I posted this in the Draft decision thread: Here's my proposal/hope/theory: Seattle Times - May 21, 2008 Sonics Thinking About Moving the 4th Pick? http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ht...038_soni21.html The Seattle Supersonics are already a very young team. They may want to trade the pick for a veteran to help Kevin Durant to develop and generally help the team. The playoffs this year have been filled with spectacular point guard play. It is believed that a great, young point guard is the way to build teams in today's league. As evidenced by Derrick Rose likely becoming the #1 pick in this year's draft over the 6'9 PF Michael Beasley. Beasley is a scoring phenom as well as a rebounding monster. He had averages of 26 pts 12 rbs as a PF. How does a point guard that had averages of 15 pts 5 asts 5 rebs go over a BIG with mind-boggling averages? They say the league is gravitating towards great point guards. The Houston Rockets have one glaring weakness compared to other championship caliber teams in the West. They are weak at the PG position. My proposal is any combination of Shane Battier and picks for Seattle's 4th pick. Only, and I mean ONLY, if O.J. Mayo is still on the board. I know Mayo's stock has fallen since the controversy surrounding the sports agency, but we can use this to our advantage to get a guy that could definitely be a star in the league at the PG position. Believe me, I know what Shane has brought to the team. However, read the scouting report on O.J. Mayo and tell me this isn't what we need for the Rockets: Averages: 21 pts 5 rebs 4 asts per game: Strengths: Extremely talented lead guard who routinely makes highlight plays … Possesses great all around skills … A fierce competitor. Plays the game with a tremendous amount of confidence, desire and intensity … The game comes very easily to him. His feel for the game is advanced for a high school level player … Strong one on one player with creative drives to the basket … Has legitimate lead guard skills, with a yo yo handle, and solid passing ability … Has the go-to scoring ability to take over late in games … Plays a very physical style and loves to take the ball to the hole … Very strong physically, able to overpower most point guards … Prone to big scoring outbursts … A strong defender who can become a lock down type of defender with his great reflexes and foot speed … Shoots well from outside, setting up his dribble drive … His first step off the dribble is off the charts … http://www.nbadraft.net/admincp/profiles/ojmayo.html O.J. Mayo could be our point of the foreseeable future. Great shooter, can take the ball to the rim, great defender, plays with energy and confidence? Sounds like a complete player and he'd only be our third scorer, along with being our playmaker when McGrady is out of the game. He's big for the point position. He can also play the off-guard position if needed. We would definitely have to sign another player at the SF/SG position when Battier is traded. Guys, if the Sonics were willing to do that deal, do you think it is a deal the Rockets should pursue?
What is his contract like anyway? I seriously doubt that they would want to move him,I just wanted to know out of curiosity.
Look, Battier is just an important role player.He is not a star. No one will ever give a lottery pick for him let alone a high one. Just because the Rockets gave up their lottery pick for him doesn't mean it's going to happen again. I know nothing is impossible,but let's put this down in the highly improbability category.
Just for fun: 1) Tracy McGrady + Landry (re-signed at LEE) to Miami for #2 and re-signed Marion. -Miami gets to pair Wade with McGrady, with a solid, young PF in Landry. I included Landry because I don't think Miami would do it straight up for just McGrady. Not sure on whether or not they'd bite, with the option of being able to re-sign Marion and keep Beasley, but it would definitely make them think about it, IMO. I'd even include our 1st rounder if they insisted. Rockets get Marion and most likely Beasley. I would prefer Rose, but realistically I don't see Chicago passing on him. Beasley and Marion would combine to fill Tmac's role, while Beasley will eventually be our starting stud PF. 2) Shane Battier + AB to Sacramento for Artest -This was the rumored trade last year, with the Rockets reluctant on letting go of Brooks. Well, it's time to let him go. I'd give up our 1st round pick as well, but Artest only has 1 year left - that's too much, IMO. 3) Throw full MLE at Maggette -IMO, Maggette is the one player on the free agent market whose gonna have to settle for MLE money. Gets him out of a losing organization and into a soon to be title favorite. 4) BJax, Hayes, Head + 1st round pick to Toronto for TJ Ford -We finally get our upgrade at the point. Ford/Alston/Francis/FA Artest/Maggette/Francis Marion/Maggette/Beasley/Novak Scola(Beasley)/Beasley(Scola)//Harris Yao/Deke/Woods This team is immensely deeper and talented than the one we trotted out against the Jazz the past few years. This, IMO, is a title contender. We're still undersized at the PF spot, but the talent upgrade (Beasley) should offset that.
