http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=aldridge_david&id=1746975 (Los Angeles Lakers guard Gary Payton, frustrated by what he said was both limited playing time and the team's triangle offense under Phil Jackson, said on Saturday that he may leave the team after the season. Payton signed a two-year deal with the Lakers but has an option to get out of the deal after the season.........) IF the Rockets can land Payton in the Offseason, then the team can put Payton at the point and move SF to the SG position. This would be a perfect match as Payton with his size can guard any SG in the league and can allow Francis (who would an undersized SG) to guard the opposing Pg. As of Mobley, maybe he can be packaged with Cato or Mo-T or some other players in exchange of a Star PF, or just stay on the bench and provide the scoring spark that this team needs as the 6th man. Any thoughts?
Payton took less than market value to get a ring, signing with the Lakers for the MLE. I have to believe if he leaves it will be for a contending team, but probably for MORE than MLE money which would price us out. Money aside, Payton would be ideal in JVG's offense.
GP's older than Lawrence Frank. He was born in the sixties. 36 years old is just a little too far on the waning side of a basketball career to be a key player on a team that won't be contending for a title for another year or two. I know Payton is a great player and would be a perfect fit for the Rox, IMO; but I would rather not sculpt my roster around someone who will be gone/ineffective in a season or two. That is, if we could possibly land him.
Payton's still great at playing the passing lanes but he's not the defensive stopper he used to be. I'd sign him if he were willing, but I'd try to improve our position at forward first.
He'd only be a short term solution, but can you imagine YM, Elton Brand, and Gary Payton on the same team. With Jim Jackson and Cuttino Mobley filling out the starting lineup, that would be a Championship quality team for at least two years. Raven
With no rancor, Payton expressed frustration with his role in the team's offense. He isn't the focal point of the Lakers' attack, which features Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. Payton goes minutes at a time without shooting. And while Jackson juggles minutes among Bryant, Payton, Derek Fisher and Kareem Rush, Payton said Saturday that he shouldn't be the one who has to sacrifice his game. After reading this passage, I think GP will be a terrible fit for this team. Yao and SF will be the focal point of Rox attack. I don't see how he can be happy playing here.
I think Gary fit into Jeff's system better than Phil's...cuz Payton is talking about pick and roll and stuffs which he is comfortable doing and which the Rockets are running a lot with Yao and Francis. But with the Lakers they simply not doing that due to Shaq and Kobe. But with Rockets...sure they stilll dump the ball into Yao most of the time ...but still at least Rox play pick and rolls.
Uh, aren't the Rockets supposed to be building a contender? If they're just going to be pushing for another 6-8 seed by next year, then I think the club should be considered a massive failure. Bringing Payton to the Rockets would be a great move. He is the kind of player I've always hoped Steve would be, and probably has a few more years left in him. Just last season he was arguably the best point guard in the league.
The Rockets this year would be a massive failure if they don't become a contender? I don't expect them to be; mainly because Yao's not ready to lead the team to a championship and it appears that Steve will never be. As far as them being a contender goes, I feel it's solely in the hands of Yao, if there is to be any legitimacy to it...and that, IMO won't be entirely plausible for another year or two. So GP, while I do feel would be a great fit, wouldn't be the best option for the overall goal here. Because, even if the Rox are a title contender next year, what happens the year after that when Payton has alzheimers and suddenly another year or so of roster restructuring is required? All that's doing is closing the window whilst yielding crap for results.
I almost posted about this yesterday. Aside from his age, I don't see many negatives. If Steve could swallow his pride and move to the 2 guard to let Payton come in and run the offense OR make the all anticipated move of trading Steve away for a rebounding/defensive minded PF. I would only agree to bring Payton onboard if the price was right.
Are you sick? Mobley is more consister than Steve and STeve IS NOT gonna work even with Jason Kidd coz he is not a team player. Most of his scores are not coming from an assist.
I smell ME ME ME attitude. He can't play tough defense anymore, and when Rockets become a title contender in 2 or 3 years, he's almost 40 year old. So I fell Payton is not the solution.
