I know that this was credited to mr. aldridge and espn but no one can tell me that the chronicle isn't responding to Bay Rock's scoop and the clutchcity.net front page forwarding that info to us. he does not even give background he just responds to the rumor! clutch leads and the chonicle follows. great job! http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/1268707 Odom would look good in a Rockets uniform, but don't count on it The Rockets did get in line to check out the availability of Clippers forward Lamar Odom. But this was not a trade-deadline discussion. It was barely a discussion. Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson began looking into the Clippers' plans in December and was told that the Clippers intend to sign Odom to a long-term deal this summer. A lot has happened since then, and there is skepticism around the league about whether Clippers owner Donald Sterling would crowbar open his wallet to sign all the young talent on his roster. But Elgin Baylor loves Odom, and for now, when money is not the issue, any trade would have to be made by Baylor. The widespread notion that Sterling would sign Elton Brand, but let Odom go to save money for Corey Maggette, Quentin Richardson or Darius Miles also forgets half of Sterling's ignominious history. Yes, he has been the sport's cheapest owner. But he has also never made decisions with any forethought. Maggette, Richardson and Miles are not up for new contracts yet. The idea that Sterling would make a deal now to plan for the future gives him far too much credit. as for my point odom would be nice. I think he will be available this summer. but I would rather see us chase rashard lewis. he is a much better fit here.
as for my point odom would be nice. I think he will be available this summer. but I would rather see us chase rashard lewis. he is a much better fit here. Why? At the most, Rashard Lewis is a very good role player. Lamar Odom can be a star. Lewis has a solid outside shot, runs the floor well, plays defense, but does not create enough for himself to be a NBA superstar. He just doesn't have the ability. The way Lamar can play almost any position, create for himself, handle the ball (something Lewis cannot do regularly), etc. are things that are extremely rare in this league, especially at his size, and his potential is much greater than Rashard's.
they both are good and would help us alot i think odom is a litte better but he gets in troble adn rashard is from htown. y the hell did we not draft him?
nope you guys are wrong. Odom is the better player but LEWIS fits the rockets better. Both players are SF, in Rudys system.. small forwards stand at the 3 and shoot. Lewis does that hell of alot better than Odom. If you want to talk about who fits the rockets better, its Rashard Lewis.
Odom is the better player, Lewis is the better fit. We don't need a SF who has to have the ball in his hands to be effective. Read Scottie Pippen. I will say we might need another go-to guy, but I'd want that go-to guy to be a PF or C. Someone who can open things up down low.
Shoot open 3s. Odom is not a good spot-up shooter with any range. If you noticed over the years, our SF's are only allowed to shoot open jumpers, and aren't allowed to dribble, since Moochie already has taken that job. Lewis is one of the best spot up shooters in the NBA. Moreover, Lewis doesn't have off the court issues. It wouldn't suprise me if Odom gets in some sort of off the court trouble again in the next year.
Statistically, at least, Odom was pretty decent from behind the arc until this season. This season, he cut his 3 point shots by about 2/3s and hasn't been hitting them. Gee, sounds like Kobe Bryant . Actually, you do have a point there. The one thing the Rockets reallly don't have right now is a deadly shooter. And Lewis does fit that bill. Still, I can't help but think that if Odom ever got his head screwed on straight, he'd be one fo the best out there. Incidentally, I can't see the Rockets having a shot at him. I don't think they'll get Lewis either, but there would appear to be a chance, at least.
You know at first I wanted Odom, but I would rather have Rashard and here's why. Granted Lewis is putting up better numbers then Odom, but Odom is more talented, but Lewis fits in better because he isn't going to be the star of the team. Odom is a star and potential franchise type player. Lewis is a star, but is a strong supporting player like Pippen was during his Chicago Bulls days. He makes everybody better, and is a fine defender. He also fills our needs. At almost 6-10 Lewis gives us matchup advantages and can play limited minutes at PF. He also improves our rebounding up front, he grabs 7 to 8 rebounds per game. Or size, length and athletic ability alone, a line-up of Lewis and Griffin would be AWESOME! They can run the floor, rebound, shoot, and drag their defender away from the basic with their 3pt shooting. Along with Cato this would give us the tallest and most athletic and explosive frontcourt in the league. And Lewis wouldn't need the ball or need to be the center of attention on offense to be effective. I'm not calling Odom a ball-hog or egomaniac or anything, because he isn't. But Odom is the a better fit on a team where he's the #1 or #2 option on the team. He has the potential to be a superstar player and it would be tough to be that on a team that has 3 stars currently on the team.
By the way, for the people who says Odom has serious off the court problems and are comparing it to drug dealing, come on! Mo isn't a drug dealer, he has had the same problems as Odom. Other then smoking pot what off the court problems has Odom had? He isn't out beating his wife, shooting people, or getting DUIs, so it's silly to compare him smoking pots to being a drug dealer or a constant problem child off the court. That being said Lewis fits better on our team then Odom, but I'd take Odom on this team in a heartbeat.
