ESPN Insider: Trade Suggestion - Eddie Jones for Rice, Nachbar

So, do you just make this stuff up? ESPN had him down for no knee or hamstring injury.

http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0304/1518197.html

It was two sprained ankles and a thumb injury. No surgery.

Also, I think Miami was tanking on Eddie's second sprained ankle in March (which somehow happened during practice), and the Heat went 2-11 after that.

anyhow, RIET, I agree that the trade sucks, but not because Posey is better than Jones or will ever be. Posey's slamming style is ripe for injury, as much as Eddie breaking down.

 

Kobe has also refered to him as his "mentor", but Eddie Jones would do NOTHING to better Kobe's game.

 

I don't see how an aging 2 guard would make Cat better by pushing him to the bench.

 

Ths is the worst trade idea I've heard in a long time. We don't need Eddie. He's no better than Cat and older and much more expensive. Let Rice leave and see what comes up then. The same people who approve of this trade would be blasting the Rocks' next summer when they can't be part of a trade or FA signing because they're paying Eddie $13m.

Patience is what builds Championship teams. Not dreamcasting and stats.

 

We won't be signing any FAs because we'll still be over the cap after Rice's contract expires. That said - I still wouldn't trade for Eddie.

 

How bout' a 3-way with Utah and there capspace. Say a couple of second rounders to us, Rice to Miami and Jones to the Jazz. Maybe we even make Moochie disappear in the deal.

 

A.) I was just kidding with you.

B.) Here's the first thing I found...

Mobley answers fans' questions (Selected excerpts).
Q: Could you offer your best Philadelphia hoops memory such as who was the coolest Philly playground player or your best Philly basketball moment?
Kathy Zavala

Mobley: Our legend when I was growing up was Sadie Watson. We called him Baby Jordan. He was 6-6 and could do everything. He was like one of my idols growing up, playing at a playground down on 16th St. in North Philadelphia. It was always packed, people climbing on gates late at night just to see the games. It was just ridiculous all the time.
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Q: I was wondering if there was a player you emulated growing up, because your style on the court is both unique and exciting.
Brian Eisenkraft

Mobley: No, I didn't emulate anyone.
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Q: How do you practice your game in the offseason?
Lloyd and Lindy Healy

Mobley: I just look at tapes of other players and work out with Sam Cassell, Nick Van Exel and guys back home like Eddie Jones and Aaron McKie. I like to work out with them and learn their older, consistent moves, which helps keep me a little above the young guys my age.
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To me, it sounds like Jones and Cuttino are close, but I don't see that as reasoning to make EJones a Rocket any more than saying Odom will sign with us because he went to college with Cuttino. Or signing Wang Zhi-Zhi or Bateer because they're Asian and so is Yao Ming.

 

btw: the trade is not a good trade. I'm just talking in a Cuban vacuum of not salary cap worries.

I kinda believe Mobley doesn't just say stuff to look good like Kobe. When Mobley calls someone a "mentor," I think that means a lot more than when Kobe says it.

regardless, the more people who call Eddie a "mentor" the more attracted I am to him as a chemistry guy.

hey, the article mentioned it...I'm not off topic here. Personally, I'd start both Eddie and Mobley. There is a strong theory that I didn't invent that says Mobley is better suited for scoring machine off the bench. I don't subsribe to this theory...but I'm not totally against it, either (as long as Mobley remains a 4th quarter finisher). I am against the version of making Mobley the microwave to move Francis to 2 guard, though.

anyhow, that's my only attraction to the trade. If Jones was not being paid a ridiculous salary, this would be a no brainer addition, imo.

The idea is that someone like Eddie Jones would mesh well with Mobley since they know each other so well, and we wouldn't have any worries about Mobley getting disgruntled about getting less minutes. And further, less minutes by Mobley should improve his defense, if you believe like I do that Mobley's ankle problems the last two years are what have made him inconsistent on defense.

Also, a relatively tall SG like Eddie allows a fierce 3-guard lineup, which I just love with Yao Ming....and it could allow Cato to play some minutes with Yao.

 

Eddie Jones is too expensive. And we already have a truck load of SG.

If we are going to trade Rice and Nachbar, we need a SF. And we need a backup PG. And we need a banger at the front. Another SG is probably the fourth priority down the list.

 

Eventually we would be under the cap if we stop paying for crappy contracts. Steve is worth about 12 and Yao will be there in a few years. Add Cuttino at 6 and everyone else is expendable. You never know what can come up. Besides, with Steve and Yao, you only need role players to fill out the roster. You don't need $15m of cap to find good role players. But if you're always over the cap with guys like Moochie, Cato, Taylor, Posey, or Jones, You will never be in a position to get the guys you want. Why give away all your future options by taking mediocre deal just cause you can. Yo uhave to think bigger than that to be a elite team. Then with a bit of luck you might be a champion.

