I would love to have Smith among the available FA's next summer. Love, Aldridge, Cousins are just pipe dreams. What Rockets need is a shot blocker, a paint defender, someone who plays above the rim for lobs, and a good passer at PF. Smith fulfills that role. I know Smith is in a shooting slump this season but we do not need his outside shooting. We need his defensive skills! Offensively, Smith would make a perfect PnR lobs paired with Harden or Lin. If you think we are lethal now, imagine if Lin or Harden can lob high passes around the rim? The defensive duo of Asik and Smith should take us deep into the playoffs, one a top 4 rebounder and another is a top 6 shot blocker. If we maximize the protection of the paint, we will go far. Our current average score margin is +2.67. PF is one position that's dragging the margin down. With Smith, Rockets can easily have a +5 or above, which should place us among top 4 seeds in playoffs. Sign Smith for a 3-year contract. If things don't work out within the next two years, we can always move him as an expiring contract.
The Grizzlies would have to pay Morey in the form of draft picks or packaging Gay with Z-Bo or Marc Gasol in order to get rid of that contract. Maybe you guys can swindle somebody else. Good luck with that!
Not horrible. Add Parson to the Grizzlies and it's closer. Also we don't have a 1st to trade - it belongs to Atlanta. Rockets: K. Love Memphis #1 T-Wolves: R. Gay Patterson Jones Memphis: Parsons R. White
I want no part of Rudy Gay. Either give me LaMarcus Aldridge, Josh Smith, or Paul Millsap or keep this team in tact as is.
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=abn9r2y Cavs send a 1st rounder to Memphis. We send a 1st rounder to Utah.
Why does Memphis do this, when the additions of Jefferson and Patterson to the Cavs make the Cavs pick that the Grizzlies receive no better than a mid to late rounder? Does Memphis want Tristan Thompson to add to their already crowded frontcourt?
Salary dump. If Gay gets traded, it will be because the ownership can't afford him. That's why, IMO, it's unlikely the Grizz probably won't trade him - because I don't see how they don't get fleeced.
Shot blocking is overrated, Tim Duncan, KG and Yao Ming never averaged a ton of blocks, but those guys anchored some the best defensive teams ever. That's because even the best shot blockers get only 3 blocks a game, that's only three possessions. However most of those shotblockers rely on their athleticism, and hang back and allow their opponents to take the shot so they could attempt to block it. If you want someone to be a good defender in the NBA he has to have high basketball IQ, and unfortunately Smith doesn't seem to possess that. Aside from that, Smith doesn't have a good shot but he keeps shooting anyway, I don't really want someone who just keeps mid-range clanker after mid-range clanker as that will just make Lin and Harden's life harder. If Love and LMA are just pipe dreams then I'd really just wait for one of our PFs to break out, no sense paying max money for someone who isn't worth it.
We have 2 seasons after this to make our move using cap space. Lin, Asik, and Parsons are all up then and we'd need to have spent our cap room by then or they'd take it all up with raises (espically Parsons). So no need to rush into anything until Morey finds the perfect fit.
Silly argument to use. The Knicks are second in the East and only just got Amare back two games ago, how bad could Amare's contract be? I also don't buy into the Grizz finishing fifth. I think they'll end up in the 6th-8th seed range. They're pretenders.
you statistics guys don't understand statistics. gay's individual statistics maybe down, but that's partly because he isn't used to his strengths. all the guys so critical of how that team is built, what player would be better suited at shooting guard/small forward for them, how much of a difference would it make. their team is constructed for the wing players to sit outside and wait for shots. could rudy be more productive sure? but that would be taking the ball out of their point guard's hands who is having a fine season. rudy could realistically up his per on the defensive and shooting better, and we know he can shoot better.
Rudy Gay' stats were really not that great when they were "up" either. How are you supposed to use Rudy Gay to maximize his production to a level matching his salary while, more important, maximize your chance at winning? It is his 7th year in the league and no one has done it yet.
1. Josh Smith is a very good defender. He has the mobility and athleticism. 2. A lot of Josh Smith's shots happen because of the role he is in and the responsibility he has in the offense.
