The Knicks and Layden are known for poor moves lately. The Rockets for all of the fortune that they have had lately, have made some poor decisions also. I was wondering, and its not like I've checked it, but do remember some of the salaries, would the Knicks do it. As a student of the Rockets, does it make sense to the rockets also? Houston sends Taylor,Griffin,Cato and Norris to the Knicks for McDyess,Harrington,Ward and a future pick. How would this benefit the Rockets? They get Western conference albeit injured 4 in McDyess, a hard working pf in Harrington and a backup contract friendly pg in Ward. If it doesn't work out, all 3 can be fa's after the season along with Rice. In turn the Rockets would be in line to go after the big prize in Brand. If McDyess knees hold up, then the Rockets have a 29yr ready to battle next to Ming. How would it benefit the Knicks? They get a young talented player in Griffin, a offensive 4 in Taylor, a big live body in Cato and cap filler in Norris. The thing is, with this deal, the Rockets would probably have to move Mobley, but this shouldn't be done until McDyess is close to 100% back Is this feasible? Probably. Is it likely? Don't know. Is this too much to give up for future felxibility. Not really. I'm not really a Realgm fan, but I checked it and it works for all intensive purposes. Houston trades: PF Eddie Griffin (8.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.1 apg in 24.5 minutes) PG Moochie Norris (4.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.4 apg in 16.8 minutes) C Kelvin Cato (4.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 0.3 apg in 17.1 minutes) PF Maurice Taylor (8.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.0 apg in 20.6 minutes) Houston receives: PF Othella Harrington (7.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 0.8 apg in 25.0 minutes) PG Charlie Ward (7.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 4.6 apg in 22.2 minutes) PG Antonio McDyess (7.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 4.6 apg in 22.2 minutes) Change in team outlook: -10.9 ppg, -8.2 rpg, and +0.6 apg. New York trades: PF Othella Harrington (7.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 0.8 apg in 25.0 minutes) PG Charlie Ward (7.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 4.6 apg in 22.2 minutes) PG Antonio McDyess (7.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 4.6 apg in 22.2 minutes) New York receives: PF Eddie Griffin (8.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.1 apg in 77 games) PG Moochie Norris (4.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.4 apg in 82 games) C Kelvin Cato (4.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 0.3 apg in 73 games) PF Maurice Taylor (8.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.0 apg in 67 games) Change in team outlook: +10.9 ppg, +8.2 rpg, and -0.6 apg. TRADE ACCEPTED
If you went to www.realgm.com to see if the deal would work I'm surprised you didn't see the main headline. http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap.php I wouldn't touch McDyess but there are a few other players on the Knicks that I wouldn't mind going after like Kurt Thomas.
I did see it, but thats why i would like to have Harrington as insurance. Its alot of ifs and still would like to have SAR instead, but the possible cap relief itself is enough to take a chance. If it doesn't work, McDyess can walk along with Rice and his 9mil, Ward and his5.5 mill. Even wiith Francis max salary, McDyess 12mil,Rice 9mil,and Wards 5.5, we would be in great shape to get a impact player in free agency like Brand.
I don't want any more star players that need to have the ball in their hands. We need role players that can hit open shots and play great defense.
I know everyone wants to follow the Lakers recipe for success by having 2 players score all the points, but here's the problem I have. 1) Francis isn't close to the player Kobe is. 2) Ming isn't close to the player Shaq is. I would rather follow the Kings success for building a real good team. Fluid offensive system that has players in a position to succeed. The pieces fit the puzzle well. They don't have Kobe or shaq, but what they have is a pf in webber(20ppg 10rebs), Peja(19ppg), and Bibby(16ppg). Also on that same team, they have Christie,Divac,Jackson,Jackson,Clark and Hedo who all have to be respected on the offensive end. Did I mention, you never hear about this player not getting this shot or what not. Unless you can come up and have 2 players as dominant as Shaq and Kobe, I think this is the best way to go. The Lakers offensive system and domince is more of the exception than the rule, because I really can't ever remember a team having 2 franchise players on the same team that are in the prime of their careers.
I wouldnt dump all this talent for future flexibility. What I would consider is dealing Cato to the Knicks (since they are looking for big men) for salary flexibility (ie contracts expiring next year). This would enable the Rockets to more easily pursue high dollar players in the offseason via trade ie Brian Grant if Cato's salary is off the books next yr. Also, Leeb, I think you are misunderstanding the viewpoint by the folks on this site wanting to build around Francis and Ming just a tad. No one is saying surrounding them with a bunch of CBA players. Surround them with players like James Posey, Eric Piatkowski, Eric Snow, Brian Grant, Andre Miller, Lamar Odom etc guys that can fit in around them and can do something else besides score. Basically guys that can rebound, pass, defend, and/or push the break plus work well off the ball but dont require 15 shots a game to be effective ie Mobley. I think a lot of people here are discounting the true potential of Francis and Ming; Yao can be every bit as good as Duncan in time if he gets the touches, gets the shots. I could easily see Yao become a 23-12 type player in a few yrs. Steve is also very capable of being one of the top players in the league, if he gets more shots and takes on a scoring role, he could easily be a 28-6-5 type player imo. When you have two players with that kind of potential, you build around them.
If you want to deal with the Knicks, here's one that works: Mobely, Cato, and Taylor for Thomas and Houston. The Knicks get out from under a huge contract and a decent 2 to replace him and they get a 25 minute per game center (which is more than they have now) and an offensive 4 for their best banger who is too small to play the 5. We get an all-star shooter who can spread the defense for Yao and a tough banger like we haven't had since Otis Thorpe. Oh yeah, and half a season trying to get a chemistry going. j
leebigez :- You are a Senior Member of this Forum! You are not supposed to be as thick as two short planks!
Cuttino Mobley/Eddie Griffin/Glen Rice/1st Round Draft Pick Latrell Sprewell/Kurt Thomas/2nd Round Draft Pick
