I can't believe Cato's stock his risen to the point where the Rockets actually don't wanna trade him. Especially if they're so desperate to fill this roster with veterans, many of whom appear to be coming from the East. Cato's the perfect trade bait for a lot of those teams.
It will take mobley and griffin to get brand. Sign barry to Mle. But how do you get a Pg from the east thats any good without anymore trade bait? I dont buy it.To get crawford, takes mobley. But mobley is used for brand ,and so on. Unless of course the pg sucks so bad that no team wants him like how we got moochie.
Horrible thought of the moment ... Clippers PF Cherokee Parks. Please, don't make me gag. I still think we could do a good 3 man rotation with Yao, Cato & MoT taking the minutes at the C & PF spots. Then we just need a back-upy PF type, nothing special. I'm going with Tinsley from Indiana as PG, Michael Redd as 6th man. Those 2 with Francis take up the minutes at the guard positions. Then we just need 2 guys who can play small forward, and we're good to go. Payton would definitely cost way too much. Why do you think he wanted out of Seattle? 'Cause they wouldn't pay him.
PF - West - Brand PG - East - D. Armstrong SG - East - M. Redd Do-able! Please put Van Chancellor on the bench with Rudy. Please give him an assistant coach who can teach, plot and win games. But what if the menu ends up PF - West - Juwon Howard PG - East - Sam Cassell SG - East - Spree I think I'd cry! Please get some guys that know how to play with Ming/Francis - that know the game plan. Question - if Steve is the two - why is SG-East on the shopping list? Why not a 3 or another backup 1? Does this mean Steve will swing combo/g again? (That's ok with me, with a competant guy like Armstrong backing 1 and a shooter like Redd catching at 2). OR is the current east 2 going to play at the three with Steve and pg "X"? need to hit my charts and check back. Thanks for the word.
You're the man Doc. As much as I would love to have Payton I have a feeling the PG that the Rockets are looking at is Alvin Williams. He fits the Eric Snow role if the Rockets are going to try an model themself after the 76ers.
I find it hilarious that you guys are talking about trading Cat & EG for one or 2 other players, PLUS signing 1 or 2 veterans, AND NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT THE MONEY IT WOULD TAKE/LIMITS TO DO ALL THIS!
Alvin Williams is not a pure PG and isnt a great playmaker. If people complain about Steve's assists, just wait til Alvin Williams takes over.
Can somebody tell me honestly if you think Armstrong is good? he didnt do much when we played the magic,and he isnt doing much in playoffs. Id rather have tito.
One rumor that can be put to rest as nice as it might sound... Brand is NOT going to be a Rocket next year. He is a restricted FA, and he is the one guy who Sterling will match any offer on. I think we are looking more at a second tier power forward (Lorenzen Wright, Stromile?)
I actually forgot to list my own preferences. This is my wish list. I'd LOVE to have Jamal Tinsley from Indiana or Snow from Philly (And of course KIDD!!). I would think that Cat for JT would work... I'd also love to have Payton if that could work. He would be a great Vet PG to bring in. As for a SG, I like Redd, Wesley, or Lenard. As for PF - of course, I'd LOVE to have Brand. I mean pick your players (No Ming) and we'll take Brand. I have a feeling that Miller and Odom will be Rockets...I don't know that but I have a feeling! If you remember, we play REAL WELL when our outside shots are falling. As do the Mavs, Kings, and Spurs...Hmm! Give me Nachbar and two other shooters and I'll be fine. I actually would just like to add to the team. I'd rather us not move move Eddie or Cat but we'll have to probably. If Cat would take the 6th man roll and Eddie would FOCUS on his game down low...well...who knows. In order - PG - Kidd, Tinsley, Payton, Miller, Snow SG - Francis, E. Jones, Wesley, Redd, Lenard, Houston SF - Nachbar, Odom, Posey, Rice, PF - Brand, Malone, Taylor, Oakley, Grant, Z. Randolph C - Y A O M I N G Best case in a real world - Tinsley OR Payton Francis OR Francis Odom OR Nachbar Malone OR Malone Yao OR MING Maybe Malone, huh??? Oh...and I LOVE Jamal Crawford's game!! I can't believe i forgot to say that...that's why I listed my prefs. I really like Crawford!!!
