Why do people keep posting these tired ass threads? Im glad most of you arent the Rockets' GM, this team would be worse then it is now.
Francis for a comparable overall player who would better fit in our system, or a lesser but younger and better fitting talent plus additional compensation to the Rockets. Find a team who needs a terrific lead individual scorer (Francis) more so than a slightly less lethal individual player and scorer but whom would contributes more in other ways for the Rockets (defense, playing within a center-oriented, passing-oriented, offensive system, etc). I would do Francis for Brand, J. Oneal, Kidd, Lebron or Pierce as principals in a heart beat. Brand would best seem to fit. Indy and Oneal are playing too well for them to make a move. NJ just signed Kidd and have built their team around him. Lebron is politically untouchable even if Yao was included, so forget that. Pierce is possible if Boston is struggling and he makes a fuss--but Boston would have to just want to make a change. Returning to Brand: Francis would provide an individual scorer and talent the Clips have not had since I can remember. The Clips probably would win more games with Francis than with Brand--the latter who is a fine player, just not really a lead player. The Rockets get a slightly less overall talented guy who is a boarding and defensive workhorse plus a competent 2nd or at worst 3rd scoring option depending on match-ups (as long as he isn't matched versus Duncan or Garnett or maybe Malone). Or maybe Francis for Davis, Carter, Allen, Gasol, Lewis, Carmello, Randolph, Sheed, Butler or Kirelinklo as principals, in most of these cases (except for Davis and Carter) the other teams would have to include more in terms of players or draft picks to get Francis.
Oh yes, I'd include TMac in my first list. Like with Pierce, it would have to start with that team wanting to move the player and approaching the Rockets for Francis.
I would like to keep Yao and Francis and try to move any of these players: Cato, Mobley, Mo, Griffin etc for a 3rd star type player. Then address our depth via FA in the offseason. It is much easier to add depth than to add a star type player. But if I could not do that then I would think about moving Francis for the types of players DesertScar has listed in his thread. Particularly for a player such as a Brand to go along with Yao in the front court or a player such as Pierce that can stretch the defense. I think those are two of the more important areas that best mesh with Yao's talents: Good outside shooting and a strong enforcer rebounder with a solid offensive game.
Exactly, we get off to a hot start and everyone is happy. We lose a couple games and all of the sudden we need to trade? Every team has it's ups and down, if teams bailed out after every down, there would be no TEAM.
Its not like that A-Train, i mean US fans have been watching the Rox for the past 3 years struggling and missing the playoffs so we do tend to get really frustrated BUT only becuase we want them to win soo bad!! & seeing how the same core of guys (been Steve & Cat) are still around we tend to come down really harsh on them.
I used to agree with you but I am starting to think it is time to move some players. The core of this team has been together long enough and we have determined at this point that Yao is our franchise. It is time to build around his strengths. Anyone that doesn't fit should go! The Dumb and Dumber show will not work. Steve and Cat are basically the same type of player. Gifted but not intelligent enough. We can get more for Franchise so I say package Steve along with bad contracts for a player like Rasheed that is in the last year of his contract. Then join the Kobe sweepstakes. That is if he is exonerated. Kobe led team is taller, smarter, and more whistle friendly (calls from refs). Plus, I think Yao is going to be a Garnett type player. I think after making a few playoff appearances. Yao will receive the same type of criticism that Garnett receives every year. We need a better front man. Steve is not smart enough to be that person.
This statement has been running through the BBS for a while now, but it doesn't make sense. Yes, Steve and Cat have been playing together for a while now, but that's not the core, Steve and Yao are, and they've only been playing together for 1year and 3months and they've already been through 2 coaching changes!! We have 2 new starters and a brand spanking new system, and 15 games into the season, some have already given up. I know we're all grumpy from our 4 year slumber, but we've seen what this team is capable of doing and we shouldn't throw it all away because of a bad road trip. Teams have ups and downs, how they deal with it will bring them together, you can't bail every chance you get.
"Francis, Cat, Mo, Cato and Moochie" said Francis not I. Those are the only part of the core that is up for sale! What doesn't make sense is the two coaching changes that you are referring to. I'm guessing you are including Mr. Mean (which was not a change). And as for bailing, I have been an advocate of keeping the team together until now. We are not a true contender until change is made! IQ, passing skills, team ball and the overall urgency on this team needs to be addressed. All of those are the same issues we have had.
13 months is enough time to give a group of players! With the exception of Yao and maybe Cato, has any other (core) player improved in the past three years? Not Francis! Not Cat! Not Mo! Not Moochie! Time to bring in Yao complements! Time to subtract low IQs and bad passers!
Usually I hate trade threads...but this one has merit...it lets me see how people on this board thing (The poll). Now, I'm shocked that people would even consider trading SF. He IS the franchise. Sorry, but he's our go-to guy, and pulls off some incredibly stunning performances...now, granted he's not the best point guard in transition, but the answer to that riddle is moving out Mobley and playing Steve in the 2-spot. Who could play point? Why Mr. Unselfish himself, Moochie Norris...end of our problems...
Even the least talented players in the league know how to play passing game, but pathetically we don't. This is mostly attributed to the poor play-making skills and selfish mentality of Stevie.
How is it not a change? We started with Rudy and finished with Mr. Mean, sounds like a change to me, just look at the record after Larry Smith took over.
