Do you throw away the first-round pick for Payton?

looks like there is a gun pointed to someone's head

 

Sam Cassell, Gary Payton, or Nick Van Exel would all be great viable options. I hope to see one of them on board before the trade deadline expires.

 

I will do it.

Under JVG, no rookie player can be developed, look at boki. He just trust player like Rod.
So why not use it to get a veteran player who is better than Rod.

 

Well, consider the alternatives.

Charlie F***ing Ward (when he comes back, which, hopefully, is never)

Rod "The Cooler" Strickland - SEE! Rod enter the game! SEE! The lead evaporate! SEE! The Rockets scramble to regain their footing. SEE! The Rockets lose by a damned point to Seattle despite having a 10 pt lead on them. (not all Rod's fault, but I swear to you, when he enters the game....can't shoot, can't run, can't do much of anything)

 

The 1st round pick needs to be utilized on a young big man who can be groomed to be the future power forward for the Rockets. In a couple of years, Juwan will be dragging himself up and down the court. It could be Malick Badienne, but I don't know the status of his shoulder. Decent power forwards do not go in free agency. They are resigned by their prospective teams. JVG will play a younger big man. I think he is against playing a young point guard.

 

I think Utah is a more like destination for Payton. They have more first-rounders to spare, and with Lopez out they have zilch at the 1.

 

People dont forget JVG likes to control. I dont think Payton is JVG kind of guy.

 

Lopez is logging fewer minutes than both Keith McLeod and Howard Eisley at the 1.

And why would Utah want him? They're 10 games out of the 8 seed with 4 teams in front of them. They may have first rounders to spare, but not on a half season rental.

And what did Payton do to deserve to be sent to Utah?

 

NO

We're way too old already. Besides Yao and TMac, I think our age is going to be a problem come playoff.

We definitely should keep the 1st round pick. Gary Payton? come on, no way.

 

Has everyone forgotten Gary Payton's horrific performance during last year's playoffs? People were calling him "the old catcher's mitt." Billups was running circles around him. I can only imagine that a Jason Terry, Mike Bibby, or Tony Parker would do just as much damage.

The time to get GP was 8-10 years ago. He's old and slow, and his shot has left him.

 

Another advantage about getting Payton would be that, Sura is not only a 1, he is a combo guard and although it would hurt our outside shooting, when Yao goes out, a lineup of Payton/Sura/ Tmac/Howard/Mutumbo could probably generate some slashing offense.

 

I say do it. Besides Yao Ming; when have the Rockets ever had a good first round pick in the 90's? After Ralph Sampson, Hakeem,, the Rockets have picked horrible players. They passed on Rashard Lewis, and eventually traded Jefferson away for Eddie Griffin. First round picks are overrated. Unless you have a top 5 pick, there's really no talent coming after that. We need someone like Gary at the point, who wants a ring and is more willing to pass to Yao and McGrady, and can hit the clutch shot if needed. Make it happen. And get rid of Mo Taylor for the love of Pete!

 

Excuse me, Yao was '01...I knew that. So between Dream and Yao, there were 17 years of nada..zilch. Mobley was a 2nd rounder, and that was a blessing in disguise. I still want Mobley back.

 

Payton seems to be a tough guy in his own right....at least he has some attitude. I never liked his trash talking though.

 

I am all for getting Payton, but I just do not think they can mortgage the future by giving away a 1st round pick.

 

No! Only way I would be willing to take on Payton is if we were a SERIOUS Championship contender and the teams window (age wise) for finding themselves in that position again soon were remote.

As things stand, it's not unimaginable that we could make a run at the brass ring, but it would surely only be with Sura and not the surly GP.

I think to sign GP would be to risk damaging what Grumpy has moved heaven and earth to attain - that being a team that will follow him unquestionably. GP would sulk and pout and call the coach out and all that other crap he does; and to put it plainly, if Grumpys system is to EVER be successful it will be with guys who follow him unquestioningly.

Grumpy is STILL not my coach of choice, but as long as he's here it's obvious what type of players he needs to fulfil whatever success is obtainable with his rigid system.

 

If they want our first round pick then they have to take one of our suck salaries too.

 

With T-Mac and Yao, we are in this to build a dynasty not a single champion (not that getting Payton would automatically do that).

I agree with what was said earlier ... they'd have to take a bad contract in addition to the pick and that aint happenin.

 

Well now since Sura is only out 10-14 days I probably wouldnt do it anymore, UNLESS we could get rid of one of our horrible contracts with the trade (Mo Taylor or Charlie Ward). Then we would get rid of those bums, and only have to deal with Payton for a couple of months. If it doesnt work out let him walk.
We may have given up some draft picks, but we'll have a lot more cap space to pick up a key free agent PF for 2006.

Only the Rockets know for sure how long it will take Sura to get back into game form. I hope they do the right thing. I want to make some noise in the playoffs this year.

 

No. The PF committee is bad enough. A PG committee will make the team older, not better.