RIET, This article in the morning's Chronicle provides some perspective on the Kidd issue. Look at the quote from Tony Parker. That quote doesnt sound like Parker would be playing alongside Kidd. Parker and Kidd would be a bad match in any case b/c both guys need the ball and are initiators of the offense. However, I seriously doubt Mobley would acquire Parker; the Rockets would need to offer Eddie Griffin imo. If they go this route, they would have to shop Mobley plus Cato to fill a frontcourt void left by Griffin. Point is, Spurs should make play for Kidd By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle The way Tony Parker has been playing, there is only one reason for the Spurs to even consider going all out to sign Jason Kidd: He's Jason Kidd. There are a few players so good they defy all other arguments. If you can get them, you do. Kidd is one of those players. As Parker demonstrated against Kidd and the Nets on Thursday, he can be the point guard for a championship team. He has been phenomenal since the All-Star break and is just 20 years old. Manu Ginobili is an ideal backcourt running mate. But Kidd is that good, that special. It is easy to imagine Ginobili or Bruce Bowen cutting backdoor or running a break with Kidd in the middle. The idea of using all that cap space on a center to replace David Robinson sounds good. But Kidd can make ordinary centers look good. And there is no one terribly attractive, either. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich might explode if he had to deal with Michael Olowokandi. Jermaine O'Neal looks like he is staying in Indianapolis. Elton Brand is wonderful but might have to sign for one more season in Clippers purgatory rather than risk having the Clippers match an offer and keep him for six more years. "There are no David Robinsons out there," Popovich said. "He's not going to be replaced. That's an impossibility. We need to figure out with the young crew we have what's the best route to take and who fills it the best. Those are the discussions we'll be keying on between now and July 1." But they can pay Kidd almost as much as the Nets -- $90.5 million over six years, compared to $95 million, a difference that can be more than made up because Texas does not have a state income tax. No one else with money can offer a chance to play with anyone in Tim Duncan's class. "I can do nothing about it," Parker said. "He's the best point guard in the NBA, and the NBA is a business. The only thing I can control is to play hard and make my team win." He has done that. The Spurs are championship contenders without Kidd. They are 24-5 in 2003. But Robinson will retire, and the Spurs will have the money to spend. They might as well spend it while they can and spend it on the best player they can get. The winners in almost all deals -- trades or free-agent signings -- are the teams that get the best player involved. Chemistry gets involved on occasion, but with Kidd -- playing with or replacing Parker -- there will be no chemistry issues. He could choose to stay in New Jersey. But the Spurs have no choice but to chase him no matter what they and their young point guard do the rest of this season.
MManal - Please consider the following: 1) Francis and Mobley have redundant skills. 2) From 1980 until now, it is almost a prerequisite to have a near All Star caliber SF to win the championship - Bird, Worthy, Pippen, Sean Elliott, Horry, Dantley, Aguirre... IMHO, it does not make sense to keep both Mobley and Francis due to their redundancy. Even if the team moves Francis to SG and addresses the "true" PG issue by using Mobley and/or Rice as trade bait, somewhere down the line the productivity level at the small forward position must be addressed. Perhaps Posey will grow into it by improving his shooting and decision making...but the verdict is out. Whether Francis plays the PG or the SG, in the absence of Mobley there are enough shots for Francis, Ming and a quality SF who can perform different functions from either Ming or Francis and gets his shots in the flow of the game. Francis and Ming wouldn't need any more shots than Kareem and Magic, but there were surely enough shots left over for Worthy. Same goes for Bird and McHale...there was enough left over for DJ and Parish and Ainge. This is why I feel in the absence of Mobley, a point forward will work.
Im not implying the Spurs would keep Parker. I just think theyd be crazy to trade him to a division rival. No way. If they trade Tony Parker it would be to the East.
A Griffin for Parker trade would be an ideal swap if these two teams were in different divisions. I am scared of the possibility that Griffin will live up to expectations in a couple of years and the Rockets having to go up against a San Antonio team with Duncan at Center and Griffin at PF. I don't know if the Rockets could pull the triger on that deal although I think that San Antonio would if they got Kidd.
i still don't see how caron is in any way a point forward. he seems to like to score. and the words "shooting guard" and "james posey" should never be used together except in the sentence "guard, could you please hand me your gun because i feel like shooting james posey for taking that shot."
