[Portland talk Radio] Morey wanted to move Battier/Alston last offseason

Antawn Jamison in a Rockets uniform = championship

 

I would do jack and outlaw for shane. Then use jax contract for Childress and play tracy,outlaw and childress 32mins a night. Use mle on mihm and elson.

 

Upcoming. From a Portland (semi)'insider'.

 

No, he is not a true Rocket. I'm saying this because he was not drafted by the Houston Rockets, and played 5 years for the Grizzlies. Also he never attended college in Houston or Tx for that matter, and is not from Houston.

So how exactly is he a true Rocket, he is more like an adopted sons and adopted kids are dime a dozen in the NBA. If we can get Artest, Miller or another quality player, I would happily drive him to the airport. Understood, Battier is a good defensive player, but the Rockets as a team are a very good defensive team and this is not entirely because of Battier. We were good defensively before Battier, we will be ok afterwards

 

The issue, as I understand it, is that Fernandez thinks Nate McMillan was screwing with Sergio and is afraid of being buried. He wants to sign with the NBA but doesn't think he wants Blazers. (Blazers have to sell him on their commitment to him).

So I understand it. Reasonable source but I can't claim it's bedrock solid. It does appear to be bedrock solid that they are targeting Battier (FWIW).

 

i think a lot of the reason for acquiring battier is because tracy was having to guard the opposing team's primary wing scorer in 04-05 and it was wearing him out. partly because tracy doesn't seem to keep himself in tip top physical shape and partly because he is asked to do so much offensively. if you trade battier you must get someone to take over that role. artest could work, miller would not.

also keep in mind that perimeter defense is one of the big reasons yao has been able to play increased minutes, along with his own conditioning and stamina. less penetration from the perimeter = less fouls on your big men.

point of all this: losing battier could cost you twofold, if you don't replace him with the right person. it could cost you in perimeter defense, and it could also cost you in offense/rebounding if yao starts getting in foul trouble again.

 

Defensive wing stoppers with enough skills/stamina to remain a positive for 40+ mins like Battier are exceptionally rare, to my knowledge... there are only four or five worth mentioning...maybe only two. And Bowen is getting old.

 

Battier+Head for Outlaw+Frye = c. -$1.17M
+ Fernandez's salary set at $873.2K

Outlaw is primarily a backup PF with 6 starts this season. Selling it for Houston Battier is officially the league's 3rd best defensive player and a key starter on a 50+ win WC team.


Estimate for next season's LT is $70.58M.

Alston, Jackson, Brooks
Fernandez, Francis, *
McGrady, Outlaw, Harris
Scola, Novak, *
Yao, Frye, Hayes
=c. $69.65M

Moving either Francis/Hayes for a TE or trading Jackson for less 25% of his salary should keep the Rockets under LT. Provided if Landry re-signs for under $2M and the 2 remaining roster places are filled with rookies making the minimum.

Outlaw is good insurance and leverage re: Landry in free agency. Also McGrady goes back to his best position at SF. Before they traded for Battier wasn't there something JVG said about not wanting to play McGrady at SG?

Rockets team FG% (20th out of 30) and 3P% (26th out of 30) are below the league averages.

 

Just not sold on Fernandez. I'd consider Battier and Head for Jack, Frye, and Outlaw though.