Yes, still feel we got mugged by Jerry West but drafting Steve Novak was a coup and makes up for a lot. It could have been worse, we could have drafted JJ Redick, talk about a slow start to an NBA career, gets a back injury during the draft and now has a foot injury that keeps him from playing a minute during the preseason.
It's amazing that so many armchair GM's think that the Rocks should have an Allstar at each position...that's not reality. The Rocks made a decision to have a solid character guy and solid all around contributor on that team. You cannot sit hear and judge Battier by his production entirely at Memphis because his role here will be different. The guy CAN put the ball in the hole and also play excellent D. This is going to help McGrady because between Shane and Kirk, T-mac will never have to worry about the opposing teams stud because he has two shut down defenders. I know everyone wants the stud 4 to go with a stud center that we have...we'll get over it because it's not happening. Dallas and SA and Phx can win with a stud 4 and solid wing players...guess what? The Rockets have enough to win with as well. They have two studs and a compliment of role players that match up well with anyone. SA vs Houston Parker vs Alston (edge SA) Ginobli vs Wells or Kirk (edge Rocks) Bowen vs T-mac (edge Rocks) Duncan vs Battier (edge SA) center by committee vs Yao (edge Yao) SA's bench vs Rocks bench (edge Rocks) Matchups with Suns, Mavs, Clips are very similar...we need to get over it that we're not going to have a stud 4 but nobody out west has a stud 5 and I dare say that our 4's (JHo and Battier) will not be outclassed nearly as much as Yao will outclass the other 5's out west. Rudy Gay would have helped...but Rudy and Swift would have prevented Bonzi from coming over and probably Kirk as well and so who were your defensive stoppers going to be without Shane or Kirk??? Swift...yeah right, Rudy...of course not, he's still trying to get over that beating that Novak put on him to the tune of 41 points...I guess T-mac would have been chasing the other teams studs on Defense thus limiting his effectiveness. Hats off to CD, JVG and staff for assembling this cast of characters...the glass is definitely not "half full" this year...
I am sure Shane is a good fit to ROX. But I am still upset for the trade on JUNE 28!! We should get more from it!! Say a first round draft
It was an awful trade. Battier will be productive, but in a year or two Gay will emerge as the far better player. I for one never like to trade potentially great players for average ones. That's how you end up building an average team. Besides, the very fact Jerry West was interested in him and was willing to take back swift to get him would make me think twice about trading him in the first place....
The Rockets got what they needed!! And Jerry West is no IDIOT! He knew that the Rockets needed Battier So, it would not surprise me if he is the one who called the Blazers and told them to draft the guy the Timberwolves wanted. West probably screwed up the deal for the Rockets on draft day! Look, we have Yao and McGrady!!! And even though the #8 pick and Swift would generally get you more, in this case the parties involved knew that Houston was buying. And when you are looking, then more than likely you are going to have to overspend! Which is what happened. But, when you look at the point of where he is in his career, Battier was EXATLY WHAT THE ROCKETS NEEDED for this TEAM! I can imagine the Converstion. West: How can we get the #8th pick? We'll give you Battier and the #1 pick. CD: No, we are working on a deal right now. But, if it falls through we'll talk. West: Who do you want? CD: Can't tell you. Media: The Rockets are really interested in Brandon Roy. West (thinking): ...uuhmm I'm thinking the Rockets want Brandon Roy. Portland really like Brandon Roy and they have 2 picks ahead of the Rockets. I'll be in the drivers seat soon David Stern: Minnesota, with the 6th pick the Wolves take Brandon Roy. West: $h!t the Rockets and Minnesota are working on a trade!!!!!!!!!! Let me call Portland. And tell them to take Randy Foye!!! CD: Yes, Portlant is going to take Rudy Gay. Patterson and the Portland Bunch: Geez, I guess we have to take Rudy Gay now. West: Patterson!!!! Take Foye!!!!!!! Patterson: We don't like Foye. Duhhhh. West: Time is running out take Foye!!!! Don't have time to explain. Do it now. Patterson: I guess you are Jerry West and a Genius. OK. David Stern: With the 7th pick the Blazers pick Rany Foye. CD: $h!t. Jeff is going to be mad at me. Argggg. Let me call my good buddy Jerry West. He and I are good friends. West: Hello. CD: Jerry, hi how you doing. West: Ok. CD: Well, I decided I've had time to think about the thing we were discussing the other day. West: I'm not interested anymore. CD: Come on Jerry. West: Well, I found a guy I just can't live without at the 24th pick. I can't part way with that pick anymore. I also have a guy I just have to have next year with my 1st roung pick. CD: Be reasonalbe Jerry. Battier for Howard and the #8 pick. West: Sure Battier for the #8 pick and Swift. CD: Can you hold a second West, my other line is ringing. JVG: CD What $h!t is going on. I wanted Brandon Roy. Your A$$ is in so much trouble. You better not get me that Gay Girly Girl Chump. Because I'm mean Buzinessss!!!! CD: Whatever you say West. You the man "logo". West (thinink): Glad fleecing you. Even though I took you to school. You did get a missing piece to your team. You Will have a better team than me. You might even win a championship. CD (thinking): I'm a gambler, and it didn't pay off here. It's better to cut your loses and realize when you've been taken.
