Stockpiling all those contracts. Looking at Horry, Posey, Barry. Possibly having 39 players on the roster. C'mon, you can smell it! Something is up.
Well obviously, there is no doubting that that is the intent. The question is whether or not it can be pulled off. You're operating under the assumption that we are the only team in the league with expiring contracts. Portland has Lafrentz's contract and Cleveland has Sczerbiak's. Those are two teams that would also likely be willing to take on a big contract. And that's just off the top of my head - I am sure there are other teams. Add that to the fact that the list of potential players available continues to dwindle: Brand looks to be resigning soon with the Clippers; Jefferson already got traded; I don't think taking on Vince Carter at 4 more years makes financial sense... One might counter that situations present themselves unexpectedly such as Gasol, but everyone knew Gasol was on the block from the start. We know who is on the block and it's slim pickings. Artest seems like the only plausible and palatable scenario, but the Lakers will also be bidding. At the end of the day, I don't think we can just put all of our eggs in that Bobby Jackson basket. Other avenues for improvement must be sought out because I'm not confident that that giftwrapped third option will be there at the deadline for the reasons outlined above.
No. Why the hell does everyone think we'll sign Barry? Sure the rest of his family played in Houston, but correlation is not causation. And for YEARS we've been trying to get a legit 3rd scoring option. Barry is not it, even though some of us are presumptious enough to think he'll sign. Lastly, we still have no means to survive a playoff series without either Tracy or Yao. No more "if healthy, when healthy" BS -- they are NEVER healthy! We need to act in anticipation of their very possible absense.\ Of course, this is just my opinion.
Right. I do agree with that. My gut tells me Morey knows something though, I don't think he would jump in this hard if he didn't have something concrete to go on. Wouldn't be surprised to see us lose Brooks, 2 non-sequential (duh) 1st rd picks, and maybe even Landry, in the near future. But I am not opposed to it (especially Brooks). I think we can win it now.
To sit here and think we would be 1 year ahead and not 2 years behind in that screw up. I dont know who played a part in that, but who ever it was JVG, Dawson, West or who ever did it on purpose.
I hope so. Brooks is inconsequential. This team as constructed (if healthy, ugh) can tread water as a top 3 seed till the deadline. But they can't compete in the postseason with the big boys without a 3rd guy. Artest is the only plausible option. And an Artest acquisition if losing only Brooks and picks puts us in the Finals. It's a seller's market. We can only hope and see.
Artest is about money and the Lakers can give him more than the Rockets after the season. To think he cant go play on another championship squad for more money is a high risk. If he was about winning he would have opted out. I would much rather trade t-mac ina rebuild package then go after a high risk move. If we go after Artest is could put us another 3-4 years behind.
Lets say we have a healthy squad untill the deadline, Sit in top 3 and beat Boston twice. Then there is no need to make a trade.
A roster of the above is a 2nd tier team in NBA. The efficiency differentials (offensive efficiency - defensive efficiency) of the top 4 teams: Celtics, Pistons, Lakers, & Jazz, are between 7-11. The efficiency differentials of the 2nd tier teams: New Orleans, Orlando, San Antonio, Phoenix, and Houston, are between 5-6. Dallas is 4.89. I am not saying a 2nd tier team cant win the championship. For a 2nd tier team to win a championship, its margin of error is very small. The Rockets need scorers badly. Houston is a team that struggles to come back from a 3rd quarter deficit. The main reason is the Rockets lack of scoring options. The Rockets have enough defense, but they NEED MORE OFFENSE.
I believe keeping healthy is the most important thing for us.So many guys told that we need a solid 3rd scorer,I don't think so,look at the Wizard,they have such 3 solid guys,but their team sucks. Don't misunderstand me that we don't need other players score besides YAO&T-MAC,i mean the coming season our players will be more suit for RA's system,their play should be more clever.Every game we can find different the 3rd within our role players,for example LANDRY,SCOLA,BATTIER,ALSTON(may be SF3) who has good touch,who will be the 3rd one of the game,and it will bring more difficult for the defense of our opponent's. Anyway,healthy is always the base and don't importune the solid 3rd one.
I am so tired of hearing let's wait to deal expiring contracts around the trade deadline. Did we learn anything from Dallas and Phoenix last year. It will take a while for that guy to mesh with the team. And also he will have to learn a system that took this team the whole year to learn. Unless we will bring in players that already know the system ie..Artest, trade deadline trade would make us take a step back.
Really not good enough, even to make the West Finals. Why cut Harris but keep Novak? I'd hold on to the guy that can legitimately play minutes in the league, rather than a garbage time only HORSE player. The worst thing going into this season is we really have no depth to survive a major injury to McGrady or Yao. And you're foolish if you don't think we need insurance against that. Evan
The margin of error can be costly. And if Maggette goes to San Antonio they would be right up their too even without landing Gordon. Vince Carter is more plausible even if that means taking back Keith Van Horn and it's plausible for both teams. New Jersey wants a nice young squad built with the most available cash by 2010 to make a run at LeBron. Artest can put us 3-4 years behind if he bolts to the Lakers after the season for more money. I just know it is a mistake, he is about money, if he was about winning he would have opted out trust me. To him it's about both. As for Portland everybody not named Roy, Oden, Aldridge would be available for T-Mac and Battier. They want to make a run at Joe Johnson is a slim chance to none and they cant win this tight West without a plausible trade that benifits them now rather then down the road when the big 3 they have will be maxed out. It would be a Boston - Minnesota like Garnett trade. My point is it would extend our window and this is only if we lose Yao again for the season. We would have a bunch of young guys with high potential on our squad and alot of expiring contracts and cap space for 2010.
Right you are and I share your reservations about what Morey is trying to do here but the reality is that he's just playing out the hand that's been dealt to him. His draft position was OK but wasn't such that he could land the impact player they needed. His CAP situation is also a limiting factor so in reality, the only thing left is for him to do is to wait until the trade deadline and see if he can catch someone making a move. Folks around here may not like to hear this but it's the only game in town for now. Now if things don't get better this season or the next then it will be 2010 before you will see the type of moves everyone wants because that's when they'll have the CAP space to be a player in the FA market.
HAHAH I haven't read the posts but about half of the votes said Yes? You guys need to realize this is not a championship level team. We still need a penetrator,3rd scoring threat,legit backup to Yao, and we need to get taller in the paint. (We have way to many undersized PF's) Not to mention our backup pg of the future is under 6' tall. How many round 1 losses to the Jazz does it take for some of you guys to realize what we are missing? I've been watching the rockets since the early 80's and can tell you right now we do not have the pieces to win it all.
After the last 3 years, it seems unlikely they'll be healthy come playoff time, but if they are, I think our roster as constructed can compete with anyone. Still, we need the 3rd scorer simply because the chance that either Yao or TMac will be hurting come playoff time is just so damn high.
First, I have to say "No" on the poll. As for VC, he would be my last choice in this team. He is soft, expensive, not willing to guard anyone on the floor (at least from the games I watched). On the other hand, to have Artest is a bit of risk, but he is the one who can put the team on the top, but he can put the team down too.
