In 8-10 minutes per game? Introducing Shane "King of Jack" Battier. Not his NBA profile to date. BTW Gay would have had the same mpg problem with the Rox, but by the time Gay's game emerged in 2-3 years TMac's back should be ending TMac's career. Bad long term move. We should not be in the lottery for years to come (consensus expectation) so we would be seeing this type of draftable talent in upcoming drafts.
I don't think so, I think this is it, we free up a roster spot for someone like Mike James etc, and then we trade head and our TE for Wilcox or Radman..... But I think the FA period is more important than the draft......19 year old kids do not dominate - generally. DD
No DaDakota, If he turns into a 10/5 guy his first year, then we made a huge mistake. By the way, that is totally possible. He doesn't even need to be an all star for this to be a bad trade. The kid is only like 19 or 20. He'll be a role player his first year, which is what Battier is after 5 or 6 years, only he's almost a decade younger. Terrible trade. We could have got more for him.
I agree, if you are building long term, it was not a great deal, but the team is trying to win now, not long term. DD
I don't know how our depth got better, DD, when we just shipped out a top 10 rated rookie along with one of our PFs for just ONE player. I am pretty sure that the 19 year old could have be just as productive--if not better--than the 28 year old we got in return I think an upgrade in defense is pretty much a masquerade since the Rockets weren't that bad defensively as a team in the first place. And our defense on opposing 2s has been horrendous ever since Maxwell left. As for offense? You can't tell me that Rudy Gay doesn't have it in him to average 10 ppg. Free Agency market is pretty bleak and we've been using that same "We've got TRADE EXCEPTIONS!! " line for how long now? The TE is only as good as the person that uses it. And CD is in charge of it. You do the math... As some have stated before and I'll reiterate again, until I've read that Rudy Gay punched out one of his own teammates, the EG/GAY comparisons should stop. And could we NOT have used a Caron Butler on this team? Huge upgrade yes, when we're comparing him to the guards we had on the roster last year. But when you're going to tell people "Guys, we used our #8 pick for Shane Battier. Oh and that #8 pick was Rudy Gay" 9 times out of 10 everyone would think you're a user. I mean it's easy to keep whining and crying and what's done is done, DD, but you cannot tell me that you weren't the least bit angry when the trade was announced. I'm not knocking Shane Battier the player. I'm knocking Shane Battier the acquistion. The Rockets management messed up. Like I said in another thread, if the Rockets somehow come away with Mike Miller (which I highly doubt) or sign Mike James (iffy) AND Jarred Jefferies [very unlikely], I have no problem forgiving them.
I knew something was wrong when I kept hearing Dawson mumble that they weren't really a 34 win team. I guess he muttered this to himself so much that he was able to convince his feeble mind that it was true. This is a team in desperate need of athleticism, youth and speed. They should have come out of this draft with at least 2 young players who could contribute. Instead, all they have to show for their efforts is Battier who makes them only slightly better. Plus, Battier is the kind of player they SHOULD have drafted 5 years ago when they did the CD brain fart and flushed all of their picks for Eddie Griffin. Anyone who truly believes that he is the missing element they need to step up and contend in their division needs to take a drug test immediately. This is one of the most feeble moves I have ever seen from this franchise. If they can botch this draft so badly, why should anyone believe that this group of clowns can do any better in making trades or signing free agents? Bear in mind that this is the same group that brought in Swift last year only to dump him last night for Shane Battier. Doesn't exactly fill me with confidence...
If the Rockets hated Gay so much, they could have just traded down and drafted someone like Brewer or, your boy, Reddick. Somehow, I doubt your opinion of the trade would have been as favorable if the Rockets had drafted Reddick at 8 and traded him away for Battier.
If we get something else other than battier than this deal is frustrating but understandable. Battier can play the 4 but he's a natural 3. Where does that leave tmac? you guys say he statistically doesn't do well at the 2, but isn't that what he played when he led the league in scoring? At the very least battier gives up versatility: Go big: Alston McGrady Battier Howard Yao And small: Alston James (if we get him, head or bogans if we don't) Mcgrady Battier Yao (or go ridiculously small with hayes, but that's just craziness).
Our backup C went from Swift and Deke to just Deke. Our backup PF went from Swift and Hayes to just Hayes. Our backup SF remains Bowen. Our backup SG remains Head. No backup PG. And I don't see a big improvement from Wesley in Battier. I don't see any better much less a LOT better. And I need you to point out how we got better depth.
that lineup might work with a better offensive coach, but JVG i don't think is capapble of making it work
Everyone was laughing about picking up Mario Elie that one year, and he turned out to be KEY to winning a couple of championships. We are NOT a 34 win team, when Yao and Tmac are on the floor together, we can contend with anyone, even with the crap roster we had this last year. Now, you add a solid player like Battier to Yao and Tmac and instantly you just got a whole lot better. And more flexible to boot. Gay COULD be great, but his college coach even said he lacks motivation....that can not be a good thing. Rookies RARELY come in and play well, espeically those taken below the 5th pick in the draft. This is about building a TEAM for this year, not 3 years down the road, and I applaud them for taking a player that is GUARANTEED to contribute this year. That took stones, and the rest of the league may be laughing now, but if we are hoisting that Larry O'Brien trophy next June, no one will be complaining. DD
Sounds like we are gambling that Gay will be a flop, or wildly inconsistent at best. This will ge a terrible move on par with the EG deal if Gay becomes an all-star, but a steal FOR US if he is another Stromile. Only time will tell, I am glad to have Battier alongside TMAC and YAO. That seems like a very strong trio if healthy.
Daryl Morey called Rudy Gay a "high risk-high reward" pick. I suppose he took no real risk in Battier in exchange for much less reward. The crowd at Toyota Center instantly booed last night because as fans, we wanted that high reward, high potential impact player. The win now mentality may actually be the right way to go as time will tell, however, the NBA game is based on mismatches and Battier won't create any, possibly Gay would have in time.
Then you don't know very much about Shane Battier or basketball. Everyone on the Grizzlies has subpar stats except for Pau Gasol. His solid shooting numbers coupled with way more shots will produce great results. He is twice the player Wesley and like another poster says. He will most likely play SG on defense and SF on offense. He can also play 4 with certain matchups.
Back ups? You are worried about BACK UPS?????? Our starting 5 just got better, you know, the group that plays more than 75% of every single game.....backups??? Yes, our depth took a hit and that will be addressed in free agency. First we got to get our starters going, then worry about back ups. DD
LAST YEAR we were a garbage dump and have an atrocious roster. THIS YEAR if things go right we have an outside shot at the back end of the first round of the playoffs. I'd rather aim higher.
You think we are only that with Tmac, Yao and Battier starting? Wow, I think that with the right roster moves we are right there. Those 3 are already better than Miami's starting 3 in the same positions. DD