Why would the Sonics, who are in win in 4 years mode, trade the #4 pick for Shane Battier...especially when they have 2 young players and high draft picks that will be getting considerable minutes at SF? Plus, you can't trade salary for a draft pick. Here's something that works, and the Sonics might entertain to get out of some contract. Rockets trade: Shane, Steve Francis, Luther Head, Aaron Brooks Sonics trade: Luke Ridnour, Donyell Marshall, #4 pick Sonics again move Ridnour's contract, pick up Shane, and pick up Aaron Brooks. Luther could also help them, and Steve may help from a contract perspective as well. If I'm the Rockets, this trade definitely hurts for next year, but longer term it is good. I'd do it if Mayo is still there. It's a little early in the evaluation period, but I'd probably do it if Mayo wasn't there, also. It's a crapshoot, sure, but Jerryd Bayless, Danilo Gallinari...there's some other players with pretty good upside out there.
What are you talking about? We did it. The Rockets. And gave them their best player. That excuse doesn't fly. Perhaps you don't consider a 7 pick high? More middle that high? Regardless, they got their franchise player. The Lakers got Gasol for Kwame Brown and bench players. The Rockets could at least look into that trade I proposed because it is not a lopsided trade in our favor at all. Besides, a few quotes that I found.... "A Western Conference executive said Tuesday a handful of teams are interested in moving up in the draft to select Mayo and would likely call Presti inquiring about a trade." "Since Presti arrived last year, the team has placed a high emphasis on rebuilding with high-character, low-maintenance players." Sound familiar? Battier fits that to a T. The only question is if they consider Battier's talent as enough compensation. Your comment just doesn't hold weight like it would have a year or so ago after the ridiculous trades we've seen lately.
Ok, wasn't sure if the trade would work exactly in the framework that I had it, but the general idea is what I was going for. I will say your trade makes sense and I like it.
Rocket fans lets get real!! We have been hoping and wishing for play-off success since 94' and 95'. The problem with the Rockets are the Rockets!! Since Steve Patterson put that team together we have not had a person within the organization that knows what works. They are guessing. The Barkley trade, the Eddie Griffin trade, passing on Rashard Lewis three times, the Battier trade, drafting Luther Head and Aarron Brooks. ALL MISTAKES!! Every since we traded to get T-Mac, it's been one blunder after another. From Bobby Sura (injuries),Derrick Anderson (can't get on the court), Luther Head (too short), Chuck Hayes (can't shoot), Steve Novak (no defense). We keep on going down the same road. Perfect example, after the play-offs against Dallas in 04', we knew our needs were a 2 guard with size, a power forward, and a point guard. We go right out and draft Luther Head, who is small and can't handle the ball. Even worse we pass on Jason Maxiel, David Lee, CJ Miles, and Monta Ellis. I don't see any of their teams trying to trade them. Then we go right out and bring in a 6'5'' power forward who can't shoot, and we turn around and sign him to a 4 year contract last year. Like someone wonts him!! He is a 11th or 12th man at best. To top it all off, we go out this past year and draft a 5'10'' point guard, who will never, ever be a starter in this league. He is a role player. In the 1st round you should be looking for starters, not back ups!! When we first got T-Mac we should have modeled our roster after the Lakers when they had Shaq and Kobe. They had Robert Horry, Horace Grant, Ron Harper, Rick Fox, Brian Shaw, etc. All Players with size and length. We are in going into T-Mac's and Yao 5th year together and guess what?? We still a point guard, a 2 guard with size, and a big!! To top it off, I heard Daryl Morey say on sports radio 610 that the Rockets are one of the few organizations that doesn't put as much emphasis on a players height, when evaluating a player. Which explains; Hayes, Brooks, Head, and Harris. Ask yourself Rocket fans, is there any other teams with these many short players?? I've been a Rocket Fan since the days of Slick Wyatts, Calvin Murphy, Allen Levell, Billy Paultz, etc. and I'm a loyal season ticket holder but it doesn't take this long to put a contender on the court, especially if you have 2 of the top players in the game on the same team. We have not had a serious play-off contender since Steve Patterson was in charge. This past off-season, lets face it Morey was 2- out of -4. Mike James was a bust, Brooks (role player at best), Carl Landry and Scola are good additions. But let us not forget that Morey was behind the Battier trade for Rudy Gay.
