This is the key quote in the article. Obviously, Van Gundy has in mind what he would like. And I'm sure CD is trying to make it happen. The tone expressed, though, is that, likely, it won't happen. Even if some move is made it doesn't necessarily follow it was Van Gundy's first choice.
Diener would be coming off a 2 year contract is a restricted FA. Unless someone offered a stupid contract we decided not to match on we would keep him if we liked him. Orlando owes their 1st to Det. But has their own 2nd + Sac's and Cleveland's. Houston has no 2nd round picks this year and a conditional 2nd next year. We could try to offer our 2nd next year (lesser of our and NO pick--a really crappy 2nd rounder), but IMO Diener is worth more than a very late 2nd (he was a fairly early 2nd rounder and played how you would expect of a 2nd rounder, maybe a little better even). I'd be very tempted to swap their 2nd rounder Sac pick (currently 39) for our 1st pick (currently 26) for a Diener for JL3 trade. Have them throw in the Cleveland pick (currently #54) if you still don't think it is fair. I think this would sway Orlando (get them in the 1st round) and would be reasonable for us (better player and lesser some picks). Diener would be a better option than JL3 IMO, both in terms of spelling Alston more effectively this year (Diener is a 40% 3 ball shooter) and as a potential long term back-up PG. I'd give up 13 places, maybe less, in the middle of the draft for this.
Or we could be elite anyways... Being that we have been the third best team in the league for the past couple months, WITHOUT the best center in the league.
Playing the devil's advocate. Rockets are: 14-12 on the Road 7-6 in the Divison 6-10 against the contenders (Utah, Dallas, Miami, Spurs, Detroit, Suns, & Lakers) I don't think this team will get get better when Yao gets back, ie not in the sense everyone wil be even better than they are now. I think Yao's return gives the Rockets another way to win, ie another dimension. It's going to be an improvement but a subtle one. If you'll remember back when to the those pre-season games the team was rolling but then immediately dipped when they had to adjust to Yao on his return from injury. IMO they never really regained that momentum especially Battier not until Yao went out again.
Good post. Yao was playing great before he went down but we can't expect him to plug every hole on our roster especially PG. He's going to be out of shape when he returns and probably will just be regaining his form by the time the playoffs start. Our record against the contenders shows this team needs to improve. The playoffs are a whole new ball game, but we can't expect the Rockets to be that much better even with Yao especially when you consider that teams like the Suns create matchup problems for us with Yao on the floor.
Rumor on ***************, supposedly the Nuggets are interested in Wells, and a possibility is Najera for Wells. Don't know if it's just the straight swap of the two, or maybe someone else is involved.... Would you do it?
Haha, exactly, say goodbye to Denver's playoff run, they'll be fightin the whole time. I would ask for more, Najera's a slightly taller Chuck Hayes. Is he worth givin up Bonzi... No
ya people keep thinking it's "what we have now" + yao = elite. no. when yao gets back everyone has to change how they are playing to get our top scorer involved. yes we will be better than what we are now..no doubt but that doesn't fix the problems we have like a decent backup pg. not the midget mcgrady or mcgrady from greece.
I guess this could go in any number of threads, but it's halftime in the Grizzlies-Warriors game and Chucky Atkins hasn't gotten in to the game yet. Odd.
Nice catch! Funny, before the trading deadline, everyone watches teams to see who "doesn't play" and isn't injured. I think Atkins goes somewhere. 3M expiring and is a decent backup PG. I could see any number of teams that are trying to make a run looking at him.
