How 'bout it? What do you guys do in the off-season -- playoffs or no playoffs this season -- to the Rockets roster. Now, I'm not interested in knowing what players you'd bring in b/c we've heard the different FA we'd like the Rockets to bring in: Odom, Brent Barry, Gary Payton, Arenas, etc. So I just want to know, who would you guys KEEP; who would you guys let go (trade)? And if you'd do nothing, how would you alter the rotation/team concept?
I look into adding Jon Barry or Erik Piatkowski to add a veteran presence that can shoot from the outside and add a little toughness on the perimeter. I would also focus on developing Boki so I can decide whether it will be TMo or Boki as the SF backup. It would be nice to think that I could add some muscle in the frontcourt too...
Nice thought. Me, I defintely keep Yao, Francis, Mo Taylor, Cato (might have to get rid of him, though, b/c of that contract) and Bokie for SURE. On the cust are Griffin (mostly b/c of youth and tall this upside I keep waiting to see consistenly) and Hawkins (got love his attitude and defense when he plays; he's always cheering the team on). Other players, I see what I can get for 'em. I also get Avery Johnson as an assistant coach and/or "mentor" for Steve to help in his development as a PG. You know, help him to hone his skills. Keep his offensive prowess, but mix it with pure-PG skills.
Okay. Of course Steve Francis and Yao Ming are staying. Cuttino Mobley is probably stuck unless we trade him... James Posey can go. But I have not heard any negative comments about James Posey in the media from any Rockets people. We can get rid of him AND Glen Rice and then sign Lamar Odom. Then we can develop Bostjan Nachbar...who is also staying. Does anyone know when Glen Rice's contract ends or if we can get rid of him? Terence Morris...I think this is his 2nd year. So he's still with us. I like him. Keep him. Moochie Norris and Tito Maddox. Well there's not too many guards available. Unless we get lucky and find a really good point guard that wasn't drafted in the first round....these two seem to be staying. Juaquin Hawkins should be staying. I like him. Rudy likes him. He should be staying....unless Rudy leaves. Hawkins makes minimum wage. A nice, small asset. Maurice Taylor is here to stay as well. Eddie Griffin is staying. They want him to improve....he's staying. Kelvin Cato ain't goin nowhere. He's a good backup. NOW ADDITIONS. Lamar Odom.......I wish there was a miracle to get him! Brent Barry would be lovely. Or even Jon Barry would be lovely. Eric Piatkowski would be great too. Wesley Person could do...
I let James Posey go. He's just not going to get that much better yet he will still demand a huge contract. We're not going to do anything in the playoffs until we develop Boki and perhaps T-Mo anyways so it's best if we stop depending on Glen and Posey as soon as possible. Boki is a far superior shooter than Posey, has equal size, and is quite possibly as athletic. He is only lacking on defense which Posey is deeply overrated at. All Posey really does is play passing lanes since he is so tall and has long arms while his on the ball defense is actually pretty lousy. He has poor lateral quickness (in comparison to players like Cuttino and Hawk, I'm sure he's quicker than any of us) and doesn't have the muscle to bang inside.
Keep Hawkins. Hope we can get a hardworking center if we trade Cato. I Love Lamar but ho can Boki develop if Rice is still there? So another tradeable is Rice. Cat? Hope we can also get a much better SG in trading for Cato. So he can be off the bench. Another thing, get rid of Norris..that's all folks!!
I hope we let Hawkins, Collier, Posey, MoT, Moochie and Cat go. Keep T-Mo, try to keep Cato, keep Ming, Francis and Griffin unless it's a great deal.
Here it goes. Assuming I can't get Brent Barry or Wally Szerbiac. Trade Cat and Moochie for a veteran PG Back that player up with Tito. Steve goes to the two. Backed up by Hawkins Rice at the SF postition Backed by Nachbar and TMo. Eddie and Taylor at the four. Starter depends on match ups Yao and Cato. My dream would be to get Brent Barry. I started Rice because I don't think Boki will be ready and I don't think we will be able to move his contract.
