The Rockets offense is at it's best when it starts from the inside. As great as Yao is, he can't do all the inside scoring by himself. Brand gives the team that second go to guy inside. Look how great the offense looked today with the offense starting with Eddie and Yao in the post. Brand does what Eddie did today every game.
SOMEONE must have SOME news on this. oeilpere? Doc? CLUTCH? What is this about NOT giving Brand the MAX? Once we get Brand, if anyone else requires the ball, TRADE HIM. Look at the BIG picture: When you have Yao, Brand and Francis: 1) You're locked up at 3 positions for 40 minutes for the next 8 years or so. 2) We don't NEED anyone to want to play for us. 3) NO one holds any special value anymore 4) Everyone will WANT to play for us I have to say...The best deal, to me, so far is something like this: Cato/Griffin/Mobley for Rooks/Brand/Piatowski We're giving up a LOT, but if you think about it.... We CAN'T keep Mobley, because he needs the ball... We don't need Griffin, because we'd have ourselves a young stud PF... We have to unload Cato because rebounding and toughness is no longer a problem, but capspace IS. Basically, I assume we put Rooks on the IR, and play Piatowski and Posey at the 2 this season. At the end of the season, Pike and Rooks walk. So basically, it's Cato, Griffin and Mobley for Brand. Anyone consulted a Clippers BBS?
I'd like to add to what I said by saying: I would GUT this year's team (aside from Francis and Yao) and risk slipping out of the playoffs by a whisker to get Brand. Most probably, we'll get 5th seed, but who knows with chemistry. Regardless, for Brand, I'd do it. No question. Brand is the #1 compliment to Yao.
If they can not get a guarntee or atleast close to it that Brand will resign after the season than there is no way you do it. Way to risky to pull the trigger.
I have a question to ask about what the Rockets can offer Brand with regards to a contract extension. Can the Rockets offer him more money than other teams if it comes down to that? Or does the Bird exception not kick in because Brand had not been with the Rockets for several years.
Sane, Cato, Mobley, Griff for Brand, Pike, Rooks doesn't work under the cap we're giving up way to much salary. However it works if the Clips will throw in Odom, fat chance of that happening.
I don't care how you want to analyze this, but to have Yao and Brand as an inside presence and Franchise at point, that is a team worthy to run for the championship and probably this year. So I hope they pull it out somehow.
Good point. We won't win the title this year or the next 2 years anyway. Let EG develop with Yao together and I actually think in the long run EG will be a better complement to Yao than Elton Brand because EG has an outside game Brand doesn't have. Plus EG is taller. Brand is undersized PF in the West. I don't like that.
I really like Eddies game. I watch a lot of the games just to see his progress. By trading him, the Rockets put themselves in a very though situation. First, he has potential to be the best player in the league. There is chemistry that is developing with Eddie on the team. Third, Eddie doesn't demand the ball, he scores off what other do, while still being effective. Elton will be a free agent next season. He will take shots away from the rest of the guys. Third, Elton had Miller and Odom on his team, and the team still couldn't win. Now, you put Francis and Mobley who are score happy players, what will Elton do when the ball isn't being passed his way? Yao, Elton, Posey, Mobley, and Francis look like a formiatable team. But so does Kadiman, Elton, Odom, Maggette, and Miller. Let's not trade Griffin unless, there is a guarantee that Brand will sign with the Rockets after this season.
I don't think EG has the potential to be the best player. But I agree that he's a better fit for this team and he's cheaper contract wise. I don't think Brand is worth the max contract. Max players in my mind should be franchise players and Brand's a glorified blue-collar player IMO.
There are so many things wrong with this analysis. First, there is no way Eddie has the potential to be the best player in the game. Yes he's 20 but he has too many holes in his game to work on. 1. He can barely dribble 2. He has a very inconsistent flat shot. 3. He gets abused by bigger PF's. Today he did very well with Hedo Turkoglu guarding him. If it was Webber, Brand, Duncan, Nowtizki, they would absolutely overpower Eddie. Second, Elton Brand gets a lot of shots from his rebounding. He's an absolute hoss. I wish people who don't know what theyre talking about would watch some games before shooting their mouth off. Elton Brand gets a lot of his points off putbacks. He does not always demand the ball. He is averaging over 11 boards a game and is one of the Top Offensive rebounders. That means a lot of easy baskets off misses. He's not a pure shooter yet he makes almost 50% of his FG's. How does he do that? He's 2 feet away from the basket and He rarely takes bad shots. Elton Brand would be the perfect complement to Yao. If the Clippers for whatever stupid reason offers Brand for Griffin, I would do that in a nanosecond and so should any Rockets fan.
Is there even room for debate here??? With Steve, Yao and Brand, you could cut Mobley, put two Power dancers out there and do the Jordan and the Bulls. Seriously, Brand is the: physical presence... inside force... rebounder... shot blocker... and enforcer for Yao that Eddie (+25 lbs) can only dream of being. You bend the Clippers over. Then take up my Power Dancers idea.
Why would Clippers trade Brand anyway? If they want EG, why didn't they just keep Tyson Chandler who many people think have more potential than EG?
This is a smoke screen. We're actually trading for Alvin Gentry and Lamar Odom and the Clippers will secure a long term Center in Cato. We're trading Posey straight up for KG.
Oh man, would I love to see us get Brand for Griffin straight up. Im not as sure about trading Mobley though. That would be pretty tough. Id be interested to hear if Clutch, Mr. Oily, or any other insiders have heard anything on this. Common you studs, what have you heard?
The one positive is that Les Alexander has never walked away from paying players(he isn't the clippers owner). I don't think there has ever been a time that someone got traded because of cap situations. Hakeem got traded simply because he was going to destroy any chance of this becoming a team that it is today. As long as they can resign Brand, I'm hesitantly okay with the trade. Brand is something we all want Eddie to become. But, you who has watched a lot of Clippers Basketball by your previous post, answer me this question. Why aren't the Clippers winning with Brand, Odom, Maggette, Miller, and Candy man? Why? Why? Why didn't the Bulls win with Brand? From everything I hear, he is a good player, but he can never ever ever be confused for a franchise player. He is a horse. A blue collar work horse that can help but won't lead your team to victory. Hakeem would win games and make the playoffs with nobody around him. And Hakeem was a 25 and 12 guy for a good portion of his career. Griffin/Taylor or Cato for Brand and Change (of course in a three way deal) works for me. Of course the trouble is getting the salaries to match. But, no way do we include Mobley in this trade. Including Mobley kills the deal for me.
Please don't trade Cuttino. I love EG as well. I would give this team a chance, but I know thats my heart talking.
