[Philly Inquirer] 76ers have to knock over Rockets with young talent (UPDATE: 1/13)

What certain piece is needed?
My certain piece is a upgrade from Ariza and a starting center who is taller than 6'4".

As for trading Landry or Low it is because it seems other teams want an asset in exchange for giving up a star for T-Mac.

Trades are not easy in the NBA and when you look at just about any deal in the past they involve extra players and even extra teams.

I would love T-Mac for Dalembert and AI but just not gonna happen.

 

by no means am i a mcgrady fan but i do have one serious question about the trade deadline...

if we dont trade mcgrady and we continue to struggle, do the rockets go back and see if they play him?

I really wonder if they would.

 

Negative.

 

Who are these "free" players you speak of???

If you mean let it expire at season's end then you are not getting back anybody near that level.
T-Mac makes $23M and the Rockets are around $17M over the cap now.

The biggest issues with a trade is whether Les is willing to continue to pay a luxury tax.
Letting T-Mac's contract expire in the off season WILL NOT get you back anyone near the level of AI.
That is why everyone wants the trade.

 

I didnt like the idea of possibly getting rid of Batter and I didnt like the idea of taking Dalembert's contract for next year...his contract has a trade kicker which will pay him close to what Yao makes (if i understood that correctly...)

But the more i see this team struggle, we need a guy like Dalelmbert to solidify our front line. We have NO inside presence on defense. If we make the trade for AI, we get back a defender who can create, score, and is young.

 

"Free" as in we don't lose anyone in our current rotation if we trade McGrady.

 

Well I am all for that but it sure doesn't seem like teams are willing to deal like that at least right now.
Deadline might be much different story which is when I think he goes.

 

To get the player(s) that DM is targeting, we are going to have to give up someone or more than one player in the current rotation. Rebuilding teams would want at least one "less expensive" piece added to the expiring deal.

Hence why the speculation that the players are playing at a lower level since the McGrady trade was announced as the likely route and that "everyone is available" talk we heard from DM.

The day we trade McGrady, will also be the last day as a Rocket for at least one rotation player.

 

There's been plenty of interest. Teams hemorrhaging money (e.g., Philadelphia) are all for dumping contracts. McGrady for Dalembert+Iguodala would save them $22 million next season. Sure, they'll suck, but at least they might get out of the red financially.

 

...........just wait and see mate.

 

That makes since for Philly from a financial standpoint but does it for Houston.
Les may not want that huge luxury tax as the Rockets are not exactly selling the joint out these days.

I know Philly and Indiana want to unload for sure but someone is holding out on that deal or it would be done.

 

Elton Brand, Iguodala, Speights, and Young for McGrady, Lowry, Ariza.

 

Nobody and I mean nobody in Houston should want to see Brand in a Rox uniform.
Long high contract, skills falling fast, and always gets hurt.

He is a hinder and not an addition.

 

He is still highly efficient with skills on both ends of the floor. And we get back Iguodala, Speights, and Young.....that's 3 guys that fit what we are doing. When Yao comes back, you've got the bigs inside for the halfcourt game and you've got runners in Brooks/Iguodala/Young/Chase. Battier and one of Landry/Scola can be moved in the offseason...or we might even try to package Battier/Landry/Cook/etc. this season for Bosh.

I would consider trading for Brand if we got Iguodala, Young, and Speights in the deal. Think about it. Our big rotation for this season becomes Brand/Scola/Landry/Hayes/Andersen. Our swingman rotation becomes Iggy/Battier/Chase. Our point guards......Brooks and Conroy. If you haven't seen Iggy and Young busting it....those guys are special.

We could start
Brooks
Iggy
Thaddeus
Brand
Scola

That is legit top 3 in the West

And we could bring in a bench of Chase/Conroy/Battier/Landry.

That is a strong, fast, quick team with plenty of halfcourt firepower to go along with plenty of speed to get out and run. Then next season we add Yao to the mix and Battier becomes expendable. We don't have to re-sign Scola...although we can for good value.

Brand is 30 years old. Yes, he is overpaid, as are most NBA ballers. But he is a legit post presence both offensively and defensively. There's 2 blocked shots per game and numerous changed shots. Not to mention Speights! That dude has some serious skills. Young - ditto. Iguodala-enough said.

Everybody is overhyping Brand's decline. He signed a big contract and had an injury. But he is healthy now and will most definitely give us a legit interior presence on both ends. Start him or bring him off the bench. Develop Speights. Brand's contract becomes an asset in 3 years when he is expiring. In the meantime, enjoy the ride. We will still have plenty of roster flexibility to make trades.

Next season:

Yao/Speights/Hayes
Brand/Scola or Landry
Thaddeus/Battier
Iguodala/Chase
Brooks/Conroy

Compare to Lakerville
Yao > Bynum
Brand < Gasol (not by much)
Thaddeus > Lamar
Battier = Artest
Iggy < Kobe (but competitive)
Brooks > whoever

and we haven't even gotten to Speights and Chase, who are better than anything LA has on their bench outside of their big 5 of Kobe, Pao, Artest, Lamar, Bynum.

 

CD is that you

 

LOL.

No, Elgin.

 

Elton Brand has only lasted the entire season in 5 of his 10 years.
He is owed $15M next year and $17M and $18M the following for a guy who is getting old FAST.
He has fallen off and his numbers are down from the 20/10 days to 13 points 6.5 boards in 7 less minutes a game.
You blame the fact he is in LAC and Philly all you want but I dont want 17 and 18 million on the books for a well aged guy who might be watching from the sidelines at the end of every season.

If he only had another year left then fine but he has 3 years on that deal.
He would be the Carlos Lee of the Rockets. Just waiting for him to be gone.

 

Won't work only for one year then you have Brooks, Landry walking at the end of next season when they are do for extensions.

 

I don't think I agree with this at all. Gasol is MUCH better than Brand. Lamar is still a better player than young IMO, and I like Battier, but Artest is a better player. In addition, we don't know what Yao is going to look like when he comes back. He should be better than Bynum, but you never know.