The point is not just to compare Posey and Thomas and see who is the better player. They are different types of players, of course, and have different sets of skills. I think the overall talents of the two are about equal. The point, as someone has pointed out, is whether the trade provided a better balance for the team. It is clear that our SF position was thinner than the PF position. At the 4, both Griffin and Taylor are decent starters. But at the 3, only Rice could be a good starter (do you want Morris or Nachbar to be your starting 3?), and we all knew that Rice was injury prone (which has been actualized now, of course). So, the trade was inevitable and was a good one.
What makes anyone think that Kenny Thomas would resign with the Rockets? He knows he was trade-bait all summer long, was not offered an extension and is completing against a guy with a unmovable contract (Taylor) and the "next best thing since sliced bread (Griffin)". I know Eddie needs time to get better but I was in San Fran and saw Marshall stink it up with the Golden State. Do you think D Marshall is a pretty good player now? At 20, how many of you are at your prime? Some players take longer to develop than others. Amare S. is a good example. As for R. Jefferson is better than E. Griffin, he may be but he is not a Rocket and probably never would have been if the trade didn't happen. 20/20 hindsight is always perfect but we don't live in a perfect world.
i don't regret the trade, because i am loving watching james posey, but, i think, if anything, the trade may have hurt us. posey doesn't have the ability to take over games on the offensive end when our "studs" are slumping, and KT did. there is no debating that this team would kill to have KT as our starting PF right now. i would have loved to have seen the team with both of them. Yao, Francis, Mobley, Thomas, and Posey is a STRONG, STRONG starting five. all in all, even if we lost out on the trade, it isn't like we got ripped off. i loved watching KT play, and his hustle, hunger, and work ethic, but, posey brings those same intangibles to the table. if thomas was bolting next year anyway, it was a smart trade, because we got a quality starter in return, who is a joy to watch play.
I'd like to add that our PF position DIDN'T get worse, while our SF position improved. KT was just as inconsistent as our PF's, and him leaving only meant the same inconsistent minutes go to someone who is a part of our future. Right now, we're just in a funk. Once Rice comes back (hopefully he comes off the bench for the rest of the season) our passing and scoring will improve. Give it time. Posey will either be our starting 2, or our 6th man next year. It's no use starting him since he brings that same production off the bench. Hopefull, we'll get a sweet-shooting SF from somewhere to play SF for us.
I like the trade. Posey is our most consistent player. We know exactly what we can expect from him every game. Kenny, like Steve and Cuttino, was inconsistent and needed the ball in his hands too much to be effective. He would have an unbelievable game one night, and look dreadful the very next. Plus, he was taking away touches that could have gone to Yao.
Easy, I understand your point. And I love Posey, but still believe the gamble to bank on Eddie this year is hurting our playoff chances more than using Hawkins at the 3 would be. So, it is about balance with me, too. Eddie is pretty worthless on both the offensive and defensive end of the court, this year. So, for this season, we lost balance. Our defense was winning games with Hawkins starting, so while I believe Posey is better there's not as big of a gap as there is between Kenny and Eddie *this year*. It's all about the playoffs this year, not Eddie's growth. We have Yao. Eddie's growth can speed along at Jermaine O'Neals speed for all I care, if he is hurting us out there...and I think he is, obviously, much moreso than the majority of the BBS. despite my complete satisfaction with Posey, the lack of any improvement by Eddie makes me wish we had held up on a KT trade till this summer, and DNP-CDing Eddie by now for KT/MoT. Man, I actually think Eddie is the worst starting PF in the West this year, especially come playoff time. bottomline: We need better 4 play than 3 play to make the playoffs in the West...we lack that balance right now.
Are you kidding me? Rockets won this trade big time. I don't get the weird affection for the undersized scrapper ballhog. Good riddance. We have a glue player that makes everyone better in return. Posey rocks. Yeah the 4s suck. So what? Build for the future - the future is now.
I don't necessarily agree with this. It just happens to be that there really are no great 3's out there, although two of the best players in the league, KG and Dirk, play more fo a 3's game than a 4 really.
