Well, the deadline has come and gone. Some are breathing easier, tohers are gnashing their teeth. I just thought that it would be appropriate to get a sense, now that it's over of whether or not people feel the Rockets did the right thing by doing nothing. Feel free to include your reasons...
Very happy. We need consistency. Yao is becoming a different player (better) each game and I think Francis is starting to come around. Give this team plus or minus a couple spare parts a few years and we are chamions.
Yes, based on their recent play (which could be ethereal). I think there will be some major moves in the off-season, when we have a better idea of performances in the playoffs, JVG has a full season to evaluate, and Steve's BYC doesn't affect a possible trade regarding him. We also have the expansion "draft" to consider. And, a very big deal, is how we use the trade exception. This is going to be a very entertaining summer, imo.
I would say I am pretty happy. Our play as of late has been better so I didn't see a need for a "major" shakeup to trade just for the sake of trading. Perhaps during the time we were on the 4 game losing streak that was a time when it looked bad but we broke through that. I still feel we need to make moves this offseson as both our Forward positions are problematic, but now during the season is not the time. I think there are a lot more values for us in the offseason in trades than there were now (like Francis' BYC status ends then). Starting right now, this is when the Trade Exception becomes valuable (versus hanging onto Rice) and I feel armed with that, plus our MLE we can obtain a few players that will really help this team in the offseason. I am still holding out hope that Detroit will consider a S&T with us for Rasheed Wallace in the offseason for our TE+1st Rounder which will allow them to resign Okur to a higher than MLE contract (something I feel he will get from teams like Denver and especially Utah). Perhaps we might have to include a lesser player in the deal to make it work such as Nachbar. Still, it would be getting a lot of talent for giving up little. Additionally, using our MLE, perhaps the Rockets should persue adding another starting caliber forward such as an Eric Williams of Cleveland since he is a FA. It was rumored the Rockets were interested in him earlier in the season possibly for Mobley. In this scenario we could get him without giving up anyone. He is a solid worker, someone JVG would love on his team. He is a leader, good defensive player and can hit the 3pt shot. Anothe role player like Jim Jackson that would be a good fit here in JVG's system. And since Mark Jackson probably will be retiring we still need help at the backup PG spot so using another part of our MLE, perhaps look back into Charlie Ward as a back up PG. It was said Ward was close to signing here but SA won out because of their chance at a championship. Ward has said that in the offseason he would consider his options. Suppose those deals happen, the team would look like this Francis/Ward Mobley/Pike Jim Jackson/ Eric Williams/Nachbar Wallace/Taylor/Spoon Yao/Cato That would be a nice team. JVG could use Ward, Williams and Taylor as a SOLID 8 man rotation off the bench (versus our 6 man rotation we have now). Plus you would have guys like Pike and Cato that could come in for spot duty.
Goals for this year (not in priority order: 1. Playoffs...do not squeek in or backin, but go in solid. Even if 8th seed, still keep seperation from 9. The west is so tough that 8th is really like 6th in the East. 2. Get Pike back in the rotation to determine worth and possibilities for next year's roster 3. FA: Look for a FA acquisition at the SF and/or 4 to bolster the bench first and if possible starting role. I will take either 4. Coach Yao to develop a better positioning and sealing in the paint and patent a move like a sweeping hook.. 5. Some how figure out how to get Stevies turnovers and overall team reduced...this would change the entire makeup of this team. If we can adjust the assist/turnover ratio too. I believe this and Yao's inability to consistently seal are the primary problems on this team.
I would have liked to have made some kind of move, but every one of the deals that cropped up were awful. I'm glad we stayed put. Maybe the offseason will be more worthwhile...
Its now obvious that the Rockets are realising that they overpaid certain players and that some players dont exactly fit the new way of thinking and Coaching.If they are to build Championship Teams with Yao Ming as its Center Piece the Team must find itself with players that are compatible and at a price that leaves Management the ability to adjust as needed.Keeping true to his word of using his first season as the opportunity to get to know his players JVG has held pat. I expect some serious and upsetting changes in the offseason. These changes depend on the remaining 29 games and how players show that they are willing and capable of playing the Team Game as JVG perceives it.
you got danny ainge and you got isiah- somewhere in the middle you got carrol dawson. we could have used a little help- i don't know what deals were out there, but i suppose it's best to just stick it out this year to see what happens. i am more convinced than ever that JVG has the team moving in a positive direction- he was our best off-season aquisition. let's just kick some ass, okay?
I'm glad we didn't make a move involving Steve Francis since he is more valuable in trade after the season ends due to his BYC status. In the offseason, if the right deal is on the table, I would not hesitate to dump Steve and his contract. His on court performance is not worth that kind of money even if other franchises are willing to give him that kind of money because of how he sales off the court. Steve Francis is a risky investment that hasn't panned out and while I would love to have him for $60million, I'd show him the door if he asked for $90million. He's not the only star in the NBA and there are much better free agents available in free agency each year that you can throw that kind of money at. Five years is more patience than most NBA franchises have so I think Steve has had ample opportunity to prove he is worthy of franchise money. What's weird about Francis is that he does say the right things most of the time and really does look like he wants to win badly, but he simply will not give into the realities of the game and surrender his game to a more winning brand of basketball. He wants to win very badly, but not if it means changing his game and his stubborness on this issue is eventually going to lead him out of favor with Jeff Van Gundy to the point of no return (if it hasn't all ready) and when that happens, the organization will have to choose between them. I only hope the organization goes with the coach and not the player on this one although that is contrary to typical NBA managerial practice.
