The Rockets don't want Shaq nor do they need Shaq. Over 20 million dollars for another player? Have you guys not learned your lesson with T-mac? 5 million max on a back up center and I don't even think the Rockets will have to spend unless they do some trading and shuffling.
I wouldn't spend that much. Magloire for 2.5m or elson for 1.5 or mbenga for 1m would do it. Plus they have a few te's in which they could use to trade for players.
How about T-Mac for TJ Ford + Murphy? Ford can play as starting PG, can knock down shots under crunch time, has a few buzzer beaters in his resume too. Murphy can play as backup for Yao off the bench or even play as a forward. He can knock down 3's really well. On the other side, T-Mac + Granger + Jack could attempt to make it for the playoffs in the East.
just from looking at the unrestricted agent list located here --> http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=FreeAgents-09-10 There were a few potential backup centers which interested me, brad miller would be nice, but his age and the price would be too much i think. A good veteran to pick up might be brendan haywood but once again he wont come extremely cheap, so that left 2 interesting prospects, Josh Boone and Patrick O'bryant, 24 and 22 respectively so relatively young, Boone at 6'10 and O'bryant a legit 7 footer. Do you think these guys could help out out much and maybe have a break out year!
Murphy is also a rebounding machine!!! I dont know why IND does it, im not sure of their financial situation
JaVale McGee. My ideal backup center that may be a realistic possibility. Pros: Legit 7 fter, decent size (still filling out), only 21, freakish wing-span, runs the floor well, NOT a stiff, super athletic, rebounds and blocks shots. Cons: He's a nice piece to the Wizards and I'm sure he's a part of their long term plan but I think he can be had. He's still very raw and needs to gain maturity and composure but I think thats part of the territory of being a 21 year old big man trying to learn the center position. Standard big man issues can be improved upon ie better post moves, improvement of jumper, better FT% etc. Opinion: Morey should make a call and see what the Wizards would be asking in return for this guy. My assumption is that it would be a nice young package in return involving Brooks + ??? or Landry + ??? I wouldn't mind overpaying a bit for this guy as 7ft-ers with game and potential like him are rare. He's also mobile enough to play the 4 position alongside Yao if we wanted to go big. Oden/Pryz? Gasol/Bynum? Shaq/Amare? Perkins/Garnett? Meet Yao/McGee. Perhaps I'm looking too much into it but I think he truly has the potential to be a special big man in this league especially under the guidance of going up against Yao every day in practice and the experienced/winning nature of the Rockets organization. Bring him in for size, athleticism, rebounding, defense and let the rest of his offensive development come along naturally from Yao and CD's guidance. Last point, if the Wizards can pull of the Lottery tonight and land Blake Griffin that might make McGee that much more expendable. Perhaps a bigger package involving Tmac and one of Wizards big 3 with McGee as a minor piece can be worked. Either way we should be inquiring about him since the Wiz will be looking to make moves regardless.
1. Chemistry killer 2. If he is healthy and comes at the right price he would be ok. 3. He is making stupid money now and I doubt we could afford him. 4. If he takes 1/3 of the money he got on that last deal then he could be a good backup. 5. If the price is right.
that is crazy. whoever does that for Minnesota would have to be shot. if i'm Minny, i don't even trade him for Yao. maybe, and then it's only maybe, i would trade him for Dwight Howard.
Nobody has hit the right guy yet. Tall - 6'11" check Shotblocking skills - look up his blocks per minute - check Offensive skills specifically shooting skills with jumper range - check Savvy veteran with good basketball iq - check Attitude - check Cost - minimal salary - check The answer is .......................................................... Raef Lafrentz Lafrentz is the equivalent of Rasheed right now without the attitude problems. And we can get him for the minimum.
still haven't found the right guy...lafrentz is 33, has had injury issues, and missed this season with a shoulder injury...we cant know how he'll heal or how effective he'll be
i think he's a good pickup and could emerge as a solid starter one day....BUT, let's start to consider what the chronicle stated Morey is leaning towards, a one or two year rental, similar to deke, who only plays when size is needed....this isn't what i wanted to hear again this year, unfortunately they dont seem willing to give up much to get a big man because they don't see him playing much behind our 4s and yao....so let's start looking at guys who fit the PJ Brown mold more closely
Yes, he has had injuries. But he's been healthy the last season. Just wasn't in Portland's plans with all their youngs. He is a veteran with a considerable offensive skill set including the 3 point shot and good back to the basket moves. He is going to be on the cheap because of the fact that he has rarely played the last 2 seasons. But he has plenty of skills and has several years left in the tank. If you remember a few years ago, he gave Yao fits when he played against Yao. He is physical defensively, although post defense is not his strength. But he will bang plenty down low and he is a tremendously talented offensive player. I know everyone is going to write him off simply because he hasn't played but he was in Boston, Morey knows him and knows what he is capable of. I think he would probably play for a contender for the minimum for a chance to revive his career and earn one more 2-3 year deal. He is more skilled offensively than any player that has been mentioned here save for Rasheed and when he is healthy he is just as good if not better than Rasheed from the perimeter. Rasheed hardly plays down low anymore anyways. When Raef is healthy, he has very quick feet in the post. He can score the ball and has to be accounted for defensively. If he is left alone he is a very efficient offensive scorer. Defensively, Raef has good length and great timing off the floor. He has a very high blocks/40 minute ratio. Yes, he has been injured. But he is a skilled veteran player. Javale McGee? Dude may have skills but he is raw, raw, raw. We don't need that making a run for a championship. Check Joey this year, no contribution at all. This is a team that needs players that can step in and play. Raef backing up Yao, would be averaging about 18 minutes per game. And we could chop Yao back to 30 mintues per game or maybe a few less during the regular season. Yao also needs to drop about 30 lbs and get LIGHTER! He is too HEAVY! This is part of figuring out how to keep him on the floor and take stress off his feet. 30 less lbs is a lot less stress on his feet. Not only that, it will make it easier for him to get up and down the floor and make him a tad quicker and faster. I want YAO lighter so his spin moves on the baseline become more effective and he can finish them with more explosion. He doesn't need all that bulk anymore. Shaq is a dinasour. Even with losing 30 lbs, Yao will still be one of the biggest if not the biggest bodies in the NBA. Yao needs to drop 30 so he can drop 30 every night finishing strong on all his post moves. Anybody that is pushing for Rasheed should not be afraid of Raef. He is minimal risk, a minimum contract, won't eat up cap space. And he can play. Only question about him is if he is healthy. The medical staff can determine that. If he is healthy, he would be a great fit under Adelman.
Sow is Hayes without the brains. A big strong body that can board and block shots but the defense walks off and leaves him because all he can do is finish dunks. We don't need that unless we are trading Hayes and Landry out.
Yess Marcin Gortat. Orlando's paying the lux, so they might not be able to pay him what he wants. Length, skills, potential, young, all in the package. 3 mil/year, get it done, Morey. Perfecto.
if he's a solid rebounder and shot blocker i think he's worth a look at least, there isn't enough minutes to go after someone good, as in all around skills, we just need that, length, shot blocking and rebounding.
