I've seen plenty of Milwaukee trade proposals in various threads involving Redd, Jefferson, Sessions, Villanueva or whoever yet none for Andrew Bogut. How does everybody feel about potentially dealing for Bogut? I know he's overpaid given the sheer absurdity that size in the NBA gets you, just saying he's still only 24-years-old and a solid double-double type player (at the very least) that we could potentially use next to Yao like the Lakers use Gasol/Bynum. The Bucks are probably the one NBA team I watch the least so i'm a little sketchy on whether or not I feel Bogut still has any upside left. I would imagine so given his already polished post game and decent footwork -- I see no reason why his scoring shouldn't increase.
baller, the Bucks are determined to rebuild around Bogut. They view him as the linchpin of any future the Bucks have. The fact that he is still so young only further strengthens why Milwaukee won't part with him. Also, I think Bogut might be one of the most underrated players in the league. Sure, he's got a massive contract. But he is VERY skilled. He's an excellent passer, a good rebounder and defender, and he's got a polished post-up game. Bottom line: NO WAY the Bucks deal Bogut. They'd trade every other player on their roster twice before trading him.
If what you're saying is true then good for Milwaukee. They need at least SOME sense of direction. I just thought the general sentiment was that they're disappointed with Bogut's development so far. Add to that the financial implications and I just figured anybody is fair game in Milwaukee. I could be wrong, though. We all know he's skilled but 12/10/1 for a former #1 overall pick isn't exactly lighting the world on fire. That's not quite "Olowakandi/Kwame/Oden Bad" but he's only a step or two above that right now. Hopefully, he'll be healthy next year. All the same, even despite the massive contract I agree that he's underrated in a way too. He's the type player if you plugged him into the Spurs or somebody like that you can really picture that team taking off. He just can't do it alone, which is essentially what he's been asked to do with Redd getting hurt every year the way he does and Jefferson/Villanueva being all over the board. For better or worse, this all goes back to my plea for Morey to bolster the frontcourt. You're probably familiar with my stance on this by now but this offseason will basically be a bust (in my book) if we fail to add a consistent 4/5 scorer that can offer some Yao-insurance. Losing in the playoffs two years in row due to our inability to consistently score in the post without Yao sticks out like a sore thumb. I strongly feel we're at the point where ignoring this is no longer an option which is why i'm open to all sorts of crazy ideas like this.
i'm thinking that trading mac for redd + fillers or okafor + diaw + filler or Amare + filler would be the best that i've read so far, but i doubt any of these teams are desperate enough to trade their best players for a hobbling mac. in the end, i'm guessing he'll play out his contract and we'll have some cap space to sign a good player or two next summer.
Incoming Players Jeff Foster 6-11 C from Southwest Texas State 6.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.7 apg in 24.4 minutes Jamaal Tinsley 6-1 PG from Iowa State 0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg, 0.0 apg in 0.0 minutes Troy Murphy 6-11 PF from Notre Dame 14.3 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 2.4 apg in 34.0 minutes Outgoing Players Brian Cook 6-9 PF from Illinois 3.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.2 apg in 6.9 minutes Tracy McGrady Backup Center = check , Taller @ the 4 = check , Vet. PG = check .
Part of the reason why Bogut's numbers have been so low thus far in his career is as much a product of who he's been playing with as it is a product of him needing to slowly develop into the player he is capable of being. Last summer, the Bucks traded away Mo Williams primarily for financial reasons but also because he was such a damn ball hog that, between Mo and Michael Redd, no one else on the team (especially Bogut) could ever get a shot off in their offense. The Bucks' management viewed Mo as a hindrance to Bogut's development. Hence, trading for a pass-first (albeit inferior) PG in Luke Ridnour. Even last year, Redd, Villanueva and Jefferson were big-time chuckers. Bogut started to assert himself more on offense for a stretch, but then I think he got injured. Still, Andrew Bogut is not a high-scoring big man, so he won't ever get the credit he deserves as an all-around NBA player. Picture a Vlade Divac in his prime, except Bogut is a better defender but perhaps not quite the shooter that Vlade was. As far as your desire for a scoring backup 4/5, I don't quite agree with you. The Rockets already have a player like that. His name is Luis Scola. When Yao comes out of the game, Scola and Landry are more than adequate as an offensive 4/5 tandem. My concern is more about length from our backup center. Ideally, Joey Dorsey can grow into that role next year; but I'm sure Morey will be scouring the free agent market for one anyway.
