Rockets go get Hasheen Thabeed It's not illogical to go after this player. He's a viable back up center with his sick defense. He's also African. The Rockets have had the two top players from African... Hakeem and Mutombo. He is next on the list. Plus the Rockets like to get international players. Thabeed smells like a Rocket to me. Imagine Thabeed, Yao, Scola on a team... and maybe throw in Rubio... and we're the international all-star team. Perfect brand image to bank on, and fitting for the Houston Rockets.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6498491.html I meant to include this for the discussion. He's got a history with Houston already.
Terrible idea. You don't get a #2 draft pick just for him to be a back-up. You also don't play a 7'3" player with a 7'6" player. Also, his name is Hasheem Thabeet.
according to bucher, we've called about sheed Those are top two. Heard Dal and Hou also called. Cle is not in mix. KG is calling, but Sheed won't do Boston. https://twitter.com/RicBucher doubt he'd actually come here though..
This should be in a different part of the BBS, I agree. Slipped my mind when I started thinking about the similarities to the Dream and Mutombo. Sorry guys.
I definetely think marcus camby is the best pick for the rockets. think about it. hes a former defensive player of the year, and he averaged just over 2 blocks last season, and that was with a crappy team. he would be able to do so much for us, and i even think he can offer some stuff that Yao can't. Definetely the best pick for houston.
The following is (or should be) a complete list of this summer's free agent crop of players who are either centers or capable of guarding opposing centers and/or blocking shots. I did not include guys with player options who will most assuredly exercise them. The players in bold are guys who (a) I would like to see the Rockets at least pursue this summer, (b) are realistically attainable by the Rockets, AND (c) could be attained at a reasonable price (a portion of the MLE or the league minimum). I will also include Chris "Bird Man" Andersen and Rasheed Wallace, who will cost more and are unlikely to come to the Rockets, just because there would at least be SOME possibility of that happening. List of Free Agent Possibilities for Backup Center Spot: (R) = restricted free agent Zaza Pachulia, Hawks Solomon Jones, Hawks (R) Mikki Moore, Celtics Aaron Gray, Bulls (R) Joe Smith, Cavs Lorenzen Wright, Cavs Ryan Hollins, Mavs (R) Johan Petro, Nuggets (R) Chris Andersen, Nuggets Antonio McDyess, Pistons Rasheed Wallace, Pistons Rasho Nesterovic, Pacers Chris Mihm, Grizzlies Joel Anthony, Heat (R) Jamaal Magliore, Heat Jason Collins, T-Wolves Shelden Williams, T-Wolves Melvin Ely, Hornets Sean Marks, Hornets David Lee, Knicks (R) Chris Wilcox, Knicks Robert Swift, Thunder Marcin Gortat, Magic (R) Adonal Foyle, Magic Theo Ratliff, 76ers Stromile Swift, Suns Raef LaFrentz, Blazers Calvin Booth, Kings Cedric Simmons, Kings Drew Gooden, Spurs Jarron Collins, Jazz I'm just throwing these names out there. Feel free to weigh in on your preferences. But no "Let's sign David Lee for $2M" bull-crap. Please keep in mind that the Rockets will very likely continue to play Luis Scola and Chuck Hayes at center for a large chunk of the minutes during which Yao is on the bench. Much like Deke the last couple of years, the guy who fills this roster spot would be a situational guy and a spot starter in case of an injury to Yao. I may follow up later to clarify my preferences or to hone in on guys I think the Rockets should/can get as a decent backup center.
I'm ok with a Scola/Landry/Hayes rotation at the 4/5 when Yao sits. Very few teams employ more than one serviceable 6'10" - 7'0" anyway. I do think in the next year or so we need to seriously consider drafting a big to take over the 5. I think Yao has a couple years left at most playing quality minutes, and thats only if we can limit him to 25-30 mins a game. Trading/acquiring a star-calibre 4 that can slide to the 5 and help us preserve Yao would be a huge bonus.
I feel like that front line just makes it too easy for other teams to score in the paint. Blocking and changing shots will be non-existent. It was fine this year, because Yao barely missed any time and played significant minutes anyway, but that's not going to be the case next season. The weakness will be exploited. I'm also not sure if I agree that "very few" teams employ more than one serviceable 6'10" - 7'0" as you say. Here are a few (most of whom happen to be playoff teams). And there may even be more where that came from. I'm not including guys like Brand, Boozer because they're listed under 6'10", but are still more capable centers than Scola/Hayes/Landry due to their combo of wingspan/bulk/athleticism. Lakers - Pau/Bynum Magic - Howard/Gortat Cavs - Shaq/Z Spurs - Duncan/Gooden Bulls - Noah/Miller Celtics - Garnet/Perkins Hawks - Pachulia/Horford Blazers - Przybilla/Oden/Aldridge Clippers - Kaman/Camby Nuggets - Hilario/Anderson Bucks - Bogut/Villanueva TWovles - Love/Jefferson
Pachulia R Wallace Gortat I'd be looking at those 3 as the best options. The other solution to the problem might just be to think about moving Landry and bringing back a big PF/C type as part of a deal (say we S&T Wafer alongside Landry?) - that way we bring in someone who will actually get regular minutes - still leaves us with Chucky Hayes as the backup if (when?) Yao goes down.
If we cannot get a true center how about a tall 3 point shooting 4 that can allow scola and landry to play in the paint. Bottomline we need someone that can somehow allow Coach Adelman to sit Yao for much longer stretches.
I'm sorry, but there is no way anyone can convince me that if the Rockets had played Yao 3 or 5 minutes less a game that the same damn thing wouldn't have occurred. It's not like 33mpg is a huge amount of minutes. If you have no faith in Yao being able to play for 33mpg then you need to ship him out. As for finding Yao's backup, if we want one, were probably going to have to find it through trade because the top guys in fagency, Pachulia, R Wallace, and Gortat are either going to get the MLE or higher, or a guarantee of a bigger role than just Yao's backup. I really don't think Morey is going to invest something significant into the backup center position, That doesn't seem to be his MO. Dikembe kind of fell into his lap and he might have been spoiled by that. However, I do agree that Yao's latest recovery concerns should raise a red flag and the rockets should prepare for the beginning of the season w/o Yao or at least w/o a full strength or rusty Yao. In that case, I actually like both centers from the clipps and chandler, but would not want to give up anything significant to get any of them.
What about giving him games off, particularly back-to-backs, on top of limiting his minutes? How could anyone have faith in that at this point?
