10 reasons why Chris Bosh should consider the Houston Rockets his top choice.

Morey's not going to offer Brooks up but I'm quite sure Colangelo will ask for him. Why wouldn't he? Brooks is cheap, young, and can score. What other players on our roster satisfy all three things? It makes ME laugh when people think trades can be done by the Rockets that doesn't require giving anything of value up. Landry was the sacrificial lamb to get Martin and to get rid of McGrady. Scola and Battier was about to get on a plane to Phoenix but that deal was declined at the last minute. In other words, just because Morey has been working deals that gets us value in return doesn't mean he's naive enough to say to Colangelo, "I want Bosh for Chase, Jermaine and fillers". Either he gives up Brooks or we'll have to take something back in return (i.e. a hugeass contract)

There's no way that Bosh is going to leave millions on the table and tell Toronto "**** off, I'm going to bolt without a S&T". He knows that Toronto doesn't want to lose him for nothing but he also knows that he doesn't want to lose that extra money he would have in a S&T. Toronto has to accommodate him in that they don't want to look bad in front of their fans and because they don't want to let him walk for nothing, but they're not going to take some BS proposal that doesn't help them either.

1. I agree with you here but I'm wondering (and this is just me postulating) whether it would be more than that $12.86 since Bosh made $15.8 this year, which would allow him to have a salary that's, what, 15% higher on his next contract? Bimathug or whomever can fix this out for me.

2. Of course they do and that would just be Bosh.

3. This is where me and you disagree. The goodies part.

Very creative, I'll give you that. So:

Jeffries + $3 mill
-$3 mill for his buyout
= 0

Toronto signs him for $3 mill +$1 mill for his trade kicker....I think I'm doing this wrong because it looks like Toronto just spent $4 mill to waive the guy and sign him again, which would mean that his original $6.8 mill still counts against the cap does it not? I'm confused here.

Okay...

This sounds plausible and I'll give you credit for creatively moving Jeffries and the Aussie but I'm thinking that Colangelo isn't going to be happy just to get Jared Jeffries, expiring contracts, a sweetener, and a draft pick or two.

When Morey traded Landry, it told me that, no matter how much value he has for the players he hand selected and groomed and watched grow in the league, he'll move them if the deal is right. Which, of course, is what any smart GM would do. So would he be willing to part with any of the core roster? Shoot, he's tried to trade Mr. Glue Battier himself a few times already and Scola's been mentioned as well. THIS is why I wouldn't put it past Morey to give up Brooks for something great. Would that leave us short handed at the 1? Absolutely but if it meant getting a player like Bosh, I don't see why he wouldn't.

Aaron's a good player and we all feel like he's special since Morey pretty much plucked him from obscurity and the Rockets gave him an opportunity to be the player he is today. So of course we're going to have some attachment to him. But just like how we felt when Landry was shipped out, the surprise and sadness kicks in, but it'll soon die down knowing that Morey and the Rockets got the better end of the deal.

Look, if Morey can get Bosh for peanuts on the dollar like Jeffries, fillers, Chase, a draft pick and a goat, sign me up. I'm right there with you. But we shouldn't deny the possibility that Morey could/would deal any of our guys not named Yao. In fact, I wouldn't put it past Morey to ship out a re-signed Scola, Battier, Jeffries, Brooks and whatever else to get Bosh and Calderon IF AND ONLY IF Morey and his crew thinks Calderon can get back to his form of 2 years ago. He would then solve our two pressing needs in one swoop: a big that can play alongside Yao and (hopefully) a point guard that can regain his old form and get the three 20-point players the ball more.

 

Watch Morey's press conference after the Martin trade.

 

I understand having to give something to get something, this just isnt one of those cases. Bosh's agent is our friend in this situation. He wants Bosh to be happy (play in his #1 spot) and also wants to make his commission (max dollars). He will use the teams with cap space as leverage. If Morey makes a "fair" offer, and the Raptors refuse, the agent can say you are trying to screw us, we are just going to go to NY since you are being so hostile. Then the agent leaks to the media what the fair deal is and says we will begin negotations with Ny and Miami. The media will be told this reeks of the Joe Johnson situation Colangelo had in Phoenix, where he botched negotiations there. At this point Colangelo is going to get a buzz on his phone from his owner asking why is it he is about let Bosh go for nothing. This pretty much destroys any leverage Colangelo has and he will be forced to take the deal or risk losing his job.

