I thought that I made it clear that I DON'T want the Rockets to do what Francis and Mobley want, but to do what Mgmt thinks is best. If I didn't, I apologize and I am going to make it crystal clear now...Francis and Mobley - stick to playing & let CD make the decisions about drafting players and making trades.
Wow ... as I flipped through the channels trying to catch the Mobley part again, I found Jim Rome interviewing Jalen Rose. Rome asked point blank if Rose would prefer to land an Andre Miller or Baron Davis or select outright Jay Williams at the #2. Rose said he would love to have Miller or Davis, but being young and a rookie doesn't mean you're not going to come to play ball. When pressed for an answer: one or the other, Rose wouldn't give it... saying his only requirement is the player comes to play ball. Maturity.
I agree with what Mobes said about how Odom would benefit the team but ... I don't think he should have talked about trading it because that lowers the trading value. Rave about Dunleavy(even though it would scare the crap out of me), rave about Ming. Don't talk about trading it to the press. Leave the speculation to rumor mongers. Still ... don't really think there's any real damage here. btw best damn blah blah sucks.
Who the hell cares if he and Steve talked about it? The Rockets have won 2 championships, both without Cat or Steve. If they think trading the #1 for Lamar Odom will carry us to a championship, they must be the stupidest men alive.
It will take a lot more than sending Crawford for Odom,even if we added KT and the 15th pick it probably won't be enough.The Clippers can get better offers than that for him.
After watching the clip, I feel like some people really are getting a little too worked up over this. I suppose Cuttino hinting that he and Steve aren't thrilled with Yao works against what Rudy and CD are trying to accomplish in strengthening the value of the #1 pick. However, that's a far cry from delivering an ultimatum to management or anything. I think whoever described it as "musings" captured it best. Cuttino was asked if he wanted the Rockets to draft Yao, and it seemed that he didn't want to say "yes" because he didn't feel that way. He was asked what he'd rather do, and he said he'd rather trade it for a "proven player." Fair enough. But he didn't bring up Odom. Everyone else did. Once Odom came up, he agreed and then he continued talking about why Odom would fit with the Rocks because everyone kept questioning him about it. That to me didn't seem like he was trying to pressure management into getting Odom. That seemed to me like he answered honestly and just followed the conversation. Now, I don't necessarily agree with Cuttino, and he probably didn't help the cause by expressing these particular preferences. But to accuse him of sabotaging the front office is going way too far, IMO. Even if Steve and Cuttino really feel this way, I don't think they'd pull Scottie Pippens and have temper tantrums if the Rocks drafted Yao. They might not be happy, but I'd be surprised if they didn't deal with it as professionals and go about their business trying to win. It might affect their inclinations at contract time, but that's about it, IMO. But I'm sure Troy knows what he's talking about. And I recognize that I don't know how these shows work and how much of the script they go through ahead of time, but that's my take. I thought this interview was going to be really bad, but in the end, all I saw was Cuttino speaking honestly about his preferences, nothing more.
I think Steve and Cuttino are having way to much input about what the Rockets should do. You know, If our star players had ever acheived anything, then maybe I would feel different about it. But the Rockets' stars have not even lead the team to the playoffs, and yet they apparently think they should have a alot of input on who to take in the draft. I hope the Rockets organization takes a strong stand. You know Francis was behind getting Terrence "piece of crap" morris here. And even worse, the Rockets lost a first round pick to the Hawks for him. Hawks raped the Rockets on that one. Finally, when Cuttino says it would be a disgrace to Francis if the Rockets drafted williams, I think Cat is actually saying that the Rockets better not draft Jay because Mobley will have to move to the bench, and Mobley will not stand for that. Let the org do its job.
What kind of Rockets fan says this? If we pass on Ming and get Odom, whether I agree with it or not, I'm gonna root like hell for us to make the playoffs, Odom to be an all-star, and Ming to be a bust. Its just principle, man. You never want your team to look bad and you always want to win. P.S. Are you only a Yao Ming fan? If so, then I typed all that for no reason. damn.
What I find amusing is that Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley think they know what's best for the Rockets franchise, as if they have actually acheived anything in their careers. Last time I checked, Steve Francis hasn't played in ONE playoff game, and the one series Cat was lucky enough to play in he got STUFFED by Shaq on a very important game-deciding shot. These guys need to shut up and let Rudy and CD run the team. From what I understand, before Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley even started college the Rockets had won two championships without them. But, there is one thing I agree with that Cat said. Eddie Griffin <b>IS</b> a 4. He is a post player. In college that was his bread and butter. He is 6' 10" and can bang even now (he was ridiculous on the boards last year). Within two years he will have bulked up to the point that he will be a regular power forward for the Rockets. Either that or he will have been traded. But, I suspect that if the Rockets do decide to trade the #1 pick, Mo T will be unloaded on the team that wants the pick. I just think that at this stage the Rockets need size more than anything, and Lamar Odom is just not going to cut it. Besides, he's the second coming of Robert Horry in terms of unrealized potential. I mean, he just half-asses everything all the time. Yeah, that's just what we need. A dope-smoking half-ass player instead of a potential superstar center that can cancel out the 5 against the Lakers, Kings, etc.... I say go with the potential at this stage, and give Mobley and Francis a reality check about what they think they've accomplished in this game.
