OK since I am giving you better odds than andy has we'll do months only. Let's say 2/3 of a season, which is 55 or so games, and say he gets at least 18 minutes a game... which is about the cutoff for a regular rotation player. Let's cut it to two years if he's not in the NBA by the end of year no 2, no sense in waiting for year no. 3.
All 3 guys had personal problems that severely impacted their NBA careers. The Rockets brought them back only to see their efforts at rehabilitation fail miserably. In the end, this team, coaching staff and organization will be judged on wins and losses and not on how many troubled player careers it was able to resurrect. Wow! You're right about the height part. This is something that sort of went unnoticed in all of the T-Mac hoopla. As for FA pickups, I kinda like Darius Rice from Miami. He's 6-10 and a very solid, smart player. Here's a draft profile on him: http://cbs.sportsline.com/nba/players/draft/495899 He went undrafted and I hope he's still available .
Sorry, the comment was inappropriate. In hindsight, you still wouldn't make that deal? Wow. Even knowing what we know now, I'de make that trade 10 times out of 10. I guess that's where we will have to agree to disagree. They traded 3 middle draft picks for the guy who they felt was the most talented player in the draft. It sure didn't work out but kudos to Rockets brass for having the nads to think big. How could you not make that deal? Griffin provided the shot blocking and rebounding hope that were the major weaknesses in that Rockets team. Great trade, and Griffin's rookie season proved it. Secondly, how is the Ty Shine incident such a big deal? Have you never played high school sports? Teammates are at each other's throats in practice daily. What's the big deal? Guys will be guys. Vernon Maxwell threw a dumbbell at Carl Herrera and then helped us win our first championship. Ron Artest broke Micheal Jordan's ribs in a pickup game - you wouldn't want him? Shaquille O'Neal has reportedly swung at Kobe Bryant in practice - you wouldn't want him? The whole Ty Shine incident was greatly blown out of proportion. So? Was the whole situation embarrassing? Yea. Who gives a damn? NBA teams have much more to be embarrassed about than giving an old draftee a second shot. Noone is arguing that we bring Eddie in here to become the starter and save the franchise. Bring him in as the 12th man and if he shows anything gradually increase his minutes and work him into the rotation. Do you have any better alternatives? You're telling me you'de rather have Jason Collier or Pig Miller round out the roster than Eddie Griffin? If you are, then you're just speeking out of pride. He'll come in, block a few shots, maybe a grab a rebound, and then he'll go sit back on the bench. If he plays poorly, you cut him and noone notices. So what? Re: Wiggins and Lloyd, that is a completely different situation. They were men. Eddie Griffin came into the league as a 19 year old boy. You're telling me you didn't mature as a person when you hit your 20's? The guy came into a man's league as a teenager, had some problems and screwed up his life. Do I think he deserves sympathy? Hell no, he made his choices. I'm arguing strictly from a basketball/Rockets standpoint. Eddie Griffin is our best option as 12th man.
If I were the GM, it would be a no-brainer to give Eddie one more chance....It won't be expensive...he has a lot of upside...we've put a lot in the emotional bank account and I'm sure Eddie would like to atone for past sins. I hope JVG/CD see the light...it can't hurt to give this guy one more chance.
We don't need this crack head or another player without a brain. EG was a pathetic and inconsistent player that take too many shots. We already have good players so now what we need to do and get more good players with a BRAIN so be role players.
Eddie wouldn't play a big role...in other words he wouldn't be paid that much...it's low risk...if it doesn't pan out, they can always let him go. Eddie had a good sense of basketball if you watched closely...he just didn't play with a sense of urgency all the time, which can change as you get older.
