ESPN has just reported that The Rockets could be talking about pickin up Allan Houston in exchange for Mobely, Griffin, and Rice. I like the sound of that deal and a Steve, Allan, Yao tandem sounds pretty sweet. I worry about what that would do to our bench though. The deal with add a sweet shootin 2-3, but im not sure if I wanna give up on Griffin just yet.
Actually this has been reported by ESPN for over a week. Bad idea due to the contract if you ask me. Decent idea if we get NY's draft pick, though. Also, the main problem with the above mentioned deal isn't that Houston's contract is so outrageous - although it is. It's that you don't get rid of any of your dead weight either. Mobley and Rice are your two assets to trade. It is imperative, IMO, that we try and unload either Taylor and/or Moochie in any trade we make with them. Getting NY's draft pick may be out of the question. Switching Taylor for Griffin and taking back Kurt Thomas, though, may be more reasonable, if it works cap-wise.
ESPN didn't report that the Rockets could be talking to the Kncks about acquiring Houston. ESPN Insider ran an article that suggested (their idea, no basis in fact) 5 trades that would help both teams. The Houston to the Rockets thing was one of the five. It's nothing more than a suggestion from an ESPN writer. Houston has 4 years left on his contract at almost $70M dollars. That's way too rich for the Rockets.
$70,000,000.00 for four years is way too rich for the Rockets, Knicks and jsut about anybody else to pay Allan Houston. That contract is absurd. However Houston is a good ball player and would certainl fit on the Rockets. As we are over the cap for several years, I believe, the only question is does Les want to tote that note. If he feels like he can pay it, ala Paul Allan, or make it up through increased ticket sales / playoff revenue, I say ignore the contract and make the trade. Now I don't mean give up way too much talent for him. But if we can give up less talent for more talent because we are taking on a bad contract, I'd look at it, (assuming of course the owner will tote the note). That being said, I think the ESPN proposalhas the Rocketss giving up too much, which probably means that it is fair. Like others, I also am not ready to give up on Griffin. I like offering Taylor in place of Griffin. That adds salary so maybe we could take back Charlie Ward. I think he was stuck on the bench most of last year. Just a wild guess says he is overpaid also.
Even if the deal is Moochie, Rice, Taylor and Maloney for Houston and the Knicks' first rounder? Maloney's obviously the key to the trade. Tought to say but if Layden wants Brent Price then I'd have to call it off.
FYI, Mobley, Griffin and Rice for Houston works on RealGm. So does Mobley, Taylor and Rice for Houston and Ward. Ward played 22 minutes a game for NY lsat year. I seem to remember us losing a game where we had a big leaad, and NY had nothing going. Then Ward came in and got hot. One game would have put us in the play-offs
If there is any way we could get Allan Houston I would be all for it. Not only is he a threat from the perimeter, but his ability to drive to the lane is underrated and he can score from the post. His D is no better then Mobely's, but he has more offense, and I would think he is a better team player. But Mobely, is younger and still has room to grow.
If New York agreed to send 30 million dollars along with Houston to help pay for his salary I'd be OK with the trade. Otherwise, it's a bad trade.
Tha's the catch. His contract is very large, and Mobely's is not. That's where the Glen Rice's and Maurice Taylor's on our roster come in handy.
