You are exactly right. Not only that, but a highly regarded prospect fell in our laps and we let him get away because of that cursed agreement (which seems one sided) that CD made with West before the draft and because of the Rockets dis-interest in Gay. The availability of Gay was a curse that facililtated the trade. m_cable, To me, if any player that was drafted after us including Gay, became an allstar and we did not do well in terms of playoffs and championship, I will be upset for not picking him.
So the new question to hash out here is are we a better team with Swift AND Ronnie Brewer or Sofolosha rather than with just Battier? I think when you put it that way it changes the argument a bit... In all fairness to the Rocket management, you have to think they were just the slightest bit weary of unmotivated Forwards(see Griffith, Swift, and Gay had the same knock on him).
Nonsense. Regardless of which back-office wanted Gay, he was available for the Rockets to select. Many here wanted him before the draft. If there was no Battier trade and they picked someone else at 8, there still would have been some upset folks. I'll repeat...many people agree with West that Gay was a top talent and worthy of the risk or at least more valuable than Battier. HE WAS AVAILABLE AT THE 8th PICK, no matter how you spin it. Just because the Rockets would not have picked him DOES NOT CHANGE THE REALITY.
Most of what you said does not contradict with what I said. Gay was available at the 8th pick, but the Rockets could not pick him for themself because they struck a deal with Memphis. Does that make him available? Does not change reality ? what reality? I think you do not understand me and I do not understand you, let us just leave it at that.
The Memphis trade was contingent on Rudy Gay being available at #8, according to this article. Article from the Memphis Commercial Appeal
