I really didn't mean to get in another rudy gay debate, I'm actually okay with the trade since the wells signing. I would rather have wells and battier than gay and swift right now. that's how I'm looking at it.
Whoa you must be Rudy Gay's agent. Comparing Gay to Lebron is like comparing Spanoulis to Steve Nash. Oh, if "everyone knew that he is going to be a premier player," then pray tell why he fell from #1, where he was projected at the start of 2006, down to #8? If he was so damn good why did SEVEN (it would have been 8+ if the trade didn't go down) teams pass on him? Nobody could possibly imagine any team passing up Lebron, Shaq, Timmy, or another certain no-miss talent. They passed on Gay because they weren't sure if he would be good, and that's the point. Your propaganda fails to hold water when compared to the truth.
So.. Rudy Gay gets 3 preseason games to show star potential, but Spanoulis is supposed to get cut after 2? Man of genius. And if you can't figure out the difference between the Gay situation and the Spanoulis situation in terms of winning now, let me spell it out for you. Spoiler Trading Gay's draft rights landed the Rockets a great player who can help the team win big right now, Shane Battier. There was no desirable alternatives out there to spend the 1.8 mil per year on if they didn't sign their former 2nd round pick Spanoulis. Even teams who are trying to win now are allowed to carry projects. You don't see Miami cutting Dorrell Wright, do you?
We did not need "big potential," we needed a dependable player who was able t o hit the ground running and immediately contribute in the areas of defense, leadership, and outside shooting. Battier fit the bill and I think we will have a better year with Battier than we had any hope of having with Gay.
IMO it still does not make sense. The reason this trade does not make sense is the same reason most use to justify the trade...Yao/T Mac. A talented young player allowed to play off of Yao and T Mac is going to have an accelerated development. People forget that Yao and T Mac were good for 50+ wins right out of the box, so they were going to be a good team with or without Battier. I just never understood how a talented basketball player, no matter how inexperienced, makes you worse off. The more experienced player makes you marginally better at best. However, when it counts (playoffs), you want more elite playmakers and Battier is just not that type of guy. What is even more disturbing is that Rudy Gay is a real good two way player. I do not know what would piss me off more as a Rocket fan, trading the rights to Rudy Gay or having one of the decision makers say they were going to pass him up for an inferior player.
I believe you said you wanted spanoulis cut after only 2 preason games which is different from a criticism. Van Gundier was saying that was premature. It's like saying Gay should be cut after his 2nd game.
Whoa. 7 teams passed on this guy and the Rockets would have been #8 if not for the trade. I wanted him as much as anyone and was angry when the trade rumors started. But comparing him to LeBron is a huge stretch. Their athleticism could be comparable (even though LeBron is about 20 lbs heavier and much stronger) but the skillset isn't close. Since when has Rudy Gay played the point and demonstrated passing ability and court vision? His handles aren't that great either, unlike LeBron's. If he works hard, Gay could end up being the best player in this draft because all of the players taken before him either have very limited ceilings or could be total busts. I guess the question is whether he has the dedication and drive to maximize his abilities in the NBA. Regardless, I doubt he ever gets mentioned with LeBron, Melo or Wade. Those guys were playmakers from day 1. Rudy Gay might develop into one.
well if they did draft shefalosha, the management should be shot to death! haha the truth is that gay will be a better player than battier in the NBA. However, is he a better player for us than battier? the answer is NO! For us, Battier will definitely be a better fit since we have Yao and T-Mac. Therefore this is a good trade for both of us. However, I have to reiterate that the rockets got too little in return for gay. When u trade away a star potnetial player you gotta get something better than battier. I mean C'MON!
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Bulls management seem pretty happey with Sefolosha, they've consistently praised him. We'll see how he turns out. Wouldn't be suprised if he becomes a star. Again, those who think Battier is an "average" player needs to take a course in Battier appreciation.
