is DavidS still clinging to the thought that cuttino doesn't play D (which is what typing DEFENSE in all caps implies)? geez.
carter is one month older than Francis. And you're right, his flaws are the reason he would be available to begin with, making it a reasonable speculation. I'd have to say that he'd be 4th on my list. Kidd, Brand, ONeal, Carter. Carter impresses me more than Francis...but what is the injury situation. note though, i'm not really hot on getting into Carter debates...feel satisfied that you got this much out of me.
lol.....well not always. And Vince Carter is still a superstar? Well I want him.....because he is a good player. But he is also money. He and Yao Ming. $$$$$$ But why would they want Francis??? Maybe they think that Vince is too prone to injury and uhh....I wish. He still is a money generator. Maybe we can find a way to get Alvin Williams too. But now stop dreaming! Brent Barry!!!!!!!
Would Kidd really be a better fit for the Rockets than Francis? I value Kidd's playmaking ability, but wouldn't you expect most of our offense in the longterm to result from Yao's post-play? How would Kidd fit in with a dominant big man in the half-court. I don't trust him as a shooter, and I would think that would be a real weakness for our half-court game if Yao is being double-teamed. It sort of reminds me of when there was speculation of bringing in Strickland a few years back when we had Dream & Barkley and caproom. I look to the dominant team of late the Lakers, & they have been extraordinarily dangerous because of a great scorer in the backcourt along with a great scorer in the frontcourt. Are there great examples where Kidd-type classic PG's with limited shooting skills have paired with dominant big men and won championships? Also, the high post/low post comments in this thread intrigue me. Couldn't the Rockets utilize this tactic with Mo Taylor in at PF? He really impressed me with his improved low post play. His jump hook commanded double teams for long stretches of important play. He may not bring the rebounds wanted, but a 7'5 center should compensate for that. I hold to the belief that frontcourt/backcourt talent balance is ideal. We never won any titles with Barkley, Olajuwan, Willis, and Maloney !
Hmm............Hmm......Hmm...... Hold on. I'm still thinking. What do you think or what would you like the Starting Lineup to be like next season.....if our roster remains the same. Steve Francis Cuttino Mobley James Posey Eddie Griffin Yao Ming I really don't like this lineup because Eddie sucks. Yao and Maurice Taylor would be very good together....but Yao would have to get more rebounds or Mo would have to improve rebounding. But then we would need a shooter. Who is not Rice.... Bostjan Nachbar should get to play....as backup small forward. Glen Rice should just be a mentor like Avery Johnson. Steve Francis/Moochie Cuttino Mobley/James Posey/Juaquin Bostjan Nachbar/James Posey/Terence Morris/Glen Rice Maurice Taylor/Eddie Griffin/Terence Morris/Glen Rice Yao Ming/Kelvin Cato If Bostjan Nachbar is not a bust........he could be a perfect fit for our team. A shooter.... But our bench would suck. And our substitution patterns and rotations sometimes do not make sense.
KeepJuaquin, Thing is you gotta like Mo coming off the bench for offense with Cato. If anyone can compensate for Mo's lack of rebounding, it's Cato. He was a monster last year. Furthermore, as much as everyone is down on Eddie, I like the defensive wall his shotblocking creates when combined with Yao. Actually, I kind of like a platoon situation at the 4. I think it can be effective against the PF's of the West. Griffin has the length and athleticism to defend on the ball with the Rasheeds and KG's, while Mo Tay is so offensively gifted and much stronger than the current mold of the premier PF's that he should be able to draw some fouls on them. I do not see a need for Brand or J. O'Neil to compete in the West. I think all we need is for communism to fall in China, so Yao can get some rest and development time.
So which position do you think we should improve?? Which position needs the most stuff????? I mean.....our team looks great as it is. Steve Francis - All Star guard...but wouldn't mind moving to the 2. Cuttino Mobley - good player.....nice......needs a specific role.....hopefully surgery will make him better. Can be moved. Posey, Rice, Nachbar, and Morris - we have four average small forwards. They are all good at something but have weaknesses. I think Nachbar can be our perfect future guy......a shooter and all that...but I don't know.....maybe he's a bust. Griffin and Mo Taylor - they are all right. But it would be nice to combine them to make a perfect power forward. Heh. I wish. One that can shoot like Dirk Nowitzki and can play inside like...Elton Brand or Chris Webber......actually I think Mo Taylor is almost as good as CWebb. Anyways......that would be a great awesome fanatical wish. Yao Ming is our center. Cato is a good backup. Our team looks nice. Which position do you think is the weakest???? I think the main problem is our system....
