Centering on a Center

Big Country needs disk surgery, is out all year, possibly all of next, and even possibly may never play again.

 

I mentioned this in a thread a while back but it didn't seem to stir anyone up. As much as I would like a dynamic type center, I think BC would fit this team perfectly (outside of his inability to run the floor with our current cast). I don't think he would be a cancer in the locker room and he would fill Rudy's desire to have an effective big man at center. The two downsides to BC is the back injury and the salary.

 

So if we traded for him, knowing all that, could we get one of them injury retirement exemptions. If so, than it sounds good to me, especially if we get our number 1 back and get rid of Cato, but I doubt the league would allow that if that was the whole plan in trading for him.

 

The Rox should not touch BC with a ten foot pole. Instead let us take a good look at JC. I hate to suggest another move at a time when we are faced with so many other disruptions like working Francis back in, finding time for EG, and just settling down the rotation. I do think that although the production is low from the centers, there is a certain stability with our 5's at the moment. I just hope that JC has good hands. If he can finish those chances that Cato and Willis gets and still hit those jumpers, I say lets work him in. The Laker TV commentor last night remembered Collier as a capable player based on his play against the Lakers last year.

 

I think the two best options for centers are the Cavs and the Bulls!!

Another problem with that is that if we look to these teams we are not realy upgrading.... and why would they take Cato and his astronomical sallary?

All teams (when they get the chance) seem to be hogging centers like they are the fat kid eating all the cake at a birthday party. The other problem is that over the past two/three years I can't remember any super dominating 5's comming out of college. (Martin and Brand are realy 4's) There haven't been any Hakeem's or Ewing's (it hurt me to say Ewing) it is sad but true!!

Another theroy I have is that the game is evolving to something like what the G.S. wariors had back in the day. 2 big forwards and 3 guards. I think that the center is becoming a position of the past.

 

While I don't think it will happen I would love to have Chris Mihm!! He would be a great fit....he can rebound,and hits the outside shot with some consistency! He hasn't proven himself in the league as a top notch player(yet)so I think we could get him for rather cheap! But who knows....I think the possibility would intrigue our front office if it was an actual possibility!

 

The Grizz already applied for and recently received one of those injury exceptions for Reeves.

Even if they could/would trade him, it's too late to apply for an injury exception this season - the deadline was Dec 15th, if I'm not mistaken.

 

i kinda like the idea of Langhi for Alvin Williams, or maybe Langhi for Ken Johnson, Miami says it needs a shooter

 

Why not go For Jammal Magloire
hes alot better than Cato if you've watched him and better than the guys you've named

 

I think we have enough injury problems and wouldn't go after Big Country.I would go after Marc Jackson.I love this guy and he loves Houston.He would be such a perfect fit.Ok,let me dream:

Houston Trades:
Kenny Thomas $ 946,920 to Golden State
Walt Willams $ 5,000,000 to Golden State

Golden State Trades:
Jason Richardson $ 2,425,440 to Houston
Marc Jackson $ 3,250,000 to Houston

This Trade would work.I don't think GS would do it,in fact they wanted Wiz last summer.So they get a good 3-point-shooter (who they don't have) and a PF who could backup Danny Fortson or start when he has injury problems.They trade Jackson,because they have a good center in Dampier already and a solid center in Foyle.Ok,Richardson is a problem.I don't think they would trade him,but this is a lineup,who can win about 55 games a season:

C-Jackson,Cato
F-Taylor,Griffin
F-Richardson,Morris,Langhi
G-Mobley,Torres
G-Francis,Norris,Brown

On IR:Rice,Langhi and Collier

 

If we can not get Richardson how about Corey Magette? We could still do that trade with G.S for Marc Jackson and get Corey. I have one question about Maggette is he a PF or a SF? I dont have real gm so tell me if it would work:

Houston sends Walt Williams to Los Angelos Clippers
Houston sends Cato to Golden State

Golden State sends Marc Jackson to Houston
Los Angelos sends Corey Maggette

Now Our line up would look like this

C Jackson/Willis/Griffin
Pf Griffin/ Taylor/ Maggette
SF Maggette/Tmo/ Langhi
SG Mobley/Torres
PG Franchise/Norris/Brown

This would not be a bad trade for us, but it sucks for Golden State and Clippers. The Clippers might use Walt a a mentor to the minors who cant even drink beer yet. And for Golden State to me they just got jacked.Oh and sorry if I offend any of you Warriors fans. Just to get off the subject there mascot scared my son when we were wacthing the game. They seriously need to change mascots. Who do you have designing your mascot and jersey the same people designing the rockets. Are we getting new uniforms for the new stadium? Just wondering

 

We can not trade for Jackson until 1 year has expired from the time he signed the deal with Golden State.

I would not mind taking a look at Mihm, he is soft, but at least he has an offensive game.

DD

 

you dont gotta trade Cato for Magloire
just a suggestion

 

Why on Earth would GS trade Jason Richardson and Marc Jackson for Walt and KT.

 

I personally don't see the reason for the desire everyone has for a Center with an outside game. Off all the skills I think a future Center for the Rockets will need, I think that may be one of the lowest.

The Rockets have a whole lot of team speed, to the exclusion of Walt and Rice but they rarely use it from what I understand. More than anything else that needs to change.

In my opinion here are the 5 skills the center we need should have...

1. Outstanding Rebounding
2. Man to man Defense, but not necessarily shot blocking.
3. Ability to finish inside, both good hands and putting away easy shots
4. Ability to run the floor
5. Passing/Court Awareness

The rest would just be icing.

Frankly, I don't know who's available currently for trade that we could get. Someone mentioned Alvin Jones, and I think he'd be a good pickup. He's as good as Haywood and routinely outplayed him in the ACC.

If he could be picked up from Philly he may be a good asset. He fulfills those 5 points pretty well. Plus a Langhi for Jones trade would work and would make it simple. The questions become, would Langhi want to go to Philly and would Philly be interested?



As for other random thoughts I've had, How about playing Griffin at the 3 on offense and the 4 on Defense? Seeing as Griffin's talents suit himself towards a 4's defensive talents but he has a more versatile offensive game and could play the 4.

Morris could play solid D against most 3's and may be able to get closer looks at the basket while playing the 4.

KT can definately play the 4 on offense and may be able to play the 3 on D, I don't know.

MoT I'm not sure about because I know hardly anything about him and haven't seen him play really.

What do you all think?

 

Alvin Jones would be a great pickup for the Rockets. He's got good size, likes to bang inside and knows how to throw a good outlet pass (at least that's what the draft analysts said). He's not ever going to be a superstar, but he'll bring some much needed toughness to the Rocket's frontline.

Now I'm not sure what the Rockets would need to give up in order to acquire him. Something tells me we couldn't package Langhi for a half-drunk bottle of Gatorade and John Stockton's short shorts, let alone a capable center. Would the Rockets be willing to give up Kenny Thomas for Jones + another player? They'd obviously be getting the short end of the deal, but they'd also be plugging a much bigger hole than the one created by Thomas' departure. Griffin is clearly ready to start at PF; neither Cato nor Willis are capable of being decent starting centers. Then again, is Jones really cut out to be a starter himself?

Funny enough, the center that the Rockets should have looked at was Todd McCullough. Decent shot, great hands, good basketball sense and always puts in a strong effort. He would be having a field day with all the passes coming from the cutters, and wouldn't drop the passes like Cato does. Of course he's not great defensively, but neither is anyone else on the Rockets frontcourt right now (except maybe Griffin).

 

how bout someone athletic like Keon Clark, Chirs Marcus is slow and not athletic.