Do we really think the Rockets management are planning to do any major changes to the roster? I mean, all signs point to the management thinking this team under-achieved this year/could play better (hence the coach firing)... They seem to have faith in the talent... and There are hardly any tradeable assets for "strong" trades... In my opinion Battier , t-mac and Yao are def gonna be here next year as well as span and novak (cause they have no trade value whatsoever and management seems to believe in them) I think the Rockets will simply use the MLE for a PF first, use exceptions to resign Hayes & Deke (to a 1 year) Sign the best available talent in the Draft (rather than by position) and then look for the possibilities of : 1-trade to upgrading the point while keeping Alston & 1-trade for a backup on any position (depending on who leaves in the trade or 1-trade to upgrade the point without keeping Alston & 1-trade for a more proven backup PG than JLIII or Span Those trades would include any combination of Juwan/Sura/JLIII/Alston(in the second case)/Head(in the 1st case as long as the backup is a SG)/possibly Snyder Disclaimer: I believe that Span will stay and do well next year...Probably enough to get the main backup pg role quickly...I just dont think the Rockets staff will risk it hence the PG bias above.... So based on those limitations...what would you do?
possibly, sure. as an organization in general, Les and the Rockets have never been afraid of major shake-ups. What signs? Les, I think/hope realizes how idiotic he was 5-6 years ago when he proclaimed a Francis/Mobley/Cato team one of the greatest in Rockets history. I think/hope Les realizes that there is not really such a thing as over/under-achieving in sports. Teams that constantly underachieve go down as being bad. teams that constantly overachive tend to win. the rockets know what they have. a first round team that MIGHT be able to get into 2nd round as is. sad, but true Agree on Yao and Span. Mostly agree on T-Mac. Battier could be traded. Novak coudl be thrown in as filler. I think they also have the lower level exception this year. Even considering that this is NOT a championship team today, I think that 1 great move can really take you a long way. If the Rockets somehow got a legitimate starting PF or PG, the team could be 4-5 wins better next year and a "real" playoff threat. Something like signing Mo Williams, or getting Chris Wilcox WITHOUT giving up Battier. Add in a 10-15 minute role player via the draft pick, and a 10-15 minute role player via the LLE. It's not as dire as it could be. The key is maximizing what you have available - MLE, LLE, Draft. If there are trades on top of that which make sense, then so be it.
I don't know....It's just the impression I got....JVG's firing is a sign in my opinion. I still think they believe that the team is only a couple of pieces away (as long as they're the right pieces) and I can't see them trading T-Mac or Yao while also changing the coach and just completely changing the "plan"...Maybe Battier could be moved but I dont see it..His removal would create a bigger hole than it would fill IMHO That's the basis of how i started the original post... Novak, I guess i could see it but I think we're more likely to throw JLIII as filler in a deal than Novak... At the end we're both saying the same thing...Starter PG and PF for MLE and a semi-major trade (i.e. one involving a starter from this past season) + whatever other slight adjustments we can make
I think that there's a 0% chance T-Mac or Yao get dealt. Zero. Not a chance in hell. I also think that Battier would ONLY be a moved in a blockbuster deal like the mentioned Rashard Lewis rumor. That's it. I really think that those three are our only set-in-stone returning starters. Now, that's not to say I don't think Alston or Hayes won't be on the team, but PG and PF are two positions we will most certainly look to improve. Whether they end up staying or not, I don't think that they're considered ideal starters in a Rick Adelman offense.
I always thought that trading for Battier was one more step towards making this team a championship team. Maybe one or two trades away from doing well?
Clutch's article from Adelman's press conference seems to disagree with your idea. Though no names were mentioned (obviously), the Rockets made it clear that they will need to make some changes to accomplish what Adelman wants to do offensively. "Personnel obviously is key," said Adelman. "We'd like to add a few more pieces where we can attack a little bit with more variety than what we have right now." "Hopefully we will be able to add more talent sometime during the offseason," said Les. As a fan it's been obvious for some time that the Rockets need an upgrade at point guard, as well as power forward. Fortunately that was the buzz behind the scenes there -- the Rockets are well aware they need help at both spots and will be targetting their trade offers accordingly. Though Adelman kept what he was looking for close to vest, I did catch him on the radio on my drive home talking about wanting more "3-4 types", which was the most I heard him reveal publically. The draft next month, where the Rockets pick #26, will be a fun start to the offseason. http://www.clutchfans.net/news/1402/adelman_press_conference_breakdown/ Sounds like they're definitely planning on making changes, so I guess it depends on what you consider "major" changes. Yao and Tracy will be back, but that's all that's a lock.
i actualy think trading battier for a pf or a pg, could be a good thing, that would move tracy to sf, his natural position, and then we have luther and snyder at the sg position and also wells, if he stays. we still have the mle and lle, to fill in our holes.
