My thoughts on trading up to near the top of the draft

EXACTLY...no one is considering Yao, and his contract......

This is how I feel to a tee.....although I think Kobe at 34 will not be the best player on the floor anymore....those miles are piling up fast.

DD

 

LOL ever since we've been talking about Al Jefferson, Hoopsworld's finest Bill Ingram is now trying to throw his name out there for a target for Houston. Bill... You suck!

 

Who care's about "LA" the Rockets are trying to construct the most talented team going forward, while also getting ready for the post Yao era ... and a player like Demarcus Cousins gives us just that!

Also, I like Chase as much as the next guy but seriously, "DD", I think your over doing it... His miniature 6'7 wingspan and lack of lateral quickness IMO will never allow him to be anything more than a decent defender(if that), which will limit his potential, as a SF...

--RB

 

rocketblaze, Let ne the first to tell you how wrong your thought process is. If the king of the hill plays in your conference, you have to build a team capable of beating them. Every gm evaluates their team vs the champ. Not to mention they have some young guys and the ability to make and close big deals. Right now, the rockets dont matchup well with La. The only advantage they have and its a good one is brooks. Brooks is the only thing the rockets have on La. The rockets on the other hand dont have anyone who can contain gasol nor odom. You have to be realistic and say, if we play our best game and they play their best game, who wins? The rockets even with a healthy yao and playing their best game can beat la playing their best game. You have to beat la to win a title. You have to go through la to win the title. Just like the rockets had to get barkley to beat a team that had won 16 games in a row against you, the rockets must close up holes when going against La. That includes getting bigger and longer on the frontline, getting tougher in possession to possession plays, and just being better period. Now you can live in the fantasy world of taking the champs to 7 games, but that means nill. They have been to the finals 3 yrs in a row with 2 rings and the rockets have 1 playoff victory,1 playoff loss,and 1 lotto appearence.

 

A healthy Yao is a mismatch for any team (other than the fronting issue).

We just need some length to support him.

 

If yao was dropping 30 everytime they played la, i would agree, but he doesnt. In fact, they dont even double yao and he doesnt score 30 against them. Everytime brooks plays them he lights them up because they have no one who can account for his speed and quickness.

 

Based on the rumors for the past few weeks, I'd definitely say that Jefferson is available (and no I'm not saying this based on the Hoopsworld link) but not for the price many Rockets will want to pursue.

 

So you wait for the price to drop.....we could give them Shane or Trevor as part of the deal though.....we have too many SFs..

DD

 

I watch and record every game to be exact. Its nice u posted the 1 game , but what about the other 2 when he scored 12 and 19? What about the regular season when he averaged 14ppg vs la on single coverage which goes back to what i pointed out. If La is going to single cover yao and he's not averaging high 20 ppg, not 19 and some change, he's not the mismatch. When they didnt trap brooks, he was putting up big numbers. They had to trap brooks because they have no one who can stay in front of him, but la has enough long players to contain yao and not worry about him going off every game. He had 1 good game,game 1,one ok average game,game 2, and one normal game,game 3 and they were 1-2 when he went out.

DD, as far as jefferson, this is what i said, minny gets a choice between battier or jeffries and chase or hill, along with anderson. Whomever they choose between chase and hill, you draft the guy who is chosen or fill through free agency. If they choose jeffries and chase, then the rockets can draft george,henry, or sign a guy like miller or outlaw. If they choose hill, then alabi,whiteside,or sanders would be drafted.

 

What is it?

 

Nope, no Chase or Hill, they can have picks instead.

We need to keep our young talent.

DD

 

Minny would probably require Chase or Hill to be put in the package. I don't think 2 first rounders is quite enough. Jefferson would be a good pull if we could get him for just picks though.

 

Let's not forget, we need to match his salary. Jeffries? Battier?

 

A dozen other teams would beat that offer and even if they didnt there is no way in hell Minny gives up Big Al for that package.

 

Not sure if this belongs here, but I remember awhile back some people wanted to see if the Timberwolves would trade their pick, if anyone has access to the ESPN Insider, they have a article saying they want to keep their pick.

 

Can we rename this the "debate on Buds value" thread?

 

Jefferson and rights to Rubio for our picks and expirings.

 

From everything you hear from David Kahn these days, Ricky Rubio is the single most untouchable assets in the Minnesota Timberwolves franchise.

He's not going anywhere. Not unless a truly ungodly package is offered. Hell, even then, Kahn might be so blinded by his Rubio man-crush that he's still turn it down.

 

name anything else that would give timberwolves hope for the future.

yeah, that's why. haha.