Are you following NBA.coms release of their Top 200 player list. fwiw: they have Capela ranked 34 spots higher than Noel.
You are underestimating Okafor's game. He averaged 2 blks a game last yr and he's a good passer. Remember, when you get in the playoffs the game slows down and we will need someone who can score in the paint.
Haven't heard anything about Rubio in over two months now. (But if you want to discuss what a great player Rubio is we can sure do that.) If you want to know who, look at our hierarchy of needs. 1a. A dominant paint defender and rebounder 1b. A premier playmaker who is also a great defender to play with Harden and to play when Harden sits, that can run the team and get these guys shots.
I don't think Okafor would make any sense for what D'Antoni and Morey want to do. He's an iso post player, and that's not a good fit for the Rockets, who want to run pick-and-rolls in the halfcourt and get out in transition. He can't space the floor for Harden's drives, I don't think he's a good roll guy on pick-and-rolls, and I don't think he improves us defensively. I could support a deal if Morey thinks Okafor can become a star-level player, but my guess is we would have already seen more of Okafor dominating in Philly if that was going to be the case. Actually, I have the same concerns about D-Mo, except that D-Mo might eventually evolve into a bit more of a floor spacer.
I don't use NBA.com as a valid source of justification.. But I feel that Capela is proven to be better than Noel already. He is also bulkier and healthier. Plus he has not been labeled with disgusting false label of intangible-upside that gives an unwarranted contract.
These two points I'll agree with (as would most of us), although we'd probably wrangle over the players that we could pursue for each role. 1a is something of a challenge. I might have argued for Tyson Chandler because he wants out of Phoenix, but the player will have to be able to run with the Rockets. Chandler's best running days might be behind him. (He does vacuum up the rebounds, though.) So, who do you get without necessarily giving up Capela? Can we snare one of the Sacramento bigs who's not getting much PT? 1b? I know who you'd argue for. Even if he were a fit, he's always injured, anyway. We do need someone to keep that ball from (reaching back to McHale days here) "getting sticky". But there aren't too many premier playmakers that will be put on the market. We might have to settle for a "darned good" playmaker.
"as would most of us" ... what about Morey and MDA? Does their vote count? Keep in mind Morey has not drafted a PG in years. He did not go for your 1b this year in free agency. He went for a young, 3 and D wing (Bazemore) and a star center (Horford). Plan B was a playmaking SG (with Harden as the 1), and an elite 3-shooting PF with high BBIQ. Plan B seemed to have a lot of input from D'Antoni after they failed on Plan A. Out of all five positions, Morey and MDA made major moves for 4 of the 5 positions, leaving out the so-called great need in 1b, because Harden is taking over the point. Thus, EGo can playmake and 15 mpg backup PGs are less of a need as other needs. imo, we still need a 3 and D wing (or 3 and D PG/SG), the 1a you list, or a legit, starting PF who can be that 1a as well in large minutes of small ball. bottomline: for me, we need everything except a WB or Irving type. It's a matter of priorities. Big minute PG seems very low according to Morey and MDA's summer actions and comments about Harden.
All I know is we're gonna need another star lik player if we want rings regardless Warriors, spurs and cavs are stacked and we can't compare
After watching the onslaught of fire power that is the Warriors and King James Cavs..it has come to my attention that The Rockets need another offensive weapon to fire and keep up. Harden, Gordon, and we cant rely on the measly 14 pts a game Anderson registers...
But he isn't great. He is average at best. Your incorrect analysis and player judgment leads me to believe hezonja will never amount to anything.
unless you include a couple of pee buckets and a samsquatch - I think it's going to be hard. And for the record - Morey is Julian and the rockets are SunnyVale it just didn't work with Ty because the park was dry last year and he decided to go back to prison (sacto) where the weed and booze were free flowing
Not worth much. But hopefully it drives the trade cost of Noel down below Capela. That's fine with me.
I wouldn't trade my player analysis and judgment for yours at this time. Not incorrect about Rubio either. That's just your opinion. Rubio would juice this team on both ends of the court.
"I'm not a big post up guy and he is," D'Antoni said Friday when asked about Howard's free agency. http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...s-got-no-issues-former-teammate-dwight-howard
