gets involved, and we include a draft pick (perhaps)...OR if no other team will pay Bonzi the MLE (doubtful, but man, did he ever screw the pooch when it came to estimating his own worth), then I really wonder how we can get him.

Of course, I can say, "Trade TMac and Luther and Juwan for re-signed Bonzi and Ron Artest and Shareef" but that would belong on the "What are you smoking?" forum on realgm.com.

 

I want Head to stick around. He is a shooter. Good, young player off the bench. Snyder would make an extremely good bench option as well.

The truth is, that after the top 4 or 5 teams in the league. There is a superb talent drop off. I think even Lebron will need quite a tad more than he has now.

Wells is a solid 2-guard. Our 3rd guy. Size, Strength, Athelicism. Everything we need. 35% 3pt shooter. Spur Killer.

I would give a year of my life, for this to happen. Dial up JC and make it happen.

 

If Sura is able to play and Houston added Bonzi this lineup would be the favorite to win it all:

PG Sura
SG Bonzi
SF T-Mac
PF Battier
C Yao

Not only that but suddenly the bench would be very deep.


I would definitely do it, however trading Luther seems way overboard.

I don't see how the Kings could seriously even ask that, at tops a future 2nd round pick at most.

 

I can see Bonzi signing here. i can see the attraction. he'll automaticly be the starting SG here. our halfcourt offensive grind it out system would also fit his game. if his plans are, try to shine this season in hope of landing a big deal next season, houston is his best bet. in miami he'll be rotting on the bench and in denver he dosent fit there system.

 

What are you guys thinking? Imagine it is playff time...You are likely facing the Northwest Champions...do you want to go into battle with Luther Head or Bonzi Wells. Luther head types are a dime a dozen. You can pick them off the waiver wire or for $2million or less during free agency. He is not a deal stopper.

PG Alston, Kill Bill
SG T Mac, Snyder
SF Battier, Wells
PF Juwan, Hayes
C Yao, Deke

bench JLIII, Novak, Bowen, Jacobsen

Crunch time lineup:

PG Alston
SG Wells
SF T Mac
PF Battier
C Yao

I think this would make the Rockets an actual contender. as Battier then becomes your 4th option an concentrate on defense. T Mac's minutes can be lowered and Bonzi gives you another low post threat and great bench scoring.

 

This makes perfect sense to me, but I think that Head should still be on our team.

 

I dont think we have to give up a player on the roster to get Wells. I think we can use the 4.2 million TE which is close to what he is going to get from any other team, and package that with a future 2nd rounder. Wells would be worth that even at the risk he only stays one year. I do think Wells would have to sign a one year deal with Sac first for that amount but if he feels Houston is his best option, that could be worked out.

I think a line up of Yao, Battier, McGrady, Wells and Alston is pretty solid. We have a lot of size at the 2 and 3 to make up for the lack of size at the 4. Then just think of the bench and bringing in Snyder, Kill bill, Novak and Juwan. I dont see it happening but would welcome Wells coming in.

 

At this point getting Bonzi would make the Rox look incompetent. Getting him now would be like me buying 3 sofas for my living room and then renting this luxury model for a year, doesn't make much sense. We would be better off shoring up the PF position than acquiring Bonzi at this point.

 

When two of your 3 sofas (Azubuike, Jacobsen) are cheap tacky ones you got from the Salvation Army store and not even guaranteed to last for a month and has a return policy with a minimal restocking fee, there's nothing wrong with getting the luxury model.

Face it, the Rockets can really use another solid piece of furniture, especially because I'm guessing Luther Head traded in to acquire Bonzi.

 

Why would you not want bonzi on your team? did anyone watch him wreck the spurs last year in the playoffs?

 

There was a great cast around Hakeem in building that first championship team and I would agree with you wholeheartedly about Pippen and Barkley, but how can you possibly including hometown hero Drexler as not being "one of our guys"??!! Drexler was second only to Hakeem as being "one of our guys" going back to the Phi Slamma Jamma days at U of H and was an indispensable part of the second Rocket championship. Throughout their careers, they had both spoken candidly how they would love to play together and both were elated, just like the rest of us were, when that dream became a reality...!

 

I guess the main reason I don't think Bonzi is a all that for this team is just this; looking at our roster right now there are no outstanding head cases (Snyder might turn into one) and there are no guys with motivation issues. I admit that Bonzi tallent wise is an upgrade as he would be on any team. I would like to see our current group be sucessful for at least a half a season and get some confidence in their ability as a team "chemistry". Then you can throw in a guy like Bonzi who has a high posibility of being a distraction. Do I know that this group will be sucessful as they are... no but I have a good feeling about em.

Note to Rockets Management: If you guys aren't 110% sure that T-Mac has a healty back then get Bonzi signed now!!!

 

Assuming he would, what would the starting lineup be?