Very good find. I'd like Kenny Thomas, but my problem is in dealing Juwan could we get a more physical player? Kenny plays dirty, he does harass, but he isn't big or tall or strong to really hold his own against a Tim Duncan. We'll still need that bulky post defender, but don't get me wrong if we got offered that swap, I'd most likely take it..if we could get a 2nd rounder too, since I believe his contract is ugly. However, I like Kenny's defense, especially on the perimeter, he's got quick feet and rebounding wise he's real good enough for us.
Still a fan of Chris Wilcox coming to the Rockets, though his salary demands may make it difficult. Nevertheless, he's got one of the best builds for our team/division. 6'10 and solid muscle, with plenty of mobility -- match ups shouldn't be too much of a worry. Averaged 14 and 6 as a Sonic last year Don't think you will find too much of the mid-range jumpshooting game here though, more of the quick and explosive to the basket. I think with the addition of Battier, we have already covered the high percentage mid-range shooting game though. Presents quite an interesting line-up... Yao for post presence, Wilcox for athleticism in the paint, Battier for mid-range, McGrady as our attacker, and Alston manning the point and adding a touch of range. Would be just as solid defensively, as well
I'm willing to put a tall, athletic 3 like Al Harrington or Lamar Odom on the 4 if we continue to get other taller, faster pieces just like Kirk Snyder. Yao is the centerpiece of this team, so feed off him and rebound as a group. With the situation right now, I don't believe that one guy can solve our rebounding.
Brian Cook would make a great backup PF. I'm here in LA so I get to watch all his games. He's really impressed me with his improvement even though his ceiling ain't that high. What I like about his game is that he's very patient. In his sophmore year he jacked up every open shot from three, which limited his effectiveness to how hot he was that night. And he was very hot and cold that year; very streaky. This year, his shot was incredibly consistent. If left open with a chance to set his feet, he'd knock it down every time. He also learned how to finish around the basket much better and added a mid-range game. His shot selection is much better and his percentages have climbed as a result. He's got a nice well-rounded offensive game and knows how to pass. A pretty-high IQ player. He'd do well next to Tmac and Yao. He's put on a lot of weight since his rookie year. In fact, he came into training camp this year looking very bulky and defined over the year before. He looks like a real PF. I expected his post defense and rebounding to improve as a result but it didn't. That's the only disappointment about his game. He still maintains good mobility despite the extra weight so that's a plus. Until he improves his rebounding he'll always be a backup, but a pretty good one.
This is what concerns me about Cook. He's a solid 265 pounds of muscle, but he plays like he's 200. He plays no defense, gets no shot blocks, and doesn't rebound at all. It should be impossible for a guy with his size and mobility to be such a liability on defense. His shot is pretty damn sweet, though.
Sonics has 8 big men!!! Couldn't Rox have a deal with Sonics? e.g.: Johan Petro is a good candidate for Rox' third center; Chris Wilcox is tough and excellent enough to replace J.Howard.
JHoward = Done / cooked / finished. We need a PF with teeth, claws and a chip on his shoulder. What we need is a bad dude with an equally bad attitude. Help soften up the inside.
The idea of trading with Sacramento makes sense; Kenny Thomas and Shareef Abdur-Rahim just steal each other's minutes anyway. I doubt they'd want J-Ho, though, so a third team would (probably) be needed.
You're absolutely right, they've drafted a PF/C in the first round every year for the past three years AND they have a couple veterans on their too. Give me Robert Swift, he blocked Paul Pierce's tomahawk dunk. Shades of Bill Walton. I wonder if the rockets were just waiting for a fire-sale like people mentioned before. There are two prime candidates in the Blazers and the Sonics. After the draft dissapointment, that's my new thing to look forward to ... and probably be dissapointed with.
It seems like Sacramento isn't happy with teh contract kenny thomas has (5 years 20 mil ... or something) because it's so long. Juwan's contract only goes another 3 years. Maybe something like Juwan + 2nd round for Kenny - dont ask me, I'm not a trades expert. Unfortunately, Petrie is a little higher up on the good GMs ladder than CD is.
My biggest problem with Howard is that he still is not athletic enough to defende the five in an uptempo game against quicker post players like Daiw, Stoudamire, Dirk (maybe not quick, but plays on the perimeter), Bosh, Howard, and some of other athletes that getting stuck at the five. Battier will be starting at the four. I know some bash this move, but if Howard is here and content to give us good minutes off the bench (I know there is talk that he needs to start to contribute), then his presence is only a positive. But if we do plan on dealing him, then I would like to see someone who can big enough to give minutes at the five and athletic enough to swing down to the four. A perimeter jump shot is just no necessary at this point assuming Battier starts at the four and plays 25 minutes or so there. I like Jeffries a ton, but think Battier plays too similar a role to him and does it better. I like Lorenzen Wright and Tony Battie, but only for cheap. Otherwise, stick with Howard and see what happens during the season.
My problem with Howard is that he can't grab a rebound. But you're right about guarding the 5. This is why we need to go out and get Cato.
I dont see why so many people are willing to offer Luther as part of a trade for a shooting big man. That would be giving up one of our best and youngest shooters (and clutch players) for a mediocre (since no power forward is a GREAT shooter) player. Plus, we dont have enough money to attain someone who is seriously better than howard or hayes. I say forget about shooting, we have rafer, tmac, and battier to take care of that in the starting lineup. We need to get a Dennis Rodman (obviously not as good, but same style) type of player who can provide us with defensive AND offensive rebounds to give back to our 4 other shooters. I'd say Chuck Hayes pretty much locks up that description, so trade Howard for, say, another center or guard...
Doesn't anyone remember Kenny Thomas? I like his hustle and grit but he is a BLACK HOLE on offense, once he got the ball nobody would ever see it again. All the things I like about Thomas we already have in Hayes. We need a big that can play center. Look at the way the roster is shaping up with all the shooting. The only reason JHo was on the court so much last season is we needed his scoring. With the shooting improvements and healthy TMac/Yao that shouldn't be the case this season and JHo will be a fine backup to Hayes I hope.
the issues is all we have at the the post other than Yao is Jho, Hayes, Mutombo. I just dont see that rotation doing alot and staying healthy for 82 games. Battier and Novak can probably give some minutes at the 4, but not many. Thats one reason why i liked stro swift is he could play both spots, poorly, but could still eat up minutes. One reason i'm surprised we didn't go for pittsnogle, point is we need to add another big before the season starts, one that can play around 10 mins a night at either the 4 or the 5. or maybe this is the season yao plays 40 mins a night.
No to Cato. He's not good anymore! I loved him when he was here though as well as Steve and Cat and Mooch and everyone..erm Glen Rice! Cook and Mihm sound good, but why do the Lakers want to do it? Just wondering. Kenny Thomas is undersized.. I agree about Juwan not being mobile enough to match up with those 5's that are really 4's like Diaw and whatever. Juwan does try hard though, and I think he'd be a great backup..I'd rather get a power forward like Wright or Cook or KT and then have Hayes as backup. Battier also moving over to play the 4. I like our team. We have some pretty good bench players now..I think our PF spot is the weakest though and it'd be best to improve it. I agree with Jacquescas..Swift would have been nice if he could have used his head.
