you don't win a championship w/o taking any risks. the pistons took on sheed. the bulls got rodman. the lakers traded an all-star center for a rookie SG out of highschool... roll the dice on this guy. the price is right and he only has one year left on his deal anyway.
tell me about it. you'd think 10 years of not getting out of the first round of the playoffs would all but silence the safe and sure route.
You misunderstood me. I was speaking to the people who want the safe and sure route (I.E. keep Battier at all cost because he's a "glue guy") Whatever the hell that means anyway. or people saying chemistry is going to be messed up by trading juwan away. who in the hell cares about chemistry right now? chemistry ain't got us out of the first round since 1997, right? neither has "glue"
Wait, these Taylor/Cato/Griffin/Francis/Mobley team had great chemistry? And no, they should not trade Battier for a one-year rental of a flake. For flakes like Artest, you trade only minimal assets for him so you don't get screwed if/when he flakes out or opts to sign elsewhere. I am sick of the term "glue guy." It's a meaningless term saying nothing about what Battier does. What Battier does is very obvioius-- defending the Lebrons of the world, stopping opponents in transisiton, making entry passes without turning the ball over, range shooting-- and extremely important to the team winning 52 games. The Rockets did not survive the injury to Yao nearly as well without Battier the year before. You don't trade him for a guy who can flake out on you or leave as a free agent at the end of the year.
Did you read what I typed? I never said those guys had great chemistry. I spoke about chemistry being lost with Juwan being traded away as BS. Keeping Juwan in February, also keeping Chemistry, got us a first round loss, again. Whether James would have helped us this year is certainly open for debate, but for what factually happened, we kept Juwan, and we lost to Utah. As far as Battier goes, we know what we're getting, sure, and most of us appreciate it, but in my opinion he should be on the depth chart about where Bruce Bowen is. Although he is better than Bowen, on offense, he is in my opinion nowhere near the third option on offense that we desperately needed against Utah. Since it's clear that our dynamic duo can't do it all, they need someone that can equally shoulder the offensive burden with them. Artest fits that mode at the moment. However, I agree with you that at a one year rental is not ideal for a player of that caliber. He will probably want more money, and NBA contracts are guaranteed in case he decides to flake out, but what alernative do we have right now? Enlighten me.
I don't think he said anything about trading Battier FOR Artest. He just said that playing it safe hasn't gotten us out of the first round in 10 years. He's referring to people who say you keep the Battier's, Howard's, Hayes', Bowen's, etc. at all costs because they "hustle" every night and are good locker room guys. The Artest trade, even at a one year rental is for Houston's garbage. Two who played garbage minutes, one injured expiring, and the 4th to last draft pick. For a guy who is arguably the best perimeter defender in the league, an all-star caliber talent, a guy who gives 110% every single play he is on the court (for those that love those "hustle" guys), and is insanely loyal when treated right. I really don't even see a debate here. You think we're going to get anything better than Artest for that proposed package?
great news guys. Chris Sheridan mentions that Artest has the highest odds of landing in Houston. he also said the package will involves rafer. David (Hou, TX): What do you think the odds are that Artest lands in Houston and for what price? SportsNation Chris Sheridan: Probably higher in Houston than anywhere else, although I keep hearing Miami. If the rockets were to get him, it would be for a package built around Rafer Alston. But in order for that to make sense, Mike Bibby would have to be moved. And since the Kings still do not even have a coach, we're still a long way from getting to the step of reshaping the roster. http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=16194
i love the idea of getting artest, but if they are looking to move bibby, that's gotta be the rockets first choice.
Wow. if we dont giveup battier in this deal, i'm gonna be in heaven. get Artest for Snyder, Alston and Novak and try to use battier as a trade bait for a PF forward. or better yet use battier a bait for lewis. PG:James/Vspan SG:Tracy/Bonzi/Head SF/Lewis/bonzi/tracy PF:Artest/Hayes C:Yao/Deke/Jake Or trade battier for someone like gooden or Wilcox..
Haselem isnt a huge upgrade over hayes. i think battier can fetch us a better PF like a Gooden or a wilcox.
Recent posters on this thread are undersellling Battier. Battier is a special investment and the Rockets are not going to trade him for a third rate Power Forward! Or for that matter for no player who isn't a big uplift for the team. If Battier was to be traded it would be in a package deal bringing the likes of Ron Artest or Marcus Camby or Lamar Odum to the team.
Gooden is bit soft although more talented than Haslem. Wilcox is athletic but doesn't rebound or block shots well enough. Haslem plays hard,his shot is inconsistent but he is a good rebounder.If he was taller he could be a better defender.I presented him as an option in the unlikely event that the Heat may want to trade him.
That trade wouldn't work with the salaries... but this one will... Trade Rafer Alston, Kirk Snyder, John Lucas III, & The 2007 Draft Pick (26th) for Ron Artest