If the Rockets have discussed anything with any team it would have to be non play-off teams because no play-off team would entertain trade talks while their team is in the play-offs. PG from the east - Jamal Crawford (Bulls) The Bulls owe us a 1st either this year or next or 2 second round picks (one in 05 and one in 06). They have Jay Williams waiting to start. Trading the picks back to the Bulls along with a player (Eddie Griffin?) might do the trick. PF from the west - Elton Brand (Clippers) If Cuttino is really leaving he posses exactly the type of contract and skill that Donald Sterling covets. But of course Cuttino alone would not be enough to pull this trade off, so who else? TMo? Boki? Rice?! SG from the east - ??? If I keep with the one rule that no play-off team will talk to us until the play-offs are over then who is the possible guard. Steve would be the starter at two so I assume we would be bringing in a veteran to back up Steve at the two. Byron Russell from the Wiz maybe?? His contract is not up until 04 so it would require a trade but he is a veteran with play-off experiance.
If EG and Cat are moved it will obviously have to net us either a PG or PF. Problem is, Cat's reputation as a poor team player has been growing and his value isn't that high. Don't think people haven't seen EG throw up airballs on national tv. I wonder why the hell the Clips would want EG, when they have Chris Wilcox and Melvin Ely waiting in the wings in case Brand leaves. In any case, the Rockets make off like bandits if the Clippers accept Cat and Griffin for Brand. Also, Lamar Odom should not be considered. He's injury-prone and isn't the solution at PG.
Doc never said all those things were supposed to happen -- only that those were the ways they were looking to improve. All he said definitively (and it's assumed that means definitively as of right now -- things can always change) was that Rudy was staying and Steve was moving to SG. Also that Cat and Grif were being shopped and that we were looking to veterans. And also that our backup points weren't likely to be back. What this means definitively is that we need point guards. More than one, probably, though since we're looking at 2 guards too, Steve will probably still see some time at PG. We can pick up a backup point like we usually do -- non-guaranteed 2nd round from the draft or CBA type. (Just PLEASE don't sign these guys long term again!) That won't hurt us cap wise. Payton's my dream. I asked in another thread about Steve moving to the 2 who was supposed to play 1 on O and cover the opposing two on D. There is no better answer in the world than Payton. How much does he really need in the way of a contract to be happy? I know he wants a payday, but how much? I'm guessing more than Cat and Grif's contracts combined, but how much more? And is Les serious enough about improving that he's becoming flexible on the luxury tax? I don't see this as likely, but it is definitely my dream scenario. With Payton running the offense, I could be happy with our current rotation at the 5, 4 (minus Grif + T-Mo and maybe a few minutes for Cato/Yao) and 3, even though it's far less than ideal. Payton would make them better, no doubt.
Coaches are definately talking about certain Clippers - well, aren't we all? Damn, I wish Odom were definately on that list - Zach Randolf at PF and Odom at SF would be sweet! Also like John Berry. Also like Alvin Williams.
I agree 110% Crawford WAS an intriguing prospect several years ago, but now he makes Steve look like Bob Cousy.
Ron Mercer put up decent numbers for Chicago but his production has gone down now he's lost in the shuffle in Indiana. Not too keen on Darrell Armstrong, not as a starting PG with Steve at SG anyway.
Except, Alvin Williams actually takes care of the ball. If Steve had a career AST/TO ratio of 3:1, like Williams does, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Besides, when we get Odom, we'll just go into all out pseudo-PG mode: Francis, Williams, and Odom will flip a coin to decide who gets to take the ball up the court. Hell, MoT may even get in on it. The PG, SG, and PF from the East, East, and West were veterans that Doc was referring to. I think this cancels out guys like Tinsley and Crawford and Redd, as well as Brand. Armstrong is a very nice idea as a backup guard, but I don't think, and Doc Rivers doesn't seem to think, he's capable of playing big minutes regularly, so we'd still have a PG void if we got him. Travis Best is also a good option...off the bench.
Didn't anyone read my thread about getting Gary Payton?!?!!?!? Guess not. My name has to be Doc Rocket... PG - East - PF - West - SG - EAST Okay...he just heard. And they are looking...that doesn't mean much. Everybody is LOOKING. Point guard - not Tinsley. He's not a vet. Darrell Armstrong, Gary Payton, Sam Cassell, and Jason Kidd sound very nice. Power Forward from the West. Well veterans...not many. Karl Malone, Juwan Howard, Rasheed Wallace, Malik Rose, Robert Horry, and yeah. Those are the only veteran power forwards I can think of in the West. Shooting guards... . Allen Iverson, Paul Pierce, Michael Jordan, Jalen Rose, Allan Houston, David Wesley, Eddie Jones, Vince Carter, Kerry Kittles, Aaron McKie, Reggie Miller, or Voshon Lenard. They all sound nice. Keep us updated! Thanks! Very interesting...
Not necessarily true. The Bulls owe us a first in 03 or 04 that must be their own pick. If not they must give us their 2nd round pick in 05 and 06. Jamal Crawford could be used to satisfy that deal if we throw in someone else. Maybe Griffin?
