At least we only really have about three things to worry about coming into this offseason... 1. Find a backup center (CRITICAL!) 2. Sign or don't sign Artest (depends on how much money he asks for) 3. Sign or don't sign Wafer (won't matter much if White develops) We have until the trade deadline to move T-Mac and the Rockets are good enough to make the playoffs regardless of whether or not we play him. There is no pressing need to trade the guy unless Houston fans are dumb enough to riot the Rox FO with pitchforks and torches. I say give the guy a chance and if he doesn't hash out, trade his expiring contract before the deadline or continue waiting it out. We really should be grateful when we compare this offseason to last offseason. Here is what we went through last offseason and looked how we turned out. 1. T-Mac coming off surgery and botching rehab (not working hard enough) 2. Battier coming off surgery and botching rehab (working too hard apparently) 3. Rafer coming off injury suffered during Utah series 4. Yao coming off surgery and playing in the China games 5. Landry was not signed 6. Mutombo was not signed (so no backup center) 7. Continued first round slump I for one am SO glad that we don't have too many things to worry about and for once can enter the season with a core that is not only intact but proven effective as well. Also some more things to be grateful about: 1. We now have 2 talented points that will be fighting for the starting position 2. Yao's injury while unfortunate allows him to skip pointless tourneys in the offseason which may very well prove to be a blessing in disguise 3. Scola continues to become better as he adjusts to life in the NBA 4. Landry seems to have gotten his legs and courage back 5. A core team that is scrappy, determined, proud, and plays with heart is entering the season together. 6. Loads and loads of valuable trade assets 7. Morey is still at the helm 8. Les is apparently more than willing to give Morey both leeway and money.
I agree , we're in a good position. I really feel good about our PG, what a brilliant move Morey did. Am 90% sure Artest will re-sign no way Morey will let him walk just like that.
Yeah, I'm also very optimistic about the Rockets' future, blockbuster summer trade or not. It will be interesting to see how Morey handles negotiations with Artest and his agent. Given the current economic climate, Morey could easily make a low-ball offer for Ron that will be better than anything else he could get on the open market. But the Rockets need to be careful not to shatter Artest's somewhat fragile ego (at least when it comes to putting a number on his worth as a basketball player). Ron is the type of guy who might be willing to play for less with another team if his current team hurts his feelings in contract negotiations. Only time will tell.
Actually, all that stated above didnt really happen until the pre season / season started....In the summer, TMAC's and Shane's injuries were not supposed to be that serious, and actually we as a whole had such high expectations when we broke camp....It was in November when we discovered that there was something not quite right....
what Rockets need: 1. one franchise player. 2. one starting PG. 3. one healthy big guy who can jump, dunk and block shots. it is really a long way..........
1. We have a franchise player in Yao Ming. He just needs to stay healthy. 2. We have 2 players that can do a pretty good job starting at any given game in Brooks and Lowry 3. What you are asking is Dwight Howard. We don't need a Dwight Howard, just a backup center.
Yao is a franchise playerin the offseason. He was a star player in regular season and a role player in the playoffs.
We do need him. But the Magic just made it into the finals,so he's untouchable. We don't need Tyson Chandler. 10 mils for a backup C? Makes no sense to me. If we're going anywhere next season,you believe/hope the big guy stays healthy. Landing an energy bomb in SG position would help Yao a lot,though.
We don't NEED Dwight Howard. Of course, we'd WANT Dwight Howard. So would every other team in the NBA.
we have the 2nd best center in the league and you are complaining? Thats like Portland Trailblazer complaing about not having Micheal Jordan when they had Clyde Drexler. Yao may not be Dwight Howard, but is cost was not a problem, which team in the NBA would not take Yao? Including The Magic?
You know, it's funny because over the years, we are known lake of tough with full of talents. This year, we're tough enough to accomplish something we have not done for 12 years. Now it;s upto our players maintain the toughness when all players coming back full health. I do think we can step further. 1. We need to keep Ron, hopefully team and Ron can work it out. With Tmac come back, Ron will back to normal shotting per and his toughness and pass about game and win is most important reason why we are sucessful this season. 2. Believe or not, I still have faith on Tmac, in fact, i can't find any player we can find to fit well with team, of course , his abilities. Unless Tmac come back and play crap. I say we keep him. Even it doesn't work, we're still in good position on big 2010. 3. I'm not big fan of Von Wefer. I know he had good moment offensely at times. But this guy is fool and even 2year old kid know that once he gets ball he is going to shot. I don't think he is the tpye of player on a champion team. 4.Backup Center is important and everyone knew that. However, everytime i look at this team roster, somehow i doubt at times, i'm not sure we can achive what we want with two such young PGs. It's true our future is depend on these two PGs. How fast can they develop? Do we need a experience PG? 5.Yao. I said it before. Yao need be true leader of this team. I get the fact today's NBA is not center's game. But after 7 years nba life, Yao still doesn't learn how to play his game. He is worried about anything he did wrong other than pointed out both teammates and coach" I need the ball" "Bench the player who don't pass ball to me" .... Yao's nice is his biggest weakness on the court which make him always adapt teammate's game. When you run with AB with 300p body, I bet you will get injuries so or later. All that said, we finally got the break, the future is bright. I believe
Wow that role player commands double teams even triple teams when he is not fronted and sometimes a mixture of both.
Another important issue we need to address is a finisher. Which is what we don't have..a guy that can help with the fronting defense..meaning a guy that can make. The entry pass to yao and if yao is fronted then make you pay for it by taking it to the hole like a tmac lol. So a backup center and I think we are fine at the pg...unless we get like a nash type of deal for cheap. So backup center and a finisher that can take it to the whole..either tmac do it for us or go out and trade for one...also I think its important to resign artest and even wafer.
