fans are so blind. Both MJ and SF3 are supposed upgrade over Rafer. But both coaches preferred RA to start.
Thats probably the only way I would take this trade. The only positive is getting out of James' contract.
Quote: Originally Posted by H-TownBBall How about.... Jason Williams + Smush Parker for Rafer Alston + Mike James Why the Rockets do it: We get a potentially productive player in Jason Williams (as long as he stays healthy) and save a bunch of money. Williams ($9 million) comes off the books after this year and Parker ($4.5 million total over 2 years assuming he takes his player option). This is compared to Alston ($14.7 million total over 3 years) and James ($18.1 million total over 3 years). That is a big savings and considering I don't think we are quite contenders this year even if everything comes together, this along with a couple of other expirings allows us to get a couple more pieces for a championship run. I am off the Rafer hatewagon and appreciate what the guy brings to the team, but I don't think white chocolate is that much of a dropoff and cap flexibility is very underrated. Thoughts? I'd do it. Sure, me too. But unless and until Riles gets a hoops IQ = to Smush' it ainta gonna happen. Too bad. But, the suggestion of Zo and Smush for mj = a possibility for both teams IMHO.
I was just going to propose the same, making Jason Williams +Smush parker will allow us to have a lot to spend in free agency, + a better teacher for brooks + a Rafer like player in Smush Parker, and the posibility of Brooks having more playing time because i think the rotation will be Williams/Brooks/Parker.
The question I have is would the Heat do it? Sure, I know that Pat Riley had interest in Rafer over the summer, and it still might be the case today, but would he care to take Mike James when you consider the disappointment he has been with the Rockets so far this season? I know that if I was in his shoes, I sure wouldn't want to acquire Mike James in a trade.
I think they will pull the trigger on this one because they oppenly say that they want to trade Williams and Parker (and we are asking just for that) Pat Riley likes Rafer and is seeking for deep on the PG, they were also looking for shooters and Mike James on the future is a contract that enables you to get a shooter if you are likely to absorb a bad contract (using Mike James bad one). May i remind you that Miami is in a win now situation and they cannot use cap space because Wade and Shaq contract are quite on the rise and 6 millions of the 9 millions that williams release will be used on those contracts the next year.
Smush parker is a good player. But i'll say no to him. We need a PG, but thats not him. He'll be better off with boston or GSW.
Just freakin AUTO LOCK any thread having "smush parker" and "houston/rocket" in the same title. Smush is like 2x as bad as Rafer.
i didn't know he had an option. still, the deal makes a lot of sense cap-wise. i like the idea of williams/parker for rafer/james. williams is more than capable of replacing rafer. plus, he knows adelmans system. of course, the heat can do a lot better with 11 million dollars in ending contracts.
when the lakers let him go, they became a waaay better team; when the heat picked him up.. they became the worst in the east. bad teams usually have knuckleheaded PGs. the heat are a prime example of this. i understand why people would want MJ for him, but i think MJ could give us more in the playoffs than smush (.. if we can make the playoffs )
We could start with that offer and if they balk then maybe throw in a draft pick or 2. I don't think it's worth any 1st rounders though. I think it is pretty fair. They get production, we get cap space and take on a headcase, non-contributor in Parker and an injury prone older PG. Mike James excelled in Miami. They probably still have the false hopes we had (some still have) about him contributing on a winning team. Riley wanted Rafer and since he is the GM and they are sinking fast, I bet he would make the deal to save face.
Fetch Smush and Williams for M-james and R-alston, sure. But only to use Williams' expiring contract for a third team's player that we NEED. Whomever that would be.
The Heat would get no extra production and worse salaries back. They have no incentive to do the deal besides getting rid of Parker, and I think they would rather cut him than do that deal.
