They can't trade Swift after 15 games! That would be admitting they made a huge mistake and I doubt they'll be able to get equal value for him. And I agree that JVG is panicking, but he really shouldn't be. EDIT: Maybe Watson is possible though, both got new long deals for about the same amount of money, both might have been mistakes. Hmmm....
I think JVG is a competitor and likes role players w/ high basketball IQ. On this Houston team, other than TM and YM, everyone is a role player. JVG-trades/roster moves are intended to improve the team. Besides, who would panic after 15 games? That said, I can see Houston trading Swift, Wesley, Anderson, Alston, and/or Head to improve the team. Swift is an unmotivated player who has not improved in the time he has been in the league. Even worse, he does not provide the rebounding, agressiveness, and defense Houston desperately needs from the PF. Wesley is a JVG-type player, but unfortunately, his defense and shooting have "jumped the shark." Anderson does not have a high basketball IQ and you need role players w/ high BIQ to contend for a championship. Alston should be a backup PG on this Houston team, but has starting PG value. Head is currently a top 10 rookie and has value. He is not a difference-maker and can be easily replaced. (My personal bias: I do not like guards who cannot dribble.) JVG-type players I would love to have on the team: Bosh (Toronto), Okafor (Charlotte), Hinrich (Chicago), Mihm (LAL), Andersen (NO), Kaman (LAC)
I'm sure that the team has looked into trading away Alston and Swift, given the right offers. We're in this to win. Alston hasn't quite been the answer at the point---are we cursed or something?---although he's been "hurt" (?) And Stromile? I didn't think we'd give up on him so soon, but the kid is dumber than a box of rocks, and clearly does not match up well with JVG. I would hope this would turn around. But he'd be a better fit on a running team, anyway, and not one built for success in the playoffs. Sometimes out there he plays as if Yao's calling the plays---in Mandarin. Atlanta is JVG's fallback "joke-of-a-team," so trade speculation with them is probably academic, but the one player I've coveted for this team has been Al Harrington. Sure, he's a tweener, and if you traded Swift you'd have to ask, Who'd be on our bench? (Derek Anderson, Lonny Baxter, Deke: it gets worse, ya'll.) Al Harrington will be asking for some bucks. He's no franchise player, but he's young, and he nets some 18 points and 8 boards and, get this, 5 ASSISTS a game. A 3/4 who gets 5 assists a game has some value, and make no mistake.
I don't know why some are so surprised and deny that Stro and Rafer could be close to being gone. I like both and was happy when we acquired them, but they are two of our biggest trade assets. Head has clearly made himself the PG of the team. He scores, but does so without taking shots away from TMac and Yao, which is what James did a lot of times (not a James basher, just saying). The guy has quickly become what this team needed running the point. This makes Rafer expendable. Despite his run-ins in the past, there are teams that really need a PG. The Hawks for example, I think, would love having him running breaks with the rest of their athletes. Stromile, like Doc said, is a great asset based on a "talent-per-salary" ratio. He has the ability and potential that teams will covet. Plus, he has really given us nothing this season but a few highlight dunks. Baxter would give us the same production or more off the bench than he has so far. For those saying they should give those guys more time, why? This team has championship goals. They built this team trying to win now, not wait for guys to 'get it' or reach thier potential. I agree, with more time, both would probably play better but, unfortunately, this team doesn't have that luxury. Joe Johnson would be sweet, but like others said, i doubt the Rockets go for that contract and I don't think Atlanta parts with him THIS soon especially for what we have to offer. I don't know about Harrington either. He isn't a PF and he doesn't bring the defense or rebounding this team needs. And, there is NO WAY they are trading Stoudemire or Pachulia, so you can forget about them. You'd probably be looking at something like a Rafer for Childress deal, but I doubt there will be a deal with Atlanta. I think the Rockets NEED to upgrade at SG, so I would hope they could go for a Morris Peterson maybe. Hell, call Ray Allen's agent and see how happy he is that he re-signed there!
lets just wait for this team to get acquainted with playing with tmac and yao on the floor. a good test will be tonight against memphis. the rox knew about the potential that stro had coming in; therefore, i think they will keep him around a little longer to see if they can bring it out from him. if anything, stro still brings his shotblocking presense on the court. as for rafer, lets not give up on the guy yet. i still think jvg has a leash on rafer and only wants him to distribute. the kid can handle the rock. why not let him screen and roll and penetrate? then rafer can dish, which is what i expected from him. i don't think they do anything with wesley right now. he still provides the rox best perimeter defense and his shot is coming a long now. now way jvg ships him off......well at least not yet. the rox did a great job of getting the necessary pieces in the off-season, but have not been able to put the full product on the floor. lets give it some time to see how this team plays with tmac and yao on the floor.
