and hayes is that dude. what's wrong w/ wanting him to cover boozer? if i remembered, hayes OWNED boozer but too bad he had to guard okur. if there was 2 hayes, we win the series.
Battier for Lewis - Yes. Battier for Wilcox - Hell no. Wilcox is not that much better than Battier, and no one is as good a defender as Battier. With JVG gone, we need SOMEONE to pick up the defensive slack.
if i remember correctly, what position killed us in the playoff? and who exactly did battier shut down in the playoffs? battier is good defender, but vastly overrated. lewis fits our worst position in PF.
Howard for James - Not sure. Juwan was better than James last season, but James has done better in the past. Juwan and Deke helped McGrady keep the Rockets afloat while Yao was out. James spurned us for the TWolves. Juwan is only 2 yrs older. If we get Francis, we don't need James. It all depends, but I really appreciated Juwan's hard work, even though he sucked beyond belief in the playoffs.
And we didn't shut down anyone in the playoffs. Battier was part of the problem, but the Spurs really couldn't shut them down either.
Not battier's fault that he's a natural SF/SG (more SF than SG) and those were not exactly the posistions where the Jazz looked to to get their points. He'd get more of a role if they had faced a Ginobili, Lebron, etc. He still made plenty of important plays in help D.
I would hATE to see battier go, he is such a professional hard-working guy whose defensive skills helped us win at least 20 games guarding the opp's teams best players... But for lewis i would.. But not us adding this year's pick, maybe next years or luther head/sura
Could this be the Rockets making clear they would be willing to part with Battier if it garners the right price? Its a PR world and this could help soften the blow to Battier if something opens up for the organization.
"A team that wants to win now doesn't seek to trade away a player like a Shane Battier. You're talking about a player who is smart, efficient in all areas professional on and off the floor." lol. uh....ok. sounds like something richard justice would write.
May I ask which planet you just beamed in from? Anyway, all this speculation about Rashard Lewis is so much hot air. Except for the highly remote possibility Lewis demands a trade to Houston only, it is highly unlikely. There are too many teams out there with better trade bait. Obtaining Darko Milicic is wondrous to dream about but almost as unlikely as a Lewis acquisition. Remember, we now have Moneyball as the GM -- not a slick rabbit out of the hat guy like Carroll Dawson. We do need a mobile PF, but the only way we are going to find one I fear is through the draft, i.e. trading up some way somehow. There are under the radar kinds of players like Nick Collison who might become expendable. Also, my current under the radar favorite is C.J. Miles, a free agent who could become a very good SG.
I would take mike james instead of juwan howard's 7million a yr, but battier and draft pick for lewis i dont know due to risk of whether he will fit in with yao and tmac
i love battier. i do. but for rashard? done and... DONE! seriously though, lewis would have a greater impact on the rockets than battier. there's enough warm bodies on the bench to use for defensive purposes (snyder for ex, not that he is lock down, but neither is battier). the lewis story would be a "prodigal son" story just as was clyde in 94. hope seattle is that dumb!
Whoa.... JHo for James? Lewis for Battier and our #26? Hmm...so who will play our PF position? Chuck?
Battier & 1st for a Rashard not a good deal. Especially b/c Lewis has opted out of his contract. Not good economics here.
