Jackson+Head+Brooks = around 9M = Mike Dunleavy Alston, Francis, (draft) McGrady, Dunleavy, (Newley) Battier, Harris, (Green) Scola, Landry, Novak Yao, Hayes, (Deke/draft/Woods) I'd rather hope for Alston+Jackson+Brooks for Andre Miller Miller's 32 and will be an expiring contract. His next contract is possibly his last so Philly may not be confident in re-signing him. At his age his contract worth will probably be lower than his current one. Miller, Francis, (draft) McGrady, Head, (Newley) Battier, Harris, (Green) Scola, Landry, Novak Yao, Hayes, (Deke/draft/Woods)
i think the rockets usually go into the offseason with the same shopping list: 1. 3rd scorer 2. PG upgrade 3. PF upgrade 4. bench depth in morey's first summer he crossed off the last two of those. this summer i'd like to see him bring in a legit 3rd scorer. i'd hold off the PG talk in order to see if rafer can keep up the play next year and if brooks has what it takes.
Yao in the past 3 years 2005-2006: 57 games 2006-2007: 48 games 2007-2008: 55 games With numbers like this, it's hard to believe Yao will be able to play 82 games including the playoffs next year. Things, sometimes unfortunate things can happen. And we don't want to take a chance and see what happens when Yao gets hurt. We're playing these bigger teams without Yao recently, and it's hurting us big time. We cannot rely On Deke to be our starting center and have no back up for him. Hell, Deke's minutes should be limited as well cause the guy is getting old. Don't get me wrong, he's a monster on Defense, but he cannot do that for 48 minutes a game. We can't rely on Landry and Scola to do their business at the center position unless we're playing a smaller team. All the centers in the west are huge!! Can't depend on the Deke with his age, Scola, Landry, and etc to guard the likes of Shaq, Duncan, Garnett, Camby, and etc.
Probelm is there really isnt that many good big men in the league that can do anything against those big guys. That's why most people will choose a big man to start a franchise because they are harder to fill. Good point guards are a dime a dozen. If Yao is as unreliable as you make him out to be, then its simply better to trade him.
No Devin Harris! I don't want that whining flopper on this team. He'll ruin the chemistry of this team cause he's a ball hog and is not a natural pg. Baron Davis maybe.
I think the Rockets can scratch off PF upgrade. Scola and Landry should be here for years to come. Chuck Hayes is the DH depending on matchups. He has contributed defensively with great consistency. But his size makes him replaceable, and if he's going to be replaced, it should be for another defensive oriented PF/C with height. Playing the "height doesn't matter as long as you can play card" is not good anymore when you apply it to your whole PF rotation, especially in the west. That 3rd scorer the Rockets are looking for should come off the bench. Basically, the Rockets need that option to be T-Mac or Yao ULTRA LITE. The Rockets bench is pretty deep, but only in a few areas. The talent depth needs to be spread out better to each position. I think the priorities should be: 1) PG - The talent at this position in the west is just wild. Because of this, the Rockets HAVE to upgrade in order to be consistent in contending. 1A) Backup C - Deke is retiring, and if he comes back, we know he can only matchup against certain teams. Hopefully, Loren Woods can show something this year. But even if he does well, the Rockets need to find a solid contributor off the bench. 2) Backup swingman - You've got Luther Head backing up McGrady, and Mike Harris backing up Battier. There's just no versatility in the backups. Harris and Head need someone to set them up. At this position, a true scorer is needed. If you get a 3rd scorer in this position, T-Mac gets more rest and energy for the 4th quarter. Or Battier can matchup his minutes better with the other teams best perimeter option.
