Ok, I will get killed for being a gloom and doomer, but -- writing off this season (which might be a mistake) -- I am hard pressed to see how we'll be much better next year. The only contracts that come off the books are Lue's and Barret's and I guess Nachbar if we don't resign him. There's not a lot of meat there capwise. Tradewise, we have the pick to get rid of, I guess, but nothing else. Our worthless PFs will still be worthless ,(though Witherspoon may acquire expiring contract value towards midseason). Our worthless PGs will still be worthless - and still be here. So unless we get the Rookie of the Year, I don't see our personnel situation being augmented that much. I'm hard pressed to see how we can improve then barring dramatic improvement with what we've got. McGrady is already great - will Yao become great this offseason? I have doubts as most do. As for the rest? I don't see much if any improvement from them, and likely declines in the case of the older players. The bad thing is that 2006-2007 doesn't look much brighter. Spoon is gone, but we still have the albatross contracts of Taylor, Ward & Howard on board then. (though at least Ward & Taylor are expiring$) Buyouts maybe? Not sure, but this cap jail situation didn't happen by itself, that's certain. But who knows, anything can happen. But the only way a major shakeup would happen would be to win the lottery or to part with Yao or Tracy. If we can only surround them with suck players, is it worth keeping them both around? EDIT: should add that Dikembe has a team option for 06, so could be an FA this year, but I would think we might just exercise that option given that he has been relatively productive.
Well, the way we are playing, the best thing we have going for us is the lottery. It will be very unlikely that we will be able to improve our roster by FAs alone. We don't have any money, and I don't know how appetizing playing for JVG is.
There are a lot of things we can do if the management is smart. The Wolves are a good example. They managed to turn a 1st round playoff team into a contender by signing Cassell and trading for Sprewell. As well as implementing a good system to make everything come together. The Rockets are likely getting a pick in the 10-20 range, as well as a trade exception and the MLE to work with. IF they can make good decisions, there's not much needed to put this team over the top given what we have. Of course, given our management system, I don't have much faith that we can accomplish this. If there was ever a time when we need to find a hidden talent or two, now would be it.
You're forgetting about the MLE, also, which, when combined with a relatively long-term contract, means VERY decent money. It may be able to get you a Stromile Swift type PF, for example - no superstar, but a definite improvement. It may even get you a Shareef Abdur Rahim, who is dfinitely is a soft PF, but would be a good 3/4 player at the MLE. Tyson Chandler or Eddy Curry could fit in that money level (though I guess they're restricted), Not that this thread doesn't have a point.
dont be so hopeless no team with two superstars has ever failed with building a team with role players there was the chicago bulls who got jordan and pippen and got others there was the lakers who got shaq and kobe wilt, hakeem, tim duncan, etc etc no team with 2 superstars have ever failed and turned into a failure forever
We're lotto bound unless a miracle turnaround happens. Don't blame it on the schedule, either - our home record has been awful and we've been losing to bad teams too. I consider that bad, real bad.
i remember mcgrady's 13 in 35 and everybody was like ohh shizz! were gonna go on a long winning streak! dang go rox go rox!!! now... its like a lady that goes on her period every week
The fact is Sam, you are correct, it is bad. There is no one else to blame but management. They have dug their own grave with poor signings as well as poor draft selections. It will not happen due to Les' commitment to marketing, but I for one, would not be opposed to trading Yao Ming if it meant we could rid ourselves of some bad contracts in the process. The potential for Yao's offensive abilities cannot be denied, but I feel that the rule changes and the overall speed of the game, combined with the limits of his capabilities has, and will, limit his future effectiveness. It's definitely a risky move from many standpoints, but also one that could have a high reward.
I think we can turn this situation around if we can just make some good decisions. If we get a late lottery pick this year, I say we draft the best PF available. Or trade the pick to land a PF that might be on the block at the time, like Chandler or Wilcox (Wilcox shouldn't be on the block but you never know with Sterling). Then I really think we should target a guy like Bobby Simmons with our MLE. The way he's playing, might be asking for more than a full MLE, but if I remember correctly there won't be as many teams with cap room next years as there was this past season. And I guess we'll see if this whole "T-Mac and Yao will attract FA" theory is true. We'll let Lue go, and in terms of Ward, I recall reading an ESPN insider article that said Ward is actually guaranteed only two years. And that the third year is a team option. Keep Sura and Barrett, because I think they are an adequate PG rotation, and our needs at PF and SF are much more pressing. We need to add some athleticism in the frontcourt in the worst way. So by next year, if we can play our cards right we can field a team of: Sura / Barrett / Gaines / Ward T-Mac / JJ Simmons / JJ Rookie PF or traded PF / $21 million of nothing Yao / Deke or some other backup C Then I'd really try to make a concerted effort to trade Mo in a deal similar to the one we did with Moochie. Trade Mo to a team that might get something out of him, and in return we get a player that they don't want that has a shorter contract. Then we just have to let that guy and Spoon's contract expire to clear out the deadwood and try to sign some missing pieces before the 2006-07 season. So if we can sign some quality backups in the summer of '06 and draft guys that can contribute, then I think we will be ready to contend two years from now. Sura / Barrett (I think these guys are good enough if the other positions are solid.) T-Mac / quality FA Swingman / maybe draft JJ Redick for this spot Simmons / quality FA Swingman the PF we got in the previous year / Howard (Mo and Spoon would be gone by now, if Mo was traded for a shorter contract) Yao / backup C For the quality FA Swingman in 2006, I wouldn't mind bringing back Posey. He's got a player option that year, and if we can lure him back, then I'd love the SG/SF rotation of T-Mac, Simmons, and Posey. I think all of these moves are realistic. There aren't any huge blockbuster trades. This really depends on CD making good decisions in the draft and FA, as well as Yao and T-Mac to be able to lure FA like everyone says they will.
