Kyle Lowry Trevor Ariza Hill or Pat or NY pick Gerald Wallace Dj Augustin Rockets- Obivious upgrade at the three for a down grade at back up pg Bobcats- Obvious upgrade at starting pg while only downgrading a little at sf, while getting younger We could take on a bad contract like Diop 3 yr 6.5 mil or Najera's 2yr 2.8 mil
Looks like the Hawks want to move Al Horford to Power Foward next season. http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/68588/20100808/horford_moving_from_center_to_power_forward/# Will that effect Josh Smith? Jeffries + Battier + Hill + Taylor for Smith + Evans Brooks/Lowry Martin/Evans Ariza/Budinger Scola/Smith Yao/Miller/Hayes Bibby/Teague Johnson/Crawford Battier/Williams Horford/Powell Collins/Pachullia
Thats a good deal, however I am hesitant to do it as we would create a logjam of highly paid players at the 4 and 5 position with Yao, Scola, Miller and Smith. We need to remember that we are over the cap and taking back salary like Smith's would remove the expiring contracts of Jeffries and Battier (which we may need next offseason). We should be looking to upgrade the most needed positions, I believe this would be the 3 position. Danny Granger is dreaming and we would need to give up more to get him, I liked the idea of getting Andre Iguodala but that seems to have passed us by.
While I am not necessarily imposed to an upgrade (especially if it's a guy like Granger), I think people here really overblow the Rockets' "need" to upgrade at the 3 position. Trevor Ariza is actually quite an ideal SF for this team. With legit scorers at the other four positions, the Rockets need a SF who can defend at a very high level and who does not need to "get his" in the offense. The fact is that Ariza is a better defender than most of the "upgrades" the Rockets could hope to get. On a team with Yao, Martin and Brooks, why does Houston need another starter to command shots? If Ariza can just concentrate on hitting open jumpers and moving without the ball (two things he did fairly well in LA), the Rockets are fine at the 3-spot. Especially with both Shane and Chase backing him up there.
You still think Horford will play Center next season? I'm telling you, Hawks coach wants Horford at PF, which means they will likely move Smith.
Or they can play Josh Smith at SF and tell him to be a slasher/defender, a la a rich man's Trevor Ariza
Congratulations, dude. My belief was based on prior reports about Shaq possibly joining the Hawks in which sources said the Hawks did not want to move Horford to PF and that Shaq would have to accept a bench role. That's why Shaq didn't sign with Atlanta. This story only said that Horford would play MORE at PF. I'm sure he'll still see plenty of time at C. Too bad that Smith will probably go back to being an inefficient player having to play more minutes at SF. No, thanks, by the way, on any Smith trade proposals.
I don't know if any one has mentioned Rip Hamilton yet, but if T-mac goes to the Pistons, which i hear mixed reports about, it'd prob be Rip on the trading block as opposed to Ben Gordon or Tayshaun. not have I a clue what his contract looks like, or the feasibility of signing him, but i've heard alot of r****ded "back up SG" ideas, I.E. Delonte West, and this has gotta be a better idea than THAT. i think Rip would fit perfectly with RA's motion offense. he's a veteran, can create his own shot, get to the line and convert, plus he's getting up there in age and would prob be me efficient coming of the bench at this point in his career. can ya dig it?
The only reasonable scenario in which we land Rip is Jeffries + Hill + Battier + Taylor for Rip + Maxiell Brooks/Lowry Martin/Hamilton Ariza/Budinger Scola/Maxiell/Patterson Yao/Miller/Hayes
We also get back Jason Maxiell who could be our 2nd big off the bench like Landry. He's a good weakside shotblocker who can man the paint with Miller on the outside high post. Plus, I think with them drafting Monroe, I think he will be their starter.
I personally wouldnt give up anything of value for Rip. He is too old and his contract his too high. Maybe if it was just worthless expirings, but even still, a 10+ million backup SG is a bad idea in my opinion, unless we were on the cusp on championship and just needed a tiny bit more talent. I would take on Ben Gordon though, because of his age.
wow, yeah. i didn't know his contract was 10+ mil, that is a bit excessive.. but Les and DM seem to be going all in this season, and some might think that in fact, they believe the rockets are on the cusp of getting a championship.. but yeah, i'd take ben too.. but i doubt the pistons would let him go..
My idea of "cusp" is multiple trips to the WCF or Finals and coming just short of the wins and needing just a tad bit more talent. I can't reasonably say the Rockets are on the cusp. Perhaps it all comes together this year and we go far, thus justifying adding a guy like Rip, but right now I just can't justify it.
What about trading for Tayshaun Prince from Detroit? Houston Sends: Shane Battier Jared Jeffries Houston Receives: Tayshaun Prince Chris Wilcox Houston Line Up: Yao Ming/Brad Miller/Chuck Hayes Luis Scola/Jordan Hill/Patrick Patterson/Chris Wilcox Tayshaun Prince/Trevor Ariza Kevin Martin/Chase Buddinger/Jermaine Taylor Aaron Brooks/Kyle Lowry Reasoning Behind Trade: All the player's contracts that are involved in this deal expire after next season, so we wouldn't be taking back any long term contracts. Jared Jeffries for Chris Wilcox is a wash. Tayshaun Prince is 2 years younger than Battier and Is a better offensive player. While Battier is good on the defensive end, Prince is no slouch either. Battier has also stated in the past that he would like to retire to his home state of Michigan. I know a lot of you are Battier fans, but he is not getting any younger.
I think we go after Gerald Wallace and/or rubio this year. I say that because Bird wants a superstar for granger ,we dont have that, and 76'ers think iggy is lebron and wont give him up. Paul wont play here, and morey goes after ex-kings...ie wallace. 1. gerald wallace,slight upgrade at 3,and can rotate to 4 to backup scola,or replace scola if scola gets injured. i think this is the strongest candidate for trade deadline trade 2.rubio, simple, lowry wants to get starters minutes,and brooks has high trade value now, and plus kahn will eventually figure out rubio wont come there, morey loves rubio so this is my 2nd best guess behind wallace 3.chris bosh. hear me out first. you had that article come out last week saying lebron would rather play with paul than bosh, and it was quickly taken off espn and erased ,....then you have the personalities and injury concerns and softness. Bosh plays no D,plays soft,will get destroyed by gasol and this is a MAJOR concern because the lakers are the only team that has a chance to beat miami. Im not sure Bosh wants his numbers to get down to 10ppg while playing 3rd fiddle. He may enjoy the ride for 1 year to win a ring, but getting 10 ppg as a 3rd fiddle gets OLD QUICK. Plus, he isnt a dominate aggressive personality that lebron would respect. He is a drama queen ,sore knees,overpaid pansy. Basically Bosh doesnt intimidate me at all. I still think a healthy bynum,gasol,kobe,brown,artest,odom can take lebron,wade,softbosh,10 scrubs. Mike Miller is very overrated now . So, with Paul not knowing where to play,and not wanting to be "competition" to his "older brother" lebron, I FULLY expect Paul and Lebron try to unite at Boshs expense. I hope it all explodes. I think paul goes to miami at some point by next season,with bosh coming here,and rockets assets going to N.O.
