ESPN: Chad Ford Chat Wrap (Rockets/Magic Questions)

that was quick, talk about a short string

 

I think adding Donyell Marshall would further propel this team towards the skies... he would make a great impact defensively and in rebounding. And the dude can hit the three.

I am also a huge proponent of Jerome Williams or Eric Williams though they would both be less impactful than Donyell.

Stuart

 

John Weisbrod is looking more and more like an idiot who's made one or two trades too many.

As far as the Rockets go, I don't see anyone wanting MO and his contract but why just sit him if your not given going to suit him up?

 

we just need to trade mo and be done with it. the guy hasn't seen the court in ages, so anybody would be an addition. DA would be sweet, but i could definitely do Jerome Williams. I dont think we have what it takes to get Marshall, but he'd be ideal.

 

before this winning streak i would have jumped on a mo t for marshall trade but now i'm having doubts. i like padgett as the back up cuz he brings a different look by spreading the court and howard has been stepping up so why mess with the chemistry. i think i would rather pull the trade to portland for anderson, he would be able to jump into the back of the rotation w/o taking away key minutes from barry, sura, tmac, and wesley..on the contrary, he would give them much needed rest.

 

I agree with this as well but we still need a long athletic PF that is a defender and rebounder first. If we can get this kind of player for Mo it will be an improvement as this is a option we don't currently have. (Eddie would have been nice if he wasn't a nut job)

I think the best way to look at trading Mo is that any player that has a better contract and has potential to play any role on our team would be a good trade. I always liked Mo but since he can't get on the court for JVG he might as well be somewhere else.

 

Hey I like Scott Padgett, but he is not going to be a difference maker every night, he is just not a player that is going to push the Rockets into the elite. He is a chemistry guy. In Donyell Marshall, I think that he is a type of player we are looking for, he isn't the star nor the second option, but can affect the entire outlook of a game (i.e. Sura).

I like what the Rockets are doing right now, but I think we are 1 player away from being elite. Call me crazy but I don't think Juwan Howard is going to be the answer at power forward.

I am also not a fan of Derek Anderson.

Stuart

 

i agree with all that but i think i'd rather wait untill the offseason to address power forward issue so you do it properly and just get what ever else i can for mo t right now, whether it be eric williams or derrick anderson...i'd lean for towards anderson cuz i think he has a good upside and can be a jvg kinda player

 

I'm hugely-nervous if the Rox were to pull a trade right now, especially with all the great chemistry we have going, but in the long run, I think it will be a good thing for the Rocket's future. As it stands, I don't see this particular team making it past the second round, so I would like to see them build on the current success.

Perhaps you're right, playoff-testing this team first and then assessing our needs would be a smarter move.

Stuart

 

Wait, let me add that to my former sig:

“On paper, the McGrady-for-Francis swap has the potential to be a disaster for the Magic. … Francis has as much baggage as McGrady, and possibly more.”
-- Chad Ford, June 22, 2004

“This is what happens when you let a hockey guy run an NBA team.”
-- Chad Ford, June 23, 2004

“A number of NBA GMs snickered [at] Weisbrod, whose only real experience to date had been running a minor-league hockey franchise … When word leaked [about the Francis-for-McGrady] deal … just about everyone in the league shook their head and said, off the record, of course, ‘I told you so.’ Now it might be Weisbrod who is having the last laugh.”
-- Chad Ford, Oct. 20, 2004

"Put together Weisbrod's scouting report on McGrady with Francis' take on Van Gundy, and it's not a stretch to wonder how well the two are going to get along this season."
-- Chad Ford, Oct. 25, 2004

“John Weisbrod would consider trading ANYONE on the Magic if he didn't believe they were pulling their weight. He's been unhappy with Francis' effort, leadership and defense.”
-- Chad Ford, Feb. 16, 2005

 

You gotta give Ford credit on the assessment of Wiseass.
The beginning of the year, all those Magic fans were eager to declare they got the better end of the deal. Sports writer around the country pretty much checked W L columns and wrote crap. Look who's laughing or crying now.

 

Jerome Williams, please.


We should have signed Chris Andersen in the off-season. Energy, defense, rebounding..plus he's a local guy(Blinn College).

 

Read this from a magic fan.


Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 8:25 pm Post subject: ORL/HOU Reply with quote
I have no doubt that we won in the trade.

Houston this year after 49 games 28-21
Houston last year after 49 games 28-21

Orlando this year after 49 games 26-23
Orlando last year after 49 games 13-36

Weis is doing a nice job, we only need to get ride of JD and the magic is going to be ok.




They can win anything in their fantasies.

 

Here is another one from magic fan

Yeah, but JVG traded for Tmac. Magic fans are funny.

 

That's hilarious. Give them credit though, Orlando did alot better than last year.

However, that's nothing to brag about. This year, they have Grant Hill back and a number one draft pick in their starting lineup, plus three starters from two different Wester Conference playoff teams of last year. That's alot of firepower on the team, and in fact, people can argue they have under-achieved alot (just like us in the past two years) in the weak Eastern Conference. However, if we are in the East, we'd be #2 (probably #1, because our strength of schedule will be weaker) and Miami would crap their pants now. If Orlando is in the West, they'd be where the Clippers/Wolves/Nuggets right now.

If they want to keep measuring themselves with the worst team of last year, yeah they've made alot of progress. Let them be happy, they deserve that after what they went through last year.

We, however, need to be measured with the best teams in the West. We are not there yet, but sooner or later, we will be.

That's fine and good, but the Rockets is going to be contending.

 

Jerome Williams would be a nice fit

 

Which GM gets the most nat'l press? Hockey Guy or IT? Both get more than The Logo or Babcock, the rapped Rap.

McHale, because he is now coaching, is getting a lot of words.

By and large, Hockey Guy seems to get in ink the most for the least.

 

Agreed... he's a big energy guy and we won't have to run offensive plays for him. I like his tenacity on the boards and he is more of a "banger" than Mo or Juwan (then again, at 5'10 145lbs, I might be more of a "banger" than those guys).

I said from the beginning of the season that the point guard problem wasn't going to be nearly as big of an issue as the 4 spot. With Deke, Yao, Padgett, Juwan, and Mo we have a front court rotation with 1 "tough guy" and he's about 6 - 7 years past his prime (Deke). That's a tough weakness to overcome in the front court heavy western conference.

All that said, Howard and Deke in particular have impressed me lately with their hustle on the offensive glass. I also thought Howard's ability to score had diminished significantly at the start of the season but he's really coming around. That mid range jumper of his is starting to fall and it's helping the team tremendously.

 

Did last years Rockets win Eight str8? Don't think so.