Lets bring Othello back to Houston. Kenny Thomas is a nice player with good shooting range and athleticism, but he hasn't proven himself. We need someone more consistent. Othello would bring back low post scoring and rebounding. And he doesn't have a huge contract, so it wouldn't hurt our cap room next year when Olajuwon is gone. I believe Vancouver would agree to this deal.
First off, it's Othella. OTHELLA - with an 'a'. Second, why would Vancouver want to trade a proven PF for a smaller rookie, no matter that he had a few blowout games? Don't get me wrong, I love Othella and I'd like to see him in a Rox uni (if he'd pass a little more he'd be exactly what we're looking for in a PF), but what would it take to get him here? I'm not sure what Rudy's thinking, but the fans-draft-othella-club seems to be pretty small. Besides, we don't really have anyone who has equal value, so we'd have to mix & match with our other players (packaging). It would probably end up being part of a larger deal to target another Vancouver favorite - and I don't mean BC (or Bibby for those who're especially slow)... And anyway, who's to say KT won't explode next year? If Rudy keeps him, then it's probably for a pretty good reason - he has an eye for rookie talent. ------------------ [This message has been edited by treeman (edited May 01, 2000).]
First, let me say that I hated to see Othella go when we traded him. But I don't think I'd trade Othella for Kenny. I think the Rockets would regret it in the end. Kenny has too many skills. At worst, Kenny turns out to be a much better player than Othella. At best, Othella isn't that much of an improvement over Kenny. Kenny's played one year -- a year in which most people (coaches, fans, and Kenny himself) didn't expect him to get much playing time. Who would have thought Kenny would see any meaningful time before the season started. Barkley, Massenburg, and Cato would have taken all the minutes at power forward if Barkley and Hakeem had stayed healthy. I liked Othella's game when he was here and, to be honest, I think he'd be a pretty good fit since he runs the floor very well. But let me also say that the Rockets aren't the team Othella was used to playing with. There have been drastic changes made since he was here. We need some continuity on the roster. Unless there is the possibility of us picking up a big time free agent, I think we'd do well to stick with what we have. ------------------
What would you expect of a rookie power forward? He was thrown into a starting role to replace one of our HOFamer's and puts up numbers (8.3 ppg, 6.1 reb, 40%shooting, etc... in 25 min./game) that I know RT or any coach would be happy with, and still plays defense passably and is probably our best passing forward on the team. I loved Othella and was sad to see him go. But man, give it a shake. O never had the moves or repertoire of shots that KT has this early in his career. As much as I like his game and the tenacity ..... and would love to see him play in a Rox Uni again, I swear Othella still cannot pass if his life depended on it. For a young emerging Rockets team that will most assuredly have a ball movement offense next year, that may be a major hurdle for O to overcome.
Kenny can do 3 things O never did well: set picks, catch and shoot mid- to long-range if the guard dumps it off to him, and pass to the open man if he's covered. Translation: He fits our new offense perfectly. O, with his lane-hogging black-hole game, doesn't.
Just to expand a bit on what Will pointed out: Even if one thinks that Othella is a better player than KT, KT is still better for Houston. Othella needs to post up and shoot a great deal to do well... KT can do alot of little things to help the rest of the team out even when he's not posting up and scoring. Personally, I think KT has significantly more upside than Othella. I don't think Othella will ever be better than a 13 and 9 player... KT, according to ESPN, might be 15 and 10. I'm not sure I'd say that... but I will say he could be a 13 and 9 at least... while picking up more steals, and doing the little things that don't come up in the box score (that Othella often did not). Finally, KT already has better moves than Othella. Sure, Othella has the height to hit the jump hook... but you don't see him spinning around elite caliber players for layups often either, and KT will do that on occasion . ------------------ [This message has been edited by haven (edited May 01, 2000).] [This message has been edited by haven (edited May 01, 2000).]
We have to remember one thing that is rather important.. Othella had great training when he first got started with us , he was able to practice w/a healthy Hakeem and a healthy Charles B. and am sure he was given much advised by them so it really helped his development... unfortunately for KT he did not get that kind of training from HOF players and look at what he was able to accoplish his first yr. NOT BAD ! If we compare KT's rookie season w/Othella's who do you think did better ? to me KT did much better specially since he was just thrown into the starting lineup without ever expecting it , it was a nice surprise and Rudy T. rewarded him by giving him the minutes. This is his first yr. and we can see that he will be a good one , Othella is probably as good as he is going to get he'll just become more proficient at doing some of the things he is doing but as far as showing what he can do I think he has done that already. ------------------ What now ?