I guess you been saving that rant up for a while eh? I know exactly what you are talking about however. They seem to go against common sense a lot and march off into their own direction fully believing they are making the right decision. I mean, they honestly believe that Shane Battier trade was a good one and have convinced many of our fans. I like Battier, but we gave up too much for him at the very least. Is it really that hard to see the deficiencies that this team has? They are glaringly apparent to most of us here. Are we being unrealistic in terms of the difficulty in getting the right players? I don't understand how we can make so many boneheaded decisions, but it has turned around starting last year. That was a great draft for us.
just to re-load you with ammunition....Stromile Swift, Francis (2nd time around), David Wesley, Mo Taylor & Cato's contract, Bonzi Wells (quitting on us 1st year), and lets not forget Gerald Greens wonderful tenure.
You are right I had to vent. I'm tired of going down the same road year in and year out. I hope they get it right this year. I would love to see Thabo Sefolosha(a good young wing w/ length), Ramon Sessions (the point we should have drafted), and Jason Thompson (long athletic 4 or 5 that can shoot)in Rocket uniforms next year!!
To be honest, I would have been nearly as angry if they would have selected Thabo Sefolosha over Rudy Gay with that pick. Thabo isn't nearly the player that Rudy Gay is at this point time and neither was he thought of being as good of a player during the draft. It would still have been a bad selection then.
Pretty what I've been saying. The loss to the mavs shouldve had the antennas up. Jason Terry killed sura, stackhouse killed wesley and barry because tracy had to guard dirk. The next season they traded james,drafted a undersized standstill guy when there were quite a few 4's that could have challenged howard or replaced howard. Didn't really have that big of a problem with swift although I wanted SAR. The rox had a lot of injuries wound up in the lotto and now the dream of finally getting a long atheletic wing to go with tracy and yao. The bbs was on fire! DD and a few other wanted mr. bluedevil. Myself and other wanted a multi-tool athelete like brewer or gay. I was envisioning rafer pushing with gay/brewer on 1 wing and swift filling the other lane. Finally, the rox have some players with upside. Then ed werder reports a trade between the rox and the grizz. Now I'm tripping. Here comes the pain, the rox trade stro and #8 for battier. For some reason the management went into win now mode. The new gm whom everyone is praising for being a genius, gave up a all star talent for a already declining player. Here we are, after watching our 2 best players miss games due to injuries and still trying find more atheletic players and a 3rd scorer. Many will say morey stole scola, but I trust the spurs management more than the rox. If they had such a high regard for scola, he would have been with them before oberto and they would never give a divisional rival a difference maker. Then the spurs drafted a guy, splitter, that has way more upside than scola. When a gm says they don't put any value into size, illustrates how a numbers guy that never played hoops past jr high thinks. I'm not saying size is everything, but there are certain limitations u have when ur a small team across the frontline. The arm length and atheleticism also factor in. So its really kind of indicative of some brainwashed delusional fan that think the rox are a healthy ming from a finals appearance. If they don't make drastic, impactful moves, we can just re-bump this thread again.
Nail, head, etc. Exactly my thoughts. We have to make some moves that really will impact the team. Hench my O.J. Mayo trade. I wonder what Clutch thinks about this upcoming draft and offseason. Perhaps I missed his comments or he'll write something after the playoffs and closer to the NBA draft.
DM got Landry and Brooks but I can bet you he will get cold feet if he has a chance to get OJ Mayo for Battier. We can't expect glue to get it done.