all in their second years, Parker and Griffin seens not playing at the same level. So I don't think SA will accept Griffin for Parker. Due to Robinson will retire the next season and SA need a C ,maybe it will be practical that Cato & Griffin for Parker & barteer. I do think SF will meet himself to be a SG. parker & sf & yao fit together is reasonable and will be more efficacious than kidd & duncan & cato.they three are also young. the next season: PG parker/norris SG steve/cat SF posey/nachbar PG taylar/morris C yao/barteer seems like only PG is the weak point. maybe we can give nachbar & cat for brand. after that rox will be a top 4 team in west conference. PG parker/norris SG steve/posey SF posey/hawkins PG brand/taylar C yao/barteer tell me how you think about that
They're not playing on an even level right now but San Antonio might feel pushed to trade Parker since Kidd will be getting around 40 minutes a game at the point for the next 7 years. Parker at 6-2 180 lbs will not likely be able to play SG so trading him for an up an coming PF prospect like Griffin would be smart. The Spurs could simply move Duncan to the center position. A little Rocket offseason dreamcasting.. Rockets trade: Eddie Griffin PF, and Tito Maddox PG Spurs trade: Tony Parker PG, and Speedy Claxton PG. Trade Accepted (Claxton and Maddox involved to make trade work for the cap.) Rockets trade: Cuttino Mobley SG, Glen Rice SF Heat Trade: Brian Grant PF, Laphonso Ellis SF Trade Accepted Rockets lineup: PG Parker/Claxton SG Francis SF Posey/Boki PF Grant/MoT C Ming/Cato Yes it's far fetched I know but I'm bored and it's 3am.
Looking at www.realgm.com trade checker it's just about impossible to come up with any combinations that would allow trading Parker and Cato.
The rockets need a pass first shooting guard... those are few, at least good ones of those. If SA doesn't get Kidd, they will NOT part with Parker. Even if they do get Kidd, it's not a sure bet. So Parker is unlikely. I don't see Philly letting Snow go either, he's well established there, and the fans like him. Jamaal Tinsley is actually not that good at all. So... Andre Miller is the only realistic option to improve the team. How to get him / will we get the 2001 Andre Miller, or the 2002 Andre Miller?
Why do Clippers want to take on high salary players when their sole reason of not resigning Miller is not wanting to give him a high salary contract?
Trading for Parker is not a good idea. At game end situation, Parker and Steve have to be on the court at the same time, but they can not defend the tall SGs like Pierce, Kobe etc. The reason Iverson and Snow could work is because Snow was really a very strong lineback playing football in college. Snow can defend Pierce and Kobe even though he is shorter because Snow is really so much stronger. Now we should understand why GMs are hesitant in drafting short players, short players are just not as flexible. Steve does create a dilemma for the Rox. Can we trade Steve for Pierce ? IMO, what we need is a tall PG like 6'5", 6'6" such as Marko Jaric who is 6'7", but is he a good defender ? Of course, Clippers would not want to trade Jaric since they want Jaric to play the PG while letting Miller go.
Miller has openly said that he doesn't want to play for the clippers which would make most owners not to excited about trying to keep a player that doesn't want to play for you. They would also need a center once Olowokandi leaves and Cato at 6 million per would not be too step.
It will be a competitive lineup if we can get a backup SG who is reliable to take wide open shot and boki must play with D
Knowing Clippers, don't you think they would rather let lose their FAs for nothing than take on contacts like Cato's? Plus they have Wang Zhizhi who only makes 1m.
carayip, It's possible they don't want to pay one player 12M, but don't mind paying 2 players 6M each. Especially 2 players who are both worth their contracts, i.e. Cato and Mobley. But I wouldn't trade Cato and Mobley for Andre Miller, unless they included either Maggette or Richardson. If we're offering Cato and Mobley (both starters on their team, excellent contracts), we should be getting back Brand. If we could work out a 3-way with the Clippers and a team looking for suture cap space, we could send Cato and Mobley to the Clipps, and Rice to the 3rd team, and the 3rd team sends an established PF to the Clippers for Ely and Richardson. Jeff Mcinnis is a very good idea. Apparently, he's a good defender, and his asst-TO ration is great. He's 6'4, and outside of this season, he's a 35% 3pt shooter for his career. I like it. That may be our 3rd option. On a side note, I definitely expect Snow to be available to a certain extent, especially since there's a good chance Larry Brown leaves, and if he doesn't and the Sixers don't win the East (they won't) then I expect him to tamper with his line-up as well. With Coleman, Skinner, and Kenny Thomas all FA's, MoT is a player they may be interested in having given his recent form. Still, our #1 priority should be Payton, followed by Brand. 1) Payton 2) Brand 3) Snow 4) Mcinnis 5) Wes Person
The two most possible trade/trade partners with a 1 appear to be Atl and Chi, Terry and Crawford. Either would require multiple players and picks, in combo. IMO - this summer will be interesting for the Rox. Playoffs or no? New coach, staff, GM or no. Roster tweaks if Rudy et al stay, major roster renovation if new staff enters.
That would move Cat to 6th man which is somethin I wanted to have happen for a while. Problem is who are u gonna bring in at pt gaurd? Please dont say Moochie......Please dont say Moochie.....Bringin in JKidd is out of our league, but what about Andre Miller?? Hes gonna have to take a paycut after his sorry year this year. There's also Jason Terry from ATL but hes more of a 2 gaurd too. Crawford from CHI is also available but he's another unproven young player........The Rocks got alotta options, if this pans out, lets see what moves we make this offseason.
Before peep call others names, they need to make sure they know what they are talking about. Iverson never defends opp's SG. Eric Snow does. Neither did Murphy. 6'-5 Mike Newlin did. (And back in those days, there were few offensive weapons on each team, you could hide one less defensive minded player much easier). If we have Francis playing SG, we will be limited to a big PG that can defend opp's SG.
