Why don't you name oneof these young centers that you think the Rockets can get? Please think about it and provide an answer.
Use Hill as your backup center this year and then trade Jeffires, Andersen and Llull for Dalembert at the deadline to shore up the playoff roster. Its time to wrap up this backup center problem for good.
Sadly there aren't too many FA Cs and the ones that are out there probably take other offers. That means that Andersen and Hayes along with a new postioned Hill will back up Yao. Even on a healthy year and going up against other teams 2nd string that's not a winning combination. Add to that that they are expecting Yao to play no more than 25 minutes per and you can expect one of those 3 to spend a good amount of time against the 1st string - assuming Yao plays all his 25 minutes. I think we have to trade for our backup C. I know there aren't a lot of teams wanting to unload a good big much less a good big at a backup price. Al Jefferson is one of those rumored to be available - assuming they can get Darko back who they want back. He has a PER of 19 and played in 76 of 82 games last year. While a 12+ million back up is usually not a good thing (x 3 more years), we need someone who can not only be an insurance policy, but take a good amount of minutes even when Yao is in uniform. A tandom of Al and Yao would put the 48 minutes of front court pressure you need to win games and series. And there are at least 10-15 minutes when 1 of them will be going up against some backup scrub. The less time and pressure on Yao, will only extend his career. The Timberwolves are said to be looking for some good clubhouse vet to help guide the group of young players soooo... Battier, Hill and Andersen (and the later of our 2012 picks) for Jefferson works. That gives the Timberwolves an expiring vet to put the kids on the right path, another good PF prospect and a 3 pt shooting big that almost expires next year. That give them: Darko (they really want to resign him) / Hollins / Andersen Love / Hill Johnson / Webster / Hayward / Bjelica Brewer / Battier / Ellington Flynn / Sessions / (and Rubio someday they hope) while we would have: Yao / Jefferson / Hayes (?) Scola / Jeffries / Patterson Ariza / Budinger / Harris / Johnson Martin / Mike Miller (MLE) / Taylor Brooks / Lowry That not a bad 1st and 2nd unit. Not sure that going to bring any parades but that will be an interesting team to watch.
I think the rockets should make a hard push for Brendan Haywood this off-season. He gives the rockets superior size at the back-up center position (Height 7'0, 7'6.5 wingspan, 9'5.5 standing reach), while also allowing Jordan Hill to play his natural position at the PF. ... Also this would allow us to move Patterson to the back-up SF position(given his versatility), saving Shane Battier for late in the season and the playoffs run. 2010/11 | 14 man roster Yao | Haywood | Hayes Scola | Hill | Jeffries Ariza | Patterson | Battier Martin | Budinger | Taylor Brooks | Lowry --RB
"The Boston Celtics have targeted center Brad Miller to sign in free agency, league sources told Yahoo! Sports." -Yahoo! Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=ApwNvnNUIZdgEE4fVs4Vqim8vLYF?slug=aw-bradmiller062710 NOOO!!!!!!
"The Boston Celtics have targeted center Brad Miller to sign in free agency, league sources told Yahoo! Sports." -Yahoo! Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=ApwNvnNUIZdgEE4fVs4Vqim8vLYF?slug=aw-bradmiller062710 NOOO!!!!!!
Haywood definitely works but why will Dallas give him up? He's basically 50% of the reason they traded for Butler. No way in hell they give up haywood.
