Yao-McGrady-Rashard-Bonzi-James-Spanoulis-Brooks means 1) there will never be a single minute when we have to put an offensively inept 5 on the floor 2) there will never be a single minute when the opponent can focus on 1 or two guys and shut down the team 3) there will never be a single minute when the opponent is not scrambling defensively to try to stop what we are doing 4) there will not be a defense that we cannot unlock with a combination of players/plays. We will be able to run high pick and roll with James/Spanoulis/Brooks, high post with McGrady/Bonzi, low post with Yao, high post Yao and back door cutters with McGrady/Rashard/James/Spanoulis/Brooks, dribble penetration from James/Spanoulis/Brooks, fast break kickout to James/Spanoulis/Brooks with guys like McGrady and Lewis running the wings. Our defense was very good last year, either the best or 2nd best in the league, depending on how you view the stats. But our offense was one of the league worst, bottom 5 in the league. When it mattered most, we could not generate enough offense. If we lose Battier, we lose a lot of D. But if James and Spanoulis are playing at the point instead of Rafer, then we really gain a lot of defense there, and if Bonzi gets the minutes at SG that Head got last year, we should be much better defensively there. So, if we traded Battier for Lewis, what we are basically doing is replacing Battier's defense with McGrady and replacing Howard's defense with Lewis. I for one happen to think that Lewis is every bit as good defensively as Howard, better. And McGrady can play good defense when he wants to, just not as good, as consistent as Battier. What we're basically talking about here overall is replacing Rafer, Head, Battier, and Howard with James/Spanoulis/Bonzi/Rashard. Defensively, I think it is a wash. Offensively, we are much better. I love Shane Battier, I really appreciate his game. And I will be very happy if he is still with us next year. However, if the opportunity is there to pick up Rashard and we have to give up Battier, I think we have to do it.
I am almost positive that given the coach they are going to be more concerned with getting someone with offensive flexability if they can. You may be right about what they need, but I don't think thats what they want.
I agree... I love Rashard, but he is not a good fit for our team and the likelihood of us actually landing him is so minimal that this thread should never have reached 11 pages. Joe Smith is a decent low cost option. He brings enough to where you can't really be mad at his signing. Amir Johnson has potential, but we would likely have to overpay based off that potential (full MLE) to get him away from Detroit. They can match that offer, but perhaps our need for a PF (read: guaranteed playing time) would be enough to sway his interest. Overall, I'm mostly uninterested in the available free agents. It's going to take a trade.
I they could swap out say Head, Alston, and Battier for Lewis and Ridnour. Throw in Sura and Lucas with their non guaranteed deals say to make salaries work probably something like that. Then I believe this is a team that Adelman can take past San Antonio. PG James/Ridnour/Brooks SG Wells/Spanoulis/Newly SF McGrady/Snyder/Novak PF Lewis/Hayes/Landry C Yao/Mutombo/Tsakalidis Just re-sign Tsakalidis, Mutombo, and Hayes all being cheap contracts, then give Newly a rookie minimum deal and tell Spanoulis he now has the 12-18 minutes of PT that roster would give him. IMO Adelman's offensive system combined with that team, plus the new rules and an inside guy like Yao would be too much for any team. I can honestly say a repeat title run is very reasonable with a team like that coached by Adelman. Do people so quickly forget how good that 2002 Kings team was? They took the 3 peat Lakers all the way to the brink. Remember the Lakers then swept New Jersey. That Kings team would have been the best team in the NBA this past season. That Kings team was nowhere near as good as that Houston roster would be.
<If we lose Battier, we lose a lot of D. But if James and Spanoulis are playing at the point instead of Rafer, then we really gain a lot of defense there> Why do you think Spanoulis is a good defender? He tried hard, but I saw him get bullied and beaten whenever he did.
Why exactly does everyone think Rashard would be willing to sign with the Rockets... or ANY Western Conference team, for that matter? He's FRUSTRATED by playing in the West and getting stomped by Dallas, Phoenix, and San Antonio. The article posted before basically confirms this. Orlando IS the perfect team for Rashard. Not only are the Magic on the cusp of having a pretty good team, they also play in the East (i.e. the EZ Pass to the Finals), and, perhaps most importantly, they have the necessary cap room to pay him big money. This is a no-brainer, IMO. Those of you thinking the Rockets honestly have more than a 1% chance of signing Rashard are setting yourselves up for some severe disappointment on July 11th. "So you're saying there's a chance!" - Lloyd Christmas, Dumb and Dumber
I hope Rashard Lewis makes up his mind soon...with whatever decision he comes to. Rockets can't afford to be waiting by the phone when all the other less attractive girls are shacking up with other jerks.
