This is a good post. This team is not "one step away" from the title. Thus making "quick fixes" is not s a smart move. If we can get PJ Brown for the MLE that is one thing, we are not giving up anything. But I don't want to trade assets such as Griffin for older players that won't be here when this team is making a move for a championship. Brand and Wallace are still plenty young to be with us for the long haul and for a championship run. Obviously Grant and Davis are too old. PJ Brown is too old too but since he can be had without a trade no reason not to pick him up to try to get us to the next level. I have said many times that I feel Elton Brand would be perfect for this team. I hope they make a serious run to get him. The core of Francis, Brand and Yao would all be VERY young and I think would work very well together! That could be our core for the next decade!
I agree. If we could just add Brown for the MLE and then re-sign Posey (I don't know if we could do that under the rules), we would have seriously upgraded our team in the short term, and provided Griffin with additional time to mature, grow and learn as a player. I still think he has no idea what to do with a basketball, but maybe he'll figure it out. Stranger things have happened.
The ROCKETS Brand: The ROCKETS Franchise: The ROCKETS Dynasty: I like the sound of that Rocket River You get brand .. . doesn't matter WHO ya SF and SG are
Oh ok. That makes sense. I guess the reason I got confused was because Spree is a SG, and we were talking about the 4 position. It makes sense now, thank you.
I'd go for Brand first with money being a non-issue. If money's an issue, they should definitely look at P.J. Brown. I think O'Neal will be too expensive (and Brand won't be to far behind).
A happy cherio to MoT? Please tell me what that is supposed to mean....... I would love to have PJ Brown starting and Eddie backing him up. Maybe this is possible using the MLE...but then we would need to move MoT. I would move MoT and Kelvin Cato for Nick Van Exel and Shawn Bradley. Just kidding....ain't gonna happen.
Why would PJ Brown sign with the Rockets for the MLE when he could either: (1) Sign for more money with the Hornets; or (2) Take the MLE with the Lakers and have a title shot now That being said, I agree that he is the best fit for the Rockets (after Brand) and that he would be a perfect veteran presence to teach these youngsters about work ethic and professionalism. I could understand Brown not re-signing with the "Tim Floyd Hornets," but why wouldn't he take the exact same money to play with the Lakers? He could get MORE minutes, MORE endorsement opportunities, and be a major contributor on what would then be (along with the Spurs) the top contender for the 2004 NBA Championship.
Did somebody take the time to compare EG to Brand when you adjust EG's minutes from 24.5 to 39.6 that Brand played? If you did you will see that EG's scoring would be at 14 and rebounding would be at 10. Brand is currently at 18 and 11. For assists, blocks, steals, there is little difference. Keep in mind that Brand's number would come down if he played with Ming, Steve, Mobes, Rice and MoT., to be fair to EG. While Brand shoots 50% and EG needs to improve there, I like EG's ability to stretch the defense. So in the PF puzzle, I really love EG and certainly have no interest in packaging him and somebody else for these guys.
Brand plays with Michael Olowokandi, Lamar Odom, Corey Maggette, Quentin Richardson, Andre Miller, Eric Piatkowski....they all like to shoot and are all talented. This is only rebounding........ Someone needs to check stats on how opposing power forwards do against Brand and Griffin. Anybody can score on Griffin.....I don't know where to find those stats though. Griffin is unable to play 39 minutes. He would foul out before then. He has drug problems! He has social problems! He has personal problems! He has bad fundamentals! He can't dribble! Elton Brand....was co-rookie of the year and seems like a nice guy. Maybe you are right. Keep Eddie. It is probably impossible to get Brand anyways and probably unlikely that he wants to come here! PJ Brown still sounds good....but why would he want to come here?
Check your stats, in 24.5 minutes a game, Eddie averaged 1.8 fouls, I doubt that in an additional 15 minutes a game he'd commit 3.2 fouls. He was caught with WEED ONCE. I'm you believe that that constitutes a drug problem your wrong. Maybe if you could prove that he was addicted to smack or something... Social problems? Personal problems? What?!? You guys need to give Eddie a break, yes he hasn't looked great in his first two seasons, and the arrest hurt, but the guy has shown some flashes of being a solid player, and he's only 21. We need to give him at least one year under Van Gundy to prove what he can do, unless of course we can Brand or O'Neal, anyone else and we lose out in the deal (i.e. Grant, Davis).
the stats sometimes lie, and frequently exaggerate. Brand plays with a degree of efficiency and effectiveness to which Griffin is a complete stranger. It's not just the stats you put up, it's the manner in which they are accomplished. Steve Francis is a prime example of his stats painting a rosier picture than his actual play. Francis is a very good player, but his stats alone do not reflect kinks in his game.
