Deuce, I have never once ever mentioned trading Francis in the past. I have always been pro-francis. A few other posters have just opened my eyes to the possibility of a Francis-less Rockets team. I am only sick of having multiple guards that do not play like a team. They cannnot run a fast break, and they love to dribble the clock out. I am just wondering what a whole new guard line up would look like, if we had a solid PF & Center in Brand & Yao.
I like Mobley, but I think we have to break up the Francis/Mobley duo. Mobley is the one to move. Francis isn't going anywhere, at least not for the next few years. I also would love to get Brand but am hoping a package of Mobley/Griffin as the principals in a deal could be worked out with the Clippers for Brand. It's possible. Hopefully!
It is going to take a LOT more than Cat and EG to net Brand. Why do they either of those players when they already have Richardson, Maggette, Dooling and Wilcox and Ely? Tthe only person we have that they might be willing to give up Brand for is Cato and that's not enough either.
Perhaps! However think about this. Richardson, Maggette might be gone next year in FA. Then what do you have? Brand might be gone next year. Then what do you have? For the Clippers, they would make the trade to get SOMETHING of value before players walk for NOTHING. And the Rockets have two players in Mobley/Griffin that have very trade friendly contracts that the Clippers would want.
Deuce if you look at the history of the Clippers, one thing stands out! They like high draft picks. That is why I was proposing a three way trade with Chicago (or ?), to give us Brand, Chicago would get ?, and the Clippers would get their draft pick. The only real problem the Rockets have is that normally teams do not trade within the same conference. I personally think Sterling will let everybody walk, for nothing, rather then trading away for incoming contracts. He is just that stupid!! I would also like to get Quentin Richardson. I think he would bring that 3 point threat we so desparately need.
I can't see Sterling letting everyone walk. He has to field some sort of team, and if he lets everyone walk who would he put out there. They would have zero attractiveness to any FA available. I think that because he is stupid, you could definitely get Brand for Mobes and EG. Two good players with good contracts for the next 3 years, I think that is Sterling's wet dream. Plus, Odom and Mobes are best buds, and I think of their top 3 FAs Odom is the one to stay. I have seen it printed on several sites that Odom is the Donald's favorite player. That makes Mobes attractive. To pull this trade, we need one other player from them to make salaries match, then you get either CM or QR.
C'mon, man. It's comical to see you and the other two posters (or three) that think Francis would actually be a downgrade from Mobley @ the 'two'. *lol* Francis is HEAD AND SHOULDERS a better player than Mobley...he would be a better 'one,' 'two,' 'three,' 'eight' 'nine' (you get the point) than Mobley. Francis is, what, one inch shorter than Mobley? So that's not a big factor. He's a better ball-handler, SCORER, penetrator. Yes, Mobley is a better defender, but that ain't sayin' much. Just put an Eric Snow, Alvin Williams or any other big PG in the backcourt with Francis and you'll be fine. And since when did Mobley become this GREAT shooter? *lol* The guy is HORRIBLY inconsistent offensively -- in fact, Francis shot a better % from three and the field than did Mobley. Plus, when their shots aren't falling, what does Mobley do? KEEP SHOOTING whereas Francis goes to the basket and draws fouls. I can't remember how many ppl on here b****ed about Mobley and his inaccurate shooting this season. Also, since when did a SG have to be a good SPOT-UP shooter? Iverson is a HORRIBLE shooter...but as Kenny Smith said, he's a SCORER -- big difference. Kobe, T-Mac, Pierce, all the very good two-guards are SCORERS first and foremost. They can get their shot off anytime they want. Can you say the same about Mobley? No. Francis? Of course. That's what is most important @ the 'two' - great SCORERS not shooters. As I said before, Mobley isn't a GOOD spot-up shooter in the Ray Allen, Michael Redd, Reggie Miller-mold anyway. One of the biggest reason the Rox struggled @ times this years was b/c of the inconsistent play @ the 'two' from Mobley. The chron in their post-season grades said the Rockets wished Moochie had stepped up this season so Francis could play more off-guard. I do agree with most of everything else you said, though. About Yao/Francis being the set pieces for HOU as the get in their primes and it being important for the staff to get players that can fit with them.
I rather thaught that they were going to get players that fit YAO MINGS game not Francis! In fact Francis would be going to the two Guard inorder that we might get a pass first Point Guard for the Big Mans Game. Anyone have thaughts on this angle?
My thoughts are that no one-man team can win these days. The Lakers aren't built around Shaq, they are built around Shaq and Kobe. The Kings are built around all 5 players. We have to get players that compliment Francis and Yao. Francis will shoot more when he moves to the two, and that won't take away from Ming's shots. i think that's all you wanted to hear Yetti.
