[Chad Ford Insider] Hou working on 4 team deal [Update: Done Deal - Ariza for C Lee]

This must be how DM is valuing trades.

 

I think Budinger's defense will improve a lot, especially with a true center at the rim.

DD

 

I don't know Lee's game too much. From what I saw in last year's Finals against the Lakers, he seemed to be a good defender.

At this point, it looks like a lateral move that saves money. But then I thought it was a lateral move too when when we got Lowry for Rafer. So I'll have to trust that Morey knows what he's doing.

Ariza is an okay role player. Nothing special. We want him to play defense and hit the spot up shots. I bet we'll ask Lee the same things.

Anyway, looks like Battier is not going anywhere, and Budinger will get more minutes.

BTW, I also think that Indiana got the most out of this trade. And I don't know what New Orleans is thinking.

 

AWESOME TRADE!!! You lose on perimeter defense, but add even more to offensive efficiency. The comparison to Rip Hamilton is a good one. Hard-nosed slasher with very, very good range from 18" in. Courtney Lee will go bananas in this offense!!!

Guys who watched Orlando's last Finals run know he was a HUGE key to their success. He will be a fan favorite, no question about it.

A+ once again for the best GM in sports.

 

Iggy would be a good target, but I always imagined Ariza being a part of that package.

Who would we trade now? The package would most likely have to include the expirings of Battier and Jefferies + Budinger (+ a pick, maybe?).

 

If he goes bananas it makes Martin expendable too......which is another important asset to trade.

This move is SOOOOOO good.....I mean it is NAILS good.

DD

 

You could say that about any player, though.

 

The ignorance on this board never fails to astound me. As a true Houston Rockets fan, I think it is your obligation not only to know the Rockets roster, but to be acquainted with each and every NBA player: know the enemy. Secondly, it is your duty to bring a thoughtful, objective eye in evaluating said talents. This board should not be about the casual fan, relegated to petty homerism... THINK PEOPLE!

That said, it is obvious that several of the arguments in this thread have merit... SIMULTANEOUSLY. It's not a black and white world people, and personnel decisions running an NBA team are not always black and white. This is exactly the reason we love Morey so much, his ability to understand all facets of the roster at once, and taking them all into account when creating the team.

On talent:

Trevor Ariza is a quality player, and a relative bargain given the free agency debacle of this summer. While he was infuriating to watch during the first half of last season, given his complete lack of handles, I truly believe he would fit into a system with Yao seamlessly. He's every bit the spot up three point shooter that Battier is, and while he plays a much more aggressive type of defense than Shane (thus gambling and falling out of position MUCH more frequently), he was one of the few Rockets in the past ten years who could actually create turnovers, turning defense into offense. With an actual paint presence (no offense Chuck), Ariza's gambles would be less of a liability as someone would be there to clean up his mess.

However, anybody who watches basketball knows that Courtney Lee is also a quality player, and by no means trash. He's an even better shooter than Ariza, most glaringly in his ability to shoot while moving (watch his college tape) something Ariza was utterly and completely incapable of. Additionally, he has at least a semi-respectable ability to handle the ball. I can't count the number of times I yelled at the TV last year as Ariza botched another 2 on 1 or 3 on 2 fast break with his out of control dribbling. Best case scenario would see Ariza end up at the line, which is a part of his game that was inexplicably lacking (unlike Lee's excellent FT%). Lee is also a quality defender. Not quite the physical stud that Ariza is, and a little undersized guarding traditional 2's (Kobe, Wade), he makes up for it with a tenacity that I think Rockets fans could fall in love with (that is if Adelman ever decides that defense is actually a part of the game too...).

On team need:

As pointed out by several members, this is the biggest positive of the trade. The Rockets had a glut of SFs with Ariza, Battier, and Budinger and really no viable backup SG (sorry JT lovers, but no thank you). This trade evens out the roster considerably (cough dump jefferies cough). I also notice a theme of offense-defense in Morey's roster building. He likes the ability to throw either an offensive or defensive player at each position.

