I will just add this. I am still baffled as to how Francis gets 10 times the heat the Mobley does on this board. Steve at least tries to make his teamates better, Mobley does not. I dont hide the fact that Im not a big Cuttino guy and I feel he has the potential to be the biggest X factor with regards to what this team accomplishes. The problem I see with him has mostly to do with his mental thought process. I think Cuttino, in a way, measures himself up against his buddy Francis and thats where it falls apart in my eyes. I will never, NEVER, doubt Mobley's heart, determination or his skills. Mobley is a good player. However, this team is being built around Steve and in the coming years, around Yao. Cuttino is a HUGE piece of the puzzle. That being said, hes not the center piece or someone you build a team around like Francis and Yao. I feel it is a mistake to have the offense run through Mobley as much as it is. Hes not a threat to pass and because of that, defenses dont respect that part of his game and quite often collapse on him when he makes his way towards the lane. Mobley absolutely, is not able, or willing to get his teamates involved even when they are open. I am very concerned that his teamates will start to harbor some animosity towards him because of this and in turn, this could have the potential to hurt team chemistry, as well as our overall offensive production. I think Cuttino sees himself as Francis' equal rather than a compliment to Francis. A second point I would like to make is, Cuttino has talked quite frequently about wanting to make the all-star team. I love that this is one of his goals and I feel he is a borderline all-star. But is this goal clouding his judgement? Is he forcing shots and not looking at his teamates because hes needs those points to make himself look like a bonafide, unstoppable scorer, which will in turn, make him look like a sexier candidate for the all-star game? Ill leave yall with this. At this point, I am not in favor of necessarily trading Cuttino. Cuttino is a smart man. I am really hoping he works on this aspect of his game. I do not think this new offense can work at its peak efficiency without Mobley getting his teamates involved more. However, if Cuttino continues to ignore open teamates and the offense bogs down on a consistant basis as a result of this, what options do we have? Make him a 6th man? Take the ball out of his hands as a playmaker and force him to be more of a role player? Trade him? With Mobleys current style of play, can we honestly expect to do great things in the playoffs for years to come or will Mobley have to change???? Alot of questions I have. They all surround Cuttino. He is the x factor right now.
Leave! the team alone! They're 2-1 and you're talking about breaking up a piece of it and trading away the #2 scorer. It's tough enough as it is to build chemistry with all of these injuries without constantly bringing in new players and having to rebuild it all over again. Give the team time to learn and grow together. Instead we have people wanting to trade Mobley for a 40 year old PG in Stockton, or a 35 year old PG in Gary Payton. Yeah they're playing well, but how exactly does trading away a young star player for an older star player going to help this team in the long term?
Would you guys consider taking a chance on an immediate dynasty? Knowing Vince has continuing problems with his knee/quadriceps/whatever, would you do this: Mobley MoTaylor Cato 1st rounder for Vince Jerome Williams Jelani Mccoy We're giving up a ton of our rotation, but we're taking a chance on Vince. If his knee improves, and he stays healthy, there's no doubt we're a challenge to the Lakers. Francis/Carter in the bakcourt? Fugghetaboutit. Why Toronto would do that? They have no C, and Cato is looking great (he showd them). they tried to sign MoT before we did. They tried to sign Cuttino when he was an FA. They need draft picks because their team needs to get younger and improve. They basically improve overall, but lose Vince Carter. Of course, the business aspect of this makes it ridiculous. No one will trade a marketing machine like Vince Carter. Who wants to bet that the NBA is USA-only if they trade Vince? Exactly. But hypothetically, would you do it? Hell, I'll throw in another unprotected first rounder too.
If I were to trade Cat, I'd trade him for Wally Szerbiac. Wally shoots 50+ percent and out rebounds/assists Cat nightly.
alot of you beleive that this team is set at every position and need no more trade; but any of you beleive the Rockets is a serious contender? they can't even make the playoff yet. the best predition I see on this BBS (from homers) is make the playoff and out in 1st round. is that good enough for you? ok, then you'll say they're young give them time. how long? 10 years? it's the 4th year since we got the "best backcourt in the league" and we still a lottory team. I'm not sure if we can make the playoff this year, I don't know when can we become a contender. but one thing I'm sure is this current roster will never win a NBA champtionship. a champtionship team should be a combination of at least two elite players surrounded by some solid and smart players. Deram/Clide + Horry, Elit, Cassell M.J./Pippen + Harper, Rodman, Kukoc Duncan/Robinson + Elit, Johnson Shaq/Kobe + Horry, Fox, Fisher, Walker Mobley isn't an elite player, he's not a smart basketball player and he doesn't want to be a role player. He's a good scorer though and that's his trade value. someone likes to defend Mobley that he's a shooting guard so he's job is to shoot. huh? even forcing bad shots? we already have a very good scoring guard in Steve, he's a true star and a franchise player. we need another elite player and some solid role players. Yao Ming might be the other star we need but he isn't right now and we're not sure if he'll ever be. why don't we trade Mobley and other above avg. players we have for an established star (prefer a big man), and some role players who really complement the two stars? Back court complement to Steve should be a 2-guard who: 1.) is big and a good denfender 2.) think to pass first, shoot second 3.) good ball-handling skill 4.) high % shooter I suggested Brent Barry in another thread who I think is a perfect complement to Steve. 1.) he's 6'6" and a good defender (plays the passing lane and avg. 1.81 steals per game last season and 2.5/g now. 2.) avg. 5.3 assist last season 3.) excellent ball handler 4.) .508% FG / .424% 3p last season, .778% FG / .889% 3p now. Barry, imo, is a better shooting guard than Mobley and yet he's willing to be a role player. he ranks 5th as the most efficient shooting guard in the league (behind T-Mac, Kobe, AI, and Carter; Mobley #12)http://www.nba.com/features/efficient_guards.html when Kenny becomes a FA next summer I hope we can Sign and Trade him for Barry. we have too many above avg. forwards, maybe we can package some of them with Mobley for an all-star big man. Mobley+Griffin+Taylor for Duncan next season? (if Duncan wants to leave SA) or Griffin+Nachbar+1st Rd. picks for E. Brand now? (since Brand didn't get his extension contract this summer) Imagin this line-up: Yao Ming, Cato Duncan, 1st Rd. Pick Morris, Nachbar Barry, Hawkin Francis, Norris this is a championship team. and if this come true we can even lure another star-potential SF(Odom or Artest) for the mid-exception for 2-3 years if lucky (like Taylor's situation 2 years ago) anyway, we need change!
