I've been a Boki fan since his came to the team. So, I'm hoping that this is his break out year. There's just something about a 6'9" SF than can run the floor and pass like a big PG intrigues me. I've even wondered what would happen if we made Boki the starting PG, and moved Francis to the 2 spot. Even if that doesn't happen, no biggie. Boki still reminds me of a Point Foward.
No question that Wallace has had problems in the past. But it seems he is cleaning up his act. His technicals were WAY down last year and he looks like a model citizen this year. Wallace would add a nice dimension to this team giving them a 4 or 3 that can put up a 3pt shot (spread the floor with Yao) and at the same time have length in the post. Clearly "offensively" the coaching staff hoped that Griffin's game would turn into Wallace's. Not sure if the Rockets could get him, but he would be an interesting fit here and would give the Rockets that "3rd Star" player that I believe they need to compete for a championship in the West.
Wallace is a nice player that could contribute in many different ways. I am playing a franchise mode in NBA Live right now and in the last offseason, 'Sheed replaced Griffin as the starting PF (the XBOX simulated the offseason moves). Maybe it is an omen.
I was really wondering about Wallace in regards to his free agent status at the end of this season. I think it would be a stretch at best to pull off a trade for him midseason. I'm thinking that the Rockets may be interested in some trade with the new Charlotte franchise, maybe give them Mobley on the non-protected list, to entice them to take MoT's or Moochie's contract off our hands and free up cap space to give to Wallace. Then find a PG somewhere or move JJ to the 2 and put Boki or some other sharpshooter at the 3. Midseason, the only way it looks like we could get Rasheed contract wise would be to give up some combination of either MoT or Cato along with Cat and others. I think Portland could probably get a lot better deal than that for Rasheed unless Rasheed insisted he was going to test free agency at the end of the season and no other team could sign him after trading for him except Houston. In other words, he would have to say that he wants to come to Houston. I just can't see any of that happening midseason. On the other hand, the offseason has endless possibilities.
Don't Portland need a Center? Dale Davis is their only option right now. mobley and cato would have to go. its only 12 games into the season and i'm starting to wonder about the francis/mobley backcourt already.
I think if we picked up a guy like Rasheed Wallace, we'd need a totally different type of PG. We'd need a spot-up shooter who doesn't really slash to the basket all that much. Kinda like Kenny Smith did for us back in the day. With 2 solid post players at C & PF, we'd have to really spread the floor and be sure not to clog the middle. We'd need solid defenders with good outside shooting touch out beyond the arc spreading the defense. We'd be pretty predictable, but as long as the cylinders were firing and all our guys were deferring to the open man, we'd be pretty set. Offensively, anyway. Francis is better at creating shots than spotting up. If we brought in a guy like Rasheed, I don't think Francis would be very happy.
I agree that it's extremely unlikely we'd get Rasheed in a trade this year. Portland has resigned itself to letting Rasheed walk at the end of the year with nothing in return. They would have to take back equal salary, and right now they are committed to cutting their payroll to get back near the salary cap. It's much more likely that we could try to get him after the season. He's real good buds with Mobley, so maybe Cat could do some recruiting.
Maybe something in the line of the Trade exception plus Cato plus a pick? This would give them Cap relief, a center that is a bargain as a starter and can bang with the bigger centers in the league plus a pick. Rasheed would be great at pulling defenders out of the post with his three point shooting. More one on one for Yao Ming.
i think he'll sign with us next season cause he has a lot of friends on the rockets. and why would anybody refuse to come to team that has an all star pg and all star center(unless they want $$ more than a ring). i dont think francis would be mad b/c sheed only makes this team much better.
well with rasheed on the team, it takes away less shots for franchise and we ALL know francis needs his shots every game....whether he's on fire that day or ice cold I bet you franchise would love to have cato over rasheed as our PF...cato is our version of big ben...doesnt need the ball much because his job isnt to score, its to play some hard D and do all the dirty work
JVG sure sounds like there is some move imminent, and also appears to be a big 'sheed fan. Does that mean 2 + 2 ='s something interesting?
that would be cool wouldn't it. i actually think rasheed is underrated. every year portland is in the playoffs and it sure isnt because of stoudamire, wells, or dale davis. rasheed numbers may not be jaw dropping but he is a consistent performer who can open up things from the high post. thats a pretty important intangible when you play with a big man like Ming. Plus fronting Yao would be a difficult task with the threat of 7 footer who can lob soft passes over the fronting, or he could choose to make them pay buy burying a soft jumper to counter the front. Wallace would be a perfect compliment to ming and I would even consider trading francis for him if the rockets could get another point guard in return. Rasheed makes the team better, imo, and thats what this all about.
i really beleive that rasheed is gonna play for houston in the future. i can just feel it. he would be a perfect fit for us.
I agree, however Cato is not a true PF which is why we get teams like Dallas & Portland give us so much trouble. Rasheed can handle the quick PF/SF's that Cato can't.
