Are the lakers really looking trade Bynum? That would be awfully foolish of them. They basically lose any size advantage and will most likely not win the championship without Bynum. With that being said, I would easily trade brooks for an injury riddled bynum. Yes, he's injury prone but its a risk worth taking, but I doubt lakers would actually pull the trigger.
It doesn't make sense to piss off your employee just before they're about to become an unrestricted free agent. The simplest explanation is just that the Rockets aren't going to give a player who isn't a superstar or proven all-star player an extension. Brooks is (or was) their best trade piece, and they're trying to upgrade their team. That may disappoint those who believe Brooks should be part of the core, but I don't think the Rockets view any of their players as untradeable, especially ones where there is already another player under contract who is a capable starter. As for Brooks not starting, that's due to Brooks' injury, his poor play, and Adelman making a decision on what's best for the team. I don't think the front office has anything to do with that.
This and the MIP award has had so much traction on here that it is truly amazing. What did Aaron do in games 2, 3, 5 and 7 against the Lakers? Also call me when Aaron makes an all-star team, all-NBA 1st, 2nd or 3rd team or stops quitting on his team.
Good thread, and well thought out trades. -I agree that AB is generally overrated on this board in terms of TRADE VALUE, but most of the trades on this thread are somewhat achievable if the teams involved are willing to sign AB long term after the season. Which brings me to the big question here. -Why would a team want to give up assets for a player who is about to be a restricted FA? -I only see a team making a move for AB if it gives them some cost cutting in the process, which most likely will involve coupling AB with Yao's contract and taking back a player with a bad contract in return. -Its inevitable at some point that either Lowry or AB need to go, but this offseason might not be the best time. AB is currently diminishing most of his market value that he will need going into an offseason as a RFA and an new CBA. His market value will be low enough for the Rockets to get a bargain deal on AB that they would not have gotten last offseason. Any other player at the price he will yield would not give them the ability to produce as much as Rockets fans and management know that he is capable of. -The DD's on this board bash Morey for not offering extensions but you see if Morey would have extended him this offseason it would have been viewed as one of the worst contracts currently in the NBA. -That being said I would love for the Rockets to trade him for a quality lottery pick in 2011, or a big like Anderson Varajao, but I just dont see it happening unless the Rockets take a bad contract in the process to make up for the money that team will be spending on AB this offseason. It might just be in the best interest to the Rockets took see what kind of offers he gets in the offseason, try and get a bargain deal for him.
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=18694 Trouble Afoot In Houston: The Houston Rockets have far too many players that play the same position and as a result a number of players are not seeing the minutes or the role they had envisioned when the season started. Rockets' guard Aaron Brooks was the starter in Houston before going down to an ankle injury that cost him 24 games. In that stretch Kyle Lowry filled his role and the team played better and more fluidly, as a result Brooks returned from injury to find his job was now as a reserve. On Saturday, a frustrated Brooks was replaced in the game versus the Grizzlies late in the fourth quarter and rather than taking a seat on the bench, Brooks went to the locker room to shower and dress. Needless to say the Rockets were not pleased with Brooks and have suspended him for tonight's game versus the Nuggets. Several teams have inquired about Brooks in trade including the long running rumors involving the Sacramento Kings and the more recent news that the Mionnesota Timberwolves have been after Brooks in trade as well. Brooks is not the only unhappy camper in Houston, but there are only so many minute at the guard positions and the Rockets have far too many guards to keep them all happy. The Rockets have been reluctant to engage in trades with other teams until the Carmelo Anthony saga plays itself out, as Houston is still at the table with Denver, but once closure with Denver is reached, expect the Rockets to sell off some excess if only to create a little harmony in the locker room. Read more NBA news and insight: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=18694#ixzz1DI79wgb1
That was my speculation; there have been no reports that I'm aware of that state he's available. I was merely trying to connect the "Lakers might need a trade to save their season" connection with Brooks possibly being a shot-in-the-arm they need. I think Bynum is very good and obviously the Lakers know that; they did turn down a Bynum-Kidd trade a while back. But that was also before they got Pau Gasol and before Bynum was getting consistently injured every year. I don't see the Lakers moving Kobe, Pau or Odom -- that leaves Bynum and Artest. Artest is obviously much more likely to be moved (I don't think the Rockets would be interested); but I don't think Bynum is untouchable anymore. You would probably have to give more than Brooks, of course. A realistic trade proposal might be something along the lines of: Aaron Brooks Brad Miller Jared Jeffries NY 2012 1st (HOU puts more protections on it-- T14?) for Andrew Bynum Steve Blake (Rockets use TE) Derrick Caracter (Rockets use TE) The Lakers would get their present and future starting point guard, as well as a veteran big man in Brad Miller. While Miller doesn't bring the same defensive presence as Bynum, he could be a nice option in the high post of PJax's triangle offense. Trading for Brooks makes Blake useless to them, so they dump the remainder of his contract on the Rockets to be their backup PG. I disagree on your first point; the main reason Brooks is upset is that he's in a contract year and his payday is decreasing each time he comes off the bench. If he were locked up with an extension, I think he would be feeling a lot less pressure to produce this year and wouldn't be as disgruntled; which I believe would ultimately lead to him playing like he should be. As to why other teams would want to trade for him now -- because he'll be a restricted free agent. You have the upper hand when it comes to re-signing him and can match any offer he does receive. The idea of getting him 'for a bargain' could also be a reason that other teams might want to target him.