Looking past his antics, he drives the ball aggressively, can hit the 3, has quick feet on the defensive end, and is clutch. However, I will say that I've notice he can't keep up with Davis or Parker on the defensive end. If the Rockets get Devin Harris, it adds the intangible of him wanting to prove the Mavs made a mistake. Big games from Devin Harris in Rockets uniform everytime the Rockets play the Mavs. Baron Davis would be perfect for this team, also. I have Harris ahead of Davis only becase Harris is young and improving. But Baron Davis is clutch, a good 3pt shooter, a 3rd scorer, has attitude, has great passing ability and can find the open person well. He also has that beard that will trick old Rocket fans into thinking Don Chaney is out of retirement
no davis for me. If i have to choose 1 player from the GS team, i rather have ellis. Davis need to play in a certain system, where he is loved by the coach, the fans and his teammates. He need motivation to stay at the court, and he needs to be the man of the team. Not a 3rd scorer. And i rather not have another player who have a history of injury.
what??? When you're talking about certain players needing to play in certain systems, Ellis is one of the main guys. If the game slows down (which it will if he plays for the rockets) he becomes much less effective because he isn't a great 3 pt shooter, he is extremely short for 2, he can't play any defense, and you take away most of his points if he doesn't get in the open court. Sawed off 2's can't play in anything other than that uptempo style unless their great like AI (he's nowhere near that level). Baron Davis may be injury prone but he is a multi-talented superstar and not a one trick pony like Ellis. I just hate to see people even put real stars in the same sentence with lesser players. It's like when i hear those people who say would should trade tmac for corey maggette, josh howard, or jason richardson, its nonsense.
Harris had a great series. I could be wrong, I just remember Parker getting in the lane more times than not. I think quicker guards in general takes away from Harris' defense. But Davis definitely gives him trouble.
I'm trying to figure out where you guys think we are going to get the money to sign Brand, Jamison or Arenas. We are over the salary cap and have no chance of getting under it. Unless you guys want to trade TMac or Yao, we're not getting a max player who is a free agent this offseason.
I think the general feeling in this thread is that someone will sign here for a discount. Most likely won't happen, but stranger things have happened before
I just realized... If the Rockets sign Arenas he would register here, post often, confirm his identity via pics, and become an active member of Clutchfans. Thats his style. Clutchfans would get all kinds of new pub. That level of athlete to fan interaction would be unprecedented. Arenas would donate at least 10,000 to the tip jar. But the most important factor. Is it would ruin your lives. Especially you guys in the 10,000+ post range. You guys would be fighting to the death pleading your case to Arenas that you want to slurp him the most. People would hit refresh every 10 minutes anticipating the opportunity to stumble upon a fresh Arenas thread and cast the first response. At least 10% of you would lose your jobs. This I am certain.
Brand will not be a max player coming off nearly an entire season being injured. jamison is old...not a max player. Arenas shouldn't be a max palyer either as often as he has been injured. But your point about the Rockets not having the cap room I don't agree with. Current cap is like 55 1/2 mill, but everyone of course knows that the real cap is the luxury threshold which is about 68 mill. Next year the Rockets have about 64 mill on the books, which leaves 4 mill to the lux thresh. But the following year there is only 55 mill on the books after the Butler and Reed contracts drop off leaving evn more room. Les alexander already stated he would go over the lux limit if it's for a player that is worth it. Worse case he gets boned for one year, and is fine after that. I think he would be willing for a player of the calibur of those that may be available this summer. I personally would be interested in Corey Magette.
I don't hate Arenas... in fact, I think HE is the most logical choice. Our frontline is already stacked. We need help in the backcourt. Man, can you imagine him spotting up for those threes instead of Rafer? Or him finishing those cuts when Yao posts up instead? ... Or his free throw shooting! But none of this matters, anyways, because none of them are coming this a way. Morey may be good, but he's not THAT good.
The lakers got pao gasol for kwame freakin brown. The Mavricks got terry, stackhouse, and harris, for a bunch of expiring contracts. I think this attitude that we must trade Yao to McGrady for anyone good needs to be rethought. We just need to find the right situation and we can get useful pieces for expiring contracts.
