Honestly we really don't need a BIG TIME scorer. I believe all we need to focus on is obtaining a back up SG/SF role player that can score and everything will be fine. If this Brent Barry story is true then he will be the perfect fit for us. our PF rotation is set and for the people that keeps saying we need a backup center for Yao really have not payed close attention to the Rockets. Dorsey...Scola...Landry(hopefully)...and Hayes can spell Backup 4 Yao. When Yao sits this could be the perfect time for us to Run instead of putting in another slow guy. Change the pace of the game a little and we will be one dangerous team this coming season.
I agree that we may not need major changes but then I don't mind changing for better with BJackson, Woods and Head.
Several posters have brought up the Utah series. I think we had a decent shot at winning it without Yao, if Rafer had been healthy. don't forget, we had a critical call go against us at the end of one of the first two games, when that guy flopped. give us that call and a healthy Rafer, and I like our chances.
i agree with everything, the only change i would want to make would be to pg, but even if we kept it the way we are i would not fear. people think that if we don't make it as far as they want us to go that there is something wrong with the team, perhaps a full season of health and some time to mesh with the entire roster will be all that we need
Call me crazy but I'm just spitballing here . . . but. . . Do you think Yao and TMAC get hurt because we overly depend on them do you think that if he had the elusive 3rd scorer . . they could save some for the playoffs?? rocket River
I hope people realize that the window of opportunity for this team is rapidly closing. I would say the Rockets have about two more years left. The roster as it stands will barely make it out of the first round at best.
Yeah I agree. We need a swingman. I think Maggete would be a good addition. Get rid of Luther. Sign Landry Alston is good. Mclady needs to become McGrady Yao needs to not get injured.
When did getting out of the 1st rd become acceptable? If Artest goes to La and Maggette signs with Sa, the rox will never beat those 2. Factor in now pllayers with any atheletic ability would love to play with paul in n.o. Did I mention the jazz are the new sonics? If ur banking on a guy spurs got rid of twice to get u over the hump, think again. This team needs a high quality 3rd scorer and bench depth. Morey can hold those poker chips if he wants, but when tracy misses his 10 games and we don't know how many yao will miss, the team will be in trouble. I'm not going to say I told u so, but people need to wake up and look at the landscape of the west. If not the rox will be the 1st 50 win team to miss the playoffs.
They absolutely could use one more scorer to put them over the top, and should be looking for it anyway they get can get it. But the fact they are looking at evans(to be the backup 2/3) and barry(a dead eye shooter) is a very good start. Those would be two quality pickups that take minutes off of t-mac/battier(if he stays) and greatly improve the bench. personally, i'd like to make a run at ben gordon or hinrich in chicago, barbosa, artest, carter, redd, any of the pistons starters besides mcdyess or outlaw/webster at the right price. not saying they can or will get any of them, but those are some of the players available they should shoot for via trade.
Status quo means we will have another winning season. Status quo means another first round exit in an even tougher Western Conference. Status quo is a safe business plan as well as a guarantee of mediocrity.
Outside of Tmac, Yao, Scola, I am willing to trade anybody to improve this team including Battier. A Battier,BJax, young guy, and/or future pick could get us Artest kind of guy. Right now I don't think that's the direction we are heading. But you never know about the wonder boy Morey, he never shows his hand, so I am still hoping ...
The TC makes good arguments, but I disagree. He has an underlying assumption that Yao and McGrady will be healthy. They have shown that their health is unreliable. To address this risk that is their health, we NEED to make changes. Everyone knows how good we can be "if healthy." CLEARLY, the "if healthy" factor isn't something we can rely on. WE NEED CHANGE.
If we left everything the way it is, I still think we make the playoffs, but I do think that we could improve the team (and really go for it all) if we: trade Battier and next year's 1st rounder for a solid SG before the season even starts. Then, move T-Mac back to his "natural position", the 3. We can use our expiring contracts to net us a quality player come trade deadline to deal with the inevitable injuries we'll be dealing with at that point. Does anyone else agree that T-mac needs to be moved to the 3 permenantly? Who on this board still sees him as a 2? I really believe that it's been our play at the SG position that's hurt this team most the last few years. We simply don't have a real SG on this team. Tracy is just not the spot up shooter, or the 3pt shooter we need at the 2 spot and we have to get more offensive production out of our 3 spot. If we have to play Chuck at the 3 a little more to offset the defensive drop off from Battier's departure, I'm sure he's up to the task.
Agree agree agree, almost all the way. But with this core of players, the rockets only got 2 years tops! A third option would be perfect we gotta take some kind of risk, without trading/losing Tmac, Yao, Scola, Landry, Battier. Morey work your majic!
I think people underestimate #3 on his list. The value of "Bobby Jackson's expiring contract" will only increase as we get nearer the trade deadline, so it makes no sense to do anything with it now. We need to sit on our hands until Sacramento becomes willing to trade us Artest for it straight up, just to save 2 million in cap as Artest will be a FA next year anyways.