HardRock, that was a great anaylisis of the problem with Mobley. If he would just accept his role as a role player and not a wannabe star, then he would be more of an asset to the team. Mobley would be a great role player on a contending team, but he is not a star and the problem is he thinks he is. I believe Mobley's attitude will never change and therefore in the long run, it will more than likely be smart to trade Mobley if the right deal came along. I believe we could get a star player for Mobley and a MoT or KT. The Rockets either need Ming or Griffen to step up as the second star on this team or trade to get another one, and Mobley would be good trade bait.
Me too !!! If you dont like Shaq & Kobe ..you are not a Lakers fan.. if you dont like Mike & Scottie..you are not a Bulls fan.... if you dont like Stve & Cat,,,,,,, ??????????????????????? Critism of a team, or any player is normal, wanting to trade the whole team..as has been suggested today,,is wrong......If you like the Clippers or lakers though,,get league pass,,watch them after the Rocket game...That way we keep our players..they keep theirs !!!!
Averaging a lot of steals does not a good defender make. I personally feel Brent Barry is a below average defender. Sure he can play the passing lanes, and pick up steals, but he doesn't have the lateral quickness that you need to take those kind of gambles on defense.
1) If you didn't read the post by jxu777, go back and do so. 2) I love Cuttino's heart and the passion that he plays with...but I'm a big fan of his style of game. But for the resaons mentioned previously, it's waaaaay to early to discard him. It would take something of the magnitude proposed by Sane (Vince Carter) to make me take notice. And that would be only after it is established that Hawkins is the real deal at defending the opposing teams' best offensive SF or SG. IMHO, the better a defender Hawkins turns into, the less likely Mobley would ever be traded (barring a blockbuster). Consequently, I did not vote.
Mobley's an integral part of this team's offense and defense, as well as to Steve. To get rid of him would seriously cripple the Rox. He and Steve are perhaps the most talented scorers on the team. I'm glad most ppl voted to keep him and trade someone else, and I'm also glad that the ppl who would trade him would trade him for Richard Jefferson.
I really dont think that osing Cuttino would cripple this team. Far from it depending on who you replace him with. Im thinking that if he were replaced with a 2 who can knock down open shots and play fundamentally sound basketball, then we would not lose a step.
Sorry, didn't make myself clear. I agree with you Codell, there's probly more than a few 2's out there that would be nice to have and help the rox more than Mobley (although I admit I am very biased towards Mobley, he's not the best, but he's damn good), but I was referring more to trading for the players who are on the poll. Mobley's a great player and the best 2 we have, to trade him for a 3 which we have plenty of.. it's kind of strange. Just wondering, why were all the players on the poll 3's anyway?
That was my original point. I bash Cuttino alot, but therent arent many other players I would trade him for. The biggest one that comes to mind is Ray Allen. Hopefully Cuttino sees the light and all this will be moot.
I love Cuttino and his loyalty to the team and don't advocate trades just for trades; but there comes a point when you have to wonder, How far will we get with those two jacking up shots? Yes, yes, we have people out with injuries, suspensions, etc. I know I've posted it before but I will say that Steve Francis could be a better version of Iverson (he plays both guard spots anyway). If you want to look for a trade, maybe look to Chicago and its problem with Jamal Crawford who, I think, will be very good. At the same time, I want to make the playoffs NOW and don't want to get FARTed on anyway.
1.) a lot of steals is good defense! and that creates good offense too. 2.) play passing lanes and pick up steals is good defense! not 1-on-1 but good team defense and good help defense! 3.) Barry is quick! watch more games of the player before judge on him. he's white but he's athletic and quick. compare him with Mobley see how they hold down the other elite shooting guards (Kobe, T-Mac ...) last season.
i agree with rocksmillenium. DONT TOUCH THIS TEAM. its taken so damn long to rebuild and so many losses, and more to come, that it would be foolish to lose the "chemistry" this team has built so far. if anything all this team needs is some muscle inside at PF. Basta!
I am with the beans and FARTS on any trade BUT if we could get Kobe even steven then I would do that one and ONLY that one This is about all I will say on stupid trades they get stupid replys...
