Flexibility to deal with whatever happens with Yao's foot is probably his focus right now. I don't thnk the Rubio trade had anything to do with rebuilding-- he just loves Rubio and thinks he's a potential star PG. I think the Artest situation (offering only 1 year... probably at a sum above the MLE) is about preserving cap room for the 2010 free agency. I think the Gortat move and the Ariza pursue are moves they'd made regardless of Yao's status. They are young talent, not great offensive player, but potential Battier-type guys who can play lots of minutes for a good team. You need these kind of guys on a contending team. Unless he gets a good offer right away, I think he's holding off on the McGrady decison. If Yao is back by February, there's the option to get more talent for a playoff run, or hold off for a 2010 free agency push.
Not trying to be completely off topic, but given that we are basically trying to rebuild. How does Adelman fit in with this concept? I know, I would love for him to stick around as long as he wants, but how long is his contract? If it ends a few years, will he stick around longer than that?
If Morey wants to build this team around young players and retool for the future, he won't be around to witness any success. This city does not allow any of their local teams to rebuild and start over, look at the Astros.
With so many whistling in the dark, the board is really noisy. Looks like this year we go into the tank, hopefully for the #1 pick but at worst the #4. We do this by using a lineup of: PG -- Brooks / Lowry SG -- Budinger / White SF -- Battier / Barry PF -- Scola / Landry C -- Gortat (?) / Dorsey Reserves: Hayes, Cook, Taylor (unsigned, D-League) Medical Leave: Yao, T-Mc We should be as bad as any team in the league. However, with luck and a lot of skill, we could use T-Mc's contract to pick up two really good players + a top three draft choice. Then we'll be cooking again for 2010-11 -- but plelase, stay away from older, injury-prone players that were good once upon a time.
OP's theory sounds about right and explains why no big move have happened. I wondered which team Artest has decided on(Lakers or Cavs)? As both teams can only offer the MLE, what about a sign and trade with the Lakers? Ariza to Houston and Artest to the Lakers. Granted Ariza's contract is reasonable and does not interfere too much with the summer 2010 FA, we can still use are full MLE to sign Gortat. Hopefully, Miami can't afford Gortat and the Lakers really want Artest.
Let me be the first one to thank D. Morey for taking the right course of action!! This team was not gonna do anything special and took a BRAVE morey to make the right decision (if everything is as it seems). Next on DM's radar should be trading Battier for somebody usefull or an expiering contract. This is the time for all Rockets fan to back this team and help them get over the......................... I normally buy two sets of season tickets ,this year I will donate 4 to some deserving people I know. Go Rockets!!!!!!!!!
Wow thats nice of you. I agree with you. I believe DM is making the best choice. Plus, if this is a rebuild, we can do it within a year with the great pick ups coming in the next year. Whatever happends, i trust the rockets organization to do whats best
Yeah....look at the Astros, they're ran by dumbass Drayton. Carrol Dawson is MUCH more loyal than that.
Morey going after those top FAs of 2010 is different than Morey actually signing any of them. I only see LeBron and Wade as game changers and I just don't see either of them ending up in Houston. Bosh would be nice but I don't think he will lead us to 5-6 years of domination. The rest of that FA class has a bunch of sexy names (Nash, Dirk, Ginobili, etc...) but those guys are getting old fast and they will no longer be able to hang with guys like LeBron, Wade, Roy, Howard, Durant, etc... in terms of productivity. Great players don't stay great forever. Simple question: Why would LeBron or Wade sign with Houston over the several other teams that will be able to offer them the same amount of money (or more)? If you are looking at other 2010 FAs, which one(s) will lead us to 5-6 years of domination?
He needs to go at contact a bit more. If he does that, and starts to get FT's called for him, I could see him averaging 25+, but otherwise probably maxing out at 20. It is hard to average 30, even on a bad team. Only AI has really done that as a PG recently. Agent 0 got close a few times. It would be awesome though to have a Rocket win the scoring title. I don't think that has ever happened.
Jermaine Taylor and Aaron Brooks will have the green light to shoot next year... Scola should be the focal point of our offense, and RA should be able to run his real offense now that we don't have our go to guy. I think the Rockets will make the #8 team in the playoffs. I don't see Phoenix, GS, OKC, Minnesota, LA Clippers, Memphis, and Sacramento beating us out. LA, SA, Denver, Portland, Utah, NO, Dallas, Houston I don't see the Clippers doing that unless Blake Griffin is the real deal and can co-exist with Kaman and Baron Davis is in shape. They do have talent, but no defense. I don't see Nash at 36-37 years old with an injury prone/unhappy Amare leading the Suns with Barbosa, Barnes, Amundson, Lopez, Jrich, and a 37 yr. old Grant Hill making it to the playoffs. Golden State has an outside chance, but they would need big #'s from Curry, and he would need to run the point effectively. The Rockets would have to be down right HORRIBLE not to make the Playoffs, or the Clippers
