The Clippers are a much better team than the Rockets. If Rice came come in a hit 2-3 big three pointers a game for the Clippers, than yes they will make the Play-offs no question. ANyway the Clippers will take over Utahs spot in the Play-offs next year.
These have got to be the two worst trade proposals I have ever heard. Mobley and KT for Golden State's #3 - are you kidding me? If you think Rice is such a huge player - let me show you some ocean front property I have in Arizona. Rice is a bust - who knows if he will ever recover and get his shot back. I would trade him in a heartbeat to LAC, but that would never happen unless Odom was the GM. Rice and the #15 to LAC for their #12 would never work under the CBA.
I didn't realize how big Jay was. They also say he's a good defender, something Steve is not. I hope we don't regret passing on this kid. He's got a good head on his shoulders and I think he's gonna be successful.
I'm not saying this is gonna happen, or advocating it, but if we draft Jay Williams, do we trade Francis? As in, do we draft Ming #1 and trade Steve to Chicago (if he honestly doesn't wanna stay) for Jay-Will (#2) (or for whatever Jay-Will can get us on the open market: Andre Miller, for example)? If Steve and Jay Williams play together (drafting Jay W. as #1), with Steve as the off-guard, then is Cuttino shipped out? Because Cuttino will demand a trade at that point. And to which team? Just food for thought, wondering what others' opinions might be. I do know losing Steve would set us back a bit, unless you can replace him with Andre Miller (3-way trade; Steve would never re-sign there).
Having the #1 pick gives you so many possibilities. I think you should look at every scenario just in case...Plus it's fun! What if SF really doesn’t want us to draft Ming but we want to? We could trade SF to Chicago for #2 JW and Curry. In a few years we could have one of the most dominate frontcourts in the NBA or the biggest the biggest bust in history....he he I said biggest bust! C- Curry Cato PF- Ming Mo T SF- Griffin TMo SG- Cat OT PG- JW Mooch I love having the first pick!
The only sure-fire superstar in the draft is Jay Williams. He was a man among boys in college. He can pass, shoot, play D, and he's one of the best clutch players I have ever seen (like Bibby). He lives and breathes basketball and will be a certain all-star for ten years, ala Isiah. Picking anyone else is a huge risk. His size and compatibility with Francis is not a problem. Look at last night's game. Sacramento had Jackson and Bibby in at the same time and it worked beautifully. If you have to trade anyone, trade Mobley. Francis and Williams will be the best backcourt in the NBA. Then you go after a big man in free agency, or trade Mobley and picks. I'm also a big fan of Dunleavy and Butler. If we don't trade for Odom, we should look at somehow getting one of these guys. (The only way I see trading Francis is if you get Garnett straight up--that's it. Garnett is a big man who can pass and rebound, in addition to scoring. He's a great fit for Houston.)
Williams better than Francis Where do people get this opinion REALLY . . .convince me. . . cause i don't see it he is good. . . .maybe even in the longer run better than Francis [I'll stick with Francis. . but i will allow for the possibility] . . but better than Francis and Ming? even if you include Chandler or whatever your get for francis BTW - If I'm Jay Williams. . . why not dog it .. i mean if he does not think the rockets will pick him anyway Rocket River
I think the best thing for the rockets would be if negotiations with the chineese govt. fell apart and they pulled Ming from the draft and Francis came to grips that he and JWill and Cat could coexist in the locker room and on the court.
I agree, I think a backcourt of Williams\Francis\Mobley would be awesome. I would start Williams at PG, Francis at SG and Mobley as the 6th man could play minutes at SG and SF. I don't now why the Rockets will not just pick Williams, he is a MVP type player anf it will be foolish to pass on him and pick Ming.
Don't mind me. I'm just "Krazy Trade Pondering" with Cuttino: The definites: Draft Jay Williams Move Francis to the 2 The trades: Trade Cat + KT (2 high-impact, low salary guys) + #15 to LAC for Odom + Maggette + #12 (Amare Stoudamire) -or- Trade Cat for Rashard Lewis (sign-and-trade) straight up (contingent on Lewis telling Seattle that he's thinking of leaving the Sonics). If Lewis tells Seattle outright that he's headed to Houston, trade crap for Lewis and fleece Sonics (good payback for all those years of playoff defeats). -or- Trade Cat + KT to Cleveland for #6 (Caron Butler) + DeSagana Diop + possible filler -or- Trade Cat to Utah for... (shudder)... Must... show... Cat... mercy..
The last thing this team needs is another small guard that dominates the ball. When Phoenix had Kidd, KJ, and Nash did it get them very far? How about this year, Charlotte: Wesley-Davis. They had more big bodies at the 3/4/5 than they knew what to do with, with Magloire Cambell, PJ, Traylor, Lynch, Nailon, Augmon, etc. but they were too small in the backcourt. Neither Francis nor Williams is a good enough ball distributor to justify making such a move, and our team, fairly obviously doesn't have enough ball movement to allow such a move to be made. I'm not dead set on picking Ming. BUT- If you trade Ming, you better be getting a guy who can be a longterm center solution as part of the deal. You don't trade Ming for a 3 and spare parts if Cato and Collier are holding your 5 spot. For the main rumor or Odom, 8, 12 for #1-Odom solves the 3. Is Borchardt a legitimate 5 you'd want to take at 8? Can Wilcox play the 5 a la Mourning or Antonio Davis? Is Hilario Mutumbo II? If you can answer "yes" to any of those with good confidence and very little hesitation, you'd be hardpressed NOT to pull the trigger. Personally, I think Wilcox is a pure 4, Hilario is more likely to bust than Ming, and Borchardt will be decent but not spectacular. If I were in charge, I'd trade Moochie+#1 to Chicago for Curry and Crawford (Krause gets Ming AND Crawford). Try to use KT to move up with the #15 to move up if need be to grab Nachbar, Jeffries, Woods, Butler, or Tsika or trade out for a different SF. Draft either a project Euro or one of the PGs that will slip at #38. In free agency, resign Torres, and keep Willis or sign another veteran big man. By the end of the year- Francis/Crawford/#38 Mobley/Torres (KT/#15 SF)/Rice/Morris Griffin/Taylor Curry/Cato/Collier/vet Colier, the extra PG, and someone legitimately hurt would spend most of the IR time. An extra swingman could be picked up for the last roster slot.
You can't tell me you wouldn't rather have Jwill, Steve and Cat dominating the ball rather than Moochie, Steve and Cat doing it. My main point was I'm afraid of all the strings attached to Ming, and I think Jwill is the best player in the draft (maybe not best for us, but best overall). As far as the phoenix back court goes they were fun to watch and if I remember they made the playoffs which is better than we did this year and both Nash and Kidd have played great in the playoffs. I think if Phoenix had tried to add some pieces they would be a much better team than they are now after trading their best players away. But you were correct our guards aren't near the quality ball distributors that Kidd and Nash are.
Steve was the second player taken in 99 draft, he could have easily gone first. But if you get Jay and trade Steve you have the same thing, it doesnt fill ANY of our needs. We dont need another PG we need a Center, or a SF
This kind of thinking is why MJ was a Bull and not a Trailblazer. You ALWAYS take the best player available regardless of position or your team needs when drafting. Use free agency to fill needs. Jay Williams is easily the best player in this draft. Yao Ming is Chinese for Shawn Bradley. Why in the heck do you guys want another tall perimeter player. Ten years from now they will still be saying, Yao Ming needs to spend time in the post OR they will be saying he would be great if he wasn't in the Army.
Do you know this because you are clairvoyant or because you have seen Ming play? I guess you see something all the pro scouts and Gm's arent seeing. Want to fill us in?
