You are absolutely correct. The Rockets have more than enough scoring even without the PF position. The most important issue is the incredible fall off in defense when Asik sat last season. The seventh best defense in the league to the 27th. Ouch. I really do not believe Asik is going anywhere any time soon. And with him the Rockets have a shot at a top 5 defense next season.
I agree with him as well. Unless Morey pulls a rabbit out of his hat by the deadline in the form of a veteran starting stretch 4 with some D, I don't see Asik going anywhere this season. I hope he doesn't. Winning will cure a lot of his angst about losing his starting spot at the 5.
That makes an interesting question. Suppose that team finds a way maximize the Howard/Asik situation and the Rockets are say leading the west near the trade deadline. Would they consider not making a move?
Unfortunately those players are few and far between. Anderson and Love are to expensive. Parsons at 240 pounds is perfect, but then you have a hole at small forward. I feel sure that Morey does this calculus every day. I do not know what the answer is. Let us hope for the success of TJ and D-Mo.
Locks 1) Lin 2) Beverley 3) Canaan 4) Harden 5) Parsons 6) Garcia 7) Casspi 8) TJones 9) DMo 10) Covington 11) Howard 12) Asik Bubble Brooks Williams Brewer Smith Camby I think it ends up working out something like this.... 13) Brewer 14) Williams OR Brooks 15) Smith OR Camby Brooks is your defacto 3rd string PG, and he is also bench scoring (which we completely lacked when Harden sat). Canaan will spend the 1st half of the year in D-League, and you need a decent backup in case one of Lin or Beverley gets traded. Brewer is a need for this team. We don't have great wing defense, and he provides that. He's a situational guy, so his flaws don't bother me as much. Normally, I'd argue that you always keep the guy with potential over the end-of-the-road vet. It's hard to tell in this situation. Smith really needs to improve on help defense to be a legit backup if Asik is traded. Williams is cut and Smith gets traded.
Only 27th? Seemed like historically bad to me last year. It was a layup drill against the Rockets after Asik sit: he still has incredible value, even as a starter/backup C combo.
I think it will be Williams and Camby(he is injured and is not likely to make an impact). Smith played fairly well last year,that will go in his favor IMO.
I doubt they just let go of Smith for nothing. I would imagine we could get a pick for him. High to mid 2nd rounder sounds right.
I wouldn't be so sure about Casspi. If he struggles in preseason I could see him being cut. Brewer has to seriously outplay those guys to avoid being cut. His contract was set up to make it very easy to cut him. I'm pretty sure Reggie Williams will be cut. The other cut is more difficult. Right now my gut says it is Camby. He's not useful if he's hurt.
Surprised everyone is so high on Covington. Covington is a nice prospect but he is ranked ahead of Brooks, Williams, Brewer, Smith and Camby. Wow. Months ago he was virtually about being cut.