It would be disappointing to give up on Stromile this quickly, BUT if the Rockets figure that he just isnt going to produce the way they want, then better to trade NOW than later when his value might slide. As mentioned, his talent/salary ratio is good so he can be moved. I am sure the Hawks mention was more of the "NBA wasteland" type comment, but they are an interesting partner. Al Harrington is in the last year of his deal and no question is going to leave the Hawks after this season. The Hawks want to move him for something of value. Harrington is a decent player, plays good perimeter defense and can score. But he is an average rebounder. Perhaps a Harrington/Stoudamire for Alston/Swift deal would be appealing. The Hawks get a pure PG they are looking for and a guy in Swift who is locked in, in a nice contract. The Rockets get a young talent in Stoudamire to help with speed in the backcourt and a PF in Harrington that is quick and can be a 3rd scorer. The only potential downside is that Harrington's contract is up after the season and he will be looking to be paid. So we could lose him. As for Wesley, he needs to be moved as well. His value is to some team just looking to "cut salary" and is willing to take "nice guy" Wesley and his 5M expiring contract. Wesley's value might be a lot higher as we get closer to the Trade Deadline and teams are looking to cut long term salary.
Yes I concur JVG is Freaking out and is a freak and has no concept of coaching. I give him his due. He knows defense but he doesn't know how to coach and that is why he is freaking out.
I think it has to do a bit with this quote from Van Gundy earlier in the season: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3471496.html Time running out The evening began with Van Gundy criticizing his team for its "effort level and basketball intelligence." "The group is ... running out of time — individually and collectively," he said. "Not a lot of them have a lot of years left. Certainly our window of opportunity with Tracy being great great is probably three to four years. It gets late early. I think Yogi (Berra) said that. And he's right. "I'm surprised. I thought we would be more excited about our opportunity." McGrady is an old 26, and I think Van Gundy is right in saying we have about three to four years left of T-Mac being really great. Bottom line, we need to win soon, if not now, and we need the right players that will fit his sytem.
Right. Maybe a player (Alston, Wesley, Swift) was complaining about our record and how bad we are, so JVG came back with a "trade him to a worse team" like retort.
Mr. Van Gundy has this season and two more left on his contract. If Le$ doesn't make another mistake, that means WCF this season or next, and the NBA Finals within three years. (...or the end of the line)
How bout swift for tim thomas?????? he's not playing for chicago, and they're looking to get rid of him.....
That's what I'm afraid of. But, Thomas makes so much this year, it would be incredibly hard to match salaries. Thank god!
AI does have a point. practice is overrated. it is not and never will be the real thing. didn't Boki tear it up in practice? from what i remember, Jermaine O'neal was tearing it up in practice in his Portland days, but could could never get it done during a real game. after five years of this, they traded his a$$ for Dale Davis and the rest is history. O'neal went on to become the best talent to have played for the Blazers since Drexler. actually Rasheed Wallace might have been even more talented than O'neal, but he too never seemed to be able to materialize all the talent in a real game either. just one bad call or non-call would make his lose it or he would just spend all his time at the 3-point line like Eggie. to be fair, Jermaine O'neal did receive tutelage from the greatest defender of all time in Bill Russell. so I would say training is crucial. the only time a player can truly dedicate himself to training and learning new things and improving himself is during the offseason. once the season starts, they just learn to play within the team system and hone what they already know. sure maybe the coach or assistants will add a few new things here and there, but basically it's hammering to the guys more Grundy ball.
Ok i think the Atlanta comment might have been tongue in cheek type thing. The only asset we have that we could send to Atlanta is Swift. They pursued him in the offseason. They have been playing Al Harrington who is more 3 than 4 at the 4 and there is zero chance of him resigning in the offseason. Getting Swift gives them a 4 who can run with this team and is signed at a moderate price over the next 4 years, something they would have overpayed for to sign him outright. Atlanta has an abundance of swing men so its not so bad. i dont see them moving Joe Johnson because they are still so far under the cap that there is no reason to make such a drastic move now. The other move i can see is a Boozer play in Utah. if he gets healthy its very possible since Utah has been looking for out from under that contract since they signed it. Once again the bang for the buck with swift is key. I know toronto is failing but i dont see us going after Jalen Rose. There are not really any other players worth making a move on. Latrell Spreewell is too old as is Ruben Patterson and too marginal to make a difference.
It's kind of sad that we're talking about the window of opportunity closing when we haven't been to the second round of the playoffs in almost a decade. Also, I think that Swift is untradeable for at least one season. If we trade him now, it will kill our credibility with free agents, especially with all of the sweet talking CD did to get him here.
TRADE JVGs ass instead. Tmac came back and should wait and see how far this team can go with him in the team. I dont think any players should be traded at this point. I dont understand why are players getting balmed for the losses.....majority of the blame should be on the coach.
You know that sick feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you know somebody's telling you something horribly true, though you don't want to believe it? I'm getting that feeling right now.