Since we're not taking into account Francis's BYC status, how about this trade? Houston sends Francis/Cato/Griffin or Taylor/Nachbar or resigned Posey/future #1 pick to Miami. Miami sends Grant/Caron Butler/this year's top 3 protected #1 pick/fillers to Houston. Miami has been reported as looking to rebuild the team & the only good players that they have are EJ, Grant, Caron Butler, & Rasual Butler. Both Grant & Jones are 31+ year old veterans with $10+ million contracts that they would like to move & both Butlers play the SF position. Zo has been cleared to play again, but will they want to bring him back for the money that his agent is most likely going to ask for? I would doubt it. This trade would give them a star in Francis to pair with EJ (if they decide to keep him), a young defensive minded starting center in Cato, a promising young PF in Griffin (unless they want Taylor), a young & intriguing SF in Nachbar (unless they want Posey), & a future #1 pick. This trade would net them 3 former #1 picks & a future #1 pick. Their revamped lineup would be: C: Cato/Stepania (insert ZO as the starter, if they resign him) PF: Griffin or Taylor/Allen SF: Rasual Butler/Nachbar (Posey starts if they want him instead) SG: EJ/James PG: Francis/Best Houston gets a veteran starting PF with a strong low post game that can contribute immediately, a starting SF in Butler, & a possible #1 pick that would fall between the 4th & 7th picks in this year's draft. We might have to substitute a resigned Posey for Nachbar. I would hesitate to do that, but I wouldn't let it kill the deal. Our new lineup would be: C: Yao/FA/Collier PF: Grant/Griffin or Taylor/T-Mo SF: Butler/Nachbar or Posey/T-Mo SG: Mobley/Hawkins PG: T.J. Ford or Ridnour/Moochie or FA If you have the 4th pick, do you take Ford, Bosh, or trade down & take Ridnour?
LOL. Well wouldn't work because BYC thing right? Well...I think we would be giving up too much. Maybe not. Cato, Griffin, and Nachbar or Posey (whoever is worse) and a 1st round draft pick AND MOOCHIE for Grant and Caron and the 1st round draft pick would be pretty fair I guess. Francis for what? Eddie House? I like Eddie House... Steve Francis, Eddie Griffin, Bostjan Nachbar or James Posey, Kelvin Cato, Moochie Norris, and a future 1st Round Draft Pick FOR Caron Butler, Brian Grant, Eddie House, and a 1st Round Draft Pick. Hmm.... The Heat would be a pretty good team. The Rockets.....Caron Butler and Yao Ming looks nice. But err... Err... I wouldn't do it.
Hotoddie, Do you have some trade disease that we don't already know about? You seem intent on trading our star player for less than his worth in every proposal of yours. If I was CD, I would laugh in the face of that proposal. That team of yours now has 1 star in yao, and a potential one in butler. Thats not better than what we have now, nor good enough to win out West right now.
It's possible. I'm not looking to trade a star for a star. I could care less about stars. I'm looking to trade for players that fill a need & make us a winning team. MJ recently said something to the effect that he'd rather have 12 players that respect the game than a team full of stars. I took that to mean 12 players that played within the team's system & didn't feel they had to be a poster child for the ESPN highlight reel. I feel that Grant/Yao/Butler would give us an awesome frontline. If we then traded Mobley/filler to the Clippers for Andre Miller & swapped 1st round picks (if their's is lower than ours), we could then draft a PF with potential or trade down to pick a starting SG. Quite frankly, I don't feel trading Francis is the answer. I was just answering a question that would be almost impossible to do as a result of Francis's BYC status. Since it's all just dreamcasting, that would give us a new lineup of: C: Yao/FA/Collier PF: Grant/Griffin or Taylor/T-Mo SF: Butler/Nachbar or Posey/T-Mo SG: Draft pick/Hawkins PG: Miller/Moochie or FA
Steve Francis, Eddie Griffin, Terence Moris, and a future 1st Round Draft Pick FOR Jermaine O'Neal, Jamaal Tinsley, and Ron Mercer. What a dream. Imagine!!!!!! I wish. First......since Isaiah Thomas was a point guard....maybe he would like Steve Francis. Jermaine O'Neal may be unhappy and wants to leave. He doesn't like being a "bad boy". And maybe he wants to go to the West. After he played Yao......he complimented him....maybe he would like to play with Yao. Francis could become a great point guard under Isaiah. Eddie Griffin could blossom along with Reggie Miller and Brad Miller and Ron Artest and Terence Morris. And a future 1st round pick. Their team will suffer a bit......maybe to sweeten the deal....we can give them cash...or maybe they want Glen Rice.....to free up some money. Even more money. In the future....Steve Francis, cap money for a star or two, and the 1st round draft pick could be good. Eddie Griffin is a project but has potential still. They might like him. Terence Morris is a solid player and may be better than Ron Mercer and definitely cheaper. We want Jermaine O'Neal because he is a young power forward with a good inside game. He can block shots. He can rebound. He can defend. He's a nice guy. Jamaal Tinsley is an excellent passer and way better than average ballhandler. He cannot dunk nor do anything