We have a team that is close to competing for a championship, just needs a few lucky breaks healthwise, but we are not favorites to win it all, just to be one of the teams to compete for it, when healthy. So, of course it got me to thinking, what could make this next season even better. And of course it hit me....better players. So, with that in mind here would be my perfect offseason upgrades. 1. Trade Rafer and Bjax to the Clippers for Corey Maggette. 2. Trade Battier and Luther and or Francis to the Raptors for Calderon. 3. Split the MLE between Boki and Gerald Green. 4. Resign Carl Landry to the LLE or part of the MLE, maybe use the LLE on Green? Then you have a team to be favorites to win it all. PG - Calderon/Brooks/Francis or Head SG - Maggette/Green SF - Tmac/Boki/Novak PF - Scola/Landry/Harris/Hayes C - Yao/Deke/Draft pick? Now that team would be one that would be favorites to win it. Yes it would be a little weaker on defense but SOOOO much stronger on offense. What would your wish to Santa be? DD PS. I subscribe to the Defense is overated, and offense is underated theory of basketball.
We wouldn't just lose defense by trading Battier, we'd lose tons of intangibles that have led to teamwork, hustle and consistency, which led to the streak. He's turned into the quarterback of the team. ... but I do understand the desire to get Calderon, and we'd have to give something to get something. Battier's value has never been higher. Do you really think that LAC would trade Maggette for expirings? I doubt Boki will want to come back after we gave up on him. He seems pretty happy about staying in NJ. Have you heard of him being interested, or the Rockets interested in him?
Honestly Sherlock, I don't know, but I doubt Donald Sterling will let him walk for nothing if he can help it, and they need a PG badly because Livingston is still an unknown. So, Rafer having 2 years left is a decent option for them....toss in Bjax's expiring and you have a significant contract amount for a sign and trade. DD
That would be great. I also think our biggest need is offense. I belive there is a chance of singing Maggette who could be a great 3rd option. But do you really think Raptors will trade Calderon? I hope so but it is not likely. Anyway, we again gotta make some big changes and than we need to stay healthly.
your plan which has no chance of happening entails heavy rotation minutes to Gerald Green (out of the NBA) and Aaron Brooks (unproven to say the least) as well as Tracy McGrady's replacements for the 20 games or so he is injured being two lead-footed one-dimensional shooters neither of whom can really play SF in the National Basketball Association. This is all provided - of course - that the rockets end up getting Maggette for a straight salary dump and Calderon for a lot less than what he is probably valued at by the Raptors. Otherwise it's a good plan.
As much as I love Battier for his intelligence and team spirit, this "glue" is keeping us stuck in first round exit mode.
I love him on defense but on offense, he just stands in the corner, I would prefer a more versatile option at that spot.....someone who can move or take it to the rack. Tmac at the SF and Magette at the SG, with Boki coming in to back whichever one sits, looks pretty nice to me. Green and Harris might steal some minutes, but the main 8 man rotation would be: Calderon Tmac Magette Scola Yao Brooks Boki Landry With possible situational minutes based upon matchups and injuries going to: Novak Harris Hayes Deke Green DD
Calderon is untouchable for the Raptors. Zero chance they let him go. Magette we can get but cost too much.
While I'd love to have Calderon (but not at the cost of Battier) and Maggette here, I don't understand everyone's obsession here with Gerald Green nor do I understand your desire to get Boki. Boki is a decent player, but he's nothing special - he certainly wouldn't be one of my primary targets during the off-season. Gerald Green sat at the end of the bench of a lottery team, we cut him and took Mike Harris (which I think was a great move) who played in China over him. I understand that he has athletic ability - but to put a lottery team's bench warmer into the rotation of the Rockets is just ridiculous. I'm not opposed to taking a better look at him...maybe signing him, and giving him limited minutes - but this isn't a rookie, he's just a bust thus far. Moreover, with the chemistry of this team, I'd be cautious about blowing it all up like you're suggesting. Personally, I think if you add a healthy Yao to the team and you already have a championship contender (sure I'd like help at the point - but I wouldn't blow up the team to do it).
Sticky. Summertime Random Trade Thread. Christmas. On 12/25. Not on 5/28. Pipe Dream. #1, #2 LMAO. #3
Green as a cheap signing that might pay off, nothing more. Boki is a proven NBA player who adds athleticism, shooting and finishing ability to the PF/SF position. He also fits in perfectly with Adelman's motion type of offense. And, if you look, I like him as a bench player, not as a starter. DD
i counted 17 times, and i still stop at 15.... Did you count head and SF3 as 2 players and draft picks as another 2 players?
Dear Santa, what I want for this team is... A HEALTHY SEASON!! I figure with the scrubs (cheap vets) we surrounded Tracy and Yao with 04-05 season they did pretty good. Now we have legit power forwards, a legit lockdown defender, and all decent and tradable contracts we should be able to make a run at least to the WCF if not the finals. All we need is a third scorer probably Maggette or some other proven scorer and were set.
hmm think again "If you look at the roster right now, we have to find somebody — one or two people — that can play behind Tracy and Shane (Battier) and with some size," coach Rick Adelman said. "That's really what we need, because we were really pretty undersized after those two guys." General manager Daryl Morey said the Rockets need to improve their "ability to attack the basket. I think we have a shortage of that skill on the roster. It's not as acute as when Yao is on the team because we have a guy to go to." http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/5762965.html