[Chron] Trade with Wolves unlikely (Rockets discussing Mike James deal)

No TRADES required for now. Too expensive to compensate and James does not resolve our lack of PG back up, because he is more of a catch and shoot guard.

 

I have a better Idea... How about trade them 3 1st round picks for Eddie Griffin

 

Is it me or are people forgetting that Big Jake cannot be traded so soon after being acquired? Can anyone clarify this trade rule?

 

I'm almost sure your correct.....

 

I don't think that he can be traded back to the same team. I do know that he can't be traded in combination with other players. I think he can be traded elsewhere in a solo deal.

 

fixed.

 

The question to ask in giving up either Rafer or Howard for Mike James is would it throw the rockets over the top in beating the Spurs, Mavericks and Suns in the playoffs. Who would you rather have being a third option and shooting the ball in the playoffs Alston or James. Who is the better defender.

 

What you guys are missing is James can handle the ball much better than Head and is a much better FT shooter than Alston OR Head. James is a point guard who can shoot from multiple spots on the floor and penetrate, that is different from Head who is a SG (capable shooter, but poor ball security) with PG size and who has to play back-up PG becuase we have no one else and who has to be matched up with Tmac so the latter handles the ball.

At the end of the tight playoff game when we only need to protect the ball and whittle the time, barring Rafer having a brilliant game, we will want the ball in James hands with Yao, Howard, Tmac and Head/Battier spread around him. In fact maybe we want James and Rafer both in there.

 

haha, true....so what time is the deadline again??

 

Clutch I am not trying to draw your wrath, but for some reason you seem to think that a real fan has to like James and hate Alston.

Sorry but JVG and me have the same opinion Alston AND James would be on the team and Alston would start.

Neither one is good enough as a starter but together they would probably suffice.

Particularly because of the dichotomy of the two.

But you are seriously over stating this simple truth into something that the Rockets are convinced he is some saviour or something.

 

Also James can attack the basket with much better success that Alston and Luther.

 

This is a great point - I was at the game, on the floor, second row last night. At one point in the fourth after Head had made two bad passes, TMAC, 5' from me yells at Head, D@mn it! Don't freeze up now! DON'T FREEZE UP NOW! that gave me chills and is a precursor to a tight playoff game.

With MJ, TMAC would be saying, I may hate your sorry lying @ss, but that was a great shot, a-hole.

By the way, I sat right next to Andre Johnson. He's my new (super) hero.

 

I think it would be a huge mistake to take on James, especially if you have to give up someone who's even sorta-kinda in the rotation. If you can do it for Sura and maybe Lucas, then you consider it. But in that scenario, I hope JVG would be willing to bench MJ if he doesn't fit or we start losing.

This particular Rockets team plays above its talent level because of strong chemistry and buying into the hard work / team philosophy. Originally, the case for MJ was instant offense and now as a backup PG. I don't think we really need instant offense at this point. We should be planning for a healthy squad going into the playoffs - if Yao or McGrady are hurt, we're only going so far anyway. If both are healthy, we want them carrying the bulk of the offense. Bonzi is a great 3rd option when one or both are on the bench. Howard, Battier, and Head have all grown into their roles playing off those guys really well. If we need an offensive jumpstart, I'd rather just try out Snyder in that role - he can drive and create (in theory) and plays defense too.

So MJ's main value here, I would think, would be as backup PG. But for all of Rafer's faults, he runs the team *really* well - and that's sometihng JVG really values. And in the playoffs, you can probably expect him to play a lot of minutes - 38-40 or something like that, barring foul trouble. So unless we want to go small a lot, you're not talking about a lot of minutes there.

I think this team has enough transition work to do to re-integrate Yao into the fold in a few weeks. Unless there's some really good reason to think MJ can make a huge positive impact, I'd stay away from the risk of him having a negative impact. This is a good to great team. Let's see what they can do when healthy before messing with it.

 

McHale is a moron. You have an opportunity to rid yourself of a player with a multiyear contract but yet you want to attach him with a troublesome player that nobody wants and who only makes a paltry 6 over the next 2 years. I would think getting rid of James (as the Wolves seemingly want to do) wouldn't be so hard.

 

The problem is that James did not get along with McGrady in his time here. He is a shoot first pass later guard. yes he can handle the ball better, but if he's judt going to go in for a kamikaze layup or launch a 28 footr everytime he beats the double team with his dribble, that's as good as a turnover. What we need is a backup real PG. James is not the answer.

There are other PGs out there who can handle the ball just as well and will not do something stupid like shooting it when TMax or Yao should be getting the ball. And I definetely don't want James and Rafer in there at same time, the opposing team would just shoot over the top.

 

Here is how we can get Mike James and Eddie Griffin without giving up Juwan Howard or Rafer Alston:

you can change Bonzi Wells to Kirk Synder and the trade still works

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-070222

possibly Bob Sura for Mike James?