Aside from skill and stats alone, one of the less talked about requirements for someone coming in is character. I think what makes this current group special is their outstanding character, for a group so young, we find so little of the me-first, preening and egotistical behavior so prevalent in many other teams. That contributes so much to team chemistry and subsequently, wins. We wouldn't want someone come in and destroy the balance with pouting about playing time, about number of shots, or want to take too much credit or insubordination, etc. Battier and Millsap are good fits, since they are great locker room guys and are excellent defenders, though Battier seems to have lost more than a step. Varejao, AK or Biyombo might also be of help as teams seem to drive with impunity against the Rox.
1. Tempt Howard to sign. ( make adjustments , cut or trade ) 2. Go and get Josh Smith. 2. Get the best perimeter player available through the draft.
Second star. Fiddling around the edges is important to do, but will only net you a marginal improvement. We have potential near-max money to spend and a host of guys with potential on friendly contracts. If we can do something transformative this offseason, why would anyone be content with fiddling arounf the edges? Of course, acquiring stars is always an iffy proposition and Morey is probably always more likely to strike out than to succeed. If he strikes out there, then start looking at those edges. Get a reliable starter at power forward (or at least a veteran you know can be the starter if the young power forwards can't distinguish themselves), and be sure to set the table for the next shot at the second star.
disappointed that more people aren't giving jones/dmo/smith/trob a chance. don't get me wrong, i've posted on this board that if the rockets can get love or d12, then do it, but definitely don't upgrade for the sake of upgrading. a full year of one or two of these guys will be an upgrade from this year because they'll get the work in over the summer, and they seem experienced enough to not regress. i would gladly start the season out with jones or dmo at the 4 (granted they play well over the summer and in camp) and see where that goes as opposed to going after a guy like boozer or milsap who would only marginally improve the team on defense and probably give little to nothing more on offense.