I'd be on this bandwagon if you could guarantee something great in return. The fact is, JVG aside, because I just can't see him being the coach that leads us to the promised land, T-Mac is obviously perfectly suited to play in today's NBA as a winner with an exciting, athletic big-man. Yao isn't those things. That said, the two of them as a combo should clearly STILL be very very good with the right role players. But could you trade Yao now and get that all-around superstar potential player in return - I doubt it, unless you think Duncan, Amare, Lebron, Garnett or Nowitski would be on the trading block for Yao. Then, the question is, could you get the next tier player in return - Zach Randolph, Pau Gasol, Elton Brand, maybe a Carlos Boozer or Dwight Howard, if you like his potential, AND get another solid player or two. There may be those types of deals out there, but unless you see Utah giving up Boozer and Kirilenko for Yao, JJ and Taylor (as an example), I don't know if those trades make you better. At the end of the day, the fact of the matter is, it may be better for this team to not make the playoffs this year. It accomplishes a couple of things: (1) likely gets JVG fired, especially as attendance continues to plummet, (2) gets you a lottery pick and a chance at a high lottery pick, which, despite drafting snafus in the past, is at the very least a commodity, (3) potentially forces you to look at Yao's relative value in terms of talent, (4) forces the team and the fans (who don't see it already) to clearly identify the numerous holes in the current team, etc. Probably not though...winning and the winning mentality is always better than losing and the vortex that comes with it. And again, there are other options (MLE, trading expiring contracts, etc.).
the reality is until the soft forward contracts are in their last years, they have very little trade value. in this off season we will have a first round pick, a TE and the MLE to try to improve the PF and PG spots, it will be interesting to see if Les is willing to spend them all, we need new starters at these spots, once they are filled then we need a new starter at SF (for me Boki could be that but he needs some PT now)
Obviously, this is the key to the high reward aspect. I, personally do not think Duncan, James, Garnett, or Dirk could be had in such a deal. A deal that would interest me would be for Andrei Kirilenko. That, of course, would be the meat of the deal that would have to include ridding ourselves of Taylor or Howard and Ward. On the other end of the deal, I would expect Collins, Giricek or Lopez, and two first round selections in return.
So you would propose essentially Yao Ming for Kirilenko, Collins, Giricek (or Lopez) and 2 first rounders? Worth a look, but I think I'd decline. My personal take on AK47 is that he is a great player who impacts the game, but is slightly overrated from the fantasy aspect. On the other hand, that does continue to describe Yao. My other concern with that would be finally giving Jerry Sloan a center to work with. As a Yao fan, with Boozer still there, Harpring still there, Arroyo still there, etc., I think Yao could excel in such a disciplined, efficient system. But I'm a Rockets fan first and foremost. I'd probably pull the trigger on a Yao/Taylor/JJ for Kirilenko/Boozer/Collins deal though.
That deal is too good to be true. We can only get AK-47 or Boozer (but not both) if we want to dump Taylor at the same time. Besides, I am not sold on Tmac, and doubt a line-up of Tmac + 2nd tier star or stars could lead us to the promise land.
While the deal is undoubtedly too good to be true, how could you not be sold on a lineup of PG: Sura SG: T-Mac SF: AK47 PF: Boozer C: Collins ...assuming a coach that let's the team run??
Yao has been a disappointment this year, but let's get real. As if CD doesn't already have one of the worst track records currently in the business, he'd be laughed out of the league if he dealt a player of Yao's size and rare skillset, at his age. Yao goes nowhere.
Perennial playoff team? Yes. Championships? No. Plus both AK-47 and Bozzer are maxed or near maxed: TMac + AK47 + Boozer = 36 million this year, and increases each year. Also, if we lose Yao, Les will lose millions from sponsors. He will be less likely to spend.
Didn't T-Mac come here because of Yao? I understand that the future is (well let's face it given all the horrible contracts) dark and dreary but this sucks that it already has come down to trade talks with Yao. It would absolutely murder me inside to see him do well with another team. Rockets management at least gave Francis 5 years to turn this franchise into a contender, why not give the same to the duo of Yao and McGrady? They just have to start plugging in players that aren't lesser than garbage.
