Rockets, Blazers discussed a Mo Taylor-for-Derek Anderson swap?

In Andersons defense/support, I had a sinus polyp and infection I had operated on a year ago. For the year prior to the surgery my wife wishes she could have traded me. The chronic headache made we worthless. I couldn't play golf much less basketball.

But after surgery I was a good as new is a couple of weeks. C'mon down DA, we've got good doctors here.

 

MORE ON MAURICE TAYLOR FOR DEREK ANDERSON

http://www.columbian.com/02082005/sports/241900.cfm


Anderson wants to play or leave team

Tuesday, February 8, 2005
By ANDREW SELIGMAN, Columbian staff writer

TUALATIN, Ore. - Derek Anderson isn't exactly demanding a trade. He isn't stomping his foot, throwing a tantrum, but he made it clear he wants a role with the Trail Blazers; otherwise, he wants to be dealt.

At the moment, he is looking in from outside the backcourt rotation. And it's a view he doesn't like.

"Make a business decision if you need me to leave," Anderson said. "Make a business decision. ... Just say, 'You know what? He's not going to help us down the road, so we need to bring somebody in who is.'


"That's nothing personal; it's just business," he said. "Of course, I'd love to be here, but the organization needs to make a decision."

Anderson had not discussed his future with general manager John Nash or Steve Patterson as of Monday afternoon but plans to do so within the next few days.

Houston is offering power forward Maurice Taylor, and the salaries match.

Both players are due approximately $8.45 million this season and $19 million over the next two.

"Houston wants me," Anderson said. "That's what I've heard. If Houston wants me and these guys aren't going to play me, why don't they trade me?"


At the moment, the Blazers do not lack power forwards. And dealing Anderson for Taylor straight up would not bring any salary-cap relief.

Anderson practiced for the first time Monday since dental problems sent him to the sideline for seven games, but he remains out indefinitely. He had three root canals, a sinus infection, a migraine headache, lost 12 pounds and spent two nights in the hospital.

Before that, he lost his starting job at shooting guard, and unless Nick Van Exel or Damon Stoudamire get hurt, the odds of Anderson returning to the lineup are slim at best.

"I like the way our three-guard rotation is playing out right now," coach Maurice Cheeks said, referring to Van Exel, Stoudamire and Sebastian Telfair. "That's not to say D.A. won't get a chance to play. But I like the way our guards are playing."

Statistically, this is arguably the worst of Anderson's eight seasons. He is averaging a career-low 10.3 points, and his field-goal percentage (.390) and assist average (3.3) are the second-lowest of his career.

Anderson has gone from being a friendly face in an organization that sorely lacked friendly faces, a solid citizen on a team of perceived miscreants, to someone with a diminished role.

"For him, this is a time where he has to look within himself," Stoudamire said.

Stoudamire found himself in a similar situation in December, when Nick Van Exel replaced him in the starting lineup, and he responded by turning around his season. And since replacing Anderson, Stoudamire and Van Exel have played well together.

Because of that and injuries to Zach Randolph and Shareef Abdur-Rahim the Blazers' offense has gone from being post-oriented to more guard-oriented. There's more movement; the pace is faster.

It's a style Cheeks likes. He doesn't plan to make any changes in the immediate future.

But Anderson raised some questions.

"When were (the Blazers) playing better?" Anderson said. "Last week? Had we won games?"

Until recently, not many.

The Blazers have won three in a row, but before that, they lost 15 of 20. Anderson's role diminished to the point where he played six minutes against Minnesota on Jan. 22. Then, the dental problems surfaced.

"When Nick came into the lineup, we won three of the next four games, too, didn't we?" Anderson asked. "You all forgot that, when (Cheeks) took Damon out of the lineup, we were both shooting well. When I started going down, Damon picked it up. That's what you do as a team; you pick each other up."

Now, Anderson is almost ready to play. The next game is Wednesday at home against New Orleans. Then, there's a four-game trip that starts Friday at New Orleans, followed by All-Star weekend and the Feb. 24 trade deadline.

Anderson isn't demanding a deal, but, "If I'm not playing, if not contributing the way I need to, I don't need to be here. If I have to be here, I'm going to work hard, be on time, be a professional. I'm not going to pout or sulk."

Talk about this story in our Discussion Forums.

 

Nice find GatorFan! I've always like DA's game...I hope he can rebound wherever he ends up playing...

