Ariza wanted to start, and play big minutes, this avoids the potential headache and gives us more flexibilty to mix and match, dependeing on opponent. Budinger gets to slide over to his more natural SF. He'll be a better defender guarding taller, slower players. Courtney Lee can guard the shorter 2 guards that were too quick for Ariza/Battier and too tall for Lowry. Ariza might have the ability to be a great defender, but he was mediocre last year, I don't see Lee as that big a drop. When Lee played with Dwight Howard he shot 40% from 3. His efficiency dropped playing a larger role with the Nets, now he gets to go back to being a role player. Adding Lee means 5 of our 6 perimeter players (all except Lowry) can knock down the 3. We got a monster trade exception that Morey can use if a move presents itself.
I don't think the writer is looking at this correctly. You don't win championships without a strong bench. I see nothing wrong with spending money to shore up the bench. We basically have 2 starters at pg, sg, and ctr. I say spread the minutes out and have fresher players in the playoffs.
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wait, don't we have Shane and Budinger at the 3 ..? who said we gonna play Lee at the 3, this guy is really dump.
Well, the trade does make us slightly weaker at the three. We took a slight step back with the trade of Ariza, but like most, i am thinking it is for a bigger deal down the road.
Agreed. Gersson Rosas and Daryl Morey have both publicly stated that this trade was, in part, a show of faith by the team in Chase's ability to play more minutes (he's a natural SF, not a SG). The same held true for the Rafer/Lowry trade. That deal was, in large part, a vote of confidence by the team in Aaron Brooks's ability to be the Rockets' starting PG. Your point is correct but is more a product of Morey having had longer to do his job, shaping this roster into one with fewer and fewer holes over time. I do think that this team needed another defender (besides Lowry) capable of guarding some of the bigger PGs in the league. Let's face it. Brooks is a liability in that department. The Rockets also realize that Kevin Martin isn't exactly A.C. Green in the "games played" department; so getting a second high quality SG was some pretty damn valuable insurance. Kinda like spending all that money on Brad Miller. As for when the Rockets use that money, sure, I'd like to see it put to use in a blockbuster trade to acquire a true superstar. But the odds may be against that. Short of such a monster upgrade, better to wait until the 2011 NBA Draft to use that trade exception, or perhaps take a chance that the league will "toll" the expiration date of that trade exception during the inevitable lockout.
I personally think this is a good trade for the Rox. It got rid of Ariza, which with Battier on the team it seems over redundant after Ariza shown that he couldn't handle the duty of being the go-to guy. Cbud shown that he can be the go-to guy and has the ability to score. When Kevin Martin is in the game Battier would be the defensive force and when Cbud is in the game Lee can take that role. To me the only question this trade left is where does Jermaine Taylor fit into all this. PS: I read somewhere that the Rox wants to get a super star via trade wether now or in the season. This trade gives them salary caps space and we have a very deep team and many trade pieces to work with. We have a lot of big man on this team now with Patterson, Hill, Scola on the 4 and we got Kevin Martin, Courtney Lee and Jermaine taylor on the 2. Then we have Kyle Lowry which is intriguing because I believe if we are going to loose him we are getting something significant for him instead of just let him walk in the free agency.
Who will the GARM b**** about now after games? Now that Ariza is gone, who will we start complaining about this season? Is Clutch Fans too infatuated with the Blackness of Chase Buddinger to make him the new whipping boy? Will the fans return to hating Shane Battier who got it post-Rafer, pre-Ariza? Should be an interesting season to see who gets the blame when the Rockets lose now that the Rockets don't have any bad shot takers.
Morey bringing in good players to back up Yao and Martin will reduce the need to play them a lot of minutes. Just in case they miss a stretch of the season, we will have guys ready to suit up and help fill the void.
So you acknowledge Ariza take bad shot but yet defend him when people point it out and knock him for it? I am sure if Budinger takes bad shot day in and day out he would get it too.
Im glad someone posted this because i was so ticked when I read this article .. bc it is evident this guy has noooo clue about why we made the trade as people said neither lee nor martin will play the 3 (as starters anyway) way i see it this trade was made for the following reasons 1) gives bud more PT at 3 where he belongs 2) gives us trade flexibility with a 6.3 mill trade exception 3) gives us a backup that we can count on .. JT is nice but unproven .. and given the fact that u can pretty much guarentee martin will miss atleast 15 games ..we need a good back up who can come in and not harm us 4) neither battier not bud worked well with ariza .. esp not battier .. it was terrible having both of them on the court at the same time ... but now u haev a martin battier and lee bud combo which can be successful
gottah be an omega Rocket in the fan's affections. we have a proud heritage. :grin: more likely Shane than Chase tho'.
Ariza's bad shot selection was known before he was brought in. His defense, length, youth, ability to create shots, and 3 pt shooting was the reason the Rockets signed him. Last season the Rockets weren't going anywhere. His poor shot selection didn't bother me because it was something he needed to experience and learn from first hand in order to find his niche in the NBA. All I'm saying is it will be interesting to read the GARM after a loss this season.
You're probably right. Here's the thing, we understand he is out there to defend the opponents best wing and spot up for open threes. I just hope the majority realize this and don't complain after a loss and he goes 2/7 as a starter. He is always going to be the last option on the floor offensively.
I think that the recent trade is also a move for the future. Cortney Lee is a player that they coveted for some time and, being young, he will only get better moving forward. Lee has a clearly defined role on this team - Back up the SG, play fundamental defense (unlike Ariza the Gambler), knock down the open shot and cut to the basket. Before Lee, we did not have a backup SG, just as Lowry was brought in to be the backup PG, with Rafer's exit. Lowry was also coveted for his tough defense, as is Lee. Lowry's and Lee's roles differ in that Lowry is expected to draw fouls and knock down free throws, whereas Martin fills that role more that Lee. I've got my fingers crossed too. I would like the next trade to go down before training camp, but chances are it will be a trade deadline deal.
sigh...over and over again people take real gm articles seriously. Really, who the hell is Daniel Leroux??
Has he forgotten about Battier? Lee playing WITH Martin is not an issue, he's the BACKUP 2. Just because it was a ariza swap doesn't mean Lee has to or is taking his place as starting 3... he's not even our backup 3, bud is.
