man, so it looks like things are falling apart quickly. we have only a few options left and i have enough faith in morey's abilities to fix the situation. i'm not sure if it's possible, but i'd be pretty happy if we somehow ended up with a starting line-up of: Brooks, Fernandez, Ariza, Scola, Gortat and then have the rookies come off the bench to develop. like i've said before, we can have a much more uptempo offense and have our young guys develop, while likely getting a good position in next year's draft. the reasons it could happen: rudy's discontent with his situation in portland. we could trade battier for rudy fernandez. lakers don't have the money (i don't think) to sign both ariza and odom, especially since kobe didn't opt out for a discount. so to keep odom and get something in return, we'd do a sign and trade with artest for ariza. then just use our MLE money to pick up gortat. and then have lowry, taylor, budinger, landry, dorsey off the bench. and who knows? if tmac and yao miraculously come back......
Power of Positive Thinking... The moat recent new out of Rocketland is pretty damn blimm. However, there is a very realistic chcance that this could be -a cheap- blessing in disguise. Assuming we dont try to keep McGrady, are signing Joe Johnson and Marcus Camby even close to out of the question a year from now? What if we added a rookie wing in the top ten? A guy like Paul George or Devin Ebanks would play lots of minutes behind Shane for some offensive prowess. Finally, we should be much better just by having another year together in this offense. Brooks, Lowry, Landry, Scola, Taylor and Buddinger should all get -more- comfortable this year. Would anyone not think we would be a championship callibre team with the following: Brooks/Landry Johnson/Taylor/Buddinger Battier/Ebanks/Buddinger Scola/Landry/Camby (100%)Yao/Camby I think we should stand pat and play the youngsters hoping Yao will be back and ready in 10-11. In the meantime we sign solid players preparing for life after Yao if need be.
I think no matter what happens it's going to fun to watch this team. We have so many young guys that have heart and intensity and that's fun to root for. I just hope we get some size in the frontcourt and hopefully another star player.
Lakers don't have money to get Ariza because of Odom. Unless they are ditching Odom and Ariza, why would they spend their "precious" money on Artest? I know I've heard reports on LA interested in Artest, but I'm still confused why? Having lots of young guys are GREAT. But, you need veterans that can lead. I'm guessing we'll keep Battier for that very reason. Yao is apparently out till mid-season. If we sign Gortat, that would leave the PF/C position with Hayes, Landry, Scola, Dorsey, and Gortat. I think we might be able to handle a half a season with them. At SF/SG, we have Taylor (who is a big question mark), James White (who is also a question mark), Barry (who's freakin old) and Battier. Obviously, having Artest and Wafer gone just like that hurts us A LOT. We have a huge hole in those positions. That is why I'm thinking we have to trade Tracy if we want to contend this season with Yao coming back. Now at point guard, we'll have Brooks and Lowry (with Barry occasionaly). I'm comfortable with those two handling the job. Just freakin don't get injured. If they just resign Artest, I still think we can contend. Maybe we'll do a sign-and-trade with him, and just let Tracy's contract expire.
I posted this earlier but I think call Portland and offer Battier/Landry for Fernandez, Outlaw and Filler(Frye once signed), Sign Gortat and trade TMAC for Prince/Rip. No long contracts minus Rip and a Long Athletic Team with tons of Potential. Gortat/Dorsey/Frye Scola/Outlaw/Hyes Prince/Fernandez Rip/Rookies/White Brooks/Lowry Now when Yao comes back in the 2nd half of the season it will be a dynamic team and a nightmare to defend.
No disrespect - but if that's our starting line-up we'll be getting a pretty good position in next years draft all right... If we can't get some genuine value back for Ron Artest that'll help us a little THIS season and have some future benefit (ie expiring play + picks) then there's little to no point in taking back extra salary for a mediocre player. We might as well just stink, and stink badly, for a season and then let somebody hit paydirt next season.
Look to trade T-mac, Brooks, and Battier for the best young talent or draft picks you can. Sign and Trade Ron. Sign Gortat. Blow it up and tank ala the Spurs with Duncan. Draft John Wall next year and sign Bosh. Wall, Bosh, Scola, Lowry, Landry, and Gortat are a great nucleus. Key is you have to get something special out of trading T-mac/Brooks/Battier/Ron. Whether it's a lotto pick or a Rip Hamilton type wing.
1. Sign and Trade Artest to the Lakers for Trevor Ariza and Adam Morrison 2. Trade Battier and future 1st Rounder to Portland for Rudy Fernandez and Travis Outlaw 3. Sign Gortat to the MLE 4. Do the "turn McGrady into Hinrich and Rip Hamilton" trade I proposed last week Gortat/Hayes Scola/Landry Ariza/Outlaw Hamilton/Fernandez Hinrich/Brooks That hole at center? "And your starting center, at 7'6" from China, welcome back Yao Ming!" Yao/Gortat Scola/Landry Ariza/Outlaw Hamilton/Fernandez Hinrich/Brooks Yao plus shooters galore = sick Adelman offense
Fastest way to fix it is blow it up like the Jailblazers. Starting lineup Lowry Jermaine Taylor Budinger Landry Dorsey The rockets will play the scrubs to "head in a new direction and develop talent". They get a top 4 pick and rebuild.
Morey should build a time machine and bring the greatest Rockets back Calvin/Steve/Sam Clyde/Vernon Rudy T/Tracy(2004) Barkley/Ralph(Rookie) Dream/Moses/Yao
These are the moves I would make if Morey cant trade for Rubio. 1. Sign and trade Gortat for Hayes 2. Trade T-Mac for Prince and Hamilton 3. Trade Battier for Fernandez, Kopponen and Freeland I dont know if this works cap wise but I like it from a talent standpoint. PG Brooks, Lowery, Kopponen SG Hamilton, Fernandez, Taylor C Gortat, Freeland, Dorsey, Yao PF Scola, Landry SF Prince, Budinger, White This plan gives the Rox alot of cap flexability and a very young that also has playoff experience. Tear my plan apart but be civil about it.
I think we need to get Gortat and let Artest go and wait till 2010 and try to pick up d-wade that would be awesome
if we go with this plan...I think the more realistic approach is trying to get Joe Johnson...he'll be kind of under the radar with Lebron, Wade, and Bosh taking the spot light during the biggest FA of the decade
I don't see any major problem if we have this guy... <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aBEWnlpNwqw&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aBEWnlpNwqw&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
