Haywood is the best 5 on the open market. However, if Dallas lets him loose, I would suspect they are trading for that CP3/Okafor package and that would be YIKES!
Marin Gortat is apparently looking for bigger minutes- Gortat's future 9:28 AM ETMarcin Gortat | Magic Top Email Some have surmised that Marcin Gortat could be traded at some point, namely because he has the talent to be getting more minutes than he is in Orlando backing up Dwight Howard. On Thursday, we noted a report that a Luol Deng for Gortat and Mickael Pietrus swap had been discussed. And in Thursday night's draft, the Magic selected Kentucky center Daniel Orton with the No. 29 pick in the first round, leading Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated to tweet: "Orton to the Magic, Gortat's days could be numbered." Yet, as ESPN's Chad Ford writes, both Orton and Stanley Robinson, Orlando's second-round selection, probably aren't ready to contribute right away, which means Gortat could remain in Orlando: Also- UFA Cs: Brad Miller Brendan Haywood Jermaine O'neal Channing Frye
If Yao was able to play 30 minutes a game, they would be just fine. I bet mgmt doesn't want Yao playing more than 20. Chuck, while he's a good defender, makes our team real small. No shot blocking with chuck and no offense. Hill has yet to be proven and if we are trying to make a deep run, you can't count on someone who isnt proven. Getting someone like Haywood would keep Yaos minutes down, while getting blocks and boards. With 25 minutes, he'll average close to 10 pts, 8 boards, and 2 blocks. Those are great numbers while Yao isn't in the game.
I love the chuckwagon, but not at center. Hill shows promise, but needs to get stronger if he wants to hold down the 5 spot. Neither is suited to play the kind of minutes at center that we need this year, given Yao's situation.
We have no chance to get Brendan Haywood, but there is another I would really like to acquire. Here is the guy (as I don my flame suit) -- Darko Milicic. He will probably go back to Europe, but he would be the perfect F-C to back up Yao Ming.
Why don't we have a chance? He's an unrestricted FA fresh off a trade, so he doesn't feel tied to a certain team. We have just as good of shot landing him, if we want to spend the money. Plus, Dallas still has the 2nd best center in the league, so it's not like he's a must have.
Miller Fesenko Anthony Randolph? Warriors drafted Ekpe Udoh with 6th pick Joel Freeland, draft rights owned by Blazers Tiago Splitter, draft rights owned by Spurs Gortat? Haywood's going to get starter money, ie more than the MLE, from some team.
Now that the evil option is gone, Morey may "re-hire" him for half salary since he won't get that much money anywhere else.
David Kahn has already gone on record as saying that the Timberwolves want Darko back next year, likely as their starting center. Basically, the T-Wolves can offer more money and more minutes than Houston. He ain't gonna be a Rocket next year. I'm intrigued by Fesenko, although he's still a restricted free agent. I don't know if the Jazz will let him get away unless the Rockets clearly overpay for him. Randolph may be an option if the Rockets strike out on the bigger dogs, although I personally would rather have Patterson and Hill. Freeland (as much as I know you love him, worzel) doesn't strike me as anything more than a below-average backup center. He's got some hops, but I don't think he's the second coming of Chris Andersen. No way in hell the Spurs trade Tiago Splitter. They view him as a potential franchise cornerstone.
Cuban has already told the world that he is pleased with Haywood and plans to re-sign him. I would dismiss that as bluff, but Dampier is 35 years old and slipping fast. On a different note, I would be pleased to pick up Fesenko, but he definitely is not a Morey kind of player.
Im thinking thats the direction the rockets may have to go if they can't trade for that rim protector. He won't solve their defensive problems, but he's got size and he's familiar with Adelman.
As much as I have traditionally hated the guy, I actually wouldn't mind seeing the Rockets pick up Erick Dampier as a short-term backup for Yao. He's a space-clogger and a very good rebounder. (I think I'm going to go puke now.)
Would OKC give up Ibaka? As they traded up for the 11th pick in Cole Aldrich. Ibaka intrigues me the most after Splitter.
The chance of Darko being a Rocket next year are long indeed. However, I suspect Kahn of posturing a bit. If I were a betting man, I would put my chips on the European option. However, as long as there is a glimmer of possibility for the $7M price tag, Darko would be my choice.
LOL. Im puking also, but if they have a chance at getting him there may be no other choice. I may get flamed for throwing this name out there, but I wouldn't mind looking into the availability of DeAndre Jordan from the Clippers also.
Why would they? He's a cheap project who is contributing earlier than what was to be expected. And he's basically the same size and with similar athleticism as Jordan Hill. Would love to have Ibaka's shotblocking though.
