Antonio McDyess - Rumors at Halftime

I'd say there would be open revolt in Rocketdom. McDyess is damaged goods, and Griffin already is as good as he is. Griffin will be a stud in a couple of years, and McDyess will be a backup somewhere much like Laphonso Ellis. The #5 spot wouldn't be high enough to get Dunleavy, so what in the ....world....is the point? Sorry to sound hostile, Rileydog, but this proposal -- top to bottom -- would be insane for the Rockets.

 

I would imagine Vecsey was on at halftime and talking out of his you-know-what, as usual.

 

What??

Griffin is already as good as Mcdyess?

Obviously, you have forgotten how good McDyess was before his injury. Griffin was a pretty good rookie player, McDyess was an all-star caliber player. Trust me, Eddie is not there just yet.

#5 might not get us Dunleavy, but it would get us a Caron Butler, who the Rockets seem to like.

It's really not a very bad trade, but I think that it comes down to how good Mo Taylor is. He is(As posted earlier) huge right now, but we do not know of his condition right now.

 

<i>I'd say there would be open revolt in Rocketdom. McDyess is damaged goods, and Griffin already is as good as he is. Griffin will be a stud in a couple of years, and McDyess will be a backup somewhere much like Laphonso Ellis. </i>

Do you know how ridiculous that statement is? Why is McDyess damaged goods? Just because he was hurt last year? Show me a link that says that he will be permenantly affected by that injury. As far as knee injuries go, it wasn't that serious. He even debated on whether to have surgery or not. Prior to last season McDyess had played in over 93% of all games in his career. So, he gets a non-ACL knee injury and it's career threatening?

If you think that Griffen is already as good as McDyess, then you either haven't seen McDyess play or you know nothing about basketball. McDyess is one of the top 5 or so low post players in the league, he's a great rebounder and he's a very good shot blocker. Griffen may be a stud in a couple of years, but he's got a long way to go to be Antonio McDyess.


If we did that deal it would basically be McDyess and Butler for Taylor, Griffen and the #1.

 

I'd do that if we could find a way to keep EG...

Dice is an all-star player, but EG... if I were the GM I'd let people know EG was #2 on 'tough-to-get' list...

although no-one's untouchable...or shouldn't be

 

I would definitely do that deal. I love McDyess, and if he could stay healthy, we would be a kickass team next season.

 

Houston would be on crack to do something stupid like this. And Vecsey is usually not wrong I will get a refund on my tickets if they do this and will no longer be a fan of Houstons this scares me to death. McDyess is nearing 30 years of age not what Houston needs more disgruntled vets like Rice. EG is 20 and Ming is 21 and part of the future of this league. I would be ptfo'ed if they did this. That arena is as good as empty if they kill the Ming hype by getting this guy.

 

Dude, McDyess is 27 years old! He is just a year older than Cat. Since when do all our players have to be in their early 20's? Remember how old Dream and Clyde were the second championship year? To stop being a fan of a team because they made a trade like this because a 27 year old is too old is pathetic.

Also, Glen Rice is far from a "disgruntled" vet. He is just an oft-injured one. He is also 7 years older than McDyess, so I don't see where the comparison starts.

 

McDyess career stats
17.6 points per game
8.7 rebounds per game
1.67 ppg

While those are good statistics, I don't really think they're spectacular. Personally, I think McDyess is a slightly overrated player. Trading Eddie for McDyess would be absolutely insane. I can easily see Eddie scoring 16 to 18 per game, 9 rebounds per game, and 3 blocks per game. Griffin averaged 1.84 bpg in limited playing time this season. McDyess only did better than that one season in his entire seven-year career. There's no doubt that Eddie will be altering more shots than McDyess in the future. Plus, Eddie is younger, cheaper, and doesn't come with an injury risk. There's not much chance of McDyess developing an outside game, but there's a good chance Eddie will be able to develop an inside game. McDyess relies on his athleticism so much, and I'd be surprised if he still coud do something of things he used to. The Rockets would be complete idiots if they made this deal. #1 + Taylor for #5 and Dice sounds a little more realistic to me. The #1 is worth A LOT more than the #5 pick this season, just like Dice is worth a lot more than Taylor. That would be an even trade, but I still wouldn't do it.

