i dont think stromile is going anywhere, if he is i feel bad for the guy, cause he just bought a nice new place,, got a pimp out rolls royce too!!! i hope he stays here personally
I'm glad that they're won't be indecisive and tank a season, but I'm bummed that this roster apparently won't work in our system and we'll be re-accclimating soon. And Thanks Doc
Doc is an insider that has got us info about the Rockets many times in the past.. What he says is most likely true..
When he said "trade his ass to Atlanta" I don't think the meaning was specifically a deal to Atlanta but rather an expression of disgust with said player by saying "trade him to the NBA's wasteland then."
Granted, I'm reaching here, but to take thacabbage's thought pattern a step further, I wonder if a player who's upset with the bad start is requesting a trade and threatening to take it to the press. Again, pure speculation.
Um, if JVG did say that, I'm sure it was in the context of punishing someone by bringing up the worst possible place he could be sent to, ala Siberia, Detroit, etc. Like, if a guy can't fit in here, let him see how the other half lives. I'd be surprised if "trade his ass to Atlanta" indicates an actual destination.
To me, this could easily be about Barry. Here's a guy who lost a lot of minutes, is outspoken, and now is "injured". And Atlanta is where we rescued him from last year.
You forgot one thing - Wesley has an expiring contract, which is gold in the NBA. On Wesley, all year long last year we heard about what a great defender he is (despite his height), but this year, dribble-penetration is killing us. I don't know if it's his knee or what, but Wesley isn't staying with opponents anymore. That, combined with his mediocre shooting and inability to bring the ball up the floor, makes him a target.
I called Atlanta for Harrington. I think edc has it right. The early season is a shambles, just like last season. JVG can't get out of the gate. So... trades give him an excuse. Gollum is clever in the ways of Machiavelli. Even if it's not Atlanta, it's no surprise if we trade Wesley and (hopefully) Moochie. Everyone knows you trade an expiring contract. It doesn't take too much thought to see Swift is the other trade piece as well as Alston. Look forward to trades, clutchfans. We'll see if we do as well as last year. Unfortunately, every other GM in the league also knows JVG needs to trade.
They've got entirely too many players that are 6'7-6'9 and play like small forwards. They have small forwards playing power forward. Really, outside of Salim Stoudamire, pretty much everybody on their team who is good is really a two or a three. They can afford to move any of them, but if I have to guess who they want to move - it's Al Harrington or Joe Johnson. Those are their bigger contract guys, and Joe Johnson is apparently unhappy in Atlanta. If they consider Stro a legit starting power forward (nevermind he's like 6'8 or 6'9 too) with borderline star potential, I could see them moving Al Harrington for a Swift/Wesley package. Wesley would be little more than an expiring contract to them. Another thing is that with as terrible as the Rockets have been, their draft pick has to be looking a bit more desirable. It's looking like a lottery pick. If Joe Johnson is really unhappy with Atlanta, and they feel it's a problem, maybe they'd be interested in trading him for Stro + Wesley + a pick or two?
An Alston to Atlanta deal would make some sense, since Atlanta doesn't really have a point guard. I don't think we could get Harrington for him, but Josh Childress is the player I really want. A long athletic swingman to play next to Mcgrady would be just what this team needs. I could see Childress developing into a Josh Howard type of player. I'm a little dissapointed that they're already giving up on Swift, but as long as they're aware that if they trade Swift, they darn sure better get some athletes in return, I won't be too dissapointed. The Rockets have probably been trying to trade Wesley since the summer, but I doubt the offers for him are any good. But I don't think any trade the Rockets make will make much of a difference unless Van Gundy is willing to make some major adjustments to his system and how he uses players.
I was thinking more along the lines of...since it was allegedly about Alston: "He says he's still injured??! Well trade his ass to Atlanta then!" Or, Swift: "He says he still hasn't learned the plays?!?...Trade his ass to Atlanta then!"
If Swift is traded, you need someone who can play PF back Harrington can play both 3 and 4 which is good.
JVG was messing with Jon Barry on 610am before the start of the season saying, "If you don't like it I'll send your ass back to Atlanta." They both laughed. This could be a similar situation. I thought the Rockets couldn't trade Swift yet? I've tried to do trades on Real GM with him and they won't work because he just signed a contract with us. The Rockets do need to make some moves. I think if we could trade Stro he would have some value to bring in a nice player.
Why would Atlanta take Wesley when a Swift/Harrington trade straight up would already work? And Harrington, even as a natural 3, is already better than Swift at the 4.
