I have been against Odom as I didnt think he woulds fit in and would cause a clique among the players. Now if we can get him and Brand I would be for it, if we dont have to give up either Francis, Yao Ming or Griffin & Odom does NOT play Point Forward! MoT, Rice, Moochie,Hawkins,Collier and Maddox should be available on the first offer. On the second offer would be Morris,Mobley,Cato,Nachbar and Posey. Our starting Five Francis,Posey,Odom,Brand,Y Ming. then Griffin,Cato off the bench.
Truer words were never spoken! Teams that win championships have played together for 2 or 3 years. This team needs some playing time together to jell. It will all come to pass again!
adrian, Why would we do that if there's an opportunity to improve? No doubt, Odom is who we should go for. He would transform this etam into a contender. This year, he's shown he can score consistently and at a good % too. With his PointForward skills (which he's not using because of Miller), Steve would become incredibly better. Oh, and the team would contend too. But who would they want that we'd give up? I wouldn't mind giving up Mobley (because we have Posey) but they have Maggette, Piatowski, Jaric, and Q Richardson. If you ask me, regardless of how well their team does or how willing they are to pay the players, they should trade Odom. They're one of few teams that don't need his passing ability at the 3, so if they sign him to the contract, Odom is going to make sure they pay him for those passing skills, which they won't use with Miller around. Here's a decent deal: Mike Miller to Clippers Declerq to Houston Odom to Houston Cato and Mobley to Orlando I think (not sure) it works capwise, and I think all teams get a fair deal. Especially if Orlando throw in a future 1st to the Clippers. Orlando lose Miller, but don't have to worry about Hill, because Mobley can play the 2 whenever they need, and T-Mac the 3 when they need. Miller and Hill can't play the 2 so much, so they have more flexibility here. They also get Cato, which gives them a DAMN good C in a Conference with weak frontcourts. The way he's been playing, pulling down 10 boards a game for Orlando is probable. Mike Miller combined with a passer like Andre Miller? Add to that all the attention a pos presence like Brand gets? No doubt he's a tremendous fit here. He also boards, and can get to the rim consistently. As for us, we get Odom for Mobley, but Declerq for Cato , but this would really improve our team big time. Hate to lose Mobley, but it seems like a really nice deal. Thoguhts?
Keep adding talent but not fitting the team needs wouldn't make the team better. While Odom is a great talent he wouldn't be a good fit on this team. He needs the ball to be effective like Francis and Mobley and there is only one ball. If he's added to the team, our chemisty would dramatically change. What we need at that SF spot is a pure shooter. Someone who can shoot the light out especially when teams double team Francis and Yao. A Glen Rice in his prime would be prefect. Hopefully Boki can become what he's supposed to be then we don't need to add anyone. If we need to look elsewhere, Lewis, Brent Barry or the like would also be great fit.
You forgot Mike Miller, who fits the Rockets better than any of the aforementioned, although I'm still hoping Boki will fill that role.
Mobley/Taylor/Draft Pick FOR Brand and Miller..... Miller, Francis,Griffin, Brand and Yao Ming. This breaks up Mobley/Francis and prevents............. Odom/Mobley/Francis. If it was possible I would trade Mobley/Taylor/Griffin for Brand,Miller and Odom.............................................. Miller Francis Odom Brand and Yao Ming.
If the Clippers have a sign-and-trade fire-sale, the Rockets are not well positioned to take advantage. The Rockets' strategy of locking up their players in long-term contracts will keep us from having much to offer to the Clippers. We won't even have a lotto pick to offer them. You can forget about trading them Taylor or Cato or Norris. They won't take Rice either. The only guys they'd consider taking in trade would be: Yao Ming (obviously off limits though) Eddie Griffin (still in rookie contract. Can we get fair value for him though?) Cuttino Mobley (long but low-ball contract) Bostjan Nachbar (again, we can't recover fair value for him) Steve Francis (maybe. I'm not sure Sterling would accept a max out contract even for a player of Francis' caliber) With a 3-way trade, we might be able to use some of our other assets. But, why would a third team be willing to participate and not get the grand prize?
