If you think we're not a contender, then by all means don't sign anyone. Heck let Artest and Wafer walk and get some FA rookies to replace them. But if you think we're close, then we have to do the best we can to improve the team for NEXT YEAR, not 2010. That one player could make all the difference. It's pretty clear to me that the FO thinks we are close, we won't go over the luxury tax, but we'll get as close to the line as possible while building the best team possible.
If there's a chance to sign Odom, Marion, Kidd or Bibby, Id do it. People always question Odom's game. What they dont get is that Odom doesnt want to be the first option. But as 2nd or 3rd, he's pretty efficient at it. He's 6-10, can play SF, likes to run with pretty decent handles. Imagine him playing the 2nd unit with Scola. He's pretty good arount the basket, is a good rebounder, decent passer, can knock down open 3 point shots. with brooks, 2nd team SG, odom, landry,scola, that lineup's gonna run and light up the score board. Marion would be good on the 2nd unit too since theyd be running but i dont see him playing off yao quite well. Kidd is still a triple double machine and would be great for a half court game with yao. No way Kidd cant pass it down low to Yao. Bibby would be best treated as a veteran to tutor brooks and lowry.
Honestly, why? Why do you have to trade Brooks to keep Gordon? Other than both being somewhat undersized, as long as you have an athletic SF to guard the good wing players, you should be able to manage. Battier is not really athletic but he has shown to be a good defender, and our next SF can be much more athletic. Also, Rockets are all about team defense. Most people forget that the best player Gordon has ever played with is Deng, the best playmaker he has ever played with is Rose, and he has never had any teammate who is true veteran who actually plays until Miller got to the Bulls at the trading deadline. He has also never had a really good coach in Chicago. You would put him on a team with Yao, Scola, Battier, Brooks, T-mac (or what is left of him), and a great coach in Adelman. Team defense is much more important than having multiple individual stoppers, and i think we have the team leadership and coaching to get gordon to buy into that. Yes match ups matter, but how many teams have two all-star level wing players that have to guarded that don't already cause us match-up problems?
stop dreaming, we can't get any of those via FA. it has to be some sort of sign and trade. Which i doubt we would go for that which would involved tmac for sure. Summer - Morey will need to re-sign Artest for reasonable proce. perhap for von too if he is reaonably cheap. Next year before trading deadline - do we need berry? could he be packaged with Tmac? do we need tmac? we obiously missing a go to guy at the end of 4th quarter. Morey has to feel around the league for teams that are in need for expiring contract(s). I have said this many times before. Morey should go after wade as i don't think heat is going to do anything quick to turn the franchise around for any title runs. After this year's playoff, one thing we will learn is that lakers are no longer the invincible team. it can be beaten and had.
I would sign Von and Ron and let go Brain Cook obviously i believe we need a big man we are nice in the backcourt Go after a BIG....i see Brandon Bass who is a 6'8 but a alright defender use him as a back up center Then i see Birdman Andersen who is from TX but loves the nuggets he would fit nice with the rockets though and a long shot is Sheed Wallace 7 footer with range could easily back up Yao i would love a team with Sheed and Ron Ron Brooks/Lowery (or the other way around) Ron/Von (tracy starts here if he comes back READY to play) Shane/Ron Scola/Landry/Hayes Yao/Bass or Birdman or Sheed/Hayes I.R. Barry/Dorsey/White if we get sheed and tracy comes back ready to hoop look at our second team: Lowery Von Ron Landry Sheed
I'm the one everyone will disagree with, but that's cool and nothing new. I think despite the 1st rd breakthrough and taking la to 7, this team needs upgrades. The reason why this team doesn't score more is because they don't have guys that can dictate matchups. Yao is a matchup problem, but can easily be taken out of games. Brooks and his speed is a problem, he's just young. I'm not going to count tracy because we won't see him till march. This is my opinion/idea. Get odom. Why? He a natural playmaker at 6'11. He's that matchup problem from the 4. Having him at the 4 puts a huge strain on opposing defense. He's basically a point-pf. This takes a guy further away from yao. Not only that, now teams will have to adjust to having a big perimeter guy that can break guys down off the dribble. How do we get odom? Sign and trade artest for odom at 4yrs and 9m per. Marion or Deng. Marion is a ufa meaning again, its going to bbe sign and trade scenerio. Why marion? Along with odom, now the rox have 2 multi tooled guys at 3/4 spots. Both are great in transition. Why I say transition, its having the ability to get easy points off to's,loose balls or just rebounds. Marion isn't the player he was 4yrs ago, but he's a guy that will still get 14-9, shoot a high %, rebound the ball, defend, and finish in traffic. He's a pretty durable guy, high character guy also that plays extremely hard and competes also. Deng isn't a fa, but with their success in the post season without him and the contracts he just signed,the front office turnover, he might be on the blocks. He's a long 3 that's a great mid range shooter who has battled injuries the last couple of years. He has age (24) on his side and is a high character guy. He's 15ppg and 6 rebs in the books at a good clip. The mid range game and his ablity to to play away from the ball really makes him a good target. Getting either will cost the rockets probably battier and some combo of chuck or barry. Matt Barnes. He's a lle or half of mle type of guy. He's long, can guard 2,3, and dirk type of 4's. He's good in transition, decent 3pt shooter, and has a little nastiness to him. Solid guy who can start and play 30 mins or come off the bench.
