What I've heard from Marc Stein is about his opinions on the winners and losers of the trading deadline. They asked him about the Cavs trading for Jamison and he said it was okay, wasn't much of a big win for them. But then right afterwards, he brought up the Rockets saying that its great what they did to swing a deal for Kevin Martin so the Rockets again are the winners of the trade deadline. Marc Stein talked about the last team that made a big push for Amare was Houston. What I heard was Phoenix offered Houston Amare for Shane Battier, Scola, Brian Cook and some first round picks. The trade was about to go down but time was running out so Phoenix insist that both teams should skip the physical so they can make the trade in time but Houston refuses because of Amare injuries history... If posted then Lock JOHO
Hmmm... I think I would have pulled that deal... That is a tough one though.... Aaron Brooks Kevin Martin Trevor Ariza Amare Stoudamire Yao Ming Kyle Lowry Chase Budinger etc...
Maybe the Suns GM isn't familiar with the rules or something...Amar'e seemed fine to me tonight. But if PHX offered the Rockets Amar'e, I think it's safe to say that Morey has a good shot at getting him if he wants him.
Morey must have pulled out at the last second, he probly thought the picks were to much for Amare and his option to become a free agent. Morey will still get him in the offseason.
I think Morey prefers to get Amare through sign and trade (IF) he wanted him that badly. That way, Amare is guaranteed to be a Rocket the next few years. There was probably not enough time to insure Morey that Amare will stay a Rocket if he is traded. Besides, I think Morey prefers Bosh > Amare.
That same sign and trade deal will be there to be had this summer I am sure. Good one for pulling out.
I would rather see Ariza in there instead of Shane. With that lineup Shane is more likely to help us win a championship in the next tw years than Ariza. IMO the lineup up Brooks/Lowry Martin/CBud Battier/Taylor Amare/Hayes/Hill Yao/Andersen can compete with the Lakers. Not on paper, but I like the matchups we would have. You trade Battier and Scola, and with Landry gone and Hayes and Lowry coming off the bench.... ALL of you blue collar hussle is gone from the starting lineup. That's what would get us over the top. Adding another scoring option and taking away intangibles puts you back at square 1.
Obviously Bosh is preferable to Stoudemire, atleast to me anyway. Better attitude, better player, healthier, etc.....but I think Stoudemire is much more attainable. Would the two Knicks picks + filler get it done, assuming NY botches free agency? One problem is we are out of fillers (LOL). Our team is littered with great players. The only potential offseason filler is Jeffries. Scola would almost assuredly have to go, maybe Battier, but at that point I think its overpaying. I guess the question is....does adding Stoudemire to the current team next year make us a contender? Brooks/Lowry Martin/Budinger Battier/Ariza Stoudemire/Hill Yao/Hayes/Andersen I think you are really close with this lineup. There arent many weaknesses at all with this group. (except health ugh!)
I can't stand AS- I think he's a first-class punk. But I can't deny his talent, and I would have done this deal. There must have been some indication that he wouldn't resign here.
He probably meant skip reviewing medical records as opposed to skipping a physical and the physical wouldn't impact whether the trade could be done on time. My guess is that PHX said they wouldn't give Morey the medicals to review.
I admit it would have been cool to see Amare in a Rockets uni, but with Martin coming in as an established no-defense scorer, I think Amare on the floor with Martin would have been even worse. Overall team defense would have been absolutely terrible. An undersized PG, frail SG, a SF 2 left feet, a PF in Amare in the front court thinking about his next move to the basket on the other side of the court when he should be thinking about boxing out, and one decent defender on the floor in Hayes. While it would have been exciting to watch, I can't say it would have produced many more wins than what the team will probably end up with in the way they are currently structured. Not to mention DM also knows that Amare may not even sign with us in the offseason. We would basically be giving up two major pieces, or "assets" as he likes to call them, that could serve as sign and trade pieces in the offseason. Remember he firmly believes that even though our cap space may not necessarily reflect us as players in this year's offseason FA bonanza, we will be in the mix with S&T potential...Shane and Scola. I feel very comfortable that he didn't do this deal. I Yao was healthy and playing, amybe, but since that isn't the case.......
The deal the Rockets made for Martin is not final till all players have completed physicals, up to 48 hrs. They can't practice or play with the new team till that's complete.
Plus, Morey didn't have time to put the spell on Kerr and remind little Stevie that he is the "true" Wizard of the NBA -- :grin:
Its still possible to do that trade this summer, but I'm not sure about trading for Amare, I would first try to see if I could land Bosh through a sign & trade before going after Amare.... --RB
