James for Rafer was a big blow. I also think VG played a role in going into "Win Now" mode by trading away Gay AND Swift for Battier. I really think we paid too high a price, even though Battier is a decent player. I'm also not convinced that Swift is worse than both Hayes and Howard, and it's sad that we got 0 value for him in a trade when GMs will usually pay a high price for athletic big men. Not playing Bonzi (I don't care if he is a fat nutcase, find a way to make him play heavy minutes especially when he WANTS to be a 3d option), overpaying for Battier, and getting rid of/not re-obtaining Mike James probably cost the Rockets their first playoff series win. The ideal scenario in my mind, however, would be to get some offensive talent around VG this offseason with him still as the coach. I think VG is a great coach but his ability to make personnel decisions is very poor.
You really think an 800k trade kicker was really JVG's concern when the Mike James decision happened?
so he already forgot about his former team in a matter of 3 weeks and won't reference his experience in the first round as an asset to his commentating? im not saying everything he speaks of is entirely a reference towards the rockets but this particular statement may have been.
Probably not, but I think VG thought we "had enough" to win when we clearly didn't. That's irrelevant to anything. WE definitely could have gotten something for Swift (like maybe Mike James). Who cares what another GM does or doesn't do.
. He says that publicly, probably just to tell players not to give in in face of adversity. The team had enough to win a lot of games, and to have a decent shot in playoffs, but not quite enough to really be favorites.
WE could also have gotten James for Howard in a packaged deal. Rumor had it they just did not want to mess with the chemistry while winning without Yao. Didn't want to give up a reliable big when they were already short. Swift isn't much and won't fetch much.
Probably, but it's still partially his fault that the reality is we don't have enough to win. If the rumor is true, that's just another example of a bad personnel decision involving Gundy when he thought we had enough to win. Kleiza AND James for Howard and Lucas would have been a downright steal. This hurts your point. We will just have to agree to disagree on Swift because I feel we could have used him as a trading piece.
Since he is not longer the Rockets head Coach How long before I can scream . . . . . WRONG FORUM!!! *LOL*GRIN* Rocket River
Trading for Battier was plan B after trading up to get Brandon Roy fell through. But no need to remember that part.
The need to trade up for Roy might not have been necessary at all if we didn't have the most awesomest comeback win against Denver. (not that I can really blame Gundy for that)
I can't be mad at JVG cause he just didn't get fired, he got humiliated. The man has balls to go on ESPN the same day and talk about it like it was nothing. I would have loved to listen into the final conversation between him and the Rockets.
How many times can you shoot a dead horse to death? JVG is gone and let us wish him the best. I hope he does get a coaching job some day.
You cannot be serious...Howard is one of the weakest 4's in the West if not the league. I do not really get the upside in keeping him. Though I will admit Juwan surprised me during Yao's injury - recovery time. It would be a no- brainer to give up Howard & his horrible contract (just as bad as Mo Taylor's contract IMHO) to get Mike James-IMHO... I hope you are happy about Swift- because we sure did not get anything for him. That seemed petty and vengeful IMHO and hurt the Rockets organization... I also recall JVG veto of a pending deal CD had to trade Mo Taylor and a pick to get P J Browne-who still plays in the NBA. Instead we ended up with Moochie (again) and Vin Baker- neither of whom could even play any minutes..... I would argue that JVG was the de facto GM and responsible for many of the moves...Recall Mark Jackson, bringing in Ewing to coach, Charlie Ward, and Rod Strickland
Is there a link for the vetoed trade? I wonder which pick it is, but I can hardly believe that JVG valued Mo Taylor much. It actually sounds more like that JVG would want to trade for PJ Brown but Les would rather save $$$$. Also, a coach pretty much ALWAYS get to hire his own staff. He doesn't have to be a "de facto GM" to do it. And all the other moves (Strickland, Jackson) you mentioned were 10 day contracts. They are hardly major decisions. Feigan in a recent blog stated that JVG had on a couple of occassions wanted the Rockets to go over the luxury tax, but Les would not do so.
In addition, remember the trade deadline expired while Yao was still on the shelf, going through with the James deal would mean your PF rotation consists of Chuck Hayes and Linas Kleiza with centers Mutombo and Jake (who also just came in). Having 2 of your bigs still learning their roles was too much of a risk... Besides, Kleiza's rebounding was rather subpar... With Juwan, at least he can give you 30+ decdent minutes.