At this point Aaron Brooks has taken himself out of the eqaution with his recent play and this recent act...So nothing left to do but move on , really there's no going back now. What happend will always be in the back of everyone's mind.... So 2 seperate moves could really put us in contention to do "SOME" damage for a playoff run... a trade with our favorite partners the SACTO KINGS Brooks for Landry straight up. then the Clippers go after Kaman for T.Will and Jeffries + cash Landry makes sense there's no one consistent enough after Luis. And of course our biggest hole would be filled with Kaman (of course after he's fully healed), clipper don't have a legit 3 so why not try on the SO CALLED very talented Williams plus they get even more cap room for their stingy owner...
Do you think the Clippers would be interested in Brooks? I looked at them, but right now they're paying max money to Baron Davis to be their starting PG. Eric Bledsoe, the rookie out of Kentucky, has shown some promise for them this year as well. With Baron's contract and Bledsoe's youth, I didn't think they would be interested in another PG whose about to get a big raise this summer.
Most rookie big men are foul prone. He will grow out of that. He just has to get acustomed to the NBA. I wouldnt worry about that.
Aaron Brooks or not, if you have the chance to get Bynum in a reasonable trade you have to be all over that. Bynum would be a borderline franchise player in an offense like ours that could feature him. That said, clearly my preference would be a deal of that nature (if available). Otherwise, we should probably look into maintaining PG balance by dealing him for another guard like Flynn or the rights to Rubio. Flynn's game is a lot like AB's so the idea of having an athletic, shoot-first PG off the bench would be a role that's filled even with AB's departure. It's a move that definitely won't change our season but could be a nice play for the future.
I agree that some teams could see him being a RFA as a positive but not during negotiations. Most GM's would ask for another player to be taken off their hands in order to adjust the salary they would need to resign. And the fact that they might have to overpay and possibly lose him for nothing if another team gives a high offer can give too reservations to trading for him without other salary savings. Brooks being upset about his contract and his performance on the court are two separate things. Nobody wants him to perform a high level more than Brooks himself. His paycheck next season depends on it. Maybe his frustration has been carried on the court, but some fans on here make it seem as if he has been actively underperforming to show up management. I still agree with what Morey has done "business wise" with the contracts of the players who are set to expire before the new CBA. Its shrewd business wise but the policy was set in motion by Les Alexander years ago and the franchise will benefit with the flexibility it has going into the next 5 to 10 seasons. No too many NBA franchises have the kind of flexibility that the Rockets have to go in so many different directions in the future. If he was locked up with an extension, he would have still been underperforming due to his injury in the first couple months, and his inability to perform consistently off the bench. If the Rockets match a qualifying offer this summer, there is no doubt in my mind that it will be much less than what he would have gotten last offseason, and if they would have resigned him this past season he would have been severly overpaid given the production you have got out of him this season and what his role will be with the team in the future. He will still be a quality player for many years, but the 8 to 10 mil a year(educated guess) he would have got this past summer would have been priced too high and could have caused issues in flexibility with signing other key players in the future.
If Lakers came to me and Said Bynum for Brooks? You have to take that deal immediately. For the chance there at the center position to at least be upgraded for aplayer who wont stay here anyways.
I don't know if I would trade Brooks for another center with injury problems. Give Brooks an extension and then trade him to Minny for Rubio. Rubio doesn't want to play in Minny and Brooks is unhappy in Houston. Brooks get his money, Rubio gets out of Minny. We both win! Geez why can't it be this easy!