Offense: Brooks, Martin, Budinger, Scola
Defense: Lowry, Lee, Battier, Hayes

On Salary:

Clearly, the main motivation for this trade is the luxury tax ramifications. And for all of you who want to rail on Les for wanting to get closer to the line; I don't know why he shouldn't? Morey is heralded for his ability to find VALUE in cheap contracts; why are you going to start doubting him now? It would be one thing if we were trading for the ability to waive Delonte West (KAAAAAHHHHHN), but this is by no means a straight salary dump. He is trading one asset, for another at a much cheaper cost. As stated, I loved the idea of Ariza with Yao... but Ariza's talent is not worth $10 million dollars more than Lee's. I think that you should love Morey all the more for ceaselessly trying to find value in the league, always increasing our flexibility.

On Value:

This is my only gripe with the trade. With the number of rumors out there, it is well known that Ariza was a coveted asset on the Rockets. While I'm sure Morey (and myself) see this as a near equal value trade, it is apparent that other (less awesome) GMs placed a much higher value on Ariza. I truly hoped that Ariza would be a main cog in a deadline package this year for some star talent... but it wasn't meant to be. My only hope is that just like Morey's other steals (Lowry, Landry, Budinger, Brooks, Scola)... playing on the Rockets increases Lee's value to near Ariza-like levels.

As an aside:

There is a small argument about the Rockets organization treating players poorly... signing Ariza and then dumping him the very next year. I agree this is a harsh reality; however, I think the Miami scenario brings to the light just how cognizant this generation of players is of the BUSINESS of the NBA. They showed the league that the players can wield just as much power as the organizations, and it is every bit their right to utilize that power. I am both happy that the organizations AND the players are willing to treat this situation as a business, trying to produce the best possible outcomes regardless of the old fashioned values. My only hope is that the NBA can find a reasonable medium (a la Bird Rights etc. which I hope the next CBA gives even more power to) between old school loyalty and total chaos (like in the NFL).

 

Are you saying what i think you're saying? Are you saying yao is a super star? I want to make sure you're saying what i think you're saying.

 

Again, DD, you're getting too far ahead of yourself.

Sure, if Lee turns out to be a 20/5/5 guy, then that makes Martin expendable, but what are the odds of that happening?

Lee just put up 12/3/3 on the worst team in the league.

NJ fans are saying that they love this trade because Lee wasn't even going to be in the rotation this season since he's a worse player than ANTHONY MORROW and TERRENCE WILLIAMS.

 

The best response in this entire ****ing thread, well-done sir.

 

i think he meant the last month of the season

 

Stopped reading right there.

 

The more I read about this the more I like this deal.

We didn't have a true back up SG, we had a logjam at SF, Ariza had a large contract and we could get someone about as good for a lot less ( also potential financial flexibility for other deals).

His videos show him to be athletic enough, He is a better 3 pt, FT and mid range/outside shooter than Ariza. While JT is a player, but I don't think he will ever be known for his outside shooting over his slashing and athleticism (as a complementary player I think he is a good change of pace for opposing defenses, like Lowery is to Brooks) and Lee is a better shooter.

His defense/complementary game might not be as good at this point in his career, but by the reports Ihave read so far he definitely has good potential here. Some reports say he is an unselfish player and compare him to possibly developing like Raja Bell or Bruce Bowen. Like this one

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Courtney-Lee-471/


And with that mask he looks like Rip Hamilton

 

This post wins.

 

Tell me who wanted Ariza and what they were offering. What team rebuilding and ditching their star would want to pay Trevor Ariza's contract instead of Courtney Lee + an expiring?

 

You know what? That was very detailed and spot on. I will not post anything else about this trade because that summed it up the best :grin:

 

Well done for your fifth post. +

 

Budinger and Martin starting makes me cringe but so does Battier and Martin and Brooks. Pretty much the most butter lineup in the NBA. Throw in cupcake Yao and slow Scola? Wow. You have Super Bowl? Wait what? I dont even know what that Championship thingy is called anymore in the NBA. Havent heard of it in decades around these parts. Trade? Yes we need another trade. Morey is wheeling and dealing and if the end justifies the means this is great. If the end is this product? Good luck.

 

Iggy for Battier + Jeffries, throw in the valuable Knicks swap, and 2012 pick at the deadline, Jordan Hill too if he improves his value.

Philly gets to dump major salary, and a potential lottery pick.
Rockets get Iggy

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=2fyn2sj