I agree with you nomad_balla. This team can make the playoffs, we just need a good center. I personally wouldn't want to trade Battier and Landry, I think they help the team. I would rather Cook, Dorsey and maybe Barry be traded. Everyone on the team stepped up when needed, and I think they will again this season. I think maybe since Memphis has like 3 centers now, maybe Morey could work a deal to get Marc Gasol for Cook, the $ amount is pretty similar. And remeber last season Shane was recovering from ankle surgury, and this season, he should be in the lineup opening night
Your honestly believe this team as is can make the Playoffs? PG-Brooks/ Lowry SG-Barry/ Jermaine Taylor SF-Battier/ Ariza/ White / Budinger PF- Scola/ Landry/ Hayes/ Dorsey/ Cook C- None at all I'd love to hear an explanation on how this team wins more then 25-30 games let alone makes the Playoffs.
Marc Gasol for Brian Cook? Are you drunk? Why would Memphis make that trade? Cook's agent exercised that Player option in .000001 seconds. Nobody wants Brian Cook. You couldn't get a used basketball for Brian Cook
I disagree. You can't start both battier and ariza at the wing spots and be effective. The defense is nice, but one of them needs to be able to fill it up from the perimeter to keep defenses honest. Ariza is younger, and fits better in the up tempo style the team is moving towards. Battier is older, and needs a half court game to be effective. Not to mention, as good as his defense is, he contributes next to nothing offensively. He's a great trade chip for the team right now. In conclusion, I'm sorry, Battier and Landry for Amare is a steal for the Rockets. T-Mac for J-Rich isn't bad either considering the circumstances.
Yeah like I said earlier in the thread I'm really on the fence on this one. The risks are so high, but Amare is so talented. The trade idea I've seen so far that I like the best is trading McGrady for NY's no.1, Kirilenko and Okur. I don't know how realistic that is, but it at least seems possible if Utah is as financially desperate as speculated.
I've got an original idea. Morey should create an email address so we can send positive comments to Phoenix and Portland to encourage the deal.
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We're getting Amar'e!!! I called it!! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (a little pre-mature?) We're getting Amar'e for the 2009-2010 season. - QUOTE THAT, SIG THAT, PRINT IT OUT AND PASTE IT ON THE WALL FOR LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THAT IS THE TRUTH! The end.
we still have the MLE. we can get a center through trade or FA. my reason is simple, i think our team is better than phoenix and golden state. the 8th spot is the key. we have a good coach, we got players with alot of heart and alot of our players are coming back from last season. i think we have to foundation and chemistry to do it. ppl will say it is wishful thinking but i believe in our guys.
Even with the Amare deal the Rockets are not championship material for the next 2-3 years. In 3 years battier will be 34, and who knows what kind of player he will be at that time. His athleticism is already limited and what happens if it deteriorates even more. Worrying over whether it makes Portland significantly better next season is not an acceptable reason to pass on a deal that helps the Rockets in the long run.
What sucks is a couple years ago we would be saying hell no to this trade. Under the circumstances now this seems like a fair deal.
Let me just put this out there... we have to win around AT LEAST 48ish... to get into the playoffs.. that's prob not happening even if we sign a center with our MLE.. With acquiring Amar'e however, we will win around 50 games.
The only concern I have with this trade, is who do we get our leadership from if we trade battier? I just liked battier to help the younger guys. He also gave us some clutch 3 pointers.
Good point. Moreover, I would love it if Battier won a championship. He deserves it. (Of course it would be best if he won with the Rockets, but it doesn't look like that will happen.)
Ship Battier while he still has value. Shane has thrived in Adelman's system the past couple of years because the offense has been focused on Yao and the inside game, forcing players to double down on the Great Wall, which leaves Shane open for his spot-up corner three. Battier doesn't tend to run the court and get easy buckets in transition, and our offense is going to be very fast paced with Brooks in the driver's seat. Also, there's no way in hell Budinger makes this sqaud, unless he plays lights out in the summer league and we lose both Wafer and Battier. He'll play the season in the D-League.
