You're forgetting that Portland just signed Steve Blake. That gives them Jack, Blake and Koponen (1st round pick) at PG. They don't need, nor do they have room for Alston. Even if the Rockets don't trade Sura's contract, that doesn't neccessarily mean that they'll stand pat for the rest of the offseason. It just means that they won't add any additional salary. They can combine several of those players you mentioned and trade them for a player that makes close to the same money.
Introducing to you ladies and gentlemen, the greatest SHOOTING guard stat of all time: Desmond Mason's 2007 shot chart. That's 9 shots, count em, 9 shots from beyond 15 feet all season.
I think Portland would jump at the chance to trade Miles for Rafer. They're trying to move Jarrett Jack. Rafer simply represents less of a problem than Miles does to them.
No to Mason...I'd rather trade for a quicker SG who can slash and shoot in the mold of Rip Hamilton, Kevin Martin and Larry Hughes...
I like Desmond Mason and if he could be had in the 3.5mil. range in a sign and trade to slim down our roster a bit I would be happy with that. The fact is we have this Harris kid who can do pretty much anything Mason can do and his contract is just a bit cheaper.
I'd rather the Hornets keep Mason, and we'll take Devin Brown off thier hands...we could probably get him for Sura's contract. And that would save them some money to sign Mason.
