Gaines is a good talent

I hope you're right, but then after that impressive year at louisville he couldn't get any minutes on the worst team in the league. If he turns out to be a prospect I'll be thrilled, but I highly doubt it's going to happen.

 

This guy could not beat out Lue and was put on the expansion list by the worst team in the NBA after one year despite being a 15th pick. All of these scream "he sucks". If he is any part if our "future", I will be disappointed.

 

I Agree. I think he's going to fit in nice and be a playoff spark when needed. If you are going to get a scrun in the deal this is who you want.

 

I think both teams improved in the deal... I think the basic theme of the trade is depth for talent. The Rockets may never win a championship with McGrady, they might not have ever won one with Francis and Mobley. That said, if Gaines becomes a starter, I think the Rockets robbed the Magic. Otherwise, I think both teams got what they needed out of the deal and it was fair.

 

Evaluating a player based exclusively on how much ot he gets, even for a bad team, in his rookie year is not the best policy. Different coaches have different philosophies regarding rookies, some of whom simply don't play them. Additionally, different rookies have a hrd time picking up systems which, while it doesn't speak well about their intelligence, isn;t necessarily a condemnation about their long term fufutre. This can be exacerbated by inuries, contract problems, etc.

Not saying I love Gaines, or am sold on his future, but it's too early to write him off, too, IMO.

 

His Assist/TO is reminiscent of a former Houston PG.

 

Few team gave up their rookies this easy. Moreover, he was a backup to the freaking Lue. If he was any good, why orlando did not play him more? It was not like he had to compete against Kidd/Nash for any time.

Hey, I wish him the best but I just hate to see these "Gaines is 23, great, etc etc"... while even Bobcats and Magic did not want him.

 

And Prince was a backup to Michael freaking Curry as a rookie.

 

One year isn't enough to evaluate a player. Payton was worse than Lue in his first year. So a rookie Payton would've played as Lue's backup as well, just like Gaines. Not to say Gaines will surely become a good player - the fun part is we get to see if he can become a good one.

 

Even Magic fans can't decide on their forum boards whether this guy will boom or bust or even stay in the league.

One thing stands out above everything else I've seen about Gaines...he was made available in the expansion draft after only one year and not even the Bobcats were willing to gamble on him, even though he's young and relatively cheap. That wouldn't seem to bode too well.

 

You guys have to keep in mind the reason he was not taken in the expansion draft was becuase Bikerstaff said he is not going to hinder the trade between the Rockets and Orlando, not becuase this guy lacks talent etc.

 

You're right Stack. He did say that, but that team needs all the prospects it can get. Unless the Rockets or the Magic agreed to send him some cash upon completion of this deal, I'd be surprised if he really passed a player he wanted, just to be nice.

 

I get your point where they wouldn't just pass up on a player like that but maybe he did it just not to mess things up since they are new to league and have to make deals with other teams right after the trade.

Based on the way the expansion draft went and the days following it shows that they had already talked to other team GM's about who they wanted the Bobcats to aquire and then ship to them for either draft picks or veterans.

That's why i think that either way he didn't need to pick up Gaines, unless they really thought he was going to play for the team.

 

Hello!?! The Bobcats got a pick for drafting the Magic's other rookie (the second rounder)...Pechulia (sp?) That deal was made before the draft...don't think for a second they wouldn't have taken Gaines, because we will never know if they would. Since they got a first round pick out of the "other" Magic rookie and the Cats could only take one player from each team.

Gaines will develop. The reason he's available is because of the changing of the guard in Orlando having ZERO loyalty to Gaines, thus he was treated as salary fodder.

He's a player. He will play and I think he could be good. Particularly if he learns his role from Snow...A 6'6" Snow with (much) more athletecism wouldn't hurt my feelings too bad.

He's a good fit for us. Tall enough to deliver the entry and get a hand up (and many times over) opposing PG's, and he likely won't EVER scream for the ball (unless he wants his can kicked). He's not a bad fifth option when he's on the floor.

 

Exactly, zaza is only 19 and is a big guy.

 

Not only that but Orlando put this guy on the expansion list and even the Bobcats passed on him. When you consider how well a Marquis Daniels, a guy who wasn't drafted, performed for the Mavericks, his inability to even crack the rotation on a losing team speaks volumes.

I predict that Gaines will occupy the "he's got a world of potential" seat on the bench that was formerly occupied by Eddie Griffin.

 

What was the knock on Gaines? offense - defense ? - - from what I can find he's always described as long and athletic...

 

Jonathon Feigen was on ESPN radio up here last night and he stated that from his conversations with Rockets officials that the Rockets looked at the Francis, Mobley, Yao tandem and felt that it was not of championship quality. However, they feel that the McGrady-Yao duo is much more believable as a championship core.

As for Gaines, who knows? He's a throw in as the Magic basically gave up on him so I don't expect anything from him as well. He does nothing to fill the hole at PG. This is vintage Rockets - they should have asked for Jameer Nelson instead.

 

6'6 long Arms, Atheletic Sounds like a Typical JVG Type Guard! Is he a solid Defender? how's his Court Vision?