You're right, I am quite fond of Hinrich (despite his bloated salary), but he wouldn't even be the main piece of the puzzle acquired in that trade. Fernandez (who I see as the next Manu Ginobili) would be. Think of it as having Fernandez and Hinrich next year for a combined $10.2M. For those two talents, I'd gladly pay that much. Also, don't discount the fact that my "lineup paragraph" didn't include Lowry (who could still be re-signed), the Rockets' first rounder (who could either be a rotation player or a high-ceiling "project") or any use of the MLE, which Les could use to add another major contributor if he chose to be a taxpayer next season. Also, that wouldn't necessarily be the Rockets' lineup by March 2011. With a number of mid-sized expiring contracts (Salmons, Battier, Hayes), several quality young players (Budinger, Taylor, the first round player), some nice international talent, and maybe additional future picks (if Morey manages to buy/trade for any in the next year), the Rockets would be VERY well-positioned to add a big-time player at the trade deadline. Perhaps moreso than this season, since T-Mac's salary does not give Houston that much flexibility in trades. Again, just spit-balling ideas here. Besides, David Aldridge just wrote in his column today that he's heard that Houston has no interest whatsoever in Hinrich. (My guess is that it has everything to do with his contract and nothing to do with his skillset, which I still believe is perfect for this Rockets team.)
Thomas is the key, lock him up in a lowball offer. Our window with Yao maybe smaller than we think. Next year you would have great depth. Brooks/Lowry Hinrich/Ariza/Buddinger Salmons/Battier Thomas/Landry Yao/Hayes You're really only losing Scola (who you might lose anyway) and gaining three good pieces. After next year Salmons and Battier expire, and you figure out what to do with Yao. If you want to go young you have a great core of Brooks, Lowry, Landry, Thomas, and Buddinger. Now I would prefer Iggy to this scenario but I would also prefer this scenario to Butler. Butler IMO is too injury prone.
The problem with that idea is that the Rockets can't "lowball" Thomas. His qualifying offer amount (i.e., the amount the Rockets MUST offer him in order to keep him a restricted free agent) is over $6.2M. The main reason why the Bulls are looking to trade him despite him being a free agent is that he will most likely ACCEPT that qualifying offer, and the Bulls (or the Rockets, or whoever inherits his rights) will be stuck having to pay him $6.2M+ next season. If you don't offer him that amount, he becomes unrestricted and can sign anywhere without the Bulls/Rockets/his team having any right to match whatsoever.
To NJ Nets: Tmac, Ariza, Brooks, Scola, & Houston's 1st round pick To Houston Rockets: Devin Harris, K Dooling (2 more yrs left), B Simmons' expiring, Tony Battie's expiring, Timberwolve's 1st round pick, drafting rights of Ricky Rubio To Timberwolves: Net's 1st round pick, drafting rights of Sergio, Cash Why would Nets do this? Well, it very clear that they can't really attract big names unless they have a solid supporting cast, which they don't have right now. A core group of Lopez/Scola/Ariza/Lebron/Wade/Brooks or Lopez/Scola/Ariza/Lebron/Brooks or Lopez/Scola/Ariza/Wade/Brooks looks very good to me... Why would Houston do this? Well, simple, for Devin Harris, the potential 2010 #1 pick, and flipping the two expiring and Brian Cook for Butler + Andre Blathe + filter. Not to mention getting under the luxury tax this year. So a potential lineup of: Lowry/Ricky Rubio/#1 pick(John Wall?) Harris/Budinger Butler/Landry/Budinger Battier/Landry//Blathe Yao/Anderson/Chuck
I'm not really sold on Ty Thomas he reminds me a lot of Stromile Swift but a backcourt of Hinrich and Brooks would work well because brooks could play the 2 but still guard the 1 because of Hinrich's playmaking ability
With the deadline looming closer.... My wish list...... Trade McGrady+future 1st rounder for Butler and Haywood Then sign Manu next year in FA, (which is a very realistic possibility.) Jettison Battier for capspace, or to move up in the draft. Next year Yao/Haywood/Andersen Scola/Landry/Hayes Ariza/Budinger Butler/Manu Brooks/Lowry
Three separate trades... Philly/Houston trade: Houston gets: Andre Iguodala Jrue Holiday Samuel Dalembert Philly gets: Tracy McGrady(expiring 22.8 mill) Aaron Brooks David Andersen Warriors/Rockets Trade: Rockets get: Anthony Randolph Raja Bell(expiring 5.2 mill) Warriors get: Luis Scola Joey Dorsey Brian Cook(expiring 3.2 mill) Thunder/Rockets trade: Rockets get: Etan Thomas(expiring 7.9 mill) PHX 1st rd 2010(unprotected)pick Thunder get: Shane Battier Line up: 2010-11 Lowry/Holiday Iguodala/Taylor/(PHX 1st rd draft-pick) Ariza/Budinger Landry/Randolph/(HOU 1st rd draft-pick) Yao/Dalembert/ Hayes --RB
At the end of the tunnel it looks like a nice team with plenty to grow on. I wouldn't mind if we just end up making the last 2 trades. I like the Warriors trade I was suggesting something similar Scola for Randolph type of trade. But I don't know if Morey will let go of Scola.
Why would the Warriors do this? They lose a promising young talent for three potentially expiring contracts and the bird rights to Scola? The Thunder deal is actually one that they would probably do, though I'm not sure from the Rockets perspective. Is Battier < a non-lottery pick? The only reason the Rockets should be looking to collect 1st round picks is to package them in a draft day deal. This team isn't in rebuilding mode, so trading our established players for multiple 1st rounders would set us back for the next few years, IMO. Philadelphia has said they don't want just cap relief in exchange for Iguodala -- in other words, they also want talent to come back in the deal. I'm not sure Brooks nets you Iguodala AND Jrue -- Jrue was supposed to be one of their few untouchables I thought?
To qualify as a Bird free agent, a player must have played three seasons without being waived or changing teams as a free agent. This means a player can obtain "Bird rights" by playing under three one-year contracts, a single contract of at least three years, or any combination thereof. It also means that when a player is traded, his Bird rights are traded with him, and his new team can use the Bird exception to re-sign him. -wiki
Did I say something that was wrong? You took what I was saying out of context. I was saying GS loses a promising young player, in return for three expirings and the bird rights to Scola.
Houston Trade Breakdown Change in Team Outlook: -14.9 ppg, -7.1 rpg, and -4.1 apg. Incoming Players Kevin Martin 6-7 SG from Western Carolina 20.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.8 apg in 36.6 minutes Outgoing Players Brian Cook 6-9 PF from Illinois 1.3 ppg, 0.6 rpg, 0.1 apg in 2.5 minutes Luis Scola 6-9 PF from Buenos Aires (Argentina) 14.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.8 apg in 30.4 minutes Aaron Brooks 5-11 PG from Oregon 19.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 5.0 apg in 35.8 minutes Sacramento Trade Breakdown Change in Team Outlook: +14.9 ppg, +7.1 rpg, and +4.1 apg. Incoming Players Brian Cook 6-9 PF from Illinois 1.3 ppg, 0.6 rpg, 0.1 apg in 2.5 minutes Luis Scola 6-9 PF from Buenos Aires (Argentina) 14.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.8 apg in 30.4 minutes Aaron Brooks 5-11 PG from Oregon 19.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 5.0 apg in 35.8 minutes Outgoing Players Kevin Martin 6-7 SG from Western Carolina 20.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.8 apg in 36.6 minutes
Are you comfortable with losing our starting PF and perhaps best player on the team in Brooks (outside of Yao) in exchange for a SG with a big contract and a high likelihood of injury? I'm not.
