Yes and if Artest wins a title and is a major part of that, he's a borderline HOFamer. Not many perimeter players win Dpoy, the last one to do it before Artest was Jordan and that says a lot. I guess Artest NEVER has a shot at playing a major role on a championship team then I'm not the one closing the books on these guys, Artest still has a lot left in the tank. and Pierce wasn't a HOFamer until LAST SEASON...
Once again, Dallas traded a guy who was better than Brooks for a guy who was worse than Nash. Brooks is no Devin Harris, plus we get rid of McGrady. The point here is not that Brooks won't develop into a good player. He might. The point is that NEXT SEASON, Nash will be a huge upgrade over Brooks and solve several of our key problems -- no playmaker, no guy to run an efficient offense, no body to get Yao easy shots, etc. The Rockets are built to win now, not 5 years from now. By the time Aaron Brooks reaches his prime, assuming he does actually evolve into an above average player (which is not anymore close to a sure thing), Yao, Scola, Battier, and Artest will all be exiting their prime. That window will then be closed forever. When you have a chance to go for a title, you take it. It's why Boston traded young prospects and draft picks for Garnett . Why the Heat traded away several good players for Shaq. Why the Rockets traded for Drexler in the 90s. Opportunities to put together true championship caliber teams don't come along often.
Can Kidd score at will? Nash is the best all-around PG in the league today, IMO. Paul is probably a better passer, but Nash has the sexier jumper. Kidd can't do crap except pass decently. Plus, Nash had to rely on an uptempo offense, which really gave him some health problems. I think with the Rockets system, Nash will do better.
You mean a guy who, at 19 years old was already better than Brooks at 24? Heck, by time he was Aaron Brooks' age he was an All-Star, putting up 19/3/6 on a ridiculous shooting percentage. Actually, if you put Kidd on the Lakers roster last year instead of Bynum, I think he makes a big enough difference that they might have dropped the Celtics. So put me down as disagreeing. Just because the Mavs screwed up their chemistry by trading Harris doesn't mean Jason Kidd was the problem.
So now you're comparing Ron Artest to Paul Pierce. Shrug. If you think Ron Artest is a borderline Hall of Famer, I'm just gonna let this discussion go and say we agree to disagree.
Wait who did the Heat trade Shaq. Lamar Odom. It was a very lopsided trade as everyone knew Shaq wasn't going to get equal market value. Not only that the Heat NEEDED to make improvements as they found out real soon just like the Lakers did...Lamar Odom is nothing but a glorified role player. The Celtics situation is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT...COMPLETELY! They were one of if not THE WORST team in the NBA...remember they put ALL OF THEIR chips into throwing games and getting Durant or Odom...once that was not going to happen they made their trades...they had NOTHING to lose. I don't know what you're talking about the Pistons...They picked up a bunch of underappreciated players...and the Iverson for Billups isn't similar because well they both are getting old. Dallas situation is very similar to ours. They had a quick score first PG that they felt the team would be much better off with a veteran future HOF PG in Kidd despite his age. They felt that Kidd would help them within the nexxt 2-3 years...it hasn't happened. Dallas situation is a mirror of where we are at now.
Devin Harris wasn't that good before he was traded. He was just like Brooks, inconsistent, score first, and he got on Avery's and the fans nerves because he wasn't a playmaker.
And just for the record, I have never said we should move Artest. I've made several posts defending him and saying we need to keep him. Doesn't mean I think he is a borderline Hall of Famer.
Before the Lakers got Pau Gasol, it was Bynum who made them a #1 seed. Remember they were a top team in the West before Pau came, and then when Pau came Bynum got hurt. Lakers need Bynum to win a 'ship because Pau can't play post defense and Bynum when healthy is the only guy they have that can.
LOL. I love how everyone thinks Pierce was this elite talent all of his career. The guy they were so soon ready to run out of town and trade before Garnett and Allen came. What did Pierce do that Artest didn't before he got Garnett and Allen?
Dude, seriously, check the facts before you post. The Heat traded Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, AND a first round pick. Butler was the main player in that trade and he is now an All-Star level player who averages 21ppg and 6 rebounds. You have to give something to get something.
The window of opportunity for the Rockets to contend for a championship is open NOW. I really like Brooks and it's looking like he's going to be a very good player in the league, maybe even a devastating player on certain nights, long after Nash is over the hill. And yes, Nash is on the downside of his career. If the Rockets were a middle-of-the-pack team, I'd say hell no, don't do this trade. But in my mind, trades always depend on where a team is competitively. What is a bad trade in most years might not be in some years. If you have a realistic shot at a championship, concerns about future competitiveness take a backseat. Most years you're thinking about the future and building smartly. But in years when your talent is assembled and your team is close, sometimes you roll the dice on an "aging veteran" who still is an uncommonly savvy and effective player, if you think he can help get you over the hump. Bring on Steve Nash.
Nash plays no defense so he's not the best all-around PG today. Kidd the PG who has the most triple doubles? All he does is pass well? He's a EXTREMELY good passer, can knock down the open shot, and has ALWAYS played better defense than Nash. Kidd took his team the finals didn't he? Kidd was supposed to be the guy to put Dallas over the top, just like Nash is supposed to do to us. What Dallas failed to realize that Kidd they got isn't the Kidd in his Prime, despite what the Numbers say.
I think rockets chance is very slim. Nash is in last year contract. I dont know why they will want tmac last year contract. And we do have other players that can match nash's contract.
Pierce averaged around 25ppg and got the Celtics to the Conference Finals as the star of the team. When you're in a hole, don't try to dig your way out.
I agree. Nash's contract ends after next season, and there's no guarantee that he'd be back after that, but given the age of this roster and the McGrady situation, I think the gamble is worth looking into. If the Rockets do trade for Nash, I could see Morey trading McGrady's expiring contract to bring in a few quality role players.
On paper, a healthy Rockets team has been a contender for the past few years. That hasn't stopped the injuries from happening. He's still an elite player. Also, although Brooks is much faster than Nash, Nash is still a much better finisher. As rookies, both Brooks and Parker came off the bench. But one of them eventually earned the starting spot and was named to the all-rookie first team. Guess which one? Just because they're fast and able to score doesn't mean they're close to being the same player. The 2008 Celtics disagree with that. You can't be serious. Bynum has been terrible thus far in the playoffs. Right now, if the Lakers had Jason Kidd instead of Bynum, they'd be a better team.
It doesn't matter what Butler is NOW it matters what he was then for you to prove your point. Any ways the other two examples were Nothing like ours so maybe you need check your facts also? Heat weren't getting better with their lineup, so they shook it up... Our situation is different...we really don't know how good this team is because two of our best players are always in suits.
Nash always had to focus on offense, so he had no time to play defense. With the Rocket's slow tempo, he could actually have time to play 24 second defense. Kidd's triple doubles, or Nash's two MVP awards? Hmm. I'd pick Nash. I don't know about you, but I always cringe when Kidd shoots the three ball. When Nash shoots it, its likely to go in. Kidd...not so much. Kidd took his team to the Finals 6 years ago, against the Spurs, and 7 years ago, against the Lakers. Kidd was in his prime. I don't see your argument right now. Nash would put us over the top, because we have tools that mimic PHX's system right now. Landry = Amare, Yao = Shaq, Wafer = Richardson, and so on.
