Personally, I would like to put a line-up of sharks with lasers mounted on their heads at all five positions, if this is possible. Has anyone suggested this before? KT could come off the bench if one of the sharks got in foul trouble, or if one of the sharks was wounded in a laser mishap.
KT is WAY too valuable to just throw away. His production to salary ratio is among the best in the league. (I'm sure that's not an actual stat, but it sounds kind of authoritative to say it) Pimp is right - there's no way we would get equal value for him if we tried to trade him, and right now, the insurance of having him around far outweighs the minimal value of getting rid of him.
Why do I keep reading that KT has no handles? Damn, I mean he isn't AI but the guy can put the ball on the floor.
A lot of (albeit reasonable) assumptions in this thread. Assumption: KT won't get playing time. That's a valid assumption, but it's still an assumption. Fact is, KT's one of the more senior Rockets, and has played significant minutes since he was a rookie. Why do some of you take it for granted he won't get enough minutes next year? Okay, so Mo T will get his minutes if healthy because Rudy doesn't penalize starters for being injured. We all want Eddie to get minutes, but right now, it is not clear cut who is better than the other. Eddie reportedly got abused by KT during practice last year. KT may very well be more effective right now than Eddie. It's not a given that Eddie will get minutes over KT just because we want him to. Some KT supporters say KT is the starting SF in training camp. I don't think that's what CD said. What CD meant IMO is that KT will play SF at the beginning of training camp. Whether it will work out is another story. However, KT critics who say we have too much depth at SF and therefore KT shouldn't play SF have it only half right, IMO. We certainly have depth at SF and I for one am thrilled about it. But I heartily disagree we shouldn't experiment with KT at SF. What we have at SF are two unproven young players and one veteran who even if he totally kicks @$$ this year is still not part of our future. From a long-term perspective, there's no reason why if KT works out at SF that he shouldn't have the chance to fight it out with Nachbar for the starting job until Nachbar actually fulfills his potential and demonstrates that he is clearly the more appropriate choice. Same applies to Morris. I really like Morris and want him to succeed, and I really want both him and Nachbar to get minutes this year. But just because I want them to get minutes doesn't mean KT, who is more experienced, more senior and at present arguably more effective* than both won't or shouldn't get more minutes ahead of them at the SF spot. Finally, why keep KT? As mentioned, he's our only frontcourt player who qualifies as a banger and a hustler, and he also has skills. But I agree with the questions UT Baller raises about his fit with the team, more specifically his effectiveness within the offense at SF. I'm not saying we ought to keep KT long-term, but I think it's ridiculous that some people want to trade him away now for a first-rounder just so they can be rid of him. *Nachbar hasn't had a chance to prove himself yet, so it's a little unfair to say KT is more effective.
<blockQUOTE>Originally posted by Relativist Eddie reportedly got abused by KT during practice last year.</blockQUOTE> In Eddie's own words he said how revealing it was to his transition to the NBA to find out how strong KT was. In later interviews at camp the gist was that KT was just tossing Eddie around. I can definitely believe that seeing how other NBA powerful Power Forwards tossed Eddie aside and went straight to the rim.
and don't forget MoT is out for 5 games for his Bong-a-thon, he will be the one behind the eight ball trying to steal/regain minutes off Kenny and Eddie!!!
The only real down side to KT's game at the 3 that anyone can come up with is his outside shot. Look at the team we have Francis = shooter, Mobley = shooter, MoT = shooter, Ming = shooter, if these 4 are on the court with KT at the 3 I think we will have enough shooters. If KT is out there with Eddie we are still ok. Now put KT at the 4 and Rice at the 3, we still have plenty of shooters. KT provides benefits to this Rockets team that no other player we have provides in his hustle and heart not to mention the incredible depth and versitility he gives our coaches. Everybody leave the team alone we are stacked, and any minutes KT gets will be productive, they always are.
1. KT will be starting or playing major minutes while MoT serves his 5 game vacation. 2. MoT, by all accounts , has been absolutely destroying all opponents including KT and EG. Also , it has been stated that MoT has slimmed down to his playing weight of around 260-270 and apparently want to lose about 10 more. 3. CD has stated publically that KT will be used and showcased at the 3 NOT the 4 ( that doesn't mean he won't play the 4, just that he is listed on the depth chart at the 3). I like KT and I like his drive but there may not be a spot for him unless he can convert to the 3. What if MoT has a breakout season and EG just keeps getting better? The only minutes, barring injury , for KT will be at the 3 since old man Rice cannot play extended minutes and Boki needs time to develop.
