Resolving the Mo Taylor and KT issue - Swinging a trade

Warning: Long thread.

What to do with Cato and KT seems to be a fairly popular issue, so I thought it might be interesting to review the options facing the Rocks in order to resolve this issue:

Cato and KT:
1. Sit tight and hold both
2. Trade Cato individually
3. Trade KT individually
4. Trade Cato and KT as a package

Of course you could further break this down as to whether to trade Cato and or KT, now in the preseason or later once the season is underway and before the trade deadline. Since this is the offseason - and fans need something, anything to talk about - and both Cato and KT have just capped off good years, right now would probably be the best time to swing a trade.

Because of who he is, Cato is probably more attractive to Eastern conference teams who don't get a chance to watch as many of his games, and who are also desperate for big men, much less Western Conference-hardened big men. With his big contract however, Cato is difficult to trade, so realistically the only way he'll likely be traded is in a package with somebody of value.

This is where KT comes in. Houston fans know about KT. The numbers: 14 and 7. The work ethic and potential and desire to still improve. And most important of all, the relatively small contract which incidentally is soon up for extension. KT's contract is not commensurate with his talent and ability and that is what makes him attractive to teams in the league's present "Ain't-got-no-Money-`less-Your-Name-is-Duncan-or-Kidd? climate.

The answer? Trade Cato and KT together. To find what the Rocks need in return, we also have to look at what we're giving up in the context of the situation:
1. Cato: A serviceable starting center on a Western Conference Team. Only other centers on that team being a rookie: Yao Ming and Jason Collier

2. KT: A still-developing though nevertheless starting PF on a Western Conference Team. Other PFs on that team being a five-year veteran with little post or rebounding skills, a big contract, and who is coming off a serious injury having not played any ball for a full NBA season: Mo Taylor; and a sophomore who has already been anointed as the franchise PF of the future: Eddie Griffin

So what do the Rocks need:
1. A center: Ideally a veteran capable of starting in the West and who can groom, encourage and challenge Ming, but who will also be willing to step aside when the student surpasses the master

2. A shooting guard: Ideally a player who can backup Mobley for 10-15mpg - to keep Cat fresh in anticipation of a postseason - someone to come off the bench and play decent minutes without too great a deterioration in the level of play. Ideally a big guard (6'6+) and defensively-oriented.

The proposed deal:
HOUSTON trades:
Kelvin Cato
Kenny Thomas
Glen Rice
Terence Morris

MILWAUKEE trades:
Ervin Johnson
Tim Thomas
Anthony Mason
Jamal Sampson
Ronald Murray

Why Milwaukee do this trade:
1. Cato - a proven WC center who provides a big presence in the low post ? something the Bucks are desperate for and the reason why they signed Mason last season

2. KT - a genuine long-term prospect at the 4, who will benefit from the smaller bodies in the east

3. They want to shed some salaries and though it's been Big Dog's name that has been mentioned in trade rumours, they would be willing to part with Tim Thomas who has yet to consistently fulfill the promise for which he was given a large, long-term contract

4. They replace Tim Thomas with Rice and Morris. Rice gives the Bucks a short-term backup for Big Dog, whilst Morris offers a longer-term proposition at the 3 spot. Rice fits perfectly into the up-tempo jump-shooting offense of the team, whilst also offering a post-up game, decent D and veteran leadership. Morris gives the Bucks a replacement at SF once the contracts of Rice and Big Dog expire.

5. Bucks get immediately better - without giving up any of the big 3 and after just missing out on the 00-01 finals (which they would have been a chance to win), their planning is strictly short-term only

6. Lineup:
Milwaukee Bucks
C Cato, Przybilla, Gadzuric
PF KT, Haislip, Caffey
SF Robinson, Rice, Morris
SG Allen, Redd
PG Cassell


Why Houston do this trade:
1. Johnson - with Ming as a rookie, gives the Rockets what they need as an 'interim' 5 until Ming full develops. Gives leadership, rebounding, defence and a work ethic and willingness to do the dirty work which hopefully will positively influence the rest of the team. Will be willing to go to the bench once Ming is ready to start.

2. Thomas - gives the Rockets a big SF (6'10) who can shoot the ball all the way out past the arc (an absolute requirement for all Rudy's big men). Can score, rebound, block shots and is used to and willing to come off the bench if necessary. Often given the big jobs on D. Good locker room presence. Had an poor season last year due to injuries.