 

To clarify, Vescey said both teams denied that deal being discussed. Not that that means a whole lot, but it makes me feel a little better. I almost choked when I heard that.

 

Aelliott, I respect your opinion -- but on this one we will disagree. Okay, Eddie has not reached his prime. But he's healthy. Do we know as much about McDyess? The Nuggets are certainly willing to deal him. Why?

McDyess is eight years older than Eddie and, if I recall, this knee injury last year was his second major injury -- look at what happened to LaPhonso Ellis after his knee injury and Ellis in his prime was every bit as good as McDyess.

We have written off Mo Taylor -- who is only 24 -- because of an injury that cost him a year. Why are we not putting McDyess in that same boat? Also, Taylor likes being in Houston. McDyess had a chance to come to Houston (before Pippen) and snubbed us.

Now, you want to trade a 7-5 #1 pick center who possibly could alter the future of the game, a future all-star in Griffin and a PF who is a proven scorer for an oft-injured former All-Star and an undersized SF who is destined to play SG (we already has Mobley). And you question my basketball judgment?

I don't claim any basketball expertise, but I can see where we would seriously be shafted by Denver in that trade. As a fan, I certainly would howl. Now, I would consider an even exchange of Taylor for McDyess if you must -- an injured PF for an injured PF. I'd even grudgingly toss in a second rounder.

 

True, the stats are not absolutely spectacular, but in his last three healthy seasons, he averaged over 20 points a game, over 10 boards a game and about 1.8 blocks a game. I do think Eddie will end up being a better defensive PF over time, but unless Eddie gets some better low post moves, I don't see him consistently scoring that much. It would definitely be a risk, but I think it would be worth it considering we would get McDyess, another all star player, clear up our logjam at PF and get rid of one of our bad contracts (Mo Taylor, debatable) AND have a great shot at getting Caron Butler to be our good young SF. I would definitely do this trade...but I can see where some would rather wait and see with Griffin.

 

Vescey is the king of gossip. But still I wonder, is this a deliberate smoke screen, created by Kiki. As far as Mcdyess's injury, the fact that we arent hearing that much about it makes me wonder how bad it is, it might be just a ploy to keep his value from going down and to move is huge($12 mill) contract. And by making it a managment issue vs a health issue, they are succesful. As for vescey he's promoting his newspaper column, and since i get the feeling he doenst like Houston N E ways i think that he might just be deliberaltey doing this to de-value all the hype that is surrounding us. If hypothetically the trade was on the block, and Mcdyess was helathy then it might me a good deal. But even then it seems that they would be taking on Taylor as a favor to us, but really preparing their future around Griffin, so the argument that Griff isnt anywhere close to Mcdyess, may seem far-fetched to us, but not to the Nug's, they indirectly are saying that he is just as good, or they wouldnt ask for him. Overall given the fact the we don't know the condition of Mcdyess, and that Griff is definitley a future stud, it would be a good deal for us. If it were just Mcdyess and the #5 for #1 and Taylor, it might be better. Still i like the rumor about Rice and the #1 for #8, Odom, and a future 1st rounder better.

 

Wow, DCKid, I wish I had all of this in my rant.

 

Career stats of two other top forwards
Garnett-19, 10, 1.7
Nowitzki-19, 7.7, 1

Not huge differences in career statistics as you can see.

We know very little of what Griffin will become. He has the tools to become an all-star, but so do many players. I don't see either team really "winning" this deal.

 

I don't like that deal. How about you Nugzfan et al?

One thing occurs to me, though: I have an impression created by the inconsistent use of EG that somethings not smoothe in Rocketville.

He had about a dozen good games and then it was up-and-down with his usage.

Anybody share this impression?

I'm thinking he could be part of a deal but I don't like this one. McDyess has a lot to prove about being healthy before you give up a young potential stud with 15 good years in him.