KT is a team player. It will be hard enough to get teh ball around often enough to Francis, Cat, Ming & Rice. The las tthing we need is another guy whose strength is offense. We need guys who can rebound and play D. Mo-T may score more but that is all that he does better than KT. I agree KT may be traded jsut because no othe rteam is willing to pay Mo-T what we signed him for, but in a perfect world we would keep KT and trade Mo-T.
if we trade kt, what do we want in return? not another bigman. not another guard, we have 6 already. the only thing i can think of is a small foward to replace rice in 2 years. sure we have boki, but thats only 1 sf. the reason why we should keep him is in my sig.
You're saying we should just ship him out because no one would trade for Mo and "do the right thing" because we shouldn't hinder his career?? Stylez, that is not only not the "smartest business move", but it is a dumb business move. Aside from not being able to get true value for KT, we would also lose a very good bench player and capable starter in the event of another injury.
OK so what does "all accounts" mean? Who said MoT has been destroying KT and EG? Lets have the facts.
Oh common crash, everyone read the reports that Mo was destroying everyone. I find it incredibly hard to believe that you have 2,400 posts, meaning you spend quite some time on the board, and HAVEN'T read that report. The problem here is simple. If someone suggests trading KT, everyone immediately assumes that the person is impying that KT is not a good player. That is NOT the case at all. I want everyone to be logical about one thing. In your OWN opinion, how many minutes will Griffin and Mo get at the 4, and how many minutes will Rice and Boki get at the 3. Now, think, do you think KT will be happy with the "leftover" minutes? I'd LOVE to have an insurance policy for injuries. It's my personal dream to have a KT-type player as our 3rd string PF or SF. But you know what, it won't happen. KT is young, he wants minutes, and he wants to make a mark in this league. He very well deserves it. For those who think we should trade Mo T instead: I think the majority of people here think that Mo T is better. Forget that. Let's assume they're equal. Right now, we can trade KT, but we CAN NOT trade MoT. Why? There's no one in the league who will take Mo T right now. KT is more tradeable than ever. We can package him with a big contract to fill other eneds, or get draft picks. Whatever. There's simply no other way. There's no time for him, no money for him, and no future here. Why keep KT?
I guess its just a matter of perspective. When one considers that both put up about the exact same numbers in the statistical categories, one is really only left to choose from the style of play he likes best. Personally, I think Maurice's style of play suits the team much better. With our guards ability to create and penetrate, you need a power forward who can feed off that by stroking the mid-range shot on a consistent basis; Kenny was not able to do that enough. Kenny can drive using quick fancy footwork, but just like our guards, he needed his space and clear-outs to really operate. It seems to me that too many one-on-one creators is a bad thing which leads to a lot of standing around and little ball movement. Looking at it from this perspective, I'd rather have Maurices style of play. But Im definetely not knocking Kenny. I loved that bruiser mentality he showed last year. Some players looked beaten to death after having to guard kenny last year. Like RocketPimp said once, Kenny could be that "Elie guy" off the bench this team has been so desperately waiting for.
I can feel you on like MoT style better My issue with MoT is 1. heart - he had cato like tendencies. . but just a mild case of it 2. Defense - I just think KT is better here 3. Disappearence - he is literally 1st Quarter Mo. . . after that . . who knows 4. pricetag With KT in the lineup at 4 u have 3 slashers/drivers + Ming and Nachbar/Rice shooters The Rockets are changing .. . this is not ONE DOWN LOW and 4 shooters We still want to camp as many men outside as possible we need to change that thinking . . . . Cat and Stev driving and dishing will not win the championship alone. The best thing about KT to me is. . . .WE HAVE NOT SEEN HIS BEST the man brings it The man does what is asked The man is DOWN FOR THIS TEAM MoT talks the talk . .. .he says in every interview But KT SHOWS IT EVERY GAME!! Rocket River btw - verse thanks for the call . .. I might have missed it otherwise
RocketRiver, You point out a lot of great qualities that Kenny has developed. yes sir, indeed you did! You left out my favorite though, and that is Kenny Thomas can "throw them thangs" with any macho hard ass in the league. You almost make me want to switch my stance. my excitment for this upcoming season has just been raised a notch. I really can't contain myself too much longer. This is definitely a good problem to have(if one wishes to see it as that). I surely don't look at this whole thing as some others seem to do though. you know, like in the red corner we have Kenny "short dog" Thomas, while over in the blue corner we have Mo "magic puff man" Taylor. I don't really see it like that.
If we did trade Othella, I mean KT, we could probably package a point guard (whoever loses the preseason battle - Tierre or Tito) and get a player with an expiring contract and a decent draft pick next year.
um, i don't know about that. i don't think kt has THAT much value. he's good, but worth an exp. contract + a draft pick? i doubt it.
In expiring contract I mean someone who is good, but someone we may or may not take salary cap space on next year. Someone like a Rice (not that expensive maybe, but a match for KT and Tierre/Tito salary)