Look let's just say it straight out. Kenny Thomas is better then Othella, not just by a little bit, but by a LOT !! KT will be considered a good player, while Othella will never rise above role player status. DaDakota ------------------
The biggest thing that sticks out when I think of Othella is that he had about 2 dunks in his first 2 years in the league. He had almost no explosiveness whatsoever in his game. He got a little better when in his 3rd season when he devoted himself to plyometric training. And I don't think him being an inch or an inch and a half taller than KT allows him to shoot the jump hook that much better. KT will be a better player than Othella. There's not much question there. ------------------
If only we could have a combination of the two players... Kenny Thomas has all the skills needed to work in our system. However, his work ethic has always been suspect. Othella, on the other hand, is known for coming in early for practice and leaving last. He will never be more than a role player, though. If Othella were here, he would clog up the lane. He fit when Dream and Charles dominated, but now we need a guy who will actually pass the ball from the PF position. I think Kenny will work out as long as he keeps working hard. ------------------ Nederland 2000 NBA+stupidity=Brand ROY NBA+common sense=Franchise MVP Houston Rockets Space Center- Not just another ClutchCity.NET clone. We're that and more!
I would rather have Kenny Thomas on the Rockets than Othella. Thomas is showing a lot more potential and possesses many more skills than Othella. Thomas shows the capability of becoming a good passer, has nice footwork in the low post, can play the pick and roll sets with the guards and seems to possess solid rebounding instincts. If the Rockets can get KT to develop a "pet move" in the low block and make more of effort to play down low instead of settling for the outside shot, then the difference between Thomas's game and Othella's game will become HUGE. I would be willing to part with KT in a deal if it meant the Rockets being able to move up to draft a stud PF (Stromile Swift), but I would not want to deal him for Othella. ------------------
At the risk of being accused of conspiring with the enemy, I have to agree with the folks preferring KT over Othella. After a season of watching Harrington as a starter in Vancouver (after loving the guy in Houston last year) I've got to go with the majority on this one. I see a lot of limitations to his game -- lack of passing skills, frequent offensive fouls, holding on to the ball and causing 24 second violations, unbelievably slow help defender, etc. His one on one defense was so bad that when we played Chicago, Big Country took Brand on one on one (he actually did an excellent job on him). Othella has perfected the little hook shot and he is uncommonly deadly with it but he seems to pout when it doesn't go or he gets some early fouls. If the Rockets needed a pure post-up player and you can afford these drawbacks, I'm sure we can accommodate you somehow. Kenny Thomas looked real fine to me in the games I saw here and a few more on t.v. Othella's height is really about 6'8" even though he is listed at 6'9". He is definitely shorter than Shareef and he looks real short compared to Webber and McDyess. Playing in the West, the Griz don't need a pure post-up guy like Othella who has virtually no other redeeming qualities. At least Thomas has some bulk and jumping ability. Look for Othella to be shopped seriously to someone in the East in some sort of package deal this off-season. His contract is fantastic and someone is going to fall for it but I don't think the new up-tempo Rockets should be the ones. I love Othella's little quips and you have to love his name but he is only a back-up PF in the West. ------------------
GYHAS...Thanks a bunch. Now I believe we can put this thread to rest. There...bye bye "KT for Othello" What trade thread can I help you with next...That'll be the deluxe combo...super-sized...thank you...now move on through the line.
Othella never impressed me too much. In his best 2 years (his last two in Houston) , he always reminded me as a "Barkley wanna be", He actually bragged about having better ABS than Chuck LOL. Who doesn't? If he would have rebounded with the fire of Chuck , or set up an offense up like good ol Chuck did, then I would say that he was a keeper. But he wasn't. A nice guy with a good close range hook shot, but that's about it. ROcks KeyGrip of the sfbwc ------------------ [This message has been edited by Houston Rocks (edited May 01, 2000).]
I like this MacBeth guy too. Just look at his scouting report ... Be lion-mettled, proud; and take no care Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him. This guy is unstopable in the post! Othello is whiny untrusting wuss and hed probly end up pulling a Sprewell on RT anyways. ------------------ I want to defend Cato in this sig, but I cant think of anything to write.
I wouldn't doubt it. Granty Hill may dissappear in the playoffs, but that guy can sure play one mean piano(ahem). *coff* *coff* ---------------------- !
