Some people on here seem to be overrating the value of the #1 pick. This is not a year where there's a bonafide, almost guaranteed Superstar like Olajuwon, Tim Duncan, Shaq, etc. Everyone knows that, thus the value of the top overall selection isn't as sky high as some think. You are not going to be able to parlay the #1 pick into KG or Timmy D. No one is trading a top 5 NBA superstar for a great deal of political and athletic uncertainty in Ming or a potential star PG in Jay Will. However, some 2nd tier stars who I think could be had with the #1 pick are: B. Davis: Rumor has it that Charlotte was considering trading him to Chicago for #2. How sweet would a Davis, Franis backcourt look (and the Rockets could dump or bench Cuttino) A. Miller: Cavs don't want to Max him. Miller and the Cavs lotto pick for #1 and #15? Rasheed Wallace: Portland has to blow up the team sooner or later. Getting him would proably require a little more than #1 though. Ray Allen: After this season's disaster, MIL would probably entertain just about any offer. They clearly need a Center. Darius Miles: I'd rather have him than L. Odom. Miles and #8 and #12 for #1 and #15? That's realistic to me and Miles gives the rockets a MUCH needed defensive stopper and another superathlete type.
totally agree i do think however that the Rocks would include the 15 pick if they were to get a garnett. they would also include taylor. That would be more realistic and I coudl see that happening. Baron Davis is a great player and i think that he would fit well with stevie but i couldnt see the rockets getting rid of mobley. wallace is too tempermental and i dont think rudy would taike him on. ray allen would have to play SF and i dont think that would necessarily be good. I think they will either take yao or make a trade for a top player.
I see two reasons why Duncan may be available: (1) Contract, contract, contract. He is now in the last year of his deal in SA, and indications are he might not want to return. (2) Robinson is on the verge of retirement. That franchise is due to enter a rebuilding period. The talent is probably pretty deep this year.
I don't think many people believe we could trade the #1 pick for KG. I don't really know much about collective bargaining agreements and salary caps and all that stuff, but it seems to me the league wouldn't even allow us to make a straight up trade of the #1 pick for KG. I'm sure if the T'wolves were even going to consider trading him (which I doubt), the #1 pick would be part of a package of things (like Steve Francis' first born) we sent to Minnesota.
The Rockets could get something HUGE for Jason Williams, that draft pick has a lot of value, especially with teams trying to rebuild but are stuck because of the cap. How sweet would a Davis/Francis backcourt be!? Why would be want TWO PGs fighting for the ball when we have an explosive backcourt NOW, and need frontcourt help? I wouldn't give up the #1 pick for Rasheed Wallace let alone the #1 picks and something else. Nobody on that list helps the Rockets, I'd rather use the #1 pick and draft somebody, there's plenty of talent in the draft this year.
Miller and Davis won't come to Houston because both are true point guards, and Stevie is not moving to the 2. No to Wallace, but Allen and Miles are intriguing. But a deal I've been thinking about is sending the number 1 KT Collier Tmo(cap purposes) for #4 Pau Gasol the release of our Francis obligation Any takers?
I agree that trading Ming for Garnett or Duncan is not very realistic. However, I wouldn't trade Ming unless it was for a dominating big man like Duncan or Garnett.
... Why would Memphis do that ... its horrible ... Trading gasol for the no1 pick straight up is plain silly ... why give up a great rookie with unlimited upside for a pick? not to mention the rest ...