 

<i> The Nuggets are certainly willing to deal him. Why? </i>

We don't know that the Nuggets are willing to deal him. That's a Vescey assumption. Go read the column by the Denver beat writer on the Sporting News site. He says that McDyess is the only untouchable on the team.

<i>McDyess is eight years older than Eddie and, if I recall, this knee injury last year was his second major injury -- look at what happened to LaPhonso Ellis after his knee injury and Ellis in his prime was every bit as good as McDyess.
</i>

Please enlighten me on what his first major injury was? Prior to last year's knee injury he played in over 93% of the games in his career. Where was this prior "major injury"?

LaPhonso Ellis was never as good as McDyess. He was a good player, but not up to McDyess' level. Ellis had a horrific knee injury and was never the same. As soon as it happened, everybody knew it was bad. That isn't the case with McDyess. Just because a player has knee surgery, it doesn't mean that they are through. Those two injuries have absolutely nothing in common. The level of severity is miles apart. That is the same as if I said, "Vince Carter hurt his knee, so he'll never be the same. -- look what happened to Danny Manning's career".

<i>We have written off Mo Taylor -- who is only 24 -- because of an injury that cost him a year. Why are we not putting McDyess in that same boat? </i>

We're not writing off Taylor because of an injury. Taylor simply isn't that good. He can't rebound at all, he's not a good defender, blocks very few shots and doesn't have much of a post up game. He's lacking in all of the areas where we need the most help. Sure, he shoots the ball well, but that simply duplicates skills that we already have. McDyess, on the other hand fits our needs very well. He's a great post up player, shoots a very high percentage, has range out to 18 feet, very good rebounder and a good shot blocker.

<i>
Also, Taylor likes being in Houston. McDyess had a chance to come to Houston (before Pippen) and snubbed us. </i>

We were his 2nd choice out of 29 teams, so he can never player here? That's ridiculous. We're not allowed to sign any players who were free agents in the past but didn't sign here?

<i>
Now, you want to trade a 7-5 #1 pick center who possibly could alter the future of the game, a future all-star in Griffin and a PF who is a proven scorer for an oft-injured former All-Star and an undersized SF who is destined to play SG (we already has Mobley). And you question my basketball judgment?
</i>
Oft-injured? Again, show me the injuries prior to his last knee injury. I think you are taking some liberties with your description of McDyess.

Taylor is a proven <i>perimeter scorer</i>, who is also a below average defender and is one of the two worst rebounderss among NBA starting power forwards. We desperately need post up scoring and rebounding. We have none right now. McDyess would instantly give us that.

If the Rocket's believe that Butler is a SF, then I'll take their opinion over yours. If they believe that he is a SF, then they would obviously draft somebody else.


<i>I don't claim any basketball expertise, but I can see where we would seriously be shafted by Denver in that trade. As a fan, I certainly would howl. Now, I would consider an even exchange of Taylor for McDyess if you must -- an injured PF for an injured PF. I'd even grudgingly toss in a second rounder.</i>

I may have questioned your basketball expertise before, but a suggestion of Taylor straight up for McDyess definitely ends any speculation in that area. Hey, let's trade Glen Rice for Vince Carter. You know, injured SF for injured SF. Sure that makes sense.

Go back and look at McDyess' number the 3 years prior to last.

00-01 20.8pts, 12.1reb/game, 1.5blk/game .495 fg pct
99-00 19.1 pts, 8.5 reb/game, 1.7blk/game .507 fg pct
98-99 21.2 pts, 10.7 reb/game, 2.3 blk/game .471 fg pct

There's a reason that he's been on the All-Star team and on the Dream Team. Comparing him to Taylor is laughable.

McDyess is a known quantity and he's a stud. If the Rockets are interested then give him a physical to make sure his knee is ok. I like Griffen too and I think he will be good, but it's far from a sure thing. Currently Griffen doesn't have a low post game and he can't handle the ball at all. McDyess has a great jumper out to 18'. The fact that my starting PF doesn't shoot from the 3 point line doesn't really concern me. I'd trade Griffen's 3 point shooting for an inside post up threat any day.

 

Hey howards career stats are about 18ppg and 7.5rpg, lets trade griffen for him