I would only make this trade for someone of Artest's calibur. Artest is an all around better defensive player than Battier.
Battier brings 'intangibles', but not 'tangibles'. The problem with our team is we have too many specialists - Battier and Hayes are good defenders (piss poor rebounders though, esp. in the playoffs), Luther and Novak are just shooters (again, worthless in the playoffs). We need more well rounded basketball players.
of course you would... you think the kings will give up Artest for Battier?...lol. Battier is OVERRATED. A SF that cant even make wide open 3's consistently. I'd ship battier out for anyone who can reliably make a jumpshot...anyone
Quit watching the BALL and watch the GAME. Shane changes the game in so many ways. Plus everyone forgets the guy has been playing on one foot since the last week of the season. I keep him for his defense and hussle unless you get Artest straight up for him which i doubt. Quit looking for people to blame or playoff loss on.
I dont think it's a good idea to trade one of your most valuable players for an uncertainty. Battier is not only contributing on court performance, but also having a good influence on the team chemistry. Some people will never be satisfied, but for me, I think Battier is well worth a solid position in Rockets.
Injuries have hurt us a lot and eventually age will catch up with Yao and Tracy. Our main problem is lack of salary cap room for guys who are well rounded players and can fill the needs of our team. We don't have the tradable assets with our role players and we can't afford to give up Scola,Landry and possibly even Brooks as part of a package to get a bigger impact player. Drafting well along with the use of part of the MLE is the only thing management can do. I appreciate what Battier does but he can only bring back another role player in return who ironically may not be as useful to the team as he is.
I watch the game and advise you to the same. Battier plays slightly above average man to man and very good team D. He can hit open 3's from the short corner. And that's it. Beyond that...from a basketball only proposition...he does NADA. He can't as the myth goes "guard eveyone on the court". You didn't see him ONCE on Boozer, Okur or especially Willliams. Not once. He was primarily on AK47. Kirilenko averaged nearly exactly what he averaged in 4 regular season games against MEM. Battier is very inconsistent on any 3 when he's being contested, clinks 3's off of the rim from anywhere other than the short corners, misses postup shots against Kyle Korver, dribbles the ball off of his foot when trying to drive to the basket and provides a big ZIP in transtion O because 98% of the time he runs DIRECTLY to the short corner negating any man advantage in transition. Anyone...and I mean ANYONE but especially including YOU...can observe all of the concepts I mention very easily by WATCHING the 6 games that were just played. 6 games in which Battier averaged (minus the aberation of a 22 point game) 7.8 ppg. That on a team which struggles to get points. Or did you miss the fact that the Rockets...playoff or otherwise...are at the bottom of the NBA in transition points? And I'm not looking for someone to "blame" for the Utah loss. Battier was the wrong player from Day 1. It was true when the Rockets lost Game 7 at home in 2007-08 and it's just as true now. If any two of the 3 of Battier, Alston and Hayes are playing starter minutes...they are another 1st round exit. You can drink all the "Wait till next year" Kool Aid you want. But if they don't get rid of either Battier or Alston (preferably both), next year YOU will be looking for someone to "blame". Oh...and regarding watching the "game"? This was the first season since 1999 that I didn't record and re-watch every game several times. Trouble with my DVD-R that I won't have next season. And I'll be more than happy to help YOU upgrade your ability to understand the "game".
Do you honestly think that Battier plus Bobby Jackson/Francis and or Head/Hayes or even Brooks and a 1st round pick will be enough to get RJ? If Artest opts out he will demand 10M+,and this is going to result in a similar situation as well in a sign and trade. The Kings will ask for a lot which could deplete the team.
I love how everyone on this board thinks we can trade garbage players such as bjax, head, novak for artest/miller. You guy do know to get talent you have to trade talent. The only valuable person we have that is movable is a battier with his contract. Get over it. You arent going to trade your bench players for a starter.
You know, you used to be one of my favorite posters. Now all you do is angily gripe about Daryl Morey and the stupid Rudy Gay trade. What the heck happened? I miss the old GATER.
