Addition by subtraction (Tmac Apologists need not click)

Brooks is not a player to build a team around.

AB looks to be at a minimum, a solid backup, potentially more, but he's not a franchise player by any means. He's a lot better than Alston, though.

I am okay with Yao.

My opinion is that Tracy Lamar can't lead this team, that you certainly can't build around him and that he's falling apart, physically. Trade him for the best thing you can get as soon as possible.

I proposed McGrady for Salmons and Miller. It makes sense on a number of levels to me. Salmons, alone, is better than McGrady at this point. Miller can play PF or C meaning we could play him alongside Yao or as a backup C. He plays the high post as well as any big in the league, capable of shooting and passing well. If Yao goes down for any reason, Miller can be a starting C, i.e., play 35 mpg. Mutombo can't give you that.

The Kings are looking to move Miller and reportedly may add Salmons to sweeten the deal. They have too much depth at the wing positions with Martin and Garcia signed long-term and Greene as a young prospect.

The Kings aren't contending so 2010 is probably one of their higher priorities. Getting rid of Miller and Salmons for McGrady saves them the amount of the last year of Salmons' contract for the 2010 sweepstakes ($5-6 million). That is one reason they would be willing to deal with the washed up McGrady. Another possible reason is that, despite his decline, McGrady's name is still marketable. The Maloofs may be able to attract a few new fans while they wait for 2010.

Why do the Rockets do it? For one, McGrady sucks. Another reason is that Salmons, with his healthy body and far superior athleticism, is a far, far better scorer than McGrady at this point. He isn't as good of a playmaker but I can live with that because of how much more efficient of a scorer he is (50% from the field, 40% behind the arc, having a career year). I explained the reasons that Miller makes sense above. Miller also played under Adelman and excelled during that time.

Also, the Rockets don't give up being players in 2010 with this deal. They only increase their payroll for 2010 by the amount of Salmons' final year on his contract. Meanwhile, they address frontcourt needs with Miller and upgrade McGrady with Salmons. In other words, they get better in the short term and long term.

And call me out all you want, anytime you want. I'm game.

 

No. This is silly.

 

No...you forget that Tracy and maybe Yao will expire in 2010. That is a lot for Morey to work with.

Chris Bosh '10!

 

i was all for it when I heard the billups / rip hamilton rumor.

if morey / les ever actually makes the decision to shop him, i think the can deal him. prob not much return, but they can move him if they decide they have had it..

 

the back and forth of tmac's attitude hurts the team. his so-so work ethic has become contagious. i'm in full agreement with DD.

i'm not sold on the marbury idea. if you want to end the drama... he's NOT your guy.

how about kirk hinrich? the bulls were looking to move him for an ending contract earlier in the season (before he got hurt).

 

I'm down to trade him; but... if you think yao is going to step up and became something different than he is now it wont happen. He's as much of leader now as he is going to be, you are either born a leader or your not imo.

 

DD, I strongly believe we shouldn't trade him at all. I would rather wait until next year TO trade him by the deadline. I can guarantee you that T-Mac will have a T-Mac year due to his contract year and he will be on top of his game by then. So for this season, the answer is simply no.

 

I would imagine the players would be more irked if we traded Mac for starbury.

 

Trade him for Stephon Marbury? To me, that would be a move to get T-Mac off the Rockets' books a year earlier since Marbury's salary ($20,840,625, but contract expiring) is fairly close to T-Mac's ($20,370,437, but one more year after this) for this season. This would be a giveaway T-Mac trade to the Knicks since I'm not all that sure that we could count on anything from Marbury. I wonder how much patience Mike D'Antoni would have with T-Mac if he did wind up wearing a Knicks' jersey.

About trading T-Mac, one aspect I would like to question is would he pass a team phisical given the current condition of his left knee, and how well-known it is to most all of us?

Quite frankly, the most ideal trade involving T-Mac would be getting players in return who can step right on in and play Rick Adelman's motion offense IMO.

 

A healthy McGrady is still the best chance for this Rockets team to go deep in the playoffs.

For me, the other options proposed here (Marbury, Miller/Salmons) would be equal to the Rockets waving a white flag for the season.

I would've done the Pistons trade, however.

 

If it doesn't work you let him walk in 2010 and go after a free agent.

we don't need the money, a lot of you guys are acting like you're paying his salary and it's hurting your wallet.

the bottomline is that we can't get fair value for him and while we may play better RIGHT NOW with salmons and miller or whoever else people are throwing out there, it doesn't make us championship contenders. A healthy Mcgrady does. it's a catch, but one we have to live with for now because we're not winning anything without him. period. he was great last year, i think he can be at minimum that level again.

 

Not likely to get much for him right now. I agree with Ismail about wanting to wait but I understand the reason for wanting to move him now even for an expiring contract. He is hurting the team without a doubt. If he can give a 75-80% effort most nights it will be somewhat acceptable to me.

 

that's exactly it. you trade mcgrady and you've given up on the season. you can't replace what he brings to this team with any combination of available players and you can't win anything real without him.

 

A lot of people say keep Tracy Lamar and if he doesn't play well, we can just let his contract expire for 2010.

Here's a question: With maybe 15 teams competing for about 5 or 6 top players, what happens if the Rockets don't get land any of them? What makes anybody think we will definitely get one of those marquee players? I think the opportunity to play with Yao is losing it's effect.

On the other hand, if we make a decent trade now, we may be able to improve this season and next while still having a chance in 2010. If we get a couple of decent players for McGrady, with at least one player that has a contract expiring next season, we can still be players in 2010 on top of having another solid player.

Unless you believe Tracy Lamar is going to become something he's not, there is no reason to continue with this charade. McGrady is a half-assing, brokend down, former superstar. His body wasn't designed for 10+ years of NBA basketball. I'd be shocked if he's still in the league after next season.

I hope Morey finds a good deal that helps us now without preventing us from competing for the services of one of the studs in the 2010 free agent class.

 

No to Hinrich and his injuries.He has played only 6 games this year.We need healthy and motivated players.

 

I think T-Mac just may be another Stephon Marbury/Allen Iverson, talented, good passer, but just straight up kills the team, T-Mac is not the leader of this Rockets team anymore and is just always injured. Id love to to trade him for Rip Hamilton now, the guy has a ring, hes a good shooter, and exactly what we need.

Many may not agree with this but its my view, there is a reason McGrady has not gotten far in the playoffs.

 

bosh? really? what has he done that yao has not if not better?