Well really...... In reality. Basketball players make a lot of money. And there is not much money to spend. We aren't real owners. We don't have any money. But if an organization really wants to win.....it's going to have to spend money to get good quality players and coaches. But yeah.....we aren't the owners. We don't have a choice. We're just good old fans. We can only dream in fantasy basketball and in our video games... It would be a miracle if we got Brent Barry or Lamar Odom...
Story_teller:- I realy like your idea of Avery Johnson on the Coaching Staff to work with Steve and his back up.It could be the very hidden factor that might make us into the team we should be. What do you think of Moses Malone taking Yao Ming and say Ed Griffin under his wing. Yao Ming has so far to go, especially in positioning and attention to defensive detail? I don't thing he should be on the staff, only as a consultant. If the Management is unwilling to make a major move then our tail enders and middle level players could be upgraded. IMHO Nachbar, Maddox and Morris deserve a chance to develop and show.....The most vunerable players are :- Collier, Rice,Moochie Norris and Hawkins. Middle level players slightly vunerable:-Cato, Posey and Mobley. Ever so slightly vunerable Griffin and Mo Taylor. Almost untouchable Steve Francis and Yao Ming.
let Posey walk. He's not worth the MCE, and he'll want more than that. Keep Hawkins and TMo for cheap. Break up the backcourt and get a more pass happy up tempo pg in houston. Get rid of Mooch and his contract. Shop around EGriff.
Thanks, Yetti. Yeah, like you and LiTtLeY' said, Avery Johnson would be a great addition. I was thinking about this when I came up with the thread after I heard Johnson wants to be a head coach one day. And I just think the things he could teach Steve are invaluable. As for Moses Malon helping Yao/Griffin....very nice idea as well! Moses has said he would like to, right? Griffin needs to first get stronger. Yao already has the work ethic; I hear he's crossed the 300-pd line already b/c he works out a lot. *great job Yao* Eddie sometimes seems disinterested, though. Somewhat like Cato was b/4 Yao came to the team. Maybe that's what Griff' needs? Some healthy comp. But where would it come from? So I guess the consensus from everyone is the only real untouchables are Francis and Yao. Which is basically the way it should be. I also like that everyone wants to keep Hawk'. He really has been a nice asset to the team and a great story from where he's been. Does any team want Cat by the way?
Let me say right up front...I don't dislke James Posey. But... IMHO, SF is the position which needs the most attention. If I were CD for a 2003 summers day, I'd call every team in the league with a playoff caliber (or potential playoff caliber) Small Forward and ask them what they wanted on the roster with the exception of Yao and Steve. IMHO, those two are the only untouchables. My primary target would be Caron Butler and I would take either Brian Grants or Eddie Jones's large contract to get him. Rice + Mobley + Griffin + maybe a pick for Butler + Jones + filler.
I don't think you can call Eddie Jones a throw-in. The guy is an all-star caliber guard. Having him and Steve in the Backourt would be a dream.
I'd like Lamar Odom, and Brent Barry or Micheal Redd. I'd take SAR instead of Odom. dump Posey trade pieces : Cat E.Griff Rice Cato Try to move Mooch, Taylor keep Yao Steve Hawkins Tmo Boki is an unknown.
I'm starting to think that a sharpshooter at the 3 would be perfect. One of the biggest reasons the team went on the current 5 game winning streak is because of the play at the 3 spot. Rice & Posey averaged a combined 23 points per game during that streak. When we get that kind of production at the 3, the team wins. We just need to find a player that can provide what Rice & Posey did during that period on a consistent basis. A few players that come to mind. Hedo Turkoglu: Sac. could use someone like Cato to guard Shaq and Duncan. Divac is getting old and breaking down, Keon is a stick. Vladamir Radmanovic: Sea. has a lot of bad contracts, Rockets have Rice's contract to trade. Rodney Rogers: tough player at the 3 which can compensate for Eddie's "softness". Good 3 point shooter If we can't get anyone, I'm perfectly happy with Boki at the 3, as long as he's given playing time.
Just do something, this team is making me crazy. Rice, Taylor, Ming, Hawkins, and Boki seem relatively bright. But after them, this team may have the lowest IQ in the NBA. Surely Les is not going to take this bunch into the new arena.