I'm going to say yes. We didn't miss much, just looking at what else went down. I really wanted to make a move, but it takes two to tango. I hope there's a way to unload Taylor, Cato and the guards this offseason, and rebuild the whole team around Yao Ming. Shopping list : pf - Must pass. Must be able to catch and shoot, p & r, rebound. sf - Must pass. Must be able to catch and shoot, p & r, rebound, feeds the post. sg - Must pass. Must be able to catch and shoot, p & r, no turnovers, looks for game inside out. pg - Must pass. Must be able to catch and shoot, p & r, no turnovers, looks for game inside out. Some prototypes ( not impossible to get ?): pf - Chris Webber, Brad Miller sf - Donyell Marshall, Matt Harpring sg- Ray Allen, Vince Carter pg - Kirk Hinrich, R. Lopez Our single-skill guys that can't play with Yao need to go. I hope they have a good season to make them tradeable, then expose they can't play with Yao in the playoffs; when the other teams will shut him down and let the others self-destruct. If they did that with a team more like the one I have above, shooters would kill them. We don't have that second option. Our guys will have to go 1 on 1 when Ming is shut off; and the help defense will rotate to kill us.
I'm happy that the real gm trade threads will stop for a while... Seriously, I'm happy. This team is getting better and will continue to do so. Some minor tweaking during the offseason and we'll be good to go.
Ima, the real gm threads are about to be replaced with future fantasy casting like Pasox2's post. The, let's blow up the whole team idea might work on NBA Live, but in the real world, you can't trade away an entire team and bring back a cast of allstars.
I voted no, because I am concerned that the increased value gotten by waiting for the offseason (Steve's BYC status ending)will be squandered by the team. If I was somehow certain that he would be moved in the offseason, possibly along with either Mo or Cato, then I would be happy that we are not using the trade exception to counteract Steve's BYC, but unfortunately, I don't see it happening. I think the front office is going to p***y out and not trade Steve due to his popularity (see all-star start and most popular Houston athlete status).
We already have "allstars" that aren't fundementally sound. Who wants a bunch of "allstars" in their own minds? I just want to see a team play a team game. The listed players were just illustrations, but all the "stars" in the illustration have been traded. Webber was traded for picks, then for M. Richmond Allen was traded for D. Mason and G. Payton, expiring. B.Miller was traded for J.Rose, then for S. Pollard D. Marshall has been traded to Utah, Chicago and Toronto Harpring was traded twice. R.Lopez is a cheap pick up. Carter hasn't been traded, but he is injured...again. Toronto might well trade him for Francis. Francis + Rose + Bosh is probably better than Carter + Rose + Bosh. Just as Yao + Carter is better than Yao + Francis. That's the point. Carter's shot chart has been in espn and sporting news the last month. You should see the passing. Carter could get his teammates the ball and do something with it if it came back to him; and he'd be better at deferring to his center and pg. Hinrich is the only guy with no trade on him; but you never know. Everybody in the nba gets traded. Sooner or later, every body. Teams change their styles. We have a lot of holdovers from the former style, where everyone had to get theirs on their own, with the rest clearing out. That's not going to win. We need to set up and deliver easy baskets with complementary skill sets working together. We don't do that - we have the allstar system. You get Steve or Yao, not both. You get Cat or Mo, not a p & r. You never see three passes to an easy bucket. Teams know exactly how to beat the Rockets. We could have much less explosive players and better team play and win more games. You hate hearing that, I know. Time to gel = hogwash. Only if "gel" means completely alter multiple players games. Even completely alter 1 players game. Players are who they are and you coach around their best skill, not force them to expose their worst skills. If you insist on keeping this bunch together they are going to need a system that forces them to work in tandem, not on seperate islands. Something like the triangle, which is apparently anathema to VG.
I would have liked to see them move the trade exception. The trade Utah made with Phoenix getting two 1st rounders next draft so that Phoenix could avoid the luxury tax would a have been a great move for the Rockets. Saving the trade exception for summer is a risky move because there are quite a few teams that will have plenty of cap room this summer (Clippers, Phoenix, Denver, Detroit, Atlanta, Utah, San Antonio). I think the TE may end up being completely useless by summer time. The very few good free agents will either resign or end up signing with one of those teams under the cap for more money than the TE. The teams that may have given up a lot to the Rockets now to avoid the luxury tax will have the option this summer of trading with one of the many teams under the salary cap. I just have a feeling the Rockets are going to waste this TE just like they did the last time they had one.
I'm thrilled that we kept the team together. I was stressed all day Thursday thinking "please don't trade Steve!" I still think a few trades might be needed over the offseason, but I think we should keep our core together for the future. Steve Yao Cat Jackson Those are the four that I really want to keep around for a while. Taylor and Cato, if traded to the east, I think could get us something pretty good in return, since most teams out east are desperately looking for good big men.
I took the "off-season" option. Steve's playing better, so his value will only go up... especially once the BYC status ends. Not to mention, I'd still like to see if he can play with Yao in JVG's system. It's hard to watch a player for years w/o getting attached to them. I really wish Cato had been traded for a shooter. But on balance, that wasn't a big enought deal to say that the front office "blew it."
With all the offers I heard about I am glad we did not trade. Still I would not have minded to get in the fire sale for SAR or Ratliff (who basically were traded for late picks and cap space when it came down to it). I wonder if we had kept Rice would could have made a move like that. As it is now I think we should trade SF for comparable talent to solidify one of our forward spots next offseason and use the MLE (or modest trade) to secure a solid if unspectacular PG whose primary job is to organize the offense, play solid defense, and knock down open shots if left alone.
I am happy the team was kept together at least until the offseason, I wish we could trade Pike for a backup PF, then we would be set, I think that the SF position should be Jackson's and Nachbar's, we could trade Griffin cuz he is known for good defence and what we need now is offence not defense, that we have enough allready, and I think that next year will be a breakthroug year for Nachbar, so why get rid of him, we should just trade for pike and griffin if possible.