I knew it. I wouldn't doubt that Francis told him he felt that way. Told you that lottery day quote had a intended meaning.
The thing about Mobley saying it would "be over" is the best feeling I have gotten regarding the organization in a few years. If Steve and him really feel they can be that much better if joined by Odom, we HAVE to do it. Those are our building blocks, like it or not. Yao Ming is a clown and he shouldn't be so highly regarded when he's done NOTHING. Jay Williams has done something, Mike Dunleavy's done something, hell even Juan Dixon has done something. I don't consider beating the Bayi Rockets something unless perhaps you're a high school team, a very average one. Yao Ming has done nothing and all of this stuff about the Chinese gov't and him not being there for training camp stinks to high hell, or low hell in Yao's case. I sincerely hope we follow Cat's advice and go ahead with the Odom trade. Otherwise, we will be left with two angry players and a huge misfit, on the court and otherwise.
Oh, and one more thing... Steve and Cuttino will be <b>REALLY</b> happy when Ming is getting rebounds all night and throwing easy outlet passes to them on the fast-break. They will get more alley-oops and showtime dunks than they ever dreamed of. And, Steve and Cuttino will be <b>REALLY</b> happy when guys blow by them and Ming is there to swat their layup attempts (especially Francis, who is a WEAK defender). And, finally... If Ming was a high-school player in the U.S., averaging 39 points and 21 rebounds per game in the high-school playoffs, they would be begging to draft him. Ming will be drafted by the Rockets (barring any major setbacks with the Chinese government), and Steve and Cuttino will realize that it was the right move.
Mobley really couldn't be that smart cuz what I just saw on tv was some of the most dumb crap coming out of a players mouth. I liked the part when they asked him about Kobe and the Lakers down the road if they didn't have Shaq and Phil Jackson.. I think he said something like "Kobe is Kobe he's still gonna be the same"..............To me that really shows me that he really devalues the presence of a Superstar center. Then when Scoop and John Sally tried to get him to understand that the Lakers wouldn't be as good and Kobe would just be throwin up 25 shots a game I dont think Mobley still understood..... If we do get Odom we better at least get the 8th pick out of it
Dude, how can you say that? He averaged 39 points and 21 boards in the CBA playoffs! I don't care what league you are playing in, if it is a professional league and you can put up those kinds of numbers in the playoffs, it means you can shoot and board. Pau Gasol didn't even have <b>CLOSE</b> to those numbers in the Euro leagues, and look what he's done.... All you Yao detractors are going to be eating crow when he gets into the league and starts going off. Whether the Rockets draft him or someone else, it is going to happen.
i say we trade for odom, francis/mobley/odom with odom playing point forward here and there throughout the game and cat and wink on the wings we'd be unstoppable also odom and mobley are friends they both went to rhode island here are trade possibilities i would do any 1 A) rockets get pg jamal crawford and chicago bulls #2 pick FOR the rockets #1 the rockets then get lamar odom FOR jamal crawford, their choice of #15 pick or next yrs 1st rder, and kenny thomas rockets then draft yao ming with the #2 pick overall and send either #15 pick or next yrs pick (whichever the clippers dont take) to complete the francis trade bulls do this because they are afraid of the rockets tradeing the #1 pick to a team that would take jay williams (expecially after the mobley interview) clipps do this because they need a pg bad and jamal crawford can be a star if healthy and they get another pick and can try to package their pick and the rox to move up a couple slots and pick dejaun wagner which i heard they want PG steve francis/moochie norris SG cuttino mobley/oscar torres SF lamar odom/eddie griffin/glen rice PF mo taylor/kenny thomas/eddie griffin C yao ming/kelvin cato/eddie griffin B)rockets get lamar odom, #8 pick, and corey maggette FOR rox #1 pick and kenny thomas rockets then give the #15 pick to grizzlies to complete the francis trade rockets draft stoudamire, hilario, tshadillas (sp?), or qyntel woods (probly will be gone) this might be a little to much but i still think the clipps would consider it and if not then..... PG steve francis/moochie norris SG cuttino mobley/corey maggette/oscar torres SF lamar odom/corey maggette/glen rice PF mo taylor/eddie griffin C kelvin cato/eddie griffin plus whoever is drafted at #8 C)rockets get lamar odom, #8 pick/maggette (preferably maggette) FOR #1 pick PG steve francis/moochie norris SG cuttino mobley/*corey maggette/oscar torres SF lamar odom/*corey maggette/glen rice PF mo taylor/eddie griffin C kelvin cato/eddie griffin all of these options look very good to me
Who would you rather have on the court, Mobley or Rose? I'd probably go with Jalen, though Cat is probably a more consistent defender.
I must of read this wrong. You would rather have a college player than the 13th highest scorer in the league?
Just like Timing said, he makes one mistake and he's out for the year. Trading him for #1 is way more risky than taking Yao, he tokes up one more time, we're screwed, TMo could just make that a whole lot worse. I like Odom, but I think Steve and Cuttino want to be flashy, that would be fun to watch though, don't know what they are going to do now
