The ones to blame here are T-wolves/Rockets, or whichever team leaked the rumored trade between the two. If Minnesota leaked it they screwed themselves out of Luther Head, and if the Rockets leaked it they lost out on Roy. You think professional sports franchises would know to always keep your mouth shut about potential trades until draft day.
I guess that was the one that CD thought he had. So what do you do if the deal doesn't go down, you panic and send all your athleticism to a division rival for 10 and 5.
It's not so much of a leak but rather common sense. The Wolves, if they intend to keep on KG, they need either a center, small forward, or a point guard. They already have a shooting guard in Ricky Davis so drafting a player like Brandon Roy doesn't do them any good. A player like Foye would be ideal like when the Wolves had Marbury and, later on, Billups. And EVERYONE knew the Rockets were jonesing for Roy. And when he got drafted by the Wolves, it was pretty much game over. There was a fair amount of risk taking by the Rockets in hoping that other teams wouldn't try to get Roy as well. Minnesota got their man (Foye), Portland got their man (Roy), Boston got their men (Telfair and Ratliff), Memphis got their man (Gay), and we got the KY treatment.
Still doesn't explain trading away the #8 and Swift for bloody Battier. You don't get Roy, oh well, then just trade down for the Hornets' 2 picks, get Redick, Carney, Brewer, whoever the heck you want but DO NOT manage to get older and less athletic on DRAFT NIGHT! Sweet muscular Jesus, this is a nightmare that I just can't wake up from.
And here's what really puzzles me about this supposed deal/snafu: If that's the way it went down, then it means that Minnesota still could've dealt with the Rockets, but they preferred getting Foye (alone) over Gay AND Head? Why???
Point Guard help. They desperately need a PG. Sure Foye is a combo guard, but according to all sorts of scouting reports, he's the real deal. Maybe they thought "Why trade for Marbury and his bloated contract when we can get a younger version of him for cheap?". All in all, I think if the Timberwolves would have selected Foye at the 6, Boston would still have taken Roy for Portland to complete the Telfair deal. It was all on the contingent that we moved into Atlanta's spot if we had wanted Roy. CD does not know how to strategize at all.
Minnesota didn't want Gay, they only wanted Foye. And since Portland swooped in and botched our trade Minnesota ended up with cash instead of Head.
Actually Jerry West doens't have a very good eye for talent in the draft. The best player he has selected in Memphis was Drew Gooden. I don't think any of the other players he drafted are even in the league. His picks with the Lakers weren't much better. West is more known for a being great at trading for monster talent(Shaq, Kobe, Gasol). His signature move is fleecing teams into making stupid trades when they think they have no other choice - call him an opportunist. Collangelo on the other hand is known for making very good picks. He drafted Finley, Nash, Amare, Deng, Marion, and Steven Jackson. That's not bad. Let's hope the Rockets can see that if West wants to trade for him and Collangelo wants to draft him, it's probably a safe bet the guy is worth A LOT more than Battier.
I don't blame West either. But If I'm CD and the Rockets and I found out that Jerry West had tipped off Portland of our plans to trade Foye for Roy then I woud certainly rescind the trade just to stick it to West.
So basically, the Battier trade was the last resort. That hurts even more. I agree...I'll bet Jerry West called Patterson to tell our blueprint. This seems likely because West said once the Celtics picked Foye, his draft room was happy and cheering. Good one CD and company...in letting Last Resort Jerry West know our whole plan.