I agree with this, Portland is buying out Steve Francis contract he could be a Rocket also for the MLE. Our PF will not be as good as the best of the West but our C will be the best in the West our PF just needs to not be a liability on either side of the floor and help Yao with some shot blocking. Joe Smith for LLE is a very good pick up he is underated.
dang this would be sick... IF we do get SF and RL SF Tmac RL Battier Yao thats like almost PURE offense...
Well just signing Francis with the MLE and re-signing the free agents Mutombo, Tsakalidis, and Hayes, then dumping some dead weight like Lucas and Sura would be a good start. Then they could reasonably package Alston and Battier for someone decent at PF. If not then Morey isn't much of a trader. PG Francis/James/Brooks SG Wells/Spanoulis/Head SF McGrady/Novak/Snyder PF _______/Hayes/Landry C Yao/Mutombo/Tsakalidis Let's assume Orlando does sign Lewis. Well then surely Alston and Battier could net Darko in a sign and trade. Orlando's point guards are awful, even Alston is an upgrade for them. And just like Jeff Van Gundy, Stan values players like Alston and Battier. Battier could replace Grant Hill for them. They could go small in the East: PG Alston/Nelson/Arroyo SG Ariza/Dooling/Redick SF Battier/Bogans PF Lewis/Augustine/Garrity C Howard/Battie They have Vazquez coming over soon, so they have their new PF there, then let Dooling go, giving them: So the Rockets would end up with: PG Francis/James/Brooks SG Wells/Spanoulis/Head SF McGrady/Novak/Snyder PF Darko/Hayes/Landry C Yao/Mutombo/Tsakalidis I think signing Francis with the MLE, re-signing Hayes for a value equal to the LLe or so, re-signing Mutombo for the minimum, and Tsakalidis for the going rate for a backup C, then trading Alston and Battier for like say Darko if Lewis did go to Seattle isn't far fetched or ridiculous. It wouldn't even put the team in luxury tax once they waived Lucas and Sura.
Bringing back Francis would be a popular move among Houston fans, no doubt. But it would create nowhere near the interest or buzz that adding Rashard would. With Rashard, anything short of a championship would be considered a disappointment. Francis is basically considered damaged goods at this point. Rashard just averaged 22 PPG for a season. Clearly Rashard is the "sexier" player from a fan's perspective. If it is just a PR move as I suspect, then it's a smart PR move. You bring in the new GM and he tries to dazzle everybody by swinging for the fences like this. Instead of making low risk/safe players a priority he makes it known to everybody his plan to pursue the top FA in this class. It's smart, I just see it going much further than that. As for your suggestions with Orlando, I think you're a little off on Orlando's PG play. Granted, Jameer Nelson probably should be a lot better than he really is but he's still a solid overall player. Dooling isn't a bad option off the bench. Alston wouldn't be that great of it a fit. Battier? Sure, any team could use a player like Battier but I just don't see Alston being all that attractive to them. Hard to picture them trading Ariza either. He has too much upside and has been very productive playing for next to nothing. I'm not sure exactly how I feel about adding Darko either. I suppose it depends upon how much he'd make and what we'd have to give up to get him. Sometimes he looks like he's ready to breakout and dominate while other times he looks lost and outmatched. Hard to tell but at the same time he's much more of a power forward than Rashard is or ever will be.
I do not have a lot of new news but these are the latest Headlines on google search. Seems a better than 15% chance we end up with him Seattle, Orlando, and Miami are the only other big time suitors. Sonics get first shot at courting Lewis; Rockets in mix Report: Rockets making strong run at Lewis Houston may have the best shot at landing him, although it would take a sign-and-trade to get it done. Lewis is a Houston native, lives there in the offseason and the Rockets are making it known they're going after him.
miami has absolutely nothing of value to give up in a sign and trade; only through FA is it possible for them.
i really want Rashard! i like the poster above who said how every minuteo f the game, we'll have strong offensive forces. Definitely retain Hayes..but I'm not sure about Mutombo still playing. I love Deke, but does he still want to play? Also, Jake Tsakaladis didn't impress me at all this season. Not a solid backup, imo. Seems like when he was playing, Rockets gameplay worsened.
Shard would be awesome. I believe his presense over battier's would have us over the Jazz...The suns had marion and bell and couldn't stop Manu or Parker...we need good team defense but the good teams will still score on us...we need to be able to score on the defense of the Jazz and Spurs...can we do that with Battier? Rashard opens things up...creates his own shot....brings excitement back to Houston...his presense along with any descent pf puts us in a great position...and if Francis comes back....there will be so much basketball talk in the city of Houston.......spoiled "franchise" returns humbled...shafted teen star returns an all star... Yao Landry/Chuck/??? Shard Tmac Francis I would go to battle with that... -V
Rashard was on my flight into Orlando today. I would have chatted him up but between the horrible weather and all the airport crap...I just couldn't get around to it. Anyways looks like the Magic will be trying to WOO him tonight.
