don't get me wrong, other than the Warriors, Clippers, Sonics, Hawks and Bobcats - I am not sure you can count anyone out of the playoffs (if for no other reason than more than 50% of the team HAVE to get playoff spots) in the West - the teams are all strong and in the East they are all so average everyone has a chance, but I believe that the Rockets are a solid playoff team whereas some of the others are a toss up. We may be a few pieces away, but there are more teams that would swap rosters with us than not (and THAT is a good place to be in)
Therein is the point. This team has a shot to take a big leap. I like Howard and would be happy to see him as a Rock. He will better serve us as trade bait, IMO, and that is why I suspect he'll open in someone else's gear. Lue, too. Not a knock on the guy, but his contract is expiring. It can goose a deal. This is not the roster Rox will carry into the season IMO.
I don't think Howard is going to be traded. Mo is a very erratic player. When his offense deserts him or when he gets in foul trouble he becomes a huge liability. Howard has similar skills but is steadier and can help Yao out which is very important to the success of our team.
I can see MoT beating out Juwan for the starting PF spot. Although most people here seem to think otherwise. Even if he doesn't start, I believe MoT will get more PT than Howard.
I think it would be a big mistake to trade Howard, because u can't get anyone like him in return, and who is so affordable. Almost 5 million a year for a player who's carreer avg 17+ points.
I think both MoT and Howard will be on the roster at the beginning of the season, but one of them will probably be gone by the trade deadline. Before the season, I think we will get a backup C and that's it. We'll go into the season testing our two PF's, our 4 PG's, and our backup SF's and then decide how to make one more adjustment. My money's on Mo having a breakout season. Xiki, didn't you say a month or so ago that Mo's been working out really hard?
yao howard tmac jj ward ----------- lue sura boki mo spoon pike gaines ------------ wilks ag padgett thats our 15 man roster. it might stay like that past training camp, into preseason. in preseason we will see if wilks and padgett are worth re-signing, and if ag is even worth a roster spot. we will bring in a center. either pike for deke, or just sign clark. thats when the roster will be set for opening night. i also expect a trade mid-season to ease the jam at the 4.
I was told he was in great shape, working out hard. That he was finally back, or about so, from the achilles. Since I have heard nothing new supporting or contracting this I am hoping and assuming that he is still doing great.
Juwan Howard is a tradeable commodity. We need a good power foward. Juwan Howard is a good power foward. There isn't a better pf available via trade. Why so many of you think he is as good as gone baffles me. You think starting Mo Taylor is a good idea? What happens the first time he forgets to pass to T-Mac, Yao or JJ? Oh, yeah...who is going to rebound with that team? Plain and simple...we cannot get a better power foward by trading Juwan Howard, directly or indirectly. He ain't goin anywhere.
