Chronicle: nice rundown on the Rocket's off season plans.

im worried about the comment about not wanting to spend too much on a big man because he wont get a lot of minutes and instead finding a guy to play the role of deke....i liked deke's role, but i think if we keep going for the deke and pj browns of the NBA eventually its going to cost us, those kinds of players, along with Yao, have a high risk of injury.

Seems like they feel they are set with landry/scola/hayes at the 4, but i believe we'd be better off having more balance at that spot...maybe we should consider trading landry if we can get a long and tall PF/C who actually has skills. I dont think Landry is ever going to develop more offensive moves than a hook shot and some pump fakes that allow him to attack the rim, so we may want to trade him before it's a known league wide that's he's close to his ceiling.

 

I kind of agree that if a team is willing to give up something good for Landry they should entertain it but I don't think he's as close to his ceiling as you think. He could still develop a more consistent 15ft jump shot and if he get's smarter at studying his opponents and leans out with some muscle he could be a decent defender too. My biggest worry for him is his injury history which is why I would consider trading him. If he hits his peak, I would say skill wise Landry seems like a poor man's Lamarcus Aldridge.

 

In what way are they at a higher risk of injury? I would think a player who isn't asked to tax himself too much in the regular season is less likely to get injured. Were you referring to his age?

 

I think the Rockets should just keep the team they had. Try to resign Ron and Von. If they must go then so be it. But I really believe this team jelled together. All we need now if for McGrady to jell with them.

 

Just be glad that Daryl Morey isn't an idiot GM and doesn't bring in big names just for the sake of selling tickets. We could be like the Suns or Clippers and get a bunch of big name pieces that don't fit. I trust that Morey will make the correct decision this offseason, he is the one that knows what is going on behind the scenes that we don't get to see on the television or internet.

 

yeah i'm refering to their age and wear and tear over their careers. I'm not talking yao ming type of wear and tear, but just general stress that happens to the average NBA player who's had a long career and playing significant minutes. the older you get the weaker your bones likely are to become, ligaments may be wearing out, etc. All that weakens your body structure overall, so a twist, blow, fall, etc. That may have caused a monir injury 4 years ago may may be a major injury now for them.

 

im not so sure, he could improve defensively, but given his lack of height and that he's wingspan isn't above average i think he'd still be limited and it won't be a big improvement. As i keep looking at his shot mechanics, i dont think he can hit that J consistently over a season unless he catches in rythm to shoot. He's been horrible from the Ft line this postseason, i dont know if his hand are really large or what, but he's got problems shooting lately, if he doesnt get it going next season i dont think he ever will. Lamarcus' shooting form and length allow him to do things landry never will be able to, like having a fade away/turnaround jumper. He also doesnt look very comfortable making quick moves to the rim, he has to be under the hoop, i was hoping for a poor man's David West, but Landry hasn't improved his ball handling enough, hopefully he works on that this summer.

 

That's why I think the Kobe Bryant era is just about over. He has something like 1100 games on his odometer. The fact that he has played relatively injury free over that time is a statistical anomaly - even for a guy in as good a shape as he is. It happened to Garnett already and it will happen to Kobe soon.

 

Sign Artest and Von. Trade Tmac + Brooks + Landry for Nash + Amare or Shaq.

 

T-mac + Brooks = Nash + Barbosa

Suns do it for the future and dump T-mac's contract off the books next season. Rockets do it for rings, experience, and field goal %.

 

I don't think Landry ever will be a "shot blocker" but Chuck Hayes showed us you don't have to be one to be a good defensive player. I think Landry could be that type of guy but he has to toughen up. He still doesn't seem like he has a "man's body" just yet so that will help him and plus I'm willing to bet he's 6-10 in shoes even if his wingspan isn't freakish like most guys in the league so he's not that undersized. I'm not sure what's up with his shooting form - seemed to be a lot more comfortable last year at the perimeter game although his free throw shooting this year was a respectable 81% in the regular season.

...I'm with you though - he looked like he forgot how to shoot in the playoffs though clanging some freebies and looking uncomfortable while he was doing it.

 

Yup...

 

According to hoopshype, Brian Cook has a player's option with 3.5mil left on the contract.

 

Also Carl Landry signed with us last offseason for 3 years so we'll have him till 2011. We have a team option on Lowry I believe.

 

Ya, I went by the ESPN trade machine which used to tell you all that stuff but no longer does. Afterward I went to hoopshype and saw what you said so move Cook the expiring deal section and Landry & Lowry to the two year guys. I think the points still valid though - lots of value on our roster with good guys signed to decent contracts for reasonable contract terms.

...I'll be interested to see how many years Houston offers Yao when their contract negotiations comes up.

 

With the way scola played in the playoffs with a good contract and tracy's expiring, I wonder if toronto would be willing to cough up bosh and a signed marion for 8m per for 3 yrs for tracy and scola?

 

Really, really doubt it. But that would be a pretty sweet deal.