In 2007 everybody was healthy and the Rockets still got bounced in the first round with Shane being a non-factor.
He hasn't appeared in as many playoff games as Battier did in Memphis. Rudy Gay's first three seasons in Memphis: 22 wins, 22 wins, 24 wins, Zero playoff games. Shane Battier's first three seasons in Memphis: 23 wins, 28 wins, 50 wins, Four playoff games. And Memphis didn't fall out of the playoff picture until Battier left (and Gay arrived).
yep. and don't use the Gasol excuse. Pau was there for all of the 1st one and 2/3 of the 2nd one. And then if you're gonna say "well Gay was a rookie"...well THAT was the whole point of the trade. We weren't willing to wait 4 years when the window was, at the time, "now"
the one big mistake Morey made was trade away Gay for Shane. Plus we threw in stromile swift who yes is useless now but still could have been some value in a trade.
How do you know they didn't try to shop Swift? Pretty sure they shopped Swift around and not too many teams wanted him. A lot of fans always say I think a team could have gotten more for a player, but fans are not behind the scenes in those discussions so I never understood why fans make those type of statements.
i don't know if anyone has ever called throwing in Swift a downside to that trade. He was, in fact, NEGATIVE VALUE. what a horrible post
Swift had no value. The main aspect of the trade that people seem to miss is that Stromile's contract was horrendous. The trade was less about moving Gay and receiving Shane, and more about getting out from under Swift's "albatross" of a contract.
This is only a valid argument if you think the Rockets would have had a better chance to win a championship with Rudy Gay in 2007. If you do, you are crazy.
now, the valid argument is do you think they would have a better chance to win now. the win now mentality was a mistake, rudy gay was a legitimate chance at the post mcgrady plan
You do know that if Memphis had not offered Battier before the Rockets got to pick, the Rockets would not have picked Gay, right? Get this in your heads...we were never going to get Gay. End of discussion.
No way. The Rocket had two superstars on their team and correctly determined the window was now. Every move they made at the time should have been to better the team at that moment. Windows like that are fleeting, so you better go all out when they arrive. Anyone can judge with hindsight.