This "losing millions" thing is overblown. The majority of that money is from the final year which cant be offered by a "signing outright team". But three years into the deal, the Knicks/Heat could offer a one year extension which pretty much makes up for all that. The key is making it not a good deal, but a "fair deal" (see below for what I consider fair)

His 2010 salary would be 17.15 million, according to the 125% rule, 12.86 needs to come back if he is traded

Houston is offering the MLE, not Toronto. Toronto recieves 3 million, pays it to Jeffires to buyout, they also pay the kicker (1 million). Houston offers one year 3 million (or 4 with the buyout being 2 so it costs Toronto nothing). Houston gives JJ the MLE to make it worth it for him to cooperate. In the end the salary is transferred, but it costs Toronto practically nothing and only the cap space left over from the buyout. Jeffries doesnt even have to leave his house, he can be traded, be bought out, sign a MLE contract for one year 3 million and absolutely nothing has changed for him other than he just made 200 grand for picking a pen.

Ah but thats the beauty of it. Suppose we arranged the Jeffries deal and we sent DA and a 2nd rounder to Minnesota's for Gomes non guaranteed contract.

Jeffries (7.8m w/kicker) - bought out for 3 million
Gomes (4.6m non guaranteed) - waived
Jermaine Taylor (1m)
3 million cash
and any 2 of Budinger/Hill/3 picks we have

for

Bosh

With that hypothetical trade, Toronto only pays Jeffires 1 million trade kicker, however much is guaranteed on Gomes contract (1-2m maybe) and then gets Taylor and whatever assets we send along with it to justify them paying that money. Hill, Budinger, or any of the 3 picks alone is worth coughing up 3 million so its way better than nothing.

Just ask yourself: With what you know now (assuming we didnt already have these things of course), if someone offered the Rockets Hill + NY's 2012 first round pick (top 5 protected) for 3 million cash and taking a 3 million cap hit for the one year (jeffries buyout), wouldnt you take it in a heartbeat? If not, then simply add one more of the NY picks. To me that screams too good to pass up.

The history of sign and trades illustrates what one can expect back in a sign and trade:

1.) Rashard Lewis for TPE and a 2nd
2) Tracy McGrady for a first round pick
3) Grant Hill for CHucky Atkins & Ben Wallace (when he was just a scrub)
4) Joe Johnson for Diaw and a first round pick
5) K-Mart for 3 # 1 picks

To be fair, most of those were done for teams with cap space, but using the tricks or similar above, we can practically turn this into an exact copy of non capped out trade, which is why I believe you dont have to give up a Yao or Brooks in any Bosh deal.

 

Yes, if I am Bosh, I would come to Houston. Heats would only have Wade on the team after that trade. Bulls would not much better, Dallas have Dirk, who plays the same position for him. What else left? Who wants go to Lakes, but Lakes could be beaten by this young Oklahoma team.

 

Wait, why should we take Bosh? I think that is the big question... I mean he's good, but psychologically is he a good match with our culture?

 

All this talk really has me wanting the off-season to start already. I never thought I would say this, but I can't wait for the playoffs to be over, so that the negotiating can begin. This is seriously the most exciting off-season in the history of the NBA, and I'm so stoked that the Rockets could possibly be in the middle of all of it.

Also, I remember reading an article where Bosh said that playing in Dallas (or maybe it was Texas in general) might be TOO CLOSE to home. I think he was referring to the fact that when you're that close to home, you're always gonna have people trying to hit you up for tickets, or trying to involve themselves in your life, and basically force you to lose focus. I'm not 100% sure where I saw it, but I'm sure someone here knows what I'm talking about.

 

I think I saw that article, something along the lines of it could have a negative affect on him. Does anyone know if he's close to his family, you never hear him talk about them?

 

I too think that Brooks (plus fillers) will be the sacrifical lamb that lands us Bosh for several reasons:

1. Martin can replace a lot of what we'd lose with Brooks gone, only Martin is taller and gets to the line more. Also, Brooks plays like a 2, where Martin actually is a 2.

2. Lowry wants to start and has the talent to be a starting point in this league. By losing Brooks, Lowry will get to start and will be happy (i.e. no conflict over the starting point job). Also, Lowry is more of a facilitator, which will be needed to get the ball into the paint.

3. Brooks' stock is at an all-time high (MIP) and if you are going to sell, you sell high to get the most value.

4. We have Sergio Llull overseas and could buy him out and bring him over. We'd be likely to pay the price because we would be in "win-now" mode and he'd be likely to come over because he'd see a lot of minutes with Lowry as our only other PG.

4. We'd be getting back a franchise player and the best player available not named LeBron or Wade.

 

I think Bosh would really enjoy the Dinosaur park being built out in New Caney.

 

I think the biggest hole in your argument is that Lowry, while a good player, does not have the consistent outside shooting that Brooks does. When Yao is in the game, you want 3-4 good outside shooters for when he is double teamed.