Kidrock summed it up well. Odom is the better player (I would say, "more versatile" player) but Rashard would seem to fit in better with Rudy's (place pejorative adjectives here) system. That said, it was Odom we asked after, not Rashard. I don't know how GM's think, but would CD and RT undo their mistake by giving up a lot just to get Rashard into the fold? It would probably take Mo + a first rounder to get him, and other teams can offer more. Hell, the Wizards could sign him outright. Would we allow a summer of Rashard's agent using the Rockets as leverage, and then wind up with nothing? Obviously we asked after Odom and I think we can make a decent offer. No more rookies, please. Odom can be plugged into any spot on the floor, depending on the matchup. Having another player who can bring the ball up the floor and set up teammates is a good thing, considering Franchise's on-again, off-again availability.
Odom has 10 times the talent Rashard Lewis has, IMO. And I don't see how he wouldn't fit in with the Rockets. Many people have said that they'd like to see Steve play off the ball more, give him more opportunities to score instead of feeling the need to distribute. A point-forward type like Odom would give us that option and reduce the reliance on Moochie Norris's superior dribbling abilities.
The thing I like about Odom is that he doesn't have to score to be effective, he even said that he rather win games than score alot. Also I like his desire to pass and assist, he loves it. If you watch his game you can see that alot of the time that he drives in he looks to pass it, and he's so creative at it. In fact he has this low post move that he uses to pass that's been really effective and fancy looking were he dribbles it in with his back to the basket in the low post than he looks as if he's going to shoot it by facing the basket but passes it behind his back to a cutter for a jam, it's such a great play. He's just a good creater for making shots for his teamates. Also he's a quick passer on the break, I mean he does those long passes like how OT use to do for MMax. Also if you watch him he's a quick defender, many times he guards PGs and SGs not just SFs. I use to like how RT used SA to drive in and kick it out or pass it in if someone was open and I think Odom would be perfect at that play cause he does that often for LA. Just IMO I think Odom would be a good fit as he loves to pass, a good rebounder and doesn't have to score much as we have SF, CM, EG as shooters. I like Lewis too but I think he would have to be a scorer to be happy with his position on the team and that could effect SF and CM mentality as they are the 1-2 option. Even with the ball in Odoms hand's he could actually help SF and CM score more, he's not averaging 6 assist a game to help himself. I don't see him as Pippen was for us as Pippen was upset about not getting enough shots and I don't see Odom doing that as he doesn't look to be the star of the team. I just don't see how LA can play Miles, Q, Eric Pi, Maggette, Dooling and Odom at the SG and SF spot with consistent mins as they all deserve it. I'm sure next year Q is a starter leaving even less mins. Funny thing is that they asked if Miles thought D.Sterling would pay everyone to stay and Miles said something like we all know that answer(becuase we all know how DS is). Anyways I think that LA will trade one or two of those guys. And Odom's popularity is falling here as many here didn't like his two drug reports.
rashard lewis is better than a role player. odom sells more tickets and is more versatile but in the system of rudy T I think a small forward with longrange and rebounding abilities will be more valuable.
I disagree on the characterization of our SF. People use the argument of Pippen and Anderson, and they are both faulty. Why? A.) Pippen played with Hakeem and CB4. Different offense. B.) Shandon Anderson quite possibly has the worst handles of any swingman in the league. Look at our team right now: -Look at the SF when we go to 3 guard: Mobley. He certainly handles the ball, because he's good in that area. -Look at our starting SF, Kenny Thomas. Does he even shoot 3 pointers? -Look at Terence Morris. The main aspects of his game revolve around going inside, and midrange shots. Rudy certainly likes the spot up shooting 3s, like Walt and Glen, but they spot up shoot because shooting is their best ability. We saw Rice post up earlier in the year as the 3, and we've seen Walt handle the ball and attempt to go towards the basket. That said, the "system" isn't finished-it'll be tweaked to feature Griffin as he progresses. So, my guess on Rudy/CD's plans. Around draft time, they'll know what SFs are in the draft, and if any of the ones that'll be around are good bets to become the right kind of SF, maybe Dunleavy, Q. Woods, Grizzard, J. Jeffries, etc. depending on who comes out, and their stock, etc. Assuming the SF(s) we would want are taken, or none exist then we looks via trade for a stud SF. Maybe Odom comes out of this, maybe Shawn Marion becomes bait, who knows what could happen. If nothing comes out of that, then we use the lotto pick either in a trade for a big man, trade for trade bait or simply draft a big man and/or trade bait. Trade bait could also be a trade that makes another player expendable, ie trading for a backup PG making Moochie expendable. If still nothing, then you go to free agency. Start talking to Rashard for full MCE, and see what he says. If he's dead set on more money, make him state his desire to come home, and the see what can happen through a sign and trade. If Rashard doesn't work out, then go to option #2, aka Lee Nailon, offer him a deal involving the MCE. If not, then go to other trade options, or go to camp with Rice, Morris, maybe the 2nd #1 pick and/or Walt.
i agree with e.t., odom is far more talented than lewis right now. and though he could become a superstar, he's not the kind that demands the ball alot. he can run point forward and take some pressure off steve. but, i would be very happy to land either of the two.
What is the next penalty for Odom if he gets caught breaking the league's drug policy? Hasen't he had two already and the third one is a killer? Or am I remebering him as a bigger pot head than he hreally is. Not that there is anything wrong with that.
I don't think we will be able to trade Rice so there's no reason to think Rice can't be hitting 3's until Odom comes in. Maybe it's time we scrapped this 3-pt shooting SF idea. One thing I think Odom would really help us with: Ball movement. When you have Steve dishing, and you have Odom dishing, there are more opportunities. Steve can play more of a SG role when Odom handles the ball too.
