I am all for the Grant trade but watching the Rockets yesterday I really see the problem is a whole lot more than PF play. Seeing how Posey has been less effective than I thought he would be for us makes be think I might have had too high of expectations of the degree Grant would help us. He would help us, no doubt, but many of the fundamental offensive and defensive problems would still be there. In other words he might be the different in slipping by the Jazz or Suns for the playoffs--but don't expect us to contend this year or maybe next just because we have Brian Grant. Also, I would not include Griffin in a deal for Grant--that is way too short term thinking. Cato and/or MoT would have to be the principal. We do not sell the farm for Grant, that is for sure.
I was hoping that when Mo scored his 30 points at Cleveland, that might peak their interest in trading for him. I'd love to do a Taylor/Collier for Hill/Diop swap, since we could allow Diop to develop over time, use Hill this year, then let him go this summer, and have additional cap room to sign Posey and another Max contract, such as Brands, but, I think the emergence of Boozer probably reduces that potential. Of course, I'd rather have Brand than Grant, anyday, but from what Popeye says, that won't happen ... crap! I could see the Grant/Ellis for Rice/Cato trade ... for both teams, since Houston would get an upgrade at PF, and allow Griffin to develop, and Rice could continue to encourage Cato along in Miami. I sure have liked Cato behind Ming, though. I'm not sure why this wouldn't be just as good a trade for Miami in the summer... If we did that, though, we'd lose Rice's contract reduction next summer, and I'd think we'd need to move Taylor somehow for an expiring contract, such as the deal with Cleveland, otherwise we might not be able to sign Posey this summer, and stay under the luxury tax threshold. ... probably nothing will happen by the deadline. Oh well... Maybe we should just start Posey at the 2, and let Mobely come off the bench, and shake our team up a bit ...
All of you make me laugh.... You think the Rockets will beat Dallas-Sac-or LA is year??? That is not happening.....I admit that sometimes I think that a trade needs to made. However, if you look around you and see teams such as the Dallas and Sac.... You see a group of players that have grown into contenders. What if Dallas had given up on Nowitzski? Trade a 20yr old in Griff would be foolish.... You just drafted him!! You build through the draft with high picks and let it develop. I say NO trades....Let Rice ride it out on the IR.....
However by the time Grant is too old to start even if EG doesn't fully live up to expectations he should be a decent enough all-around starting caliber PF. Grant at that point is a quality vet 4/5 back-up (whatever minutes Yao/EG don't eat up), and it is also about the time his current contract is up so for him to stay he would have to accept the typical pay for a back-up vet 4/5. Either way I don't see long term contributions for MoT or Cato much beyond what we will get for Grant--thus the long term implications are not that much different, yet in the short term Grant helps us much more.
That leaves Miami with a center combo of Jason Collier and Vladimer Steponia. If they are dumb enough to do this then they shouldn't be allowed in the NBA. They are both quality backup centers, but neither of them are starter quality. And as Thanos pointed out Rice still has another year on his contract. And oeilpere said we wouldn't be doing any trades involving 3 or 4 players.
how does grant help us? his level of play is more on the decline than rise, he's getting up there in the years, he's never shown that he fully helps a team become a winner, both on court or off and he has a huge contract the rockets have better options, young ones with big potential and little financial drawbacks (if they don't work, at least they don't bother u from getting a high priced one later) carlos boozer, reggie evans, nene hilario etc
I've been giving some thought to OP's post and his comment regarding Swift being not too expensive. I suggest we go after Swift so I've worked up the following trade: Houston trades: Cato Collier Memphis trades: Knight Swift Why Houston does it: lands Swift, a guy who has put up a 30 point, 10 rebound game (ok, it was one game vs. Sonics ), loves the Rockets and may thrive under Rudy. Swift can slide from the four to five, and could backup Ming. Cato's contract goes away, to allow us some flexibility and Knights expires at the end of next year along with Rice'. Plus I'm enamored with Swift's potential and the extra push he might give, if playing for the Rockets. Why Memphis does it: lands Cato, a presence that they need in the paint and offs Knights contract from the books. At a cost of Swift, who may not be held in the highest regard anyway, given Gasol and Gooden being in Memphis. In essence, I'm suggesting a swap of Cato for Swift. We get younger and Swift has athletecism galore. Nonetheless, I've never posted a trade idea, so I'm putting on my anti-flame-thrower thermal suit prior to hitting "Submit Reply". Come on suit, come on suit you can handle it.