Strongly disagreed. Scola is my favorite Rocket yet even I have to admit what you speak of is a complete fallacy, IMO. Scola is a consistency and hustle type player with a good enough post game and mid-range jumper to make you pay if you don't respect him. He's not a player capable of changing his role to handle the scoring load consistently. If you need evidence of this just look at the Lakers series. Gave the Lakers hell during spurts then stunk up the joint in Game 7 whenever the Lakers keyed in on him and sent doubles his way. Landry is the same way minus the consistency aspect. They're both hustle players. Hustle players are never a bad thing but whenever your best player tends to break his foot every year it's rather unwise to ask Player C to become Player A. Especially whenever history isn't on your side. We're at the point where Yao's durability is a major issue going forward. We all love the guy to death but we're nothing short of naive if we expect him to be able to go a full season plus the playoffs anymore. It's an obvious weakness. Not doing something to correct it or at least minimize the damage would be irresponsible on our part. We have the trading chips to do it. It's a buyer's market. If a big deal goes down I would love to see us acquire another post scorer that could not only fill in for Yao (if need be) but also play with him as well. You guys can have the Vince Carters of the world. If we're going to take on a fat contract give me the guy that can score inside 10-feet of the basket.
So, in other words, the Rockets need to pick up an All-Star center to back up Yao. Sure, he could start at PF alongside Yao as well, but that would push Scola to the bench (assuming he's not the one who's traded for this mystery player) along with Landry, Hayes, Cook and Dorsey. The list of players that fit your description isn't a very long one: Tim Duncan Amare Stoudemire Shaquille O'neal Kevin Garnett Dirk Nowitzki Chris Bosh Pau Gasol LaMarcus Aldridge Carlos Boozer Of those players, only Shaq, Amare and Boozer are even CLOSE to available. Shaq could never play next to Yao. Amare is a possibility but will cost the Rockets much of their depth and will weaken them defensively. Boozer is also a possibility, but I would need to take a VERY hot shower if the Rockets did trade for him.
Not at all. Acquiring an All-Star caliber player would clearly be nice but that's not a requirement. Nor is it a requirement that this player is technically a center. The idea is to replace not just Yao's actual point total but to have a post presence that can command doubles and draw focus away from our perimeter players. Amare is the most intriguing idea. Bosh will get dealt to somebody before February. Boozer is a definite possibility although whichever team he ends up on will have to risk him walking for nothing. Others like David West, Brand, Shaq, Nene, Bynum, Okafor, Jamison, Al Harrington and Josh Smith are all either clearly available or attainable in the right deal. Not necessarily saying I want all those guys but it just goes to demonstrate how frontcourt scorers might be more available than you realize. I'm open to a McGrady for Jermaine O'Neal swap (same contracts) if a better option doesn't present itself. Hell, i'm even open to the idea of dealing for Zach Randolph in the right deal. (Click on the link to read by rationale before you spit up your drink: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showpost.php?p=4564166&postcount=35)
Too late. Now, where did I put my roll of paper towels! I know Randolph's a strong low post offensive player. But he is the true definition of a team cancer. I wouldn't touch him with a 10-foot pole tied to another 10-foot pole. The T-Mac for Jermaine idea had also crossed my mind, but you'd be trading for not another constantly injured player and will have no other assets to show for it come 2010 unless the Rockets can re-sign Jermaine to a MUCH smaller deal.
Haha....I wasn't expecting you to like it. Hell, i'm not even sold on the idea myself. Is it a little crazy? Absolutely. There's just that "What if?" element. What if going Mark Cuban on the trade front pays off? Adelman controlled Artest (relatively speaking) and turned him into a winner. I don't think it's outrageous to presume a coach like Adelman could do the same with Randolph. Granted, Artest + Randolph would probably be too much to handle. I would need oxygen after every game and my TV would probably press charges against me for all the things I would scream at it. Yeah, JO is basically a poor man's T-Mac in terms of attitude/durability but I really believe he's a player that could pay enormous dividends if you put him in a situation where the team wouldn't need to depend on him. He could be our version of Lamar Odom.
Did somebody say Zach Randolph? <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NaVa6NHwUUg&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NaVa6NHwUUg&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
