If we lose out on Lewis should we go ahead and go after Russell. He can guard the other teams best player while mobley is on the bench or even have him at small foward and let mobley not worry about defence. I think he would help us more than Lewis and we wouldnt be dumping as much money and for fewer years!
if he can still shoot 3's good, and defend i say go for him. but if not the answer is hell no get the fuc* away.
Bryon Russell is a free agent. He can sign for whatever he can sign to whomever. Of the unrestricted FAs, I think he is the best realistic fit (assumming Lewis is out of the picture). I would offer him a two year full MCE deal for him (what is it, around 4 per season?) or a longer contract 3-4 years for a lower amount of money. I think BR would be perfect. We do have our guards of the future, we should have our forwards of the future (EG, Nachbar, KT & MoT)--but what we need most of all right now is: 1) possible starter and better depth at the three, and 2) better depth and size at the two. Most people seem to have flipped this around thinking getting a back-up 2 is more important than getting someone who could start at the 3 if needed, but I don't agree. Expecting Nachbar to contribute 25 effective minutes at the three next year is unrealistic, Rice's health is a huge question, and we seem leary of playing KT or EG at the three. We need someone who can be ready to start (if needed) and be effective for heavy minutes at the three THIS YEAR (especially because we are given up our draft pick). If the guy can give us a defensive presence and play back-up 2 minutes even better--thus I can't think of the better fit then BR. And a final benifit is we get a player from one of our chief competitors for one of the lower Western playoff slots. This is a no brainer if the price is right.
I agree Russell would be a nice pick-up. He gives us experienced depth at the 2 and 3 along with Oscar Torres. It also gives Nachbar some time to grow. Pick him up says I!
Where Russel will really help would be if we can make it to the playoffs. I think we can make the playoffs w/o him. but once we get there, we could use his experience and tough D. He wont be able to stop Kobe, but he might be able to slow down Finley, Pippen, Doug Christie, Hedo, Rashard, marion etc. depending on who we play.
bryon russell would be absolutely perfect for the backup shooting guard position. If he'd be willing to sign a small contract I'd do it in a second.
i've been thinking about him for a while. i still cant decide weather i would like russell or raja bell. although, i would put $5 down that the rox don't even talk to those two this offseason.
I HATE the Jazz with all my heart, but for years I have been a "closet" Byron Russel "fan"......If my Dad heard me say that he would disown me. But I think that he could contribute and He knows what it takes to win. He might even put that "cut-throat" mind-set into our Rockets, who in times past had a hard time finishing teams off. I say pick him up, and do it quick!
If nothing else, it would be one more nail in the coffin containing the Spazz's playoff hopes, and a further boost for ours. Russell is good!
Um, gross. And no, thanks. Winning isn't everything. If it were, we could make a run at Malone, too. Think he wouldn't improve our team? Of course he would. But I'd be a Mavs fan the second the ink was dry. Russell believed in the Jazz. He liked playing there, he bought into their system and he believed in Jerry Sloan. I don't forget that easy and I don't want to win that bad. I'd sooner take Shandon back. At least he wanted out of Utah.
Russell always had more heart than "deer caught in the headlights" Shandon Anderson. Russell will bring veteran maturity- he has displayed toughness. I do not know what he would cost, but he is an athletic player- at least consider this....
It is not like he is Stockton, Malone or Oestertag. If he leaves them for us isn't that all the testament we need? I think Russell is by far the best option out there. I have no problem with Raja, but Russell shoots better and is a legit 3--things we really need this year. Does anyone think Russell doesn't make sense for the Rockets based on his current court skills (I don't know, maybe he totally sucks now or is fighting injuries)?
Russell would be a perfect fit just like everyones saying, he could sign very cheap, the rox should definitely pursue him over a way overpaid lewis.
Career avgs. FG% 44 3-pt% 37 FT% 75 RPG 4 ASS 1.4 STL 1.1 Plays good D, has decent speed, experienced in the playoffs and is a steady shooter. sounds like a good year to pick him up since we need the help at the two, but does he want to play behind Mobley after starting for the Jazz? I don't think he does but he might want to get on a team that has a good chance in the playoffs, so there are 7-8 other teams he would want to play for other than us.