I would try to trade Tmac while he is still worth something. The Battier experiment failed so let's move him to some team that needs some glue. I would give alston away for a bag of chips because we'll never win with him at point. So if they can get one decent player and a decent pick let's trade all these guys and rebuild because the thought of us being 1 player away from winning it all is very far fetched. We are at least 3 good players away.
My take on the off-season, but I'm sure it'll change as opportunities develop, variables change and Adelman speaks: - Draft best player available, probably Almond at SG - Trade Howard for Mike James - Sign young PF, such as Amir Johnson with MLE - if Francis is bought out, sign him - If Francis comes, trade Alston for PF depth, like to NY, where he was legend, for Frye - If no Francis, keep Alston, or try for Bibby - It would not surprise me if Adelman gets Bonzi to stay - It would not surprise me to see Adelman go after Bibby and/or Artest (Adelman knows what SAC wants, and how to pull off a deal) - I expect VSpan to be our backup PG for major minutes - I expect us to sign Deke and Hayes - Trade Head to someone like NO, who need a SG, for one of their young PFs Yao/Deke/Frye Johnson/Hayes/Simmons Artest/Battier/Novak Tmac/James/Almond Francis/VSpan/JL3 There's lots of variables ... it probably starts with what happens with Francis.
definitely. in the NBA, there are lot more playable/talented SFs than there are good PFs or championship-caliber PGs. That's why a battier for wilcox trade would not be a bad trade, as someone suggests. I really think exploring trade possibilities with battier is what needs to be done to upgrade this team.
I like your conclusion but the math may be faulty. How does Houston acquire the ALL of following?? Frye Simmons (???) Artest James Francis I agree with the premises: 1) Draft best player available at 26th, I would take Marco Belinelli over Morris Almond 2) Trade Howard: - for Darius Miles & two 2nd rounders: *PG Jared Jordan or Bobby Brown *SF/PF Avis Wyatt - Mike James 3) Sign young PG and/or PF w/MLE: - PG Steve Blake - PF Amir Johnson 4) Trade for Artest (not Rashard Lewis) using combo of Head/Alston/Novak/Sura (even Battier if necessary) and/or future pick 5) Re-sign Mutombo & Hayes 6) Convince Bonzi not to opt out Roster C - Yao Ming, Dikembe Mutombo PF - Ron Artest, Amir Johnson, Chuck Hayes SF - Tracy McGrady, Kirk Snyder, Avis Wyatt SG - Bonzi Wells, Marco Belinelli PG - Steve Blake, Vasillis Spanoulis, Bobby Brown
Edited Roster C - Yao Ming, Dikembe Mutombo PF - Ron Artest, Amir Johnson, Chuck Hayes SF - Tracy McGrady, Darius Miles, Avis Wyatt SG - Bonzi Wells, Marco Belinelli PG - Steve Blake, Vasillis Spanoulis, Bobby Brown Added bonus if a waived Francis comes aboard for the vet min
What happens when we trade Rafer, Head, and Battier? (if trades come through)... THREE POINT SHOOTING? Weren't they the three best 3 pt shooters on the team? rashard doesnt shoot em that much, does he? we are getting better talent, but if this team is required to rely on the likes of Novak to shoot 3's, we are screwed
Scenario 1 - Resign Bonzi Wells and Draft Sean Williams Scenario 2- Draft Morris Almond sign another PF on the market Scenario 3 bonus- Sign Steve Francis if he gets bought out.
Count me as on board for the "ARTEST FOR OUR FOUR" campaign... this is the guy we need at the four... no doubt about it...with him Battier...I shutter at the thought of the damage we could have done with JVG...at least Adelman won't have to preach D to two of our starters... -V
I'm thinking we need to bet the house on getting a point guard in the draft and trade head and our 1st round to move up. The east coast teams all need shooting help and head maybe the answer. I really think Jarvis Crittendon is the answer, he's another Sam Cassell with point guard first mentality.
