If I were going to upgrade the Rockets, I would find some way to move Juwan Howard and his contract out. A buyout isn't out of the question to clear salary space. Then I'd get a big banging rebounding machine who can box out, set screens and score. Scoring isn't even as big a deal as the ability to rebound. If we can get that guy, it would force opposing defenses to pay attention to our Power Forward which would free Yao to be more creative and take the double team off him. Power Forwards to Look at and this includes centers we could turn into Power Forwards are: (Note some of these guys are way out of our price range) David Lee - No way the Knicks get rid of him. He has Curry's back. Nice to dream though. Zach Randolph - Rebounding Machine Pau Gasol - Wants out of Memphis - Twin Towers Houston? Wow! Again outta our price range. Jermaine O'Neal - Indiana is set to make a blockbuster trade Josh Smith - Fantasy Stats Leader from the Hawks - This guys is awesome. He comes to play every night. David West Hornets Rebounding Leader Nick Collison - Very good Athlete - Not a great center but he'd make a great Power Forward. Antoine Jamison - Yes he'd help out on the low block Chris Wilcox - Very gifted athlete. Erratic scoring but he'll give you 8 rebounds a game. Nene Hilario - Good Center can play the PF position. He'd be great as a twin towers player. Reggie Evans - Erratic Scorer but rebounding machine. Avg's 7 rebounds a game on 17.1 minutes of playing time. Better size and ability than Hayes. Okur- He's big enough and fast enough to play Power Forward. Blount - Center who could probably play the Power Forward position. Mikki Moore - Ok, I'm really impressed with this guy. He can jump, he has pretty good size and lateral speed. He'd be a good PF too.
oh and I really like Sean May from Charlotte too. He'll give you 7 rebounds a game and score about 11 pts. He's big and a great athlete. Although it'd be like pulling teeth to get him away from them.
Buying out a player does nothing in terms of clearing salary space. Buying out a player simply means you still pay the player but you open up a roster spot.
LOL I'll leave that up to you guys who are actually going to count salaries and probabilities of it even happening. I just put out a few possibilities.
As I mentioned in another trade, Mark Blount is definitely attainable. He's got 3 yrs, and ~ $21 million left, so Minny's desperate to unload him and his contract. So he'd basically be a throw-in for the Howard/Sura/Lucas for Mark Blount/Mike James deal.n Blount's not a great rebounder, but he's more athetic than Howard, and can move over to center when Yao's on the bench. Versatile guy who's a good yin to Chuck Hayes' yang.
David Lee - Forget it, he is not avaliable. Zach Randolph - Another Bonzi, but it might be worth it. Pau Gasol - Can't afford him. Jermaine O'Neal - Can't afford him. Josh Smith - He's probably is the second best player on the Hawks, and you have to almost give our 3rd and 4th best player along with future draft picks. And he might be too expensive David West - Maybe Nick Collison - Not really what we need Antoine Jamison - Can't afford him Chris Wilcox - Maybe Nene Hilario - He'll stay put Reggie Evans - Likely Okur- He's under contract. Blount - Isn't he under contract, too. Mikki Moore - Hard to say.
Might be able to get Sheldon Williams from the Hawks. They sucked last year so they will be looking to make some trades. Sheldon Williams was putting up double doubles at the end of the season. This could be the guy we are looking for. 2007 Salary: $2,952,840 Season Averages PPG 5.5 | RPG 5.4 | BPG 0.5 Marvin Williams - Hawks another possibility. He was playing out of his gourd near the end and putting up big rebounding and scoring numbers. 2007 Salary: $4,174,800 PPG 13.1 | RPG 5.3 | APG 1.9 Troy Murphy - Indiana Pacers another good rebounder who's big. I don't like this guy though cause he's slow. Golden State definately got the better end of the trade. He's also too expensive 2007 Salary: $8,285,714 PPG 10.3 | RPG 6.1 | BPG 0.6 Ryan Gomes - Boston Celtics - He's young he's big he has all upside potential and had a breakout season with the Celts. The Celtics with one of the worst records in the NBA will surely be looking to make a deal. He'll give ya about 6-7 rebounds a game with the Rockets and he's big and fast. Will give double digit scoring. Plus he's cheap. 2007 Salary: $664,209 PPG 12.1 | RPG 5.6 | BPG 0.2
None of those guys are possibilities for us. The most likely guy on the market, Reggie Evans, is a 6'7" Chuck Hayes at best, not really our greatest of needs. Any PF who is long, quick, and a disruptive defender will suffice.
What about Fabio? Walter Hermann Height: 6-9 Weight: 225 lbs. Age: 27 Pos: F 2007 Salary: $1,800,000 FANTASY He's and interesting player putting up double figures and 6-8 rebounds a game
All things taken into account, I'd like Chris Wilcox or Mikki Moore. I'd also be keen on Charlie Villanueva if he's healthy.
Jamaal Magloire. FA. Averaged a double double before being sent to Portland. Tough. Hustles. Gets rebounds. Getting a power forward that averages 6-8 rebounds a game does nothing for us.
I think Wilcox is the best and most probable of all the guys out there. Mikki more is on a playoff contending NJ Nets team. I doubt they will trade him. Plus what do we have that the Nets would want?
someone who can rebound, play tough post defense, do some shot blocking, and on the offensive end, he will need to have decent range, can knock down mid-range jumper with ease... I can live with poor man's R.wallace, if there is one....
mcdyess: hits the mid range j ; can rebound and defend ;FA possibility for MLE magloire: same as above - jumpshot channing frye: might be expendable b/c of david lee
