i'd love to have a backup who can do the basic things that a big needs to b able to do, plus the ability to hit the mid range shot ... basically i wish we could combine landry and hayes and add 4 inches in height to that product haha. we desperately need a big who can consistently defend, rebound and finish at the rim though. i'd like to have him be a guy that trails the break well too. it'd be a nice contrast with yao to have yao be the slow down and dominate in the paint game and a fast big who can run.
Agreed, although I wonder how much it would take to get him. The Pacers have Troy Murphy, Jeff Foster, Roy Hibbert and now Tyler Hansborough at the PF/C positions already. Foster and Hibbert are pretty much exclusively centers. Do they really have room (on the roster) to re-sign Rasho? I think Rasho is the perfect backup "pure" center for the Rockets. He's a legit 7-footer (7-2, I think). He can rebound and block shots. He can also hit the mid-range jumper. A solid player who filled a similar role for the Pacers last year to the one he'd be asked to play on the Rockets next year. If he would play for cheap, I'm on board. If he wants more than the league minimum, though, he'll have to wait until the Ron Artest situation is resolved.
Rasho wouldn't be bad as a cheap-ish (maybe $2, 2.5 million) guy to fill essentially the Mutombo role (though no cheapish backup center is ever as awesome as Mutombo). I wouldn't go for a "Rasho"-type, though, unless the Rockets already exhaused a better option. My favorite guy for that role for a long time now would be Rasheed Wallace. The team certainly has competition for his services, but if there is a chance of getting him at the MLE, you go after it. The guy gives Rockets another tough and smart defender (when he's trying) at either PF or C, and provides the kind of floor spacing big man that's alway useful. Speaking of Pacers... If they are willing to trade Jeff Foster for, say, expiring contracts Cook/Barry of and one of the new rookies, the Rockets should absolutely go for it. The guys is just physical and an excellent rebounder.
Agreed.Rasho is a UFA and might come cheap. The rest will be hard to get. Rasheed is the right kind of PF/C,but he doesn't have the right attitude. We can't rely on him.
You just described Andris Biedrins, my ideal choice by far, to a T. I think he'd be a perfect addition, and apparently he's far from untouchable. I'd love to know if Morey has looked into him at all as a trade target.
Yeah, lets not look at the fact that we took the Lakers to 7. And you're just assuming the Spurs are going to be better this year, but Duncan and Manu are getting old, good chance one or both will get injured. If we can get someone for Tracy or if he can come back and be productive, we will be the team to beat... as long as we stay healthy.
All we need is a backup C Sure, I want Ricky Rubio. But I find myself forgetting that this team was one of the best teams in the NBA come playoff time this year...without our 2 most talented players. The way I see it, next year everyone can only get better. PG --> Aaron Brooks can only get better. His offensive outbursts may still be rare, but I think his awareness and basketball IQ can only get better Kyle Lowry will only get better. I see no area that he can't improve SG --> T-Mac can only get better than he was last year. Plus it's a contract year, I wouldnt be suprised if he had a great year. - Von is on the up. Coming off alot of time for him last year, he knows what he needs to work on. SF --> Ron's shooting can't get much worse, and his defense will always be there. He will bring it night in night out, and he's getting more comfortable with the team Shane will always be there, consistently. He's got a few more years at his level. PF --> Scola may have reached his ceiling, but he certainly won't get worse. Carl Landry still has more potential, and should only go up C - Yao. Injury is the only concern. His shot will always be there. Hopefully he can get better on the defensive end. Maybe I'm being an idealist, but I don't see alot of weaknesses with this team - only room for improvement. There is no reason that if we add a backup C that is good that we shouldnt be one of the favorites to win it all.
Incoming Players Zydrunas Ilgauskas 7-3 C from Lithuania (Foreign) 12.9 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.0 apg in 27.2 minutes Outgoing Players Brian Cook 6-9 PF from Illinois 3.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.2 apg in 6.9 minutes Shane Battier 6-8 SF from Duke 7.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.3 apg in 33.9 minutes
Do you guys think Overgrown Tommy Davidson from Detroit is an improvement as a backup C/PF over what the Rockets have right now?
I'd rather have a legit 5 than Brian McKnight. If we're going to get an undersized 4/5 type as our primary Yao backup, he should be somebody really good, as in significantly better than Scolandry. Otherwise I'd just stick with Carl and Luis.