If trades are to be made in the summer, let's go for something really big!

Exactly. Miller doesn't command DT at all, and Kings' offense is already so smooth. If they replace Miller with Yao, they will average 115 points per game. Besides, they run fast breaks 10 times better than Rox, so a lot of times they don't need to run Yao up and down.

BUT, they are NOT going to get Yao.

 

I was thinking Steve for Chauncey Billups and re-signed Mehmut Okur, except that we send Okur (if he'd agree to a sign and trade to get his money; he hasn't enjoyed coming off the bench) and Boki to Seattle for Rashard. Maybe throw in a couple 2nd rounders. That way Seattle gets its PF.

Chauncey
Cat
Rashard
Mo
Yao

as the starting lineup. Unless we can actually get an Elton Brand, which I won't bet on.

 

let say the bulls get the number one pick in the draft and decide power forwards are the only thing in the draft and feel they have no need for the pick because they already have williams,davis,fizer,and chandler so they explore trades now we all know jamaal crawford is not going to be resigned by the bulls
so what do you guys think of a sign and trade of crawford and the number one pick for steve francis and nachbar and with the pick we could draft okafor now assuming the bulss do get the number one pick do you guys think it is a fair trade for both sides??

 

Not fair to us unless that #1 pick can land us a real good PF. Is there anyone real good in the coming draft?

 

OK? I'm a little slow. Please explain!

 

of course there is a good power forward in the draft emeka okafor would look perfect next to yao

 

okafor is also from houston i believe.

 

OK now yall talking crazy

 

I'm in favor of keeping Yao and trading Francis. And I think the Rockets should try to focus this team around big men. Mo Taylor and Cato are good, but we need to trade one of them this offseaon too. I think Taylor is the better player of the two and Cato contract is up the same time as Yao. So it makes since to try and trade Taylor. Maybe try and get Emeka Okafor in a trade on draft day for Francis or Taylor and Cat. Then sign Vlade Divac.

 

Getting Okafor for Francis would be almost impossible.

1) Teams rarely trade a top 5 pick for a veteran, even if they are an all-star

2) Since Okafor is top 5 easy, then its basically going to come down to working out a trade with one of these 5 teams, and taking a high dollar contract in return:

Orlando - Okafor would be nice next to McGrady, so Orlando doesnt give him up easily. No way, Francis gets you their pick, even if they offered to take Hill's contract.

Chicago - They are high on Heinrich, plus they already have Crawford. We could offer Francis, and take either Davis' or Williams' contract in return, but then that leaves us with 3 PFs making $20-$25 mil for the next 2-3 years. No thanks.

Washington - They already have Arenas, so there is no way they would want to take Steve, unless we took Arenas. And if we did, then we would have to give up something else to secure their lotto pick (since basically, Arenas almost = Steve). We have no one on our roster, besides Steve and Yao who would be worth a top 5 pick.

Atlanta - They already have Terry. Same deal as Washington.

Phoenix - After the Marbury situation, there is no way they want Steve as their PG. Plus, they just dumped a whole bunch of high dollar contracts for a reason.

A frontline of Marion, Amare and Okafor would be very nice!! If they were to sign Kobe, then they are pushing the Lakers and Sacramento in the Pacific.

 

If we make a trade, it needs to be for someone who isn't going to need a lot of shots to be effective. That alone would rule out T-Mac in my opinion. To trade Francis for someone who needs to shoot the ball wouldn't solve much. We need a Jason Kidd-type player. Unfortunately, there's only one person who fits that description -- Jason Kidd. I somehow doubt he's available.

 

Only one comment:

The idea that it's only "fair" to Francis to explore trading Yao as well has at its basis a premise that Francis is an equally, or at least nearly equal, base to build a franchise around. Otherwise, one might as well say "let's be fair to Jim Jackson, and explore trading Yao and Steve to build the franchise around him."

The argument, I guess, would be that while Francis is only a slightly inferior player to Yao, Yao has significantly more trade value. Hence, it would be a good idea to trade our better player to maximize value, even though such a move is risky.

But, sadly, Francis isn't Yao's equal at all. Yao's not only a more efficient player, but he plays C... so the ability to replace him is much lower.

 

Are you kidding me? From when did Francis and Mobley make it a big reason for the NBA to change their rules?

Wake up, it was 100% because of Shaq, man!

 

AK47 will be a PF stud in 2-3 years. What would it take to pry him from Utah?

 

He is basically untouchable in Utah.

 

topic does sound familiar eh duece?

 

Careful. Careful. Careful. I foresee the "Okafor Ouch" strategy in close games. Can Okafor improve his free throw shooting? In that category, he's worse than Ben Wallace! I'd have to go for the Dwight Howard option if the Rockets had that choice.

 

A bit of a homer comment, I think. We'd be lucky indeed to have two top 15 players.

How do you know that Francis is this good? What separates him from any # of guards? Even when he had the green light, Francis never scored like the elite 2's in the league. His turnover-assist ratio always stank. The only thing that really stood out was his rebounding.

Good player? Yeah. Top 15 potential? Don't see it. And at Francis' age, the odds are against significant, unforeseen improvement.