[Chad Ford Insider] Hou working on 4 team deal [Update: Done Deal - Ariza for C Lee]

whoa, what??

This can't be right unless there's more to it or another deal coming. Or maybe Ariza asked out. Lee is a SG, who plays Martin's position. Battier won't hold up much longer and that leaves us with a very unexperienced player at the 3 and our depth there will be non-existant after this season.

Just doesnt make sense basketball-wise, what are the money numbers?

 

To be quite frank, I'd rather have Collison

However, Courtney Lee is a stud.

 

This deal doesn't improve the rockets at all, makes them worse, I honestly like Ariza and was looking forward to what he would bring this year, sure his offense is shaky but he can defend, is athletic.

 

I'm all for trading Ariza but there has to be someone better than courtney lee out there. For some reason the rest of the league still thinks Ariza is one of our best players. Get legit scoring threat D Morey.

 

Sorry... this is all I can think of when I think of Courtney Lee...

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This doesn't look like a very strong commitment to defense.

 

We're over the luxury tax, so can this be a salary dump type of deal? But who would be our long term SF. It can't be Shane? Could this be a precursor to Carmelo deal in the future?

 

Morey Pic?

(Internal conflict w/ Ariza? Numbers not adding up? /confused)

 

I agree, get Collison instead. Way more upside to that guy.

 

Martin
Ariza/Battier/Budinger

vs

Martin/Lee
Battier/Budinger

better fit/balance and saves money

 

Having Battier, Budinger, and Jeffries makes Ariza somewhat expendable. I've always seen Courtney Lee as a Brandon Roy lite. He'd fill in well at the backup 2 spot, although this probably means Jermaine Taylor is out.

 

Somebody else must be coming besides Lee. This doesn't sound like a Morey move. Not Ariza. Damn!!

 

You would think Ariza leaving for anybody would bring jubilation to this entire board, with all the hate going around last year.

Courtney Lee is a solid player with an expiring rookie deal, if I remember correctly.

This could be Morey's way of chipping away at the cap to get under the tax, with still netting some good young talent.

I like this move.

 

You save roughly 4.5 - 5 million this season, Lee has a TEAM option for next season at 2.225 million and is going to be Ariza's equal on the court so money wise it works.

 

This would be the Courtney Lee that was a rookie as part of the '09 Magic Finals team, who was traded to NJ in the Vince Carter deal. From what I remember, the guy is super young & athletic and would probably be a good swap w/ Ariza (who I admittedly am not all that fond of). Why New Orleans would want to do the deal is beyond me (salary dump in all likelihood), but from the Rockets' perspective, I think it's a good move..

 

AB/ Lowry
Martin/ Lee/ Taylor
Battier/ Budinger
Scola/ Hayes/ Hill/ Patterson
Yao/ Miller/ Hill

Not a bad rotation if you ask me.

 

Ariza will make 5 million more than Courtney Lee next year. Are the Rockets taking back any more salary, or does that trade work?

That's not a bad salary dump, if that's the trade.

 

same here, but the whole New Jersey almost record breaking ****ty season doesn't help his case either.

 

The deal saves Les Alexander $10M in salary and tax next season.

Not bad considering that Ariza and Lee are comparable talents.

I do know that Morey loves Lee and tried to get him in the draft a couple of years ago, but Orlando took him ahead of the Rockets' pick.

Quality young SG.