as soon as i heard of the trade i researched their stats and reviews on their games. at that point i supported the trade. i was glad to get rid of swift and don't care for a future draft pick because it would be 2-5 years before he ever wore the uniform. furthermore i predict gay will never be an all-star. he will be no better than the josh howard before his breakout season.
So you're guaranteeing this years' Rockets will go to the 2nd round? And you're drop-dead certain a team of Rudy Gay, Swift, Wells, Snyder and Spanoulis surrounding Yao and TMac couldn't get to the 2nd round? That's the point of "Win Now". They gave up potential for the "sure thing" of $Ball Shane. And they got robbed by not getting a pick from Memphis either that draft or next years'. On top of that, if they want to keep Wells, he'll use all of next summers' full MLE so it's almost certain next years' roster will be identical to this years'. Spin it how you want. They mortgaged the future for right now.
Bingo - if we hadn't gotten Snyder and Wells, this trade would have looked a lot worse than it really was. I still like Rudy Gay and I think he will be a special player in this league. I hope for my sake and sanity, I'll be wrong on this. But yea, we got fleeced - we should have at least gotten a late 1st round pick from Memphis.
This is our team, and I trust CD and our front office, period. Its all a balance, the Swift deal clears up future cap space, Battier is an excellent addition but we passed on a potentially good player. Its not an exact science, maybe we draft Gay and he ends up with a career ending injury after 2 seasons, maybe he goes on a stoned rampage and fires several rounds at his girlfriend while running down the street in his neighborhood, then he'll signs with New Jersey, and eventually end up as a mediocre player in Minnesota, where he'll be involved in some embarrassing traffic accident. Anyway its a waste of time being upset about this trade, we have a good (posssibly great) team, and we will for some time provided everyone stays healthy. Now Mario Williams over Reggie Bush that was a f#$%?$% tragedy.
I still don't understand this angle against Battier. Not just from this post but this angle used in a number of posts. If Gay can put up Battier's numbers of last year wouldn't that mean that Battier was better still since he put up 14.5 ppg and 6 rebounds as a rookie. (just going off the top of my head here for stats). He did that while shooting very consistent percentages as a rookie. He seems to have been coached into a lesser role with the Grizzlies. He's always had a "Yes Coach!" mentality from everything I've read. Just because he doesn't shoot doesn't mean he can't.
Becuase my name is Rudy I was so angry I was ready to walk up to some random person and kick them in the shin, but now I'm so excited about how good of a chance we have to take it all this year.
I'll take the vet (Battier) this year cause you cannot have a team of stars or guys that need to ball to be successful. Yao needs to rock; T-Mac needs the Rock; Gay would have needed the Rock, Bonzi needs the rock...not enough to go around. Battier can get his numbers taking the open shot and with hustle plays (offensive rebounds) and beating the other 4 down court for fast breaks. IF the powers that be thought Gay was better than trading for Battier...guess what? He would be wearing Rocket red right now. Houston has to have a win-now mentality because that's all that matters...fannies in the seats and the Toy Box now...new banners from this century hanging from the rafters and you have to have some immediate impact players. Gay is going to be good...but there are a lot of good players that never become great or even all-stars. By the middle of the season, everyone in that locker room is going to love having Battier in the trenches every day as a consumate veteran, class guy and rock each night. JVG has already laid down the mandate of what he wants from Shane and I dare say...he'll deliver it @ the 4 or 3 and he'll put up better numbers than at Memphis while playing stellar D night in and night out.
Get this thread out again three years later, then you can say if it is a good, great, or bad trade. Right now all the talks are just talks.
I don't see this unless the pick is surefire not going to bust. Battier is not some old man. He'll probably be good for at least 4 more years if not more. The Rockets also got who will probably still be the best player in 4 years time. I would have liked a late first or a second round pick, but the Rockets got the best player now. Battier will probably be the better player in 4 years. If you think the Rockets should plan on the future past 4 years, the Rocks should also try to move McGrady for multiple first round picks.
