ESPN insider reports that the Raptors were blown away with TJ Ford private workout and could select him with their top pick in the draft. This could open up the door for the possibility of the Rockets acquiring Alvin Williams. If the Rockets are still adamant about moving Francis to the 2 then Williams would fit the Eric Snow type mold that would make this move possible. He's tall, plays under control, and can D-up against the other teams shooting guards. Just what the doctor ordered. http://insider.espn.go.com/insider/story?id=1565183 *********************************** More secret workouts With all the stuff going on in Chicago, it's amazing teams had time to scout even more private workouts last week, but they did. T. J. Ford held a private workout with the Raptors on Thursday afternoon. According to league sources, Ford blew them away with his improved shooting. "He's really been working on it," one league source told Insider. "It made them much more comfortable with the idea of selecting him with the fourth pick." The Raptors worked out Chris Kaman earlier in the week, and that one also impressed them. "I'm not sure where the stuff is coming from that he's not a good athlete," the same source told Insider. "He was very impressive. He shot the ball well, and his footwork looked great on the post." To top things off, 7-0 Polish big man Maciej Lampe held a private audition for the Raptors and Heat at Hoops Gym on Saturday morning. Insider got exclusive access to watch the workout. Trainer Tim Grover ran the workout, with Heat coach Pat Riley, GM Randy Pfund and Raptors GM Glen Grunwald in attendance. Lampe shot the ball well, showed his impressive ball-handling skills and ran the floor pretty well. Lampe lacks the explosive jumping ability of some of the other top prospects, but a report that he couldn't dunk the ball off one foot is ridiculous. He went through a drill where he had to run to the free throw line, pick up the ball and dunk it 10 times. He didn't have a problem. Toward the end of the workout, Lampe did get winded, and he struggled to hit his NBA 3-pointers. Lampe measured 7-feet with shoes and had a 7-foot wingspan. After the workout, the feedback was very positive. Both teams liked his sweet shooting stroke, ball handling skills and general feel for the game. While neither team is expected to draft Lampe that high, source on both teams confirmed later they believe he's a lock for the mid to late lottery. ******************************************
I would love Williams. They can have Cat, Taylor or Cato. I wouldn't expect a trade until next year, though. You'd think they'd want Williams as the steady hand to bring Ford up. Now, if we help them get rid of the bloated contracts of Davis or J.Williams... maybe they do think about it. I'd certainly look at those deals. I'd love to have either one of those guys working the boards with Yao. Cato and Cat for Williams and Williams would suit me. Cato Rice and Cat for Williams and Davis would work too.
I don't see why everyone is so enamored with Alvin Williams. He is an average point guard at best while playing Steve at either the point or off guard will not make much difference. However Cat is far too talented and too cheep to let go for such average player who could easily be replaced by many others like him in the league. I don't buy into everyone's beliefs that Cuttino holds us back and there is no way I give him up just for the hell of it. We wouldn't really be gaining anything by making this trade other than giving Steve a better chance to score each time down the floor and whether that will actually help our team is yet to be seen.
It will give Ming a better chance, too. You forgot about him, while you were looking at Cat. That's the problem.
Yes. I want him. But it depends on what the Raptors want. They already have Alvin Williams....and they may need a center. I don't know why they would want Cato...they already have Jerome Williams. And they also have Antonio Davis...the only thing we can offer is Cuttino Mobley for Alvin Williams. Then they can draft TJ Ford or another point guard. Mobley and Carter can start...but Morris Peterson....another good player...will be on the bench. He would be a good backup then. Williams is good. He is better than average at shooting. He is a veteran. He can play tough defense. He is tall. He can handle the ball...he can pass. He is a leader!!!!!! Hmm...he's not a ballhog. He gets a lot of steals.....I'd rather have Williams than Snow. But also...I don't really like the idea of moving Steve to the 2 that much anymore.. And actually....I think Jeff Van Gundy can knock some sense into Cat and make him into a fine mature player...just maybe....get him to "get it"
Alvin Williams for Cat? No. Alvin Williams and filler for Motay or Cato? Sure. Cat is so much more versatile than Alvin Williams. He can play the point, the sg, and sf when needed. He has changed his game to fit what the team needs (PG, Bench, 2nd option, leading scorer, or super defender [I hope he will be the great defensive/3pt shooter that we will need next year.]) Then of course there is his outragously low contract, and the fact that he loves to play in Houston. 2nd round draft picks like Cat don't come around every year.
