Morey needs to make a decisive decision on which direction we go

The bandwagon was so positive just 4 months ago, yet it's hard to get a positive word in edge-wise right now. And, when they start playing better, all the Debbie Downers will go back to being the homers they were a few months ago.

I wish the Rockets would figure it out, so I could see the forum turn around again.

 

Complicating the Rocket's horrid start is that almost all the teams in our division are off to a torrid start: Spurs, Mavs, and Hornets. They are so far ahead, there is probably no catching them, so winning the division is already a distant possibility, and the playoffs are drifting into impossibility. I know it seems early, but almost 25% of the season is over. Each game is looking more and more like a lost season. In the NBA, you just can't stumble out of the gate and expect to have an impact.

 

I guess faith is the only thing left of the season. No. I haven't given up on them yet. As Jon Barry said on ESPN during last night's game, this team is better than their current record.
Every team in the NBA goes through a slump of sorts during the season. I would consider this slow start as part of that slump and things will work themselves out once they overcome whatever is bugging them right now.

 

brandon bass can immediately help this team. pitrius on the other hand is an overrated piece of trash , but can still help this team with his athleticism and shooting.

 

well jordan hill and scola are playing good, and lowry played great against the warriors.

 

They should. Some dumbasses are still not on board somehow though. They and Morey will find a loophole into screwing it up and give the perfect excuse again. Watch. Fans like me and you OP. Are adieing breed in Texas. The hold people accountable and wanting to win big types. Too many happy to just be getting Battiers and Chuck Hayes autographs instead of winning. its unacceptable to a few to be mediocre for long periods of time.

 

I don't think you can pass up getting better by waiting on greatness. What I mean is they should do what they can to improve the roster up and down.To me, I would rather have Iggy than Martin. Does that make them contenders? No, but it makes them a better all around team. I would rather have a guy like thaddeus young or anthony randolph at the 3 than chase or shane.Why? I think those 2 have huge upsides and can be a larry nance type of 3/4 which could help some of the other issues. I wouldn't actively trade scola, but he and yao are terrible together defensively with the lack of footspeed and quickness. So if Yao is here to stay, the 4 man should be Hill or someone kinda in that mold. The answers aren't going to be in 1 mve because the rockets don't have the assets to get the 1 or 2 superstars left on the market.

 

When a team is better than its current record, it means the problem is with the coaching. Somehow RA is unable to get this team with its "deep rotation" to work together.

 

While I'm all in favor of being opportunistic and making incremental improvements when the opportunities present themselves, at some point this becomes counterproductive. The nightmare scenario is getting to be a 48-win team or so, too weak to contend and too strong to get premium draft picks. I honestly wonder if the Rockets wouldn't be better served by trading their producers for future value, starting our young players, and sucking hardcore for a couple years while we accumulate high-lottery talent.

 

Very nice leebigez!

This pretty much sums up my thoughts as well. Make small moves that make us better in a certain area, and acquire players with upside. One BIG move won't turn us into contenders, multiple moves where we are acquiring talented players will in my opinion. They might not seem good at first, but will pay off in the end.

 

Works for me, but you end up with too many players, unless you can make 2-for-1s, which is looking to be problematic.

 

There is some truth to what you're saying, but if you can get untapped upside guys, then thats your premium player right there. I mentioned anthony randolph as one example. In gsw, when he got consistent minutes, he played well for such a young guy. He was part of the trade,has a few injuries, and is not playing much for dantoni. I think randolph can be like josh smith/ak-47 type of player. He has some maturing to do no doubt, but i see him as a 17ppg 8 rebs 2blk 3ast type of forward. Now we know the knicks wants carmello pretty bad and wil attempt to get him either via trade or free agency after the season. After the season and the lockout, they will still have a payroll of 42m which is enough to offer carmello a max deal. If they rockets trade for say randolph and turiaf for shane and chase, it would give them another 3.7m to play with. In another trade, offer martin and patterson for Iggy. Now you have a starting 5 of brooks,iggy,randolph,scola,and Yao when he gets back. Hill,turiaf,miller,lowry,lee,hayes,smith,taylor on the bench. What makes this team better in this aspect is the versitility of it. You bring in lee,iggy moves to the 3,randolph to the 4,hill to the 5 off the bench. You could also play turiaf,hill,randolph,iggy,and brooks together and get up and down the court or sub in lowry and pressure teams up the court. The best thing about that is the upside in randolph,hill and still having flexibility while competing.

 

You must ready about D'Antoni's comments/ NYK beat writers' comments on Randolph. They indirectly call him a "dumb" player. I know Hill was also labeled as a bust there.. but Randolph, despite his huge upside, which i agree with, has not shown extremely low bbal IQ in both GS and NY. but yes, we wont gain anything without taking risks.

and btw.. dont you think Pat Pat is in the Anthony Randolph mold?skills wise at least? I have not seen him play, but the draft report indicates that the dude has good skills and IQ.

 

fixed

 

Just look at the top 8 teams (based on current standings) in the West and see where/how they have obtained their top players. Most have obtained their key players via the draft, except for the Lakers. Off the top of my head:

Spurs - Duncan (draft), Parker (draft), Manu (draft)
Lakers - Kobe (draft), Bynum (draft), Gasol/Odom (trade)
New Orleans - CP3 (draft)
Utah - Williams (draft) , Millsap (draft), Jefferson (trade) Dallas - Dirk (draft), Kidd (trade)
OKC - all draft
Denver - Melo (draft), Billups (trade)
Portland - Roy (draft), Aldridge (draft)

Copied from a post at: http://www.**********/open-question-2/4662/#comments

If we want a star, the direction seems clear

 

If the Rockets aren't winning the next championship, and they aren't, it makes sense for them to avoid any trade which helps them win a few meaningless games, at the cost of hurting their draft position, unless the player acquired has franchise caliber talent.

The Rockets need to tank for a top three pick, and trade their veterans for future picks. That's right, trades which help us lose more games are probably better than trades which help us win games. The goal should be to add a first round pick, so we'd have two this Summer and two next Summer.

 

I have never been a proponent of tanking. I hate it. But honestly, I'm not sure I see another way out for the Rockets as of now.

 

Absent the remote chance of a superstar coming available at the trade deadline, Bimathug has already nailed the Rocket's upcoming roster move (and expect them to wait on any major roster deals until after the new labor deal is in place after this year):

http://www.clutchfans.net/news/1572/houston_rockets_salary_cap/

"For example, if the Rockets were to trade Jeffries ($6.88 million), a second round pick and cash to the under-the-cap Minnesota Timberwolves at the February trade deadline, Houston could save several millions in salary and luxury tax. At the deadline, Jeffries would only be owed approximately $2.43 million or so in remaining salary (or less, if Jeffries had his salary front-loaded for this season). The Rockets could offset that salary obligation by throwing $2-3 million in cash into the trade. Minnesota would net a little cash and get a future draft pick for their troubles, while Houston would save up to $5-6 million and (not insignificantly) generate a new $6.88 million trade exception."

 

We might actually be able to buy low on OJ Mayo this season...

 

My thoughts exactly. I'd rep you if I could Also, like leebigez said, we should take a swing at players who aren't doing much with their current teams but that we think could shine in the right situation. Lowry was a great example of this, and my guess is that the Lee trade was this kind of move as well.