I don't care how many shots Francis or Mobley takes, it's that there has been and was this last season, way too much of them taking the ball and dribbling and attempting to penetrate a zone with poor effect unless they got a miracle shot to drop, or a rushed off balance outside shot. The fact that they can make these is nice but this style isn't going to win a whole lot in this league, and it means their backups have to be just as talented one on one or they don't get much playing time, the catch-22 of those two playing 40 plus a game for years.
Yeah...but c'mon, you put Francis/Yao on ANY other team -- like Spurs, Lakers, Kings, etc. -- with great OFFENSIVE systems I can almost bet you we'd be talking about them being the best inside-outside tandem in the NBA, sans Shaq-Kobe. If you trade Mobley, a lot of those shots he got would GO to Yao...as it is right now the offense goes through the guards (Francis/Mobley). But if next year the offense goes through THE center (Yao), THE guard (Francis), the Rockets would be in great shape. Some of you seem to be putting Francis and Mobley @ the same level...hence the few trade Francis NOT Mobley post. Really funny. Fred Carter, Hersey Hawkins, Ric Bucher are some of the many "experts" that thinks HOU would be better served if Yao and Francis got the majority of the touches in the offense. So of course the backcourt has to be broken up. BTW -- Sane, that is a GREAT post. You basically said what I was trying to say in fewer words *lol*
Yep....instead of it being a Francis/Mobley team it would be a Yao-Francis team with Mobley either traded or reduced to a sixth-man role. The key is getting players in here that COMPLIMENT them well. Mobley isn't a complimentary player (@ least HE doens't think he is).
Brent Barry is a good complimentary player. Kenny Thomas is a good one if used correctly. Posey is one...has weaknesses though. Elton Brand would need touches... BRENT BARRY AND ELTON BRAND!
after reading THIRTEEN pages of speculations, i've come to the conclusions that well basically we're dreamcasting. not a shocker since we seem to do it every offseason. and IF Doc's info is right, I have my own ideas but first here's some rebuttals on some speculations. PG: Kidd-no way no how. why leave a Finals-caliber team for one that struggles to make the playoffs? Payton-slim chance. he wants a ring and he wants it now. Cassell-seriously..you think he'd want to come back to the rockets after we sent him to phoenix?? Crawford-We need a better PG than this. If he ends up here, it's over...just start trading everyone Williams-a good possibility but i see keeping Cat is better option than this. SG: Barry-is it me or is he WAAAAYYYY overrated. He's a hustler but how do you explain avg. only 18 mins a game in the playoffs on an offensively challenged team? Barry is not going to fit in with the scheme of things in that he hustles and we don't. Jones-Cap Killer. Next. PF: Malone-he either wants to be the scoring king or a ring...both aren't gonna happen in houston Murphy-Seriously this is nuts. he's really not what we need. there are enough 3 point shooters on this team. Brand-................as much as I want him this isn't going to work unless the divine intervention of God comes into play. MY SPECULATION PG-the only PG i see from the East that might do us some good is Armstrong. BUT why hasn't there been more talk about Arenas? as in Gilbert Arenas?? since Doc mentioned that steve's gonna move to the 2 (which means we need a PG) and the backup PGs are worthless, wouldn't Arenas be a nice option? Seriously, the kid can play the point. Whose to say that we can't get him? he's a free agent and likes warm weather. SG-i really don't know what kind of SG the east has that can facilitate the backup role to Steve..only one that comes to mind is Redd but we'd have to make a trade which i don't want to do unless.... PG-Brand. He is the PF we desperately need and want. But is this a pipedream or a possibility? I agree with everyone that a sign and trade involving cat, EG, plus etcs can only make this work. but what if we don't go this route and sign say...PJ Brown?? he's the bruiser that we need at the 4 spot. this could actually work out better if we 1.use motay as the 4 backup or the starting 3 which means... 2.resign posey and use him as the starting 3 or backup 2 which means that we have the backup 2 we needed. which then in turn means we can exhaust cat and EG as trade bait for a damn good PG. So all in all, this is what i want: Best scenario: PG-Arenas SG-take your pick PF-Brand 2nd best scenario: PG-Payton or Miller or whomever you think you want to spend all that money on SG-use posey as backup PF-PJ Brown basically i think we can only exhaust so much money and tradeable players on one commodity.
Has anyone heard anything about Vince Carter coming to Houston for Cat and Eddie and maybe others?????? Heard that yesterday about a possibilty.
Never heard that but would do it in a heart beat. Griffin and Mobley for Vince Cater? Sure! No way that Toronto would do it though, who you hear it from?
Just heard that it was talked about. They didn't really specify any specifics... I just wanted to see if anyone else may have heard anything at all ...even a sniff of this....I am sure that all types of POSSIBILITIES will pop up very soon after the playoffs. I read this board all the time and this is actually the first time I decided to post anything. I am a rookie posting -wise and hope not do anything stupid when I post. Just wanted to see if anyone heard anything dealing with this..
