There's a healthy discussion about Thabeet in the NBA forum.. some of us value his 'potential' more than others. I believe (could be wrong) that they moved Xavier to the starting five because they wanted Mayo's scoring off the bench. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with Mayo as a PG.. just seems like strictly a SG to me, though I know that he tried to learn PG this summer. I wouldn't necessarily want to give up Martin either.. but in the end, you have to give up something to get something. Thabeet could probably be had for a lot cheaper if we left Mayo out of the equation. We have Ariza's trade exception that I believe we could fit his salary into and add a 1st rounder. I guess the question is if Memphis is willing to end their Thabeet project for a late 1st rounder? Hard to say.
Even if Memphis accepted the maximum portion of the trade exception allowable, we would still have 16 players on the roster -- somebody's must go one way or the other -- Ish? Taylor? Hayes?
With the return of Brooks, and RA saying he's' excited about playing k-low and AB together, obviously Ish loses again. Thabeet for the TE is well worth the risk. With TE's, if we dont use it withing the time frame we got it (date of Ariza's trade) then we lose it. Getting a 7'3" project big man to learn around veterans like Miller, Yao, Carol Dawson, Battier, Hayes will do wonders for him. It is for this same reason that I think we should go out on a limb and get Anthony Randolph from NY also. The environment here is more condusive for professionalism, imporvement, learning, and class. For young players learning to be NBA professionals, you could ask for a better environment to reach out on young BIGS Imagine getting Anthony Randolph for the pick NY gave us, then getting Thabeet for a TE At the end of the day we get a young 7'3" Center with athleticism, a natural Defensive, Rebounding and Shot Blocking mindset in Thabeet + a multi-dimensial, ball handling, shot blocking, athletic, 6'11" SF,PF,C that has the skill set of Lamar Odom = The Rockets get younger, bigger (taller), more athletic, better defensively, increase shot blocking and at the least acquire more "assets" that could land us better talent. We dont lose anything but the NY pick that they gave us to begin with. This is the same pick that will be worthless after NY gets MELO.
Thabeet/ Randolph / Hill will do wonders for us defensively and on the boards. Adding Thabeet your adding toughness. We need length and size/shot blocking which we'd have with these three.
Getting those type of players will not only do wonders, but these are the types of moves that makes teams better now and for the future. Imagine the following Lowry / Brooks / Ish Martin / Lee / Taylor Battier / Randolph / Bud Scola / Hill / Hayes / Jefferies Yao / Thabeet / Miller Look at that second group !!! Brooks, Lee, Randolph, Hill, Thabeet Then you trade Battier, Jefferies, Taylor, Bud for IGGY
The problem with using the TE to acquire either of those two is that it will put the Rockets further above the luxury tax. I know Les has said in the past he is willing to pay it (he has yet to do so), I doubt he does it this season when we won't be contender.
Fantastic post. Summed up my feelings as well. I would also add Cousins to the discussion. We need to be prepared to rebuild quickly If Yao doesn't work out. We are looking for rings, not first/second round extis...
I would love to add Cousins but the Kings are not going to shop or trade him. But getting players like Anthony Tandolph (6'11") and H. Thabeet (7'3") will do wonders for this team. Yao will never be traded but he should eat some humble pie and resign with the rockets at the MLE. We made him extremly wealthy and he has yet to deliver to the extent that we expected or to the level that he wants to. I think he could have had he not gotten hurt in that Laker's series 2 yrs ago. Getting these 2 guys and playing them both with the second group will make us tough to beat. Our starting line up will need a talent upgrade though. I say the Rockets need to go all in to try to get Iggy, even after they said they "just want to asses his value". This is NBA code for "call us and we will trade him only if it's good enough, we won't call you" I think a rebuilding team like PHI would jump all over the following trade Battier+Jefferies+Taylor+Patterson+2nd rd (future) = IGGY Phi gets rid of Iggy restrictive contract, 2 young players & a pick I'd give them C-Bud if they wanted
Okay a couple of moves that could change the perception of the team. Rox get Taj Gibson - Rox get a versatile big man who can rebound and block shots Bulls get Courtney Lee - Bulls need a SG and Lee would fit in nicely with that young nucleus. then... Rox get Mayo and Thabeet - Mayo to replace Lee as the backup 2, potential steal with a super high ceiling. Thabeet, project, but someone to groom for the center position. Griz get JJ and JHill - Z-Bo maybe gone next season and Jordan can be groomed to take over their PF spot. JJ is a nice defensive player and expiring contract. Brooks/Lowry Martin/Mayo Battier/Bud Scola/Gibson Yao/Miller/Thabeet A more balanced, defensive oriented team with Gibson and Thabeet along with a dynamic duo at SG.
Courtney Lee would be perfect for the bulls, but the Rox are pretty high on him. And he's really ony just started to catch fire. We have plenty of 4's in any case, so we don't need Taj Gibson. And the Bulls need a backup 4 for Carlos Boozer's next stint on IR. Mayo and Thabeet are gettable, but the price would be steeper.
This is how I think we end up with IGGY, Randolph, Thabeet http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=2bs7t59 We would need to include some of our other remaining picks and possibly cash considerations where applicable. I would hate to lose Battier especially since T-Will looks up to him, but it's a deal that has to be done to make the team better. Hopefully we get battier back under a smaller new contract next year (Ditto for Yao & Landry)
Houston Rockets Andre Iguodala Sacramento Kings Jeffries, Aaron Brooks Philadelphia 76ers Jason Thompson, Shane Battier, Chase Budinger, and a pick (maybe) Lowry/Smith K-mart/C.Lee A.I/T.Will Scola/J.Hill/Hayes B.Miller/Yao
I'd love to pick up Thabeet on the cheap if we go into rebuilding mode. He does eat up cap we can use on Marc Gasol though.
Has Memphis gave any reasoning for so many people on this board to think they wont match on Gasol??? Get real people.
Well, because at the end of the day, they are just the Grizzlies you know :grin: Where dropping Thabeet for a TE happens.
They need money to sign Gasol and maybe Z-Bo, simple as that. Thabeet isn't cheap which will make it a bit more diffcult to move then say a Terrence Williams. I do, however, think a pick may need to be included maybe some cash on the side as well.