Wow Cuttino Mobley must have hurt you people's feelings at a party or something because he is hated with a passion on this website.
Name other PG's in the league that are better and have the ability to play defense against the bigger SGs. Eric Snow if he becomes available would be great but I don't see Philly trading him. Jamal Crawford has been labled untouchable by the Bulls. I really can't think of anyone else that fits that bill. Kidd's a pipe dream. This is all under the assumption that the Rockets are still planning on moving Francis to SG. If the Rockets want to give Francis and Mobley another chance under a new coach that's great. If they're still planning to move him to the 2 then we need a PG that will offset Francis's defensive liabilities.
i watched Alvin Williams play and he is definitely good. He would be a perfect fit for the rockets and if we could get him I think it would be a great fit. I don't know if I would trade mobley straight up for him though...only because I think mobley can play a lot better than he did last year.
i wouldnt trade mobes for him. i would trade a package of mooch/rice. i they dont agree, ill add mot or cato to the list. but, mobley is just too good to be traded to williams imo.
couch_pot8o....you have no clue what your talking about....... why THE HELL DOES EVERYONE THINK CATO AND RICE will get you a good player in return...you have to give somethin to get somethin....and those two are not somethin....they are over-priced.....Rice is TOO old.....Cato is Cato........MAN Cuttino is not all that good.....And it looks like Eddie Griffin is'nt going to be all that good either(he has'nt had one game that showed he's gonna be an all-star some day......all McGrady,Kobe,Garnet all had a few games that made people believe...and griifin has'nt had one in two years).....i would give either of those two to get alvin williams. Hey Alvin Williams is a REALLY GOOD point guard......he's tuff as nails....the guy is unselfish and plays D.....plus he's known as MR. Clutch up in toronto....trust me i know cause i live in T.O. The guy would be perfect if Steve Francis would play SG....Williams makes smart plays...and does not turn the ball over 5 times a game like some other PG's.....the negative on the guy is he's not the greatest shooter.....though amazingly he has the ability to judge when he should shoot the ball often or let his teamates take the shots....therefore he does not have 1-10 FG games....that's what makes him special....and MUCH NEEDED ON THE ROCKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The hitch in this would be is Cuttino a big price to pay.....since Cuttino is a big part of HOuston's Offence .....would it be okay to lose those 20 somethin points he provides..... I personally think Cuttino is the cause to some of the problems with the Rockets..........1)he's not a very smart basketball player.....2)he plays VERY selfishly and tries to do too much for a guy who is not that great a player....he thinks he is better than he is and does not know his role on the team.....HOPEFULLY Jeff VAN Gundy can change this....that' is why i would rather have the rockets wait for the first few month's of the season before they pull the plug on Cuttino.....since he does have a very good first step(and a cheap Contract)...but a half a brain to go with it.........................he may need some guidance....i guess we'll have to wait and see.... though anyone who thinks Alvin Williams is not a good point has not seen him play enough games.
Once again I say Marko Jaric. Am I alone in loving this guy's game? He'd be perfect for us! 6-7 true point who plays good D and can hit the open shot. What more do you need?
My thought exactly. Its a reason why the Raptors want to move him to the 2 guard. He is a tweener type just like Francis,just taller. he's 6'5, but only like 190lbs and would have problems against the other natural 2's. I really don't see the upgrade at the position. I think a different offense would put to rest all the inquiries about Francis and the 2 spot. If he's given less ball handling responsibilities, he will to's the ball less. Cut down on his choices and he makes better decisions. Either drive,pass or take the shot,thats it.