 

maybe the moving SAR really is holding this deal up

 

I just want to say this is my first post on here, and that I've loved reading this board. The reason for me getting on here is to confirm from inside the Rockets organization that the Kidd trade is being discussed. Mo Taylor for DA, however, is not. This is the same source who predicted McGrady coming to the Rockets months before it happened, so the source is valid. But even though it is being discussed, just like everyone has said, it's more complicated than it seems considering Kidd's contract.

I honestly wouldn't be shocked now if we landed Kidd. Of course there would be some concerns (Health, Contract, Possible Conversion to Van Gundyism), but when you're getting still one of the best point guards in the league, whose 3 point percentage is on pace for a career best, it is hard to pass up. It will just open up the offense more with Sura, Wesley, Barry, Padgett, JHo, and now Kidd by giving Tracy McFranchise and Yao more room to do their thing.

 

N/M

 

that'd be great but

what's NJ's rationale though. Kidd and Carter are doing fine. They can be competitive in their division right now. so they want to completely rebuild? why bring in vince then? he's the new cornerstone?

 

Whoa! Be prepared for assault if there's no confirmation from someone we know. Just an FYI.


And welcome to the board.

 

If legit, thanks for the insight even though I think this may be a bad way to go for the organization. Not that I wouldn't be excited if we acquired him, but his contract coupled with his health REALLY scares me in terms of the team's future.

 

I forgot where i read it, but it was a different take on the Carter trade. Many thought that trade meant they were going to keep Kidd and have a strong backcourt to contend the next few years. But, according to what I read, they maybe did it just to bring in another big name player so they would still have marketabiity for when they did trade Kidd. I just thought that take was interesting.

 

Thats just it. They are just doing fine. They are getting the best basketball out of Kidd and Carter right now yet still struggle to beat the Sixers at home without Iverson. Nobody is scared of the Nets right now.

 

Oh, I'll be ready for the onslaught if it doesn't happen. Les and CD will probably make me look bad and not get Kidd. Just our luck to lose out on Kidd and win with Scottie Pippen, Brent (but I really wish it was Mark) Price, that other point guard who is collecting his checks to this day somewhere in Philly, and draft picks that would make even the Clippers laugh at us. I'm all about helping the state of the franchise and the team, and Kidd can do that. If the Rockets don't like how they progressed with Kidd at the end of the season, then make a move. For now though, I see this being win-win by trading for a true, solid point guard, who could take us to that next level if healthy, and getting rid of our 10 and 2 man (10 shots and 2 rebounds).

 

If we get Kidd without giving up Yao or T-Mac, I will fly to the US just to see a game and celebrate.

 

what better motivation can there be? Now, CD, you have the blessing to steal the Kidd!

 

If we land Kidd (coupled with having JJ)

would that mean we will get Josh Howard and Marquis Daniels in 2014 ?

or does it mean that we will get Zoran Pla!@#I!@ in 2016 ?

 

if you don't mind my asking - you say you have a "source" but your profile says your are 18 years old. I want to believe this, but could you give the skeptics a little more info on how you know this ... sibling/parent in the front office - you're a former ball boy - dating a power dancer ??

 

I was thinking the same thing... paging Doc Rocket...

 

If the Mavericks can be offering Jason Terry and a box of Krispy Kreames and be considered players in the Kidd sweepstakes - a three-way with Houston and SAR is not completely far fetched

... but we need more than a well written post and BBS full of hope to go on here

 

Haha, yeah I'm 18. Young gun. Here's a little background. I've been a die-hard Rocket fan for a while, but I was born in New York. I moved to Houston when I was little, but still go up a few times a year. My dad was a season ticket-holder from '93 (15 game package) through last season. The whole me going to college thing made him give them up. Was there for every big playoff series in the 90's, including getting to the '94 and '95 Finals. Welcome to my life, everyone. Anyway, I still try to keep up with New York sports as much as I can, and I heard through a friend up East that WFAN in New York mentioned Kidd to Houston. I didn't believe it until I saw that someone else on here had mentioned the same WFAN story. I didn't take it as valid because if anyone knows anything about WFAN New York, you know that sometimes they jump the gun on their stories just to say they had it first. I ran it by my Dad, who ran it by our source in the Rockets organization, and he was shocked that the Kidd trade rumor had gotten out into the public...but he also said that it was in discussion. Everything else is stuff you guys have heard. Hope that clears some stuff up.