Even with Kenny, we'd have the worst PF combination in the West except for maybe the Sonics. I'd take Troy Murphy over these 3 scrubs anyday of the week right now. Rockets win this trade whether or not it's about the present or the future. If we resign Posey, then the Rockets kicked ass in this trade by finding their #3 of the future. It's the present that is more debatable. I don't see Kenny bringing more to the table than Eddie or MoT (check Nikestrad's post). And Kenny gave you all that he could whereas there's still a chance to Eddie or MoT breaking out of their respective slumps (meaning you know they can play better than this). And yet, we still have Posey who shows the most energy on the floor and, if Rudy is ever smart and quick enough, the guy who stops the hot hand. I feel we could even use Posey as our sixth man allowing him to open up his offense more while bringing that energy off the bench.
<blockquote><hr>Originally posted by JayZ750 I don't necessarily agree with this. It just happens to be that there really are no great 3's out there<hr></blockquote> Hence why you need better 4s, and why upgrading the 3 position could wait for the Summer, if trading for one now means losing games due to your 4 matchup. <blockquote><hr>, although two of the best players in the league, KG and Dirk, play more fo a 3's game than a 4 really. <hr></blockquote> If you do not hold your ground against KG, he will take it to the rim and slam on you...just ask Eddie. wrt Dirk, no one really matches up, but they definitely make you use your PF on him, regardless. We won't be seeing Posey guarding him.
derrock, <blockquote><hr>there's still a chance to Eddie or MoT breaking out of their respective slumps (meaning you know they can play better than this). <hr></blockquote> Like I said already, you must not think Eddie is hurting us right now as much as me...on both ends of the court. I don't know what's worse, his nothing but backing up to the rim and trying for a block, or running around bumping into people without the ball or his herky-jerking hesistations and lame FG% with the ball. remember: The alternative to this trade is not keeping Kenny forever. The alternative was waiting for the summer, using free agency or trade to get a Posey-type (if not Posey himself). For instance, according to Jeff's thread, Les might not even resign Posey at the asking amount.
I was sad to lose Kenny Thomas. However, James Posey has been terrific. He is athletic, plays defense, and hits jumpers. By the way, what happened to Posey on Wednesday against the Mavericks. First, he boxes out Dirk Nowitzki on a rebound, resulting in the Mavs' PF falling, then stares him down. Second, after Nowitzki shot a jump shot, Posey threw down Shawn Bradley. I like to see aggressiveness, but Posey was a bit too aggressive. Fortunately, he did not get in any technicals or fight (eventhough I think he could have held his own in a fight).
Looks like our 3-spot is more like a Rashard Lewis or a Shareef Abdur-Rahim. More versatile than we've ever had at the 3 spot. Most of the time our 3-spot has been occupied by a 3-shooting specialist like Rice/Walt Williams/Bullard. Posey does more than just shoot 3's. He can drive like Lewis and dunk. He can shoot like Williams. He can rebound and put the ball back like Shareef. And, he can pass too. We know about the D.
Well I also was shocked and missed Kenny Thomas, but I think we got a great player in James Posey. I think we benefitted from the trade. AND ABOUT US HAVING THE WORST POWER FORWARDS IN THE NBA, look at today's game. They both played well. They aren't the worst combination. There has to be some team with players that are worse.
I'm happy with the trade, Posey is a great 3, we all knew about what he could do, and he's proven that he could do more than advertised. Not that he's one of the better shooters in the league, but his shot is most certainly much better than his fg % would have you to believe. We got rid of the log jam at the 4 spot, Griffin is not playing that well as a starter. I think that the best solution for this problem is to start Taylor, give him the majority of the minutes and hope that EG doesn't hurt as that much in his limited playing time.
Hated the trade when it happened. Since then, Posey has made me a believer as I have said many times. The guy is super athletic, can run the floor with anyone, awesome defender, makes things happen on the court, and he has been a better shooter than I expected. We got a steal in this trade. Kenny Thomas always struck me as a bit unmotivated, and he looked really listless on the court. I feel that our defense was greatly improved with the trade, and our offense received a minor improvement. Absolutely great trade. Keep Posey on this team, and in the starting lineup. Build around him, Steve, Yao, and Cuttino. Keep those guys together and we have a great future.
Powerslave, I agree with a lot with your post. Only part I don't is Kenny Thomas always struck me as a bit unmotivated, and he looked really listless on the court. Posey, is just what we needed. He almost looks like the second coming of what Darius Miles is supposed to be, when he grows up. With his superior leaping ability, he has good "size" for a 3. I think he sets the tone for the team defensively and though I feel KT was pretty good of defense, the spectacular plays that Posey makes on d seem to fire up the team more. I also liked the fact that he got a little mean when the team was getting its butt kicked in Dallas. Bill Walton criticized it, but it looked like a good try to me.