LEEBIGEZ.....man did you hear the rockets are gonna have Steve Francis play the PF position. Sorry .....but DAMN GUY DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU HEaR!!!!
first off, i dont think that JVG will make any trades untill he sees what he has to work with. this may mean that there will be no roster moves until the trade deadline, other than signing vets with our exceptions. however, if CD decides to say "hey jeff, ur gonna thank me for this." i would think that the trade that makes the most sence is: cat, moochie, taylor, and a sign-and-trade for collier for williams, lenard, davis
I would be very tempted to trade Cat for Williams + picks. Toronto may get like the 3rd pick in the 2nd round, I think add that in, a future unrestricted #1 (a late #1 they could acquire) or two future 2nd rounders--that might do it. I like Cat, I like Alvin--I just think for our team Alvin addresses more of our weaknesses. But, he doesn't play the minutes Cat does, is a year older or so, and is coming off arthro surgery--I would want a little extra compensation in a CM-AW sawp as I described. However, with JVG arrival--I would not be too dissappointed if we just kept our backcourt tandem. If Cat-Francis don't improve as a tandem in leading the team next offseason we can open the bids for one or both of them and take the best deal.
Cuttino love right here. Still don't see him being traded, although I'm much less sure about that now.
ithink you are the one who has no idea what your talking about. rice is a VALUABLE TRADE COMMODITY, but not for his game, because of his contract. he will make $9 million this year. However, his contract comes off the books at the end of next year, giving whichever team has him NINE MILLION DOLLARS MORE salary cap space. if a team wants to clear up cap room, rice is very very valuable and we could probably get something good in riturn. cato is a great backup center for us, and besides that, a LOT of teams would like to have him. ESPECIALLY in the east. name 5 eastern starting centers better then cato. and there is no way in hell i would give up cat for alvin williams.
Cato for Alvin..........yes Cat for Alvin............NO Cat is a much better than Alvin offensively and defensively. Period. Alvin is a 6'5" Jamal Tinsley. I'd love him to be Moochie's replacement, but not at the cost of Cat.
I love Mobley, but c'mon, Mobley is not more versatile than Alvin Williams! Mobley is a true SG. No one ever talks about him being versatile. Mobley does not have PG skills... he is a combustible scorer. nothing wrong with that... when did he play the point last year? Bringing the ball up the court a few times does not make you a point guard. Bench, 2nd option, leading scorer... these are not qualities of versatility... they are roles that he has played due to the makeup of the team and his own evolution from rookie to veteran. Alvin Williams is a true combo guard. You could play him as a 1 or a 2 with little complaint. He can guard 1s, 2s and small 3s. As the starting PG for the Raptors he had to guard the opposing team's PG on a nightly basis... he is recognized as being one of the better defensive guards in the league and is a much better defender than Mobley (though the Cat has improved). Mobley's steals numbers went up dramatically last year because having Yao as protection behind him allowed him to ambush the passing lanes and be more aggressive. Physically, Williams is longer, taller, bigger. He is a solid, if not extremely creative, ball distributor. Check out his assist/TO ratio. He is also quality jump shooter from inside the 3 pt line who can score if necessary. I'd describe him as solid, steady, unspectacular. Mobley is the much better scorer, better FT shooter, and better 3 pt shooter. All this said, I don't know if I'd trade Mobley for Williams. I'm on the fence. My points above are strictly about the versatility of Alvin Williams. I'd rather see the Rockets swing another deal to get Williams. We'd have a 3 guard set of Stevie, Mobley, and Williams here in Houston with Steve and Cat as the starters and Moochie as the ball boy. Alvin could be the backup, playing about 28-30 min a night. That would be as solid a backcourt as any in the league.
