I like this trade a lot, especially since (I think) Doleac and Thomas come off the books after this year - if they play well and mesh, keep them, if not, let them go, maybe finally have some money to spend. On the other hand, I don't think there is anyway the deal works unless you sign Ward to a contract he certainly isn't worth - or unless you get rid of Moochie, but that was part of the joy of the deal, imo.
This is exactly what I was thinking. We finally get a rebuilt team to play most of one season together, go out and hire a new coach, and then trade half or more of the team away?!? Chemistry takes a while to develop and I am waiting with bated breath and almost giddy anticipation, to see what JVG can do with our talent after bringing the cats in New York to the finals. I am more than happy to stand pat or acquire a free agent or two. Did anyone else see the back to the basket game that EG developed over the last half of the year? Did anyone else see Mobley start to hustle like mad on the defensive end last year? Does anyone else want to see what these guys can do with a coach that knows how to teach the game and also is the model example of work ethic? It is always tempting to go out and try to improve the team, but trading our depth and potential will not put us in a position to win a championship this year! We would have to start Steve and Yao with Kidd, Duncan, and Pierce to give us a reasonable shot at a championship this year (assuming that those in lala land can get their act together). I think that we need to give this team a chance to gel in a new system with their new coach and decide on trade scenarios during the season as we see what our needs are. Wouldn't you be pissed if you traded EG et al for Grant before the season only to have him break out and go for 20/10/3? He is only 21 and entering his 3rd year, the same year that KT had his 16/8 year for us. I think EG has more talent than KT did and I also think that he will have a breakout year.
Thanos, I like you thoughts, but still I doubt things can work out this way. Let's say we offer Rice and Moochie to Riley for Grant. First thing he'll do is call McHale and say, "look I have this offer from Dawson that frees my cap space next year. Either way you are screwed, so why don't we just do the Grant for Brandon deal and let KG decide where he wants to go next year." This way Riley trades Grant without getting stuck with Moochie Norris.
This is pointless - we're stuck with what we've got. We definitely DON"T need to pick up yet another bad contract (Grant). It's time to buckle down and see what improvement JVG and Co. can squeeze out of this team.
Kayman, your points are valid, but suppose Riley is about to pull a Denver Nuggets out of his hat, and like Kiki, blows up the entire team. Denver got rid of Mcdyess, Lafrentz and Van Exel and started from scratch. Now that Riley has lost on the only free agent available this summer that could really make him a contender in the east, he just might do that. With that thinking, nothing prevents him from trading Grant for us (Rice) and Jones to the Wolves for Brandon, which has been mentioned somewhere, as I recall...
Miami had the money to sign a max free agent and hasn't been able to do it. What good is a little bit more cap room going to do him? It won't come until next season anyway, and it's not like Miami is that far from the playoffs in the East. I'm sure they'd love to deal Grant and Jones. But I can't see both dumped for salary cap space - especially Grant. He's their only front court player. He's overpaid, but do you really think they want to go with a lineup of Sean Lampley et al in the frontcourt? To deal Grant, it's going to take a competent frontcourt player with a managable salary. Glen Rice is not that player.
Stranger deals have happened in the past. All Miami had to give up to get Grant was Chris Gatling and Weatherspoon. Portland ended up with Shawn Kemp! The Wolves got Cassell for Joe Smith, Sacramento got Webber in exchange for an aging Mitch Richmond. I can think of a number of other deals, given time. If Riley wants to tank and go all the way to capfree land, it might happen. Those talks that involved Brian Grant last season certainly had Rice's contract being thrown. If he wanted to have at least a decent product on the court, he could sign Coleman for cheap after sending us Grant... I think we have a good chance of getting him, if we are intersted.
I still believe if the rockets go after a pf, it should be stromile swift underpriced, younger, and a real PF some nights he pulled in 15 reb a game on a team already with lorenzen wright, gasol, battier, gooden, etc i doubt the rockets are willing to afford a player like SAR right now unless we unload something (difficult to do)
Sure, I'd give Stro Swift a look. What do you think he'd cost? This is his last year on the rookie deal, so maybe something can shake loose, ala KT last year. Despite what CD said - We're obviously NOT "set" at the 3 and 4. Those position stink up the court. 4 - EG and Taylor. No shot and no rebound. Take pick. 3 - Posey, Rice and Boki. No shot no legs no shot. Great. Then we have Mr. Mobes who waves off Yao to take an off- balance running 3 against 2 defenders. And...the Mooch. Sure, I'm brimming with confidence, CD. Y'all just stand pat.
Swift played great during a stretch last year, when he was promoted to a starter, and that stretch ended when he got injured. Of course when I mean played great I'm going straight by numbers as I had him on my fantasy team. I never even saw him actually play. I just don't think that we need any unproven guys on the roster. We have enough of those already. I'm starving for a veteran who knows what it takes, someone we know what to expect of. Bring the Rastaman onboard!
here are swift's per 48 min stats last yr min pts off def reb ast stl blk TO 22.1 21.0 3.7 8.8 12.5 1.5 1.79 3.38 3.2 he was only .3 less than team leader lorenzen wright (who we know can rebound) almost 1 more block per 48min than 2nd highest pau gasol
I'm all for getting Brian Grant if his contract expires in 2 years. Think about it. With Posey and Grant in the line up, we have the ultimate Van Gundy clones. Aside from this, Yao's shots would go up since those 2 don't shoot much and are generally unselfsih. Grant is just perfect for this team, especially since we're trying to build around Yao and Steve. I've always thought about this deal and was wondering if anyone knows whether we can afford it: Cato Mo Taylor Mobley for Grant Eddie Jones I must say that, if Grant and Jones' contracts end in 2 seasons, I'd jump for this deal. We keep Rice, and he comes off the books in a season, easing our luxury tax worries. As for the 2 MAX contracts, one will expire when Griffin's deal kicks in, and the other will expire when Yao's new deal kicks in. Think about it: Yao/Grant Grant/Griffin Posey/Rice/Nachbar Jones/Posey Francis/Moochie I don't think we'd sign anyone, since we'd be freaking close to the luxury tax, but I honestly don't think we need more than one backcourt minimum-$$$ signing. Francis and Eddie Jones routinely are among minutes per game leaders, and Posey already gives Jones ANY resting minutes he needs. We may not like Moochie, but if his contract is imposible to unload, I think we can live with him backing Francis up for about 7 or 8 minutes. I'm a bit doubtful that we can afford this, but I think we actually SAVE money long term, and stay the same short term. We can go to an 8 man rotation without leaving out any quality depth, but we can also go 10 players deep without worrying about quality. GREAT defensive team, and very very unselfish. Jones will have a field day with 3's and open looks, Francis and Yao will be free to shoot more with Mobley and Taylor not taking anymore shots. Griffin can be a great 6th man and develop at his own pace. Thoughts? Corrections?
Eddie Jones's and Brian Grant's contracts expire in 4 years. Les would get killed by the luxory tax if we got both of them. If I was the Rockets I would still try and find a way to land Grant. He's a bit overpriced but like many have said he would be the perfect complement to Yao. If we can make a trade for him that would involve one of our bad contracts then I would do the deal.
I thought SAR (S) = Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome But anyways, Wolves are not going to take Taylor. However, the Miami trade is a possiblity. Riley wants to get rid of Grant immediately. Grant is certainly an upgrade to Taylor at the 4. IF Grant was in the line up Griffin would have no chance to start.