spectacular by himself...but he sets people up nicely. He also steals many balls. Tinsley can also shoot inside....and is a DECENT three point shooter. Ron Mercer is pretty crappy and doesn't fit with us. He would be good for defense...but the main thing is that his contract expires. With him and Glen Rice gone.....that would relieve the Rockets owner of some luxury taxes.....but we woud still be over the cap. I know I am dreaming. But yeah..........lovely dream. I would even take someone crappier than Ron Mercer. Give us your worst player...and I'd be happy. Steve Francis, Eddie Griffin, Terence Morris, a 1st Round Draft Pick PLUS money FOR Jermaine O'Neal, Jamaal Tinsley, and their worst player. Jamaal Tinsley Cuttino Mobley James Posey or Steve Smith or Bostjan Nachar or Glen Rice Jermaine O'Neal Yao Ming This brings back great memories. Wow...I wish. Tinsley would be like....good. He could be a 13ppg, 9apg, 5 rpg, 2 spg, 2 tpg guy. Mobley.....with Francis gone....we would only have one ballhog! And even though Francis is better......well Jermaine O'Neal baby. Mobley wouldn't have to worry about being a ballhog...he could be a great spot up shooter and slasher....lol.....and something kinda close to Clyde Drexler. I wish. At small forward position.....we could have James Posey...who would be getting a lot of easy opportunities and still have a bunch of alleyoop dunks with Tinsley. Or we could sign a free agent like Steve Smith as a shooter...for midlevel exception. Or we could start Bostjan Nachbar....who would be PERFECT. I mean it....unless he is really a bust. We still would have Glen Rice as well. And hey! Ron Mercer or whoever else they would like to give us. Mercer can't shoot 3's....so pretty useless. I guarantee that any small forward we have would score 10 ppg with 1 assist and 4 rebounds and 1 steal and 1 turnover per game. Jermaine O'Neal would be like Charles Barkley...to Hakeem. But better. He is awesome. He can't shoot..but good inside player. Young too. Guaranteed 20ppg, 10 rpg, 2 bpg, and 2 turnovers... Yao Ming would benefit with Jermaine O'Neal....16 ppg, 7 rpg, 2 bpg, 2apg, 1 tpg. Jermaine O'Neal and Yao Ming would be one of the best big men combinations ever. I believe so. Jamaal Tinsley could play about 40 minutes per game...Moochie 8. Mobley could play 42 minutes per game with Posey backing him and Nachbar or Smith or whoever up. Posey would play 30 minutes per game as a backup. Nachbar or Smith could play 24 minutes per game at small forward. Jermaine O'Neal would play about 40 minutes per game...with a solid Maurice Taylor as a backup. Yao would play about 36 minutes....Cato about 12. The greatest thing would be that......Jermaine O'Neal and Yao Ming could learn together and be very dominate. They both develop together. Maurice Taylor would also get better. All of our big men would get better. All of our small forwards would learn from each other and get tips and yeah. Steve Smith would be a great addition as a veteran. Tinsley/Norris Mobley/Posey/Hawkins Smith or Nachbar/Posey/Rice O'Neal/Taylor Yao/Cato
To continue my dream.... I GUARANTEE we would be one of the top 3 teams in the West. GUARANTEED. Without a doubt. Pacers would be at least Top 6. In the future.....they could become better..... Anyways..lol...don't say I am crazy. I know that already.
To continue it more.......... Jermaine O'Neal would be our low post player. Yao could spend more time in the high post.....where he should be.......and also post up a few times.... Smith would just stay on the wing or corner. Mobley would be at the other wing or corner...and sometimes ISO. Tinsley would be the guy who passes or gets an easy layup or makes a simple jumper. Yao - good defense. O'Neal - good defense. Smith or Posey - good defense. Mobley - good defense. Tinsley - also good defense. Only thing I do not know is....Tinsley looks a little KOOCOO. Oh well. I will end my dream now. Now back to reality.
wishful thinking k.j. i would LOVE to have that lineup. o'neal and ming would be awesome together. either mobley or francis must go, as their games are too similar to each other. i like mobley at shooting guard better than steve and i dont think steve is a good point so id be happy to see "franchise" go if we could get o'neal and tinsley. of course juaquin sneaks into that line-up of yours
Steve Francis should not be considered UNTRADEABLE! He needs to realize this is a business and he should play like a professsional. Steve has played like TRASH at the end of the season when we REALLY needed him to step it up. Has everyone forgotten that already? We STILL had a better than average chance of making it to the playoffs but STEVE CHOKED! Yes, I point to Steve because he's the supposed "franchise player". I personally, don't think he's much better than Cuttino AT ALL. The only thing he does that Cat seems unwilling to do is go to the rack. BUT, Cuttino has stepped up his DEFENSE tremendously and that just seems to go unnoticed. Well, when they move Cat out and move Steve to the 2..you all will see what I've noticed! By this time next year, Steve will be major trade bait!! Good riddance.
I hope you don't think I was trading for Jones. If you'll reread the post, you'll see that it was Brian Grant that I was trading for.