3. Mason - legitimate, veteran low-post banger who also plays D. Gives the Rockets what they've lacked for a long time - an enforcer and intimidator. Should also help protect Griffin and Ming in the paint. Was the only player on the Bucks last season who bothered to play D. Absolute ironman of the league, last year at 36 years of age, averaged 38.3 minutes. Production did drop off though after the move from Miami, probably more a product of getting acclimatised than deterioration of ability.

4. Sampson - cousin of Ralph Sampson (ignoring the basketball issues for the moment, imagine the marketing possibilities of having Ming, plus the cousin of a former great - Twin Towers Mark II?). Raw but very gifted athletically, long-term prospect as a backup for Ming. (http://www.nbadraft.net/profiles/jamalsampson.htm, http://www.nba.com/draft2002/profiles/jamal_sampson.html)

5. Murray - NCAA Division II Player of the Year. Relatively small 2-guard at 6?4 but seems capable of also pinch-hitting at the 1. The ONLY rookie named to the Boston Shaw's Pro Summer League First Team. Averaged 18.2 points in the tournament, second only to Richard Jefferson of NJ. (http://www.nba.com/draft2002/profiles/ronald_murray.html)


6. Rockets get rid of 2 big salaries in Rice and Cato.

7. Rockets get rid of Cato who most likely would not handle being sent to the end of the bench very well. Potentially and indeed in the past has been a bad locker room presence.

8. Rockets resolve the PF situation and deal KT to a team that needs a player of his talent

9. Lineup:
Houston Rockets
C Johnson, Yao Ming, Sampson
PF Mason, Griffin, Taylor
SF Thomas, Nachbar
SG Mobley, Murray
PG Francis, Norris


Personally this is what I'd like to see the Rockets do. Yeah, I know it's a crazy pipedream but treat this trade as a conversation piece.

Comments, thoughts, other trade ideas.

 

I thought I did address the issue of defence. After the Rockets, the Bucks are the team that I follow most closely. I don't know if or how many Bucks' games you watched last season, but invariably the top defensive jobs were given to Tim Thomas and Anthony Mason.

Though Thomas came off the bench he was almost always assigned the job against the opposition's top perimeter threat. He covered everyone from MJ to KG to Paul Pierce. Though he may not have always shut them down, he still did an adequate job and at least tried.

Similarly Mason always received the opposition's top low-post scorer. And always, always played D for the whole game. That and like I mentioned previously he offers an enforcer and intimidator, plus a veteran presence in the paint. Perhaps even someone to tutor Griffin and Ming.

Finally, yes Johnson may not be the finest or most talented basketball player in the world but he is an example of how hard work is just as important as talent. Some might derisively call him an "overachiever" because of this fact.

And on the Thomas-Morris comparision. To my eye, Thomas though he has been in the league for six years and not four, is only 25, Morris is 23. For the past three seasons, Thomas averaged pretty much the same minute, and in the season in which he got more minutes (00-01) his numbers went up pretty much across the board. That and Thomas is a better shooter than Morris, whether from the field, the line or behind the arc.

I do appreciate the talent that the Rocks have, but additionally sometimes all that talent simply cannot coexist.

 

DearRock - I would like to see an increase in the Rockets pace of game but I don't think this is possible with the players we have at the 3 spot. Rice probably wouldn't be able to keep up with the run and gun type of play and Nachbar simply wouldn't be worth what'd we'd be giving up on the defensive end.

It is difficult to address the guard situation, as quite simply there aren't that many defensively minded swingmen on the market. The premier perimeter defensive specialists that come most immediately to mind are Bruce Bowen and Ruben Patterson. From what I have heard, Ronald Murray is a very good player and has impressed the Bucks. He had a very good summer league and dropped 28 points twice, both times carrying the Bucks over the line. Murray is listed as the most likely player to get a roster spot, as the number one back up for Cassell.

I was rethinking the trade and here's another option:

Houston trades:
Kelvin Cato
Kenny Thomas
Terence Morris

Milwaukee trades:
Tim Thomas
Ervin Johnson
Greg Anthony (re-signed)
Jamal Sampson
Ronald Murray

A third team might have to be involved to even out the salaries, depending on the size of the contract Anthony receives.

Houston
C Johnson, Yao Ming, Sampson
PF Griffin, Taylor
SF Tim Thomas, Nachbar
SG Mobley, Murray
PG Francis, Anthony, Norris

I like this trade more, as it really give the Rockets the ability to give Yao Ming and Griffin more minutes, without complaints from Cato or KT. Plus it improves the 3 spot immeasurably, and allows the Rockets to possibly begin playing Francis at the 2 - probably where he belongs - without having to worry too much about the PG situation.

I think most people will agree a trade has to be done and personally I think dealing Milwaukee would be the best option.