Jim Jackson never showed up to New Orleans and they did not reneg on the trade. It's a pretty clear sign they didn't really care whether he's in it or not. They were a horrible team, about to rebuild, it's more likely they are interested in a young project than an over-the-hill vet. As for the money - I care- we need to stay out & below the luxury tax threshold. The 5 mil paid on the 2nd year of Wesley's contract could have helped us get another role player. Boki's money in a rookie contract certainly did not keep us from signing anyone. There is no logical reason Boki is involved in that trade unless JVG let it be known to CD he was never going to play him. I really do not know that and I am projecting here. Putting Boki in that trade was not from a financial basis I will argue.[/QUOTE] Luxury tax was a non-issue. The Rockets spent every dime they were allowed to spend under league rules. They used the full MLE on Swift, and the full bi-annual lower level exception on Derek Anderson. As it turns out, those guys weren't really useful enough, but Wesley's salary did not stop Rockets from spending all allowed money that offseason. The limit on the spending was the league limits on free agent exceptions. Had Wesley's contract not been on the books, they still would have only the two exceptions to spend on free agent acquisition. Boki was a project player who took 2 more years and 2 more teams to finally achieve mediocrity. He's useful somewhat no for NJ, but not useful enough to wait two years for. New Orleans, if you recall, similarly did away with him. Rasul Butler & co beat him out for the spot, that should tell you something. Luxury tax
Your point blew up in your face when NOK gave up on Boki also. It's like the singing frog in that WB cartoon, someone out there will take a turn to try to see if they can capitalize on the singing frog, only to have it lay there when the time comes to perform. I'm beginning to think you and DaDa are the same person just logging in and out of each handle...which makes it scary cause you've been having a conversation with yourself.
What!?!?!?! Sorry, but Jackson was coach's pet when he was here. The problem with Jackson was he was holding onto the ball and frustrating McGrady. McGrady wanted him out. We made that trade to appease McGrady and get more ball movement. Wesley was a good defender for the rest of that year. His only problem was he was 6 foot nothing and Stackhouse and guys like that beat him with the post ups. But, he was very effective because he helped our offense by being willing to swing the ball, where Jackson held it and shot it or looked for the drive too often. Jackson was the better defender against post up guards, but when he was on the team, he was getting burned constantly by quickness. But make no mistake, Van Gundy liked him. What happened was Van Gundy finally realized how much he was slowing down the offense and taking touches away from McGrady. Hence, the trade.
I am really not sure with this guy he does not have the poison to achieve something great sometimes he looks like Stro on the court
YES !!! Just as Portland looks stupid for trading Jermaine O'neal. Teams should DEVELOP their talent, why give it away? If Darko turns out to be a force, then Detroit made a mistake. You don't GIVE away good players, that is not smart business....you protect and develop your assets so the team remains strong for years. DD
No matter how much Darko " gets it " and whether or not he got traded, the Pistons will always have egg on their face for not taking Wade, Melo, or Bosh.
I actually think that the egg on our face is a result of not taking Tayshaun Prince who plays the same position and does everything that Boki does but better. Until Boki surpasses Tayshaun that is the real travesty of what happened to our 15th pick in the 2002 draft.
I meant to say tragedy by the way. Darn no editing feature. But some people are making a travesty out of this discussion by elevating Boki to a level in their mind that he has yet to truly achieve on the court.
This is a good post. Who would have thought Tayshawn would be strong wnough to play in the NBA. I was very interested in him form the draft, but feared he would be like Camby and be injury prone. Good call on this and on Tayshaun Prince. Unbelievable defender. can you imagine him with Battier?
I stand corrected. I had no Idea T-Mac demanded Jackson be traded. If so that would have been the substance of the trade. I'm glad to know this. this changes my feelings about losing Jackson-as I am loyal to T-Mac and want him happy-as we all do. I guess with David Wesley I was disappointed - he was a great scorer when he played for Charlotte Hornets and was a Rocket Killer. I hated playing them-Wesley was so good. Defensively as a Rocket-Wesley seemed to small to guard a bigger guard and would get smoked by small quick players. In his second season with the Rockets -Wesley seemed to lose horsepower and became ineffective.
Oh man... We could of had Jordan if we would of traded Ralph Sampson! Damn these Rockets! Damn them to HELLL!!!!!!!!!!
I don't know why people are so obsessed with Boki when the much much bigger bonehead move was trading the draft rights to Richard Jefferson and not one but TWO other first round picks for Eddie Griffin.
Wesley was effective as a defender because he was stocky and strong, and he was a better defeder than one would think just looking at his height. Unfortunately, he was near the end of his career when we got him, and in his second year, he was required to do what all our role players had to do without our main guns....play over their heads....they failed. There was no way in hell that team with all the injuries it sustained was gonna be anywhere close to good......it was hardly Wesley's fault...we needed our big guys, Wesley was never one of those...
You are right. What a disappointment Griffin was. I remember exacty where I was.- at Lowes in Baytown buying my father in law a lawnmower. I was so excited when I heard we got Griffin. I recall we needed a big man so bad-I thought we might have Kevin Garnet Lite. Serious let down.
Not me - I only like Sura and Jon Barry out of those guys-and Barry only in the run in '95 when Sura did so well with Tracy.
I've never had a higher compliment- Do you really think I write nearly as well As DaDakota? Cool - really cool. Thank you
Good points-It really was - is near the end of his career. That was a bad season for all with the injuries.
