I know this is the unpopular choice, with Lewis being a hometown kid as well as a more proven scorer, but I'd rather have Wilcox. Replacing Battier with Lewis puts our team in the same position we were this past year -- our biggest move of the off-season being for a three that we hope could play the four. It didn't work with Battier, and it won't work with Lewis. Further complicating things are that both players contribute enough to earn them a starter's minutes, pushing T-Mac back to the SG and causing general chaos with all of our other tweener guards (Head, Snyder, Wells [if he's around]). Working out the minutes is just a mess, too many different 5-man units with too many different looks to generate any real chemistry over a season. Wilcox is a big, athletic, mobile four that can also give us productive minutes at the five as well. Against teams like Phoenix where Yao's mobility can cause some problems, Wilcox is ideal. I know there are knocks on Wilcox's consistency, though his game log looks pretty decent, but we don't necessarily need a third 20+ ppg score (though, it wouldn't hurt). We need a third scoring threat, someone that can effectively take focus away from our two superstars, create shots for himself, and simply make shots. Wilcox is a career 53.3% shooter that can do all of that. On top of that, he is a very aggressive rebounder on both the offensive and defensive ends. IMO, he is one of the better fits in the league for the Rockets at the four, a position we need to worry about more than the three. I'm fine with either of the James/Jasikevicius trades -- though I don't think we need both. Both are upgrades over our back-up point guards, and James ability to play some minutes at the two is nice as well. Low risk, solid returns for both. Some interesting potential moves.
I somewhat agree, also if we could ply Earl Watson, that might be kind of nice. He had a bad year but I'm tired of getting owned by upper-tier point guards. It would be nice to be able to shut them down every now and then. But then again, Lewis is a career 20 ppg scorer who would be the mystical third scorer we've been crying for. Wilcox doesn't really solve that problem. But then again if we get Mike James or Steve Francis, then maybe its not an issue after all.
wilcox is just the type of pf we've been needing. there really isn't much better than him available anyway. although if mcdyess is available, i'd take him.
as someone who used to ride the old yellow school bus with rashard, the notion of him coming back to h-town and playing for the rockets would be amazing. it would be a great way for the rockets organization to perhaps semi-fix one of their hugest draft blunders. we talk so much about home court advantage, what about the advantages of a hometown phenom? i wouldnt break the bank to pay for him, though he certainly is worth and deserves whatever his asking price would be. but hopefully he is in that "i've made enough money, i'll take the minimum cause i want to play at home and go for a championship"....sort of mind.
I am all for Wilcox but you don't trade away Battier for him. No way in hell. And there seems to be this misconception that he can block shots. With his body and athleticism you might think that but it simply isn't the case. The guy has horrible timing, is foul prone, and just doesn't block shots. If we go after a PF with no range and is only an adequate rebounder then he better at least be able to block shots. He as potential but is notorious for poor work ethic. Why bother when we have someone like Hayes that brings much needed heart and work ethic to this team?
how about wilcox and their 30th and 35 pick for battier? i would do that, especaily with a draft like this.
yeah, if we had two hayes on the court at the same time, rocekts could have been swept by jazzoles. I hate to see people talking out of their minds. Crazy.
GETTING MIKE JAMES AND RASHARD LEWIS WILL MAKE A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM, I GUARENTEE IT AND I WILL PUT MY WORD ON ANYTHING!!!!
F**k, we need a power forward who can guard. Battier should stay cause there are so many KB-like players in this league and only he can defense them. We don't need Lewis.
If the CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM you mean is a team wins a title (NOT a championship-quality team), GETTING MIKE JAMES AND RASHARD LEWIS by trading Battier will NOT even make us to reach western final in 5 years. Mark my words!
I think I agree... Without Battier who will guard Paul Pierce, Carmelo Anthony, Ray Allen, Luol Deng, Josh Howard, etc? McGrady is a hell of a defender when he tries, but the last time he tried was the Mavericks playoff series. Defense wins championships, maybe why Adelman doesn't have any...
Shouldn't JVG have at least 1 then? We need balance, but most of all, we needed a system that could fit our players, not that other way around. I love Battier and would hate to see him go, but Shard is a talent we can't pass up if available.
Um... Adelman won a championship in Portland and was a con job away from one in Sacramento. His track record is pretty damn good.
Yes, again this is an easy decision. Of course we trade Lewis for Battier. This is the same as the T-Mac for Kobe trade, except a lot easier. Where's the obligatory poll when you need one?
If we get RL, I'd be able to see his custom painted BMW 7 series a bit more, if he still has it. I've seen him at Momentum BMW, sitting in his car, in our shop, once.
Assuming that the original article has legit sources, the Chronicle is getting whipped by an out of town newspaper.