 

3-4? Who are we? The magic?

False. If you double team Yao with Bosh on the floor, you are going to get punished.

 

Yeah, I hear that argument a lot, and we all know how important shooting is at the point having to had endure Rafer all those years. However while you lose a starter who can shoot, you gain a facilitator and a bulldog on offense who will drive the lane, create contact and draw fouls. This will help get us in the penalty where Yao is dangerous. You also get a guy who plays much better defense (a must with Martin in the backcourt, which will help keep our bigs out of foul trouble).

Also, Aaron is one of the few guys on this team who creates his own shots. He's not really the spot-up shooter type. He's more of a create off the dribble kind of guy. Honestly, Aaron is the perfect 6th man for this team (though I doubt he'd want to go back to that role).

But if we have to give something up, I think it's going to be Brooks. It will suck as he's my second favorite player on the team, but you have to give up something to get something.

 

I disagree because your argument is based on the assumption that Yao is going to get double-teamed even with Kevin Martin and Chris Bosh on the floor. Before you can double on Yao because he didn't have a reliable threat(s) on the court at the same time. With Martin and Bosh, teams can't safely double team Yao (or anyone else for that matter) without risking one of the other stars going nuts. Hell, if Ariza can regain his Laker form, that's the 3 players you insisted on having that can hit open outside shots.

 

Hell even if we don't got Bosh, doubling teaming Yao is not a good idea. Look what happened when the Blazers did it last year

 

Unfortunately, I think it is a valid point. They'll double off of Lowry and force him to shoot. He's going to have to hit that midrange shot, it doesn't have to be a three.

 

People are saying Toronto will want Brooks, but Toronto already has Jarret Jack and Jose Calderon. I find it unlikely that we will take back Calderons contract. If the Rockets would get Bosh and Jack back in a trade I would do it in a heartbeat, otherwise i don't see why Toronto would want AB without throwing in one of the PG's.

 

Or he can actually do what he does best and drive to the hole to either draw a foul or kick it out to Martin or Ariza who are both waiting on the perimeter. Wouldn't this be the better idea? Not only because of Lowry's lack of a perimeter shot but you're forcing the opposing team to clog the paint rather than switching on defense, just like how they would if Lowry gets the ball back from Yao. In other words:

1. Yao sets himself up on the low block
2. Lowry's man double teams Yao
3. Yao throws the pass back to Lowry
3a. Lowry can wait for his defender to return to defend him which then puts a limit on what he can and cannot do with the ball
3b. Lowry take the pass from Yao and penetrates towards the middle and into the paint.

This, theoretically causes two things to happen:

1. Lowry's defender pretty much has to get back on defense but is now a second slower since he has to get back on defense after doubling Yao
2. Another defender has to come in and try to stop Lowry from getting to the hole since Lowry's man is now too far back to actually make a difference on defense

In this case, the defender that shifts to cover the paint/middle to thwart Lowry from making a move will have 3 possible end results:

1. He draws a charge
2. He gets called for a blocking foul
3. He just left the man he was guarding who, by now, is open on the perimeter

Lowry can then either barrel through and hope to draw a foul or kick it back out to whoever is on the perimeter (e.g. Martin, Budinger, Ariza, Battier, etc).

Defenders will of course dare Lowry to shoot the ball but that doesn't mean it's his only option. In fact, if they sag off of him to the point where there's a full 3 feet between the two players, who's to say our PF can set a pick for Lowry to get to the hole?

I

 

1. He can play the shooting guard position. Being small didn't stop him from dropping 19 a night this season.

2. He's better than Jarret Jack and he's better at scoring than Jose Calderon.

3. He's young and cheap. Colangelo can tell Toronto fans "Hey we might have lost Bosh but I got back a 19 ppg scorer!!"

4. He's the most desirable asset the Rockets have right now and that includes Yao.

Just because they have Jarret Jack (who's a mediocre player btw) and Jose Calderon doesn't mean they can't use a quick player that can hit from 3 point land to go along with the other perimeter-based players they already have. Getting Brooks, expiring contracts, and say Chase would be a hell of a deal for Colangelo.

 

They're not bad options, but at some point, he has to make that jump shot. If I'm coaching against the Rockets, I'm telling my help side defenders not to rotate to Lowry, stay on Martin/Ariza. They're going to force him to shoot. I think it's a bit unrealistic to think he's going to drive in every time he receives a kick out.

What happens when the ball swings around the perimeter, and the end result is Lowry open in the corner for three? At some point, he's going to have to prove he can hit that shot. I love Lowry, and thought his shot got better toward the end of the season, but he needs to keep working hard on improving this part of his game -- it's his biggest weakness.