That's apples and oranges IMO. Spanoulis was a second round pick a couple of years ago who, depending on how he plays, may or may not even be on the active roster. Gay is a high first-round draft choice who; if plays inconsistently, makes bad decisions and/or doesn't play defense (all question marks coming out of college); then you used such a high commodity on someone sitting the bench and wasted a chance to get someone who would help you win now. They used the pick to get a guy that WILL do all those things and more and someone who is a LEGIT, PROVEN, GOOD starter in the league. Yea, and that's why 7 teams had no problem passing on the guy in the draft since he has SO much talent and everyone knew it. The fact you call Battier an average player tells me you know nothing about winning basketball. The guy is a border-line all-star calibur player who sacrifices numbers and personal glory for the betterment of the team. And, let's not forget that on a U.S. team full of the best players the league can offer, Battier started. If you love Rudy Gay and think he is going to be an perenial all-star player throughout his career, good for you. Personally, he has A LOT to prove and tall and athletic doesn't automatically make you a great player. You need a basketball IQ and basketball skill (ball-handling, passing, defense, etc, etc) to turn pure physical gifts into much more. We'll see how he can progress in those areas. We'll see how this game in the preseason translates into real games. He had a nice game. But, then again Kelvin Cato, in his first preseason with the Rockets, looked like the center of the future.
Everybody knows the Rockets wanted Mike James. It's only the fans on these boards who rationalize that they didn't want him. They publicly and privately wanted him and whether it was that they wanted to save $2 million (I figured out the money and I'm too lazy to post the link) or maybe it was because of the negotiation tactic, the deal fell through. V-Span wasn't a win now thing. It was a back up plan to the Mike James deal messing up (I don't even care to put blame on anyone anymore). Bonzi was a nice gift that wasn't planned either. There's nothing wrong with tracking old/potential Rockets to see how they're doing. VSPan isn't a vital part of the Rockets success this year anyways. I forgot the point I was trying to make. Oh well.
15% trade kicker, money that won't kick in unless you trade the guy. Worth losing MJ over it? Not in my opinion. However, MJ is his own man, who knows whether he'd have chosen Minny anyway? I think Minny is a better situation for him as far as putting up numbers and being happy being a borderline star type player goes. With HOU, he'd have to settle being a role player. Anyhow, the point is he did turn the Rocket down, and the Rockets didn't have many options for the MLE, so they spent most of it on some youngsters who might pan out... then lucked into Bonzi. The 8th pick got traded because it landed Battier... who could you have trade Spanoulis (or his salary slot) for?
The 2005-2006 Knicks stand as your counterexample. They had plenty of talent on that team (Marbury, SF, Jalen Rose, Eddy Curry, Jamal Crawford, Channing Frye) yet they sucked horribly. You can blame Larry Brown, but the example of the Knicks stand as an example of how too much talent can backfire.
i think the world championships is an excellent example of why you don't want a bunch of scorers on the same team. they don't know how to play as a team with each other because they are used to being the focal point. if the team consisted of all battier-type players, they could have won. neither greece or spain had any freak athletes on their team. they had team players. rudy gay would not work on a team with yao and mac. he would not get enough opportunities to be effective. he will never be a role player if he is the star some expect him to be.
No it doesn't. Francis was in obvious decline at Orlando. Marbury was injured. Nobody else on this team has even sniffed All Star level of talent. Also, 16 players started at least 5 games for New York because Larry Brown was trying to sabotage Thomas. In comparison, even with all the injury problems Houston had, only 11 different players start period. There is a big difference.
I think Rudy Gay got the built up hype like Reggie Bush, off highlight reels and youtube clips and the like. I wouldn't have minded him on the team at all don't get me wrong. The draft guys got it right and possibly the Rockets, if you're looking for a CHAMPIONSHIP contributor immediately and want to contend this year then there were better options out there. If Stro would have worked out or if the Rox already had solid guys after Tmac and Yao then yeah he'da been a nice piece. Rudy Gay won't even be as good as Carmelo or even the guy under Carmelo. He has nice physical tools and pretty good skillset but that doesn't mean he'll put it together in the way Lebron, Tmac or Carmelo does. If people feel that its more than what Battier brings then that's their opinion. I think (same old stuff) that the Rockets should have gotten a player or pick MORE than what they got in return, even if it was a 12th man. Alsio if they would have kept the pick then admittedly EVERYONE would still be giddy and excited and pumped up about the pick and talking playoffs and stuff. There wouldnt be a single thought of 'what-if' in the Rox community Fans would have been satisfied enough and thanked their lucky stars the same as the Bonzi signing.
