Morey needs to wait. See if Yao and Tracy get back and play well. If they don't we miss the play-offs and get another young player and Tracy's money off the books to sign some more talent to feed off of Yao.
I went with Ariza, because you get very good role player that has the potential to increase his offensive game even further. He isn't as good as a defender as Artest, but he does have quick hands and stays in front of most players. He is long and athletic, and he knows how to finish at the rim. Also a better fit in Adelman's offense, hopefully we'll finally see it. Artest you don't know what will happen now that he has a multi year deal, even if its cheap. Also I'm sure you all agree that he stops the offense, and takes a lot of questionable shots. He's on the decline he lost some of his quickness that he had that made him a great defender. I mean look at what Roy did to him during the playoffs, Ron got burned a LOT. Overall though he is a better all around player, right now, when he isn't trying to be the go to guy.
I voted Artest purely by the numbers, better ppg, ft%, 3pt % and his acclaimed D. Morey thinks otherwise, he could have signed Ron but thinks Ariza is better. Stunning, a seeming deal that wasn't really a deal. Artest takes less money in only a 3 year deal in his last chance to land a lucrative long term contract to win a ring with the Lakers. The Lakers gamble on wrecking the chemistry of a team that dominated in their run to the NBA championship by not signing an up and coming young player.
Looking at the players right now and not looking at the team's situation, it'd be Artest. But I really feel the Rockets need to get younger, rebuild, and change the face of the franchise. Ariza would be the better step in that situation.
Was there any thought given to a "Neither" selection? That would have been my vote. I'm convinced there will be no Yao or Grady in 2009-10 so I see no need to spend on Artest. And I question if Ariza is truly worth 5 full years at an MLE max.
Same here, there's no reason for a non-contender to shell out for a role player. I know he's 24, but I fail to see much potential. It's rare that players improve defensively, and Ariza just doesn't have that much offensive talent. He's being overrated as a shooter because of a great playoff run when he's never been a good shooter from 3point going back to his college days. The other argument is the '10 star FA's will want a foundation in place to sign here. As if Bosh or Wade are going to be oh so geeked to play with Ariza. I know there's other moves we can make with T-Mac & Battier, but T-Mac's stock as an expirer isn't what we thought it was and if we do acquire good long-term players with them it's going to eat up the cap space anyway. Everybody's too busy sniffing Morey's jock to see the facts here.
Rook...a piece of advice. With this comment, you've joined a very select group that dares to question DM. You will be pummeled, chastized, ridiculed and told you know nothing about basketball because you're only a "dumb fan" on a website. Kwame, leebigez, thumbs and myself welcome you. Be prepared for the rough ride where you are in an overwhelming minority.
For as much as I appreciate what Ron Ron did, right now I say Ariza. With the injuries to the team I think Morey and RA are trying to add players that will fit the system better. I keep seeing people say Ariza is not a go to guy, I don't think that is why we want him. He is a plus defender that showed he is capable of guarding the other teams best player. He showed he can hit the 3 at a high clip on the biggest stage. He is a solid piece to a team obviously in transition trying to reload on the fly. Now hopefully Morey can work some magic and add a star and a center
I think the only hope the Rockets have for winning anything in the near future is that Yao comes back to play. If not next season then the 2010 or 11 so for this era, The Rockets are always going to be over the cap. The only ways to add 'players' are the MLE, minimums, drafts and sign and trades with luxury taxes. Artest was gone, we just didn't know it. The freaking LA glam discount is real. We have to look at replacing Grady and probably trading Battier. So by necessity, we had to overpay a little for length. Ariza is long and was disgruntled. He was just a reasonable alternative available at the right time. I don't love it, but we weren't in a position to miss on him. (But like you I don't understand the Gortat deal, maybe we will get an explanation for it after the 8th) If Yao doesn't ever play effectively again we enter a new era as just another NBA team until a ping pong ball falls our way.
Everybody is saying Ariza is younger. Okay. But Ariza is also more experienced than Ron. Ariza was a key roll player on a championship team. Conversely, Artest demonstrated multiple times that at KEY moments of big games, he goes Crazy Eye's. I seriously don't think Artest has a winning mentality. I can't wait for the Kobe/Ron locker room drama.
thats just it, what we`re gonna have 5 role players? we needed someone that could be counted on to put up 15-20 consistently. ron could. can ariza? im skeptical, but optimistic.
Pretty much agree except I don't ever see Yao Ming as a factor. I love Yao's game and am glad the Rockets have him. But realistically, he's a shade closer to Rik Smits than Dream. A very, very good player but not a player that's going to put you on his back and take you there nearly night after night with consistency. Looking backwards, Yao's lack of mobility and the timing of the NBA zone were too much to overcome even without foot problems. And even if we agree that Yao is star #3, there is not enough time left in Yao's career to obtain the other 2. (And no, Luis Scola, Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry aren't and will never be a Kobe, LeBron, Duncan or Dwight Howard...we'd be damned lucky if one of them turned into Gasol, Hedo, or Tony Parker). So in my mind, Ariza is a small piece of a much larger puzzle. The next role player as we seek the next star(s)...some combination of trade, Lottery and/or 2010 Free Agency.