 

Hey man, we got Ewing to mentor Yao Ming, right? This team needs mentors.

Besides, I think the argument that Odom, Francis and Mobley all want to play together is a strong attraction to adding Odom (the only one, imo). Same with Posey. The problem with that is that continues to let the inmates run the asylum--"It's over!" Francis and Mobley could use some mentor-type guidance.

Feigen has always referred to Eddie as Cat's mentor. Idolizing Sadie Watson, emulating a player, and having a mentor are kinda different things, right? Joe Dumars called Adrian Dantley his mentor, but that doesn't mean he idolizes him or tries to play like him.

Here's a one game recap of Feigen mentioning the mentor thing:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/1174794

I have to believe Feigen got that from Cuttino, and didn't just make it up.

 

I change my mind.

DO THE TRADE!

In 4 years when Eddies contract expires, we can sign Lebron. Or at least we can trade him that season to some team looking to clear capspace for James.

Hows that for Dreamcasting!

 

We won't make that trade. We won't give up Rice's expiring contract unless in a larger trade (i.e., many players involved) we got back expiring salary to make up for it.

If JVG wants a taller more defensive-minded SG to pair with Steve in the backcourt, then there are better, younger options....depending on what other options one wants to take.

Mo Peterson?

Desmond Mason?

Kerry Kittles?

 

Cat used to carry Jones' and Pippen's card in his wallet.

 

Jones is probably one of a handful of players Cuttino woud take the bench for. Probably only Pippen and Jones, anyone else he'd start whining.

I'd love to have Jones for his shooting and defense mainly.

However, I wouldn't give up Rice in this deal. I'd give up Mo Taylor though, but we'd be too thin upfront then.

 

Deal Rejected!


- Les Alexander '03

 

Just say NO to Jone$.

 

Deal Rejected!


- common sense '03

 

I totally agree. Just what the Rockets don't need. An over priced player who's best years are behind him.

Raven

 

Alright, combining two trade ideas.

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Houston trades: PF Maurice Taylor (8.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.0 apg in 20.6 minutes)
PG Moochie Norris (4.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.4 apg in 16.8 minutes)
SF Glen Rice (9.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.1 apg in 24.7 minutes)
Houston receives: PF Brian Grant (10.3 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 1.3 apg in 32.2 minutes)
SF Andrei Kirilenko (12.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.7 apg in 27.7 minutes)
Change in team outlook: +0.6 ppg, +7.6 rpg, and -1.5 apg.

Miami trades: SG Eddie Jones (18.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.7 apg in 38.1 minutes)
PF Brian Grant (10.3 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 1.3 apg in 32.2 minutes)
Miami receives: PF Maurice Taylor (8.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.0 apg in 67 games)
PG Moochie Norris (4.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.4 apg in 82 games)
SF Glen Rice (9.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.1 apg in 62 games)
C John Amaechi (2.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.4 apg in 50 games)
Change in team outlook: -5.1 ppg, -5.6 rpg, and -0.1 apg.

Utah trades: C John Amaechi (2.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.4 apg in 9.5 minutes)
SF Andrei Kirilenko (12.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.7 apg in 27.7 minutes)
Utah receives: SG Eddie Jones (18.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.7 apg in 47 games)
Change in team outlook: +4.5 ppg, -2.0 rpg, and +1.6 apg.

TRADE ACCEPTED

Due to Houston being over the cap, the 15% trade rule is invoked. Houston had to be no more than 115% plus $100,000 of the salary given out for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.


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Miami would get a lot of cap relief.

Utah would get rid of Amaechi who had been fighting with Sloan. They would also lose Kirilenko, but he is more of a great complementary player, when they have no real stars - besides, Harpring and Kirilenko basically play the same position. Jones could give them some veteran leadership at the SG position. Utah would have to get some additional compensation (money, picks) since they seem to be the ones who are worst off in this proposal.

The Rockets would, of course , benefit the most from this trade. They would have to sign some backup PG like Tierre Brown for the minimum, but then they would have a rock-solid roster.

PG: Francis, [backup]
SG: Mobley, Piatkowski
SF: Kirilenko, A. Griffin, Nachbar, J. Hawkins
PF: Grant, E. Griffin
C: Yao Ming, Cato

Kirilenko and Grant would greatly improve our defense. Grant's contract would not be a big shock to us because we would lose Taylor's and Moochie's which run just as long, and, combined, almost equal the value of Grant's.

Also, once Grant's contract would run out, we could give this money to Yao. Grant is also a bit younger than Eddie Jones, he would be 34 at the end of the deal, which is fine.