The trade I've suggest proves out at RealGM.com, which does not check Logic, I acknowledge that. Change in Rockets team outlook: +4.6 PPG, -2.1 RPG, +4.6 APG ls
Memphis wants to dump salary. They would trade Swift, and are looking to do so, I'm sure, considering their logjam at the 4; and I wouldn't mind giving Stromile a chance to flourish for his favorite team (the Rox)---but he was a #2 pick (not worth it, but still....they have to get some kind of value for him).
Good point! Perhaps given that the pick was from the old regime might help us? I'd just love to see Ming, Swift and Griffin in the frontcourt for 5-10 minutes a game together.
Trade anyone on the team except Yao and Steve. 2 guys that could get us deep into the playoffs: Gasol or Brand
Neither will happen, because Rudy isn't giving up Mobley and/or Griffin, per OP. That's why I want to try to attempt to get Swift without giving up our nucleus...and yes, it seems at least in the Rox mind, Mobley is part of it....they MUST not read this board.
Swift might be nice. He's young and can get block shots. Definitely inconsistent, but he would definitely bring another shot blocker and he doesn't demand the ball. Wouldn't give up any starters for him though.
I disagree and agree... Rudy deserves the respect having done such a great job all these years, but... I do question some of this substitutions, line-ups, play calling, etc. As for EG and CAT, if we could get something of value, I would probably do it, although I think we'll get hosed on any deal with those two...
im kinda off the subject, but i dont think iit would be too smart to do anything like trade eg and cat. *getting rid of griffen is not so hot of an idea IMO cuz he is a major drive in our defensive play and he is still young. our offense just needs some tweakin. *and cat is in a slump ... he has been getting soooooo many open shots cuz rudy put him on the weak side. give him time to adjust. rudy has been playing yao more, so it has confused mobley.
I dont think that you will need any kind of flame r****dent suit land shark. That deal makes sense on many fronts and actually is my favorite from this thread. Getting Swift is a gamble, he could play better or just stay the same either way he doesn't see much more time than Cato does now anyway so it is a wash on the court. However, getting rid of the $ we owe to Cato and keeping Rice's soon to be expired contract gives us alot of wiggle room to tweak the squad here and there.
Grant is what the team needs, but IMO it is not fiscally responsible to bring him in and pay him the max. We would be cap-tied for many years and Les not wanting to exceed the luxury threshhold would be in jeopardy of letting good players leave (POSEY) or bringing players in (I'm not talking Brand types, but good Role players). Swift can grow into an enforcer and has had some dominant games. The guy is built like granite and would be a nice counterpart to not only Ming, but EG as well. He's about the best hedge you could find for EG. He hedges BOKI too, if Rudy thought that EG could somehow play the three, allowing Swift the 4. He currently allows greater roster flexibility than Cato, playing the 4 and the 5.
shark, I agree with your EG/Boki hedge principle, but I think Swift is only a possibility if he can be our primary back-up 5 and I don't know if he can. Otherwise we are back to EG, Swift and Mo for chewing up 4 minutes and none of them being very consistent. Now if we think Swift can play back-up 5 almost as well as Cato (Brian Grant certainly could)--than I like the Swift move. Also, I don't think Memphis would take Cato and get rid of Knights contract at the costs of losing Swift for very little and taking on Collier. Memphis has Lorenzen Wright, yes he is a little better offensively and a little less physical than Cato, but notwithstanding they are pretty similar players at similar contracts. Also, there is zero reason for them to like taking on Collier--with 2 years left on his contract and with no PT behind Wright/Cato (or Gasol some there) at the C spot. I think the trade would have be something like: For Swift & Knight it would more realistically take--- Cato & Mooch (if they like Mooch pretty well) Cato & Boki (they probably would go for this but I don't think we would--maybe if we get our draft pick back this is OK) Cato & Tmo & Hawk (they can clear salary this year with the latter two if they don't want to offer them another contract) The guy they would really want to move would be MD--but with the BYC contract I have no idea how this would work. Instead they might also want to get rid of Person's contract. For Swift & Person it would take--- Cato & Mooch maybe they would demand however Cato and Mobley (in which I say no thanks, unless we get their own draft pick this year)
Rudy is a absolute dolt...it's a widespread belief that Rudy has an extremely poor grasp of basketball strategy, particularly at the offensive end. Moreover, he exhibits absolutely no control over his players--his devil-may-care, cavalier attitude is absolutely irresponsible, and this alcoholic needs to go... as for the 2 championships, let's not kid ourselves and really think that Rudy was an integral cog of that team...his hands-off attitude to coaching clearly indicates that...any coach would have done the same.
