Ummm...no I'm not. Sorry, I had to comment on this. If McDyess leaves, that team will not have one legitimate starting player on their entire squad. Like I said in my post, the Rockets would be giving up TWO, young very highly-touted prospects. Who are the Cavs going to package Andre Miller with to equal the value of Griffin AND Williams. Answer: Noone. Or who are the Hornets going to package with Davis? And besides, I think you're underestimating how badly teams want Jay Williams. He's probably the most highly-regarded collegiate player to enter the draft since Tim Duncan in 1997. I'm sure there are a lot of teams that would take Williams over Miller, and possibly some who would take Williams over Davis. If you're rebuilding a team from scratch, Williams is by far a better choice than Miller.
My Point is wait. Next year. . .Nuggets will be even more desperate or even by the trade dealine. Gives Ming/Griffen/everyone time to see what is going well or not Getting him now. . . then he opts out and goes back to denver [isn't that how he left Phoenix?] leaves us with nothing McDysess can opt out at after a year here Odom's contract is up next year lot of contract negotiations and cap room sucking up Rocket River
I'm fairly new at this, so I'm very happy that my quick post has generated this much talk. I've heard much about what we would do. One question hasn't been answered: what do people think the Rockets would do? I think all the hype about Ming is necessary, to keep the Chinese govt happy. I think Les Alexander's bottom line is that he needs these Rockets to make the damn playoffs this year. If McDyess is available, I think they make a serious play for him. War Francis, Mobley, Butler, McDyess and Cato!
I wouldnt really want to give up Griffin up in the deal, let alone Taylor. However, if we had to I would be willing to trade KT and Mo T to the Nuggets. I think this trade we would be good enough as it is without having to give up the #1. If anything, I think we might be giving up too much, but we could really use another star.
You're right, Manny, aelliott did make me look silly. I had way too much refined grape Monday afternoon and evening and "fell asleep" shortly after my last post. However, I have just finished reading all the posts and can respond with slightly improved lucidity (my head still hurts). My apologies to you, aelliott, if I sounded overly harsh. I certainly did not mean to impugn your suggestions for improving the Rockets. I still disagree with the methodology. IMO we cannot keep blowing up the Rockets. Trading Eddie Griffin or any of our other core players (Francis and Mobley) would in the long run be damaging to the organization. Right or wrong, I was incensed several years ago by McDyess using Houston fan excitement to get a better contract from Denver. I'm no Phoenix fan, but I felt he was blatantly unfair to them as well. I have never forgiven him nor do I trust him now. He has demonstrated no loyalty to his teams or teammates. Second, what kind of message does that send to the other players if we are telling them "we want you" one day and "oops, you're expendable" the next? Let's build with core players and add them one by one through the draft. I failed at my attempt at sarcasm (forgot my ) when I proposed the Taylor for McDyess trade. McDyess is clearly the better player and, swallowing my disdain for McDyess, I would do a trade for him -- as long as core players were not involved given his propensity for bolting at the next great offer. (Sorry, my personal animus was leaping to the fore again.) Looking at the stats (first McDyess and then Taylor) 17.6 / 13.7 PPG; 8.7 / 5.3 RPG; 68.2% / 71.7% FT%; 1.6 / 1.3 assists. Yes, McDyess wins in every category except FT percentage. But, the difference is two FGs and 3 rebounds per game. Is that worth Eddie Griffin AND Yao Ming AND Mo Taylor? Oh, but Butler is included, you say. I think Butler is going to be a very good player. I have never said otherwise. However, if we draft him, before the All-Star break, there will be posters trashing him because he can't defend Gasol or Nowitski -- just as we currently blast Kenny Thomas for being too short to play power forward despite his 14/7 numbers. (Yes, I'm in the K.T.-is-expendable-because-he-is-too-short camp even though I really like his play and hope he goes to a team that appreciates him.) IMO, and purely speculation: If Butler is not drafted by the Rockets, he will play shooting guard and quickly become an All-Star. Anyway, I'm glad I'm not the GM -- and I hear all those other shouts of "Me too." We have acquired "superstars" from other teams and we have not had a lot of success. Clyde Drexler was a great pickup but he was with us a little more than two seasons; Barkley was fun but not fullfilling; Pippen, well, let's not go there; Thorpe (yessss.....and then we traded him away).
no way in hell. give up a future star and our pf for the number five pick and trading the #1 for mcdyess? no. was nugzfan banned or did he just get pissed off and left?
I honestly don't understand this board's infatuation with McDyess. His name is mentioned and everyone gets wet and goes crazy. Why? Yes, he's a good PF. All star caliber when healthy. But, he can only play PF. Way too small for C, not skilled for the 3. But, we don't need ANY kind of PF, especially not one coming off a big injury, with a hefty price tag. If you want a guy with Dice's production, Jamison is a lot more cost effective (talent-wise) and younger. We don't need him either. He is NOT however an absolute stud-he's a little older than our core, and isn't the type of piece that gets us deep in the playoffs-to the playoffs yes, but not far into them.
I don't understand why we'd do this deal, either. McDyess is a very good player. And I think he'll probably be healthy next year. But he's clearly not good enough to help a team win on his own. And when you have the #1 pick, I think it's a mistake to trade for anybody but a true individual difference maker. Griffin was the #7 pick. But he could easily have been the #1 as well. He has more range than McDyess already, and is a better shot blocker right now, at age 19. I'd probably trade them straight-up. But when you include the rest... then Griffin's upside just becomes too much to part with. I don't understand why some think McDyess is a good shot blocker. Certainly, he's athletic. But from what I've seen, his instincts are sadly lacking. As a final note... why are so many people on the "Ming will bust" or "Ming will be an All-star" camps? Nobody here has seen enough of him to no. And I'd wager that nobody in the NBA really knows either. It's a calculated risk, just like any other.
I believe that nugzfan was banned over a month ago. Don't know what happened to the kinder, gentler Nuggets fan, Nuggets4.
If anybody is wondering where is Nugzfan now. http://boards.espn.go.com/cgi/nba/request.dll?LIST&room=nba_hou He's user name is Satterfield2Harvey.
To no one in particular: no one has mentioned the Rockets gave up three ones for Eddie...ponder that for more than a second then the light will blind you. No way the Rockets trade Griffin and no way do they take Ming...it's called postering. Stevie wants a true small and the Rockets are inclined to get one for him or risk losing him next year. IF they take ming, steve will wait before signing any extension. Can you say trade bait. Personally I think the risk is just too great. Houston can still get a big at 15 or during the sure to happen trade.
