Do you still feel the Rockets got bailed out by David Stern?

good point.. and if you would not get nene what would you rather have a aging unmotivated declining gasol or a nice motivated aging like wine scola.... keep scola and trade martin or something

 

You make a great point there. I guess it would not have been a gamble at all when looking at it like that.

 

I didn't have to read any further than this. Among your better observations IMHO.

Nene's wife is from the Denver area and indications were he had no issues with the Nuggs management. There was absolutely NO guarantee Nene could have been signed.

Although, I do feel Pau instead of Martin + Scola would have meant more Lottery balls.

 

In the long run, the trade would have made us better. It would have been a very forward thinking move: if the team does poorly with Pau, dangle him at the deadline to a contender for more "assets," albeit assets that are more useful and valued than the ones we currently have; if the team does very poorly with Pau, we get a better chance at finally landing a gamechanger; if the team somehow does well, then you have something to build off of for the next 3-4 years (or longer if you believe Pau's window is open longer).

However, in the short term, as in this season, I think it would have been a wash. Yes, Pau is a special player, probably top 20 in the league today. However, with all of the other distractions occurring this season (shortened season, rushed training, back to back to backs, new head coach, etc), I think the team would have been in the same predicament: mediocre, fighting for a 6-8 playoff spot. It would have taken too long for the players to gel with Pau and really get into a groove, ultimately making that second half run that seems to be the Rockets' forte of late, only to fall short or make a first round exit.

 

Giving Nene a near max deal isn't good for any franchises future. That contract will bite denver in the butt at some point. It's not good for your teams future to give up more assets to get back dudes that make more in combined salary that still won't improve your team outlook. Will a Nene/Gasol frontline remove us from being a mediocore team? The answer is no. So why give up your assets and pay more $$ for the same. You guys need to realize two things:

- Gasol is not a difference making #1 option

- Nene is overrated

Stop treading water and rebuild (yes talking to you Les).

 

Scola + martin + dragic + dalembert + NY 1st >>>>> Nene + gasol + hayes

 

The presence of a perceived star on this team is much bigger than what our record would be ... Whether Nene would have signed here or not ... He would have thought extremely harder about it ... Probably would have even kept him up at night trying to decide ... Regardless, having someone who is perceived as a star player opens doors

 

I don't think we would have gotten Nene.

The advantages of the trade would be that we'd actually be a worse team. And that Pau is more of a tradeable asset than Scola or Martin. So those are big pluses.

It would have helped us get to the lottery sooner as someone above pointed out.

So yes, Stern screwed us and it will take a long time to recover.

 

Rockets could have even signed Dalembert instead of chasing Nene after the trade ... But oh well ... Life goes on.

 

I guess we're going to have a thread like this every time Martin has a bad night shooting.

 

Of course we'll never know, but I beleive we are better off. Nene was iffy at best and Sam. D. is an adequate center. Like one poster mentioned, I'll take Scola and his night in night out hustle over Pau every time.

Let's see what happens down the road....like all trades and non-trades, time will tell.

 

Perhaps they were referring to how many productive years they estimate Gasol has left.

 

Man I hate when polls are too f in specific. You can still like the trade without thinking the rockets will be contenders.

 

No, we're going to have discussions like this until the Rockets acquire a franchise caliber player.

 

What experts? I didn't read any experts who said the Rockets would be a title contender with this trade.

I'm sorry, there is no guarantee Nene would have signed with us. No way you can know that for one.

And for two...the Lakers last year had Gasol, Kobe, Bynum, Odom, Blake - and still couldn't beat Dallas. Nor do they look that strong this year.

I just find it hard to believe that Gasol + Lowry + Nene > Gasol + Kobe + Bynum

The Lakers may still come out of the west considering how Dallas has fallen. But right now Miami, Chicago, and even Orlando are so far beyond either team the Finals won't go beyond 5 games as the Lakers-Spurs Domination is in decline and I would expect that Tim Duncan won't ever be the player he once was and Kobe doesn't have the supporting cast anymore.

 

Does that come up after every loss?

 

What are you talking about? You said this trade would make us a contender - not a playoff team. BIG DIFFERENCE buddy.

Don't say contender and then back off it. You made a b.s. statement and I am calling you out on it. That trade would no where put us near competing for the title. It was a b.s. statement.

And for your info, i enjoy watching this team NOW. Even if they don't make the playoffs.