I thought this thread would be about sort of realistic additions. Unless something dismal happens chemistry wise, or there is an offer just too good to pass up (not likely), I want us to mainly keep what we have. I thought we have Posey for sure for next year but if he is a FA this year then he should be the first taken care off. The only thing I would like to add is an enforcer type (rebounder, physical presence, willing to foul hard in response to hard fouls on Yao/Steve) who can play some back-up 4.
Juan - you mentioned Griffin, if there was a three way trade that could get Brand for Eddie would you do it? I know I would.
Amen. How about some focus on picking up a "missing piece to the puzzle" free agent that could be had for the middle class exception, or even less?
It would be hard to turn down Howard for the MCE but I was thinking more in the mold of a PF who would not demand the ball much and who's forte is solid defense and rebounding, or if not skilled defense at least a propensity for dirty hard retribution fouls if needed (protect Yao/Steve): A+ list Brand (totally unrealistic for the MCE however) A list PJ Brown Theo Ratliff Either maybe possible for the MCE--though neither is dirty--both are too skilled of low post defenders to overlook. One complication with this caliber of player though is whether EG or this player starts at the PF. If EG continues to deserve to start this player must be willing to play around 20 minutes. B list Oakley (if only he were a little younger, but we could still dust him off the bench just for the right physical situation--would only sign him for the vet min though). T. Hill (would he accept, and be able to take, an enforcer role?) B. Miller (right amount of dirtyness, but he would have to be willing to back-up the 4 spot and will probably be in demand by others as a starting center, probably not a fit given our secure center spot). B- List Brian Skinner (don't know if he is mean enough but seems to fit the profile of what I am looking for as a specialist physical defensive oriented reserve PF--might be worth a look for some of the MCE if others above don't seem to work) Flyers worth a try out in camp but no guaranted slot, the key thing I would be looking at with all these guys is are they willing to committ the hard foul in retaliation to cheap shots to Yao or Francis. Medvedenko Pat Burke Don Reid A Ford Thoughts?
Gary Payton is the free agent I'd really want but doubt that's very realistic. Having him play the point with Steve at the two would be excellent. I love this trade though. The Clips look like they'd be willing to be raped just to keep payroll down. Houston trades: SG Cuttino Mobley (17.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.1 apg in 41.9 minutes) PF Eddie Griffin (8.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.1 apg in 25.3 minutes) Houston receives: PF Elton Brand (18.5 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 2.3 apg in 40.3 minutes) PG Andre Miller (15.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 7.8 apg in 38.9 minutes) Change in team outlook: +7.8 ppg, +5.0 rpg, and +5.9 apg. L.A. Clippers trades: PF Elton Brand (18.5 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 2.3 apg in 40.3 minutes) PG Andre Miller (15.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 7.8 apg in 38.9 minutes) L.A. Clippers receives: SG Cuttino Mobley (17.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.1 apg in 28 games) PF Eddie Griffin (8.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.1 apg in 34 games) Change in team outlook: -7.8 ppg, -5.0 rpg, and -5.9 apg. TRADE ACCEPTED
If there were some way to dump MoT's contract, Brand would fit right in. The question is how do you go about doing that? If Mo was playing better and healthier, he would be more marketable. Unfortunately, he is not.
Since this is all hypothetical anyway, I'll pull a Hottoddie and say that I would look to acquire Brand. Nothing against Odom, mind you. For example, a 3-way trade with the Bulls, Clips, and Rockets (sounds familiar, eh?) in which we give up Cuttino and Eddie and whatever (Maloney draft obligation? T-Mo?) and take on BRAND and CRAWFORD, winding up with a tall point guard to make up for Steve's shift in the offense to the 2 spot: 1. Crawford/Mooch 2. Steve/Hawk 3. Posey/Boki/T-Mo? 4. Brand/Mo-T 5. Yao/Cato Expensive backups, though.
WE could handle Brand if he was able to go one more year before getting the max.After Rice we would have Brand and Francis taking 50% of the money then in three more years we would have Brand,Francis and Yao Ming taking 75%. Could we field a team with 9 players earning 25% of the money. If the answer is yes, then we should go for Brand. Moochie,Taylor and Cato would need to be traded. Griffin could get a fair contract and the rest would get the minimum.