Two players i would like to see us go after are Shawn Marion and Alonzo Mourning, i'm not sure if their teams would give them up or not but it would be nice. We could send Rice/Taylor to Phoenix for Marion and switch picks. The downside is Marion only has one year left on his contract and Phoenix may not want ot give him up. Lineup: Francis/Moochie Mobley/Oscar Marion/Draft Pick Griffin/KT Cato/Draft Pick Or send a combonation of Rice/Taylor/Cato to Miami for Mourning. I'm not sure what kind of contract he has. Lineup: Francis/Moochie Mobley/Oscar Rice/Draft Pick Griffin/KT Mourning/Draft Pick Either way we get a proven player and a 9 or 10 pick to go with our 15. We could still get talent with both picks. The only things i hope the Rockets don't do are (excluding obvious): Draft Ming Trade Kenny Get Odom Anything else would be good
What if we were to offer San Antonio their new Twin Towers? What if we could replace Tim Dincan and David Robinson? If we can somehow trade KT to Milwaukee along with our #15 for their #13, then I think we can swing a deal with SA. Because then, we'd pick Ming #1, and Amare Stoudamire #13. We throw Cato and KT into the deal, in exchange for Tim Duncan. Ming Stoudamire KT Cato for Duncan They can then trade Antonio Daniels fora 2, and Malik Rose for a 3. Maybe they can trade both, along with their pick, for a higher pick and a player. Their new nucleus: Tony Parker Yao Ming Amare Stoudmire Player acquired from Daniels/Rose trade That would be pretty damn good for them. We'd lose a LOT of depth up front, but we can sign someone to pick up garbage minutes. Duncan Griffin Rice/T-Mo Mobley Francis is better than Duncan (Same) Rose (Griffin is better, maybe even MoT is better) Bowen (edge here, but Bowen is opting out) Steve Smith (Mobley better) Tony Parker (Francis better) We have better depth too. So, who's to say we can't challenge the Lakers? ESPECIALLY if we sign Bowen ourselves. Then we'd be incredible.
The Team that I think might truly give us a All-Star Big Man is Minnesota in their very own : Kevin Garnett Reason Being: The team is losing money and Garnett's salary is HUGE!! They can't bring any help because his salary is choking their small-market team. Garnett has shown he can't dominate and is not the offensive superstar that is needed to alone carry a team. A Trade Package of #1 (Yao or J.Will), Griffin, MoTaylor and Rice, would make Minnesota Think. Mo and Rice for Salary more than anything. J.Williams/Billups Brandon/Lopez Szerbiak/Rice Griffin/MoTaylor Smith/Rasho Or if they Pick Yao T. Brandon/Billups Szerbiak/ Lopez Rice/Szer Griffin/ MoTay Yao/ Rasho They have Griffin, J.Will and Taylor Locked up and Rice comes off their boods next year. Houston LineUp: Francis/Mooch Cat/Francis/Torres #15/Morris Griffin/ Kenny Cato/ Collier I'm Not Sure if the Rockets should do it. I really think Mo Taylor is a good player and is a better than average power forward, then the Potential Superstars in Griffin and Yao (or Jwill). The Rockets could look like if they keep the Pick: Francis/ Mooch Cat/ Francis Rice/Kenny/Morris/ #15 Griffin/ MoTay Yao/ Cato/ Collier Imagine that front line!! DAMN! We could even use the #15 to get the Euro 3. Like Nikolas Tskiakldsfjsilli (Yeah like you guys can spell that) uhhh....Too much pressure on CD and Rudy!
Let me make something clear... Jay Williams is a bonafide guaranteed superstar!! Whether the Rocks take him or not, he makes our pick very attractive to otheres.
Some of you are under rating the value of this draft as well. Over the past 15 years only one set of the top 2 players were more of a sure bet or more intriguing than Jason Williams and Ming (see below). There are bound to be teams will offer a ton to get these guys. Over the past 15 years I think this draft top 2 only clearly trails one other set as far as blue chip/sure fire players--that of 92 with Shaq and Mourning going 1-2. This years #1-2 is far better than 01, 00, 98, 95, 91, 89. Some other years the #1 was sure fire, but the #2 wasn't--(Van Horn in 97, Camby in 96, Smits in 88, Arman Gilliam in 87). You could call this years 1-2 no worse or = to the best of the other years-- 99 (Brand, Francis), 94 (G.Robinson, Kidd), 93 (Webber, Bradley), 90 (Coleman, Payton). Thus if you want to see how much this years #1 is worth think of the Webber deal (#3 pick that same draft plus like 3 ones), Francis deal (though the Griz were really back-ed into a corner), or Chandler deal (in a weaker draft year no less) for comparisons. I agree there are untouchables, even with this #1 pick--but there are not many (maybe Shaq, Kobe, KG, Duncan, T-Mac, maybe Nowitski). Outstanding but less than all-NBA guys like Jermain Oneal, Gasol, Peja and Brand are not only "touchable" given the quality of this year's 1-2, but we should not even consider talking about a trade without serious principal like that involved. Unless it is just to move down a few slots, and even then the principal should be steep (Jamison, Battier or maybe Swift, McDyess). That is the kind of weight we have this year by controlling whoever really wants Ming or JW.
