i don't feel like looking it up, but i know i saw the Doc Rocket posted that james posey would be moved into the starting lineup at some point and that robin (cat) could be moved (either to the bench or out the door). that was last week. look for cat & griff to be moved if it's brand we're talking about. ...and, btw, i'd do it in a New York (gram!) minute...
Exactly. While Brand is a very good player, he's no franchise player pure talent wise. Max players should be franchise players. If Brand demands a max deal, he's clearly overpaid. And we can't afford to have so many overpaid players in our roster.
Does Elton Brand make us a legitimate contender this year. Does he make the Rockets equal to the Mavericks, Kings, Spurs, and Lakers(even though they aren't playoff worthy yet) Yao is no pushover as we've all seen. Posey is a monster on the defensive side. Mobley is 5 or 6 passes away from being junior Drexler (by his slashing and driving abilities while being 3 whole inches shorter). Francis, is 5 or 6 passes away and 2 less turnovers aways from being a legitimate MVP candidate. Elton's number just seem to good to be true. How do we know he won't become another Taylor. Remember when he was holding the Clippers hostage for a max contract? Taylor on an up and coming but still not good team can only average you about 8 points and 5 rebounds. Come on this guy was holding a team hostage. How do we know that Elton Brand won't be the same on a good team? Look don't come an blast me because I'm not a clipper fan and won't waste my time watching them. I'm a Rocket fan and my job ain't to be a scout for the Rockets. If you happen to know or see something from Brand let us in on your expertise. I just don't want another over paid Taylor. And I am aware that Taylor was never a 20/10 guy. But Taylor was a 17/7 guy. That was only 3 less points and 3 less rebounds than Brand.
Why am I not surprised someone would bring this up. First let me preface, how does anyone who consider themselves a Rockets fan not know anything about the NBA. I'm sorry for being harsh but let's face it - This should be so obvious that if you even follow the NBA casually you should know the answer to this. Ok, here goes. Donald Sterling is the worst owner in the NBA. If you type in Sterling, Clippers, and cancer on Google, you'd be shocked to see how many hits you get. That should tell you something right there. Donald Sterling is a cheap b*stard. he doesn't care about winning. He is Mr. Lottery. No one wants to play for this guy. There is no team chemistry, no team unity, no desire to do anything. Olowokandi - He's already gone. He's barely even playing. He doesn't give a crap. he won't be there next year. Andre Miller- He hates the Clippers the Clippers hate him. Like everyone else, he wants out. Elton Brand - this is the only guy on the entire team the gives a crap. Have you watched him play? He plays hard day in day out every minute, every night. He grabbed 19 rebounds today in a 14 point loss to the Raptors. He does not have franchise talent but is an overachiever that wills himself to become a second tier superstar. This is exactly what the Rockets don't need. A tenacious rebounder who finishes down low. He is not just a blue collar worker. Blue collar players don't score 19 points, grab 12 rebs, averages 2.6 blocks and shoots 50% . This guy has talent and he makes the most of it.
Who needs Brand to be a franchise player? Unless Francis is in this deal(which he won't be), we don't need Brand to carry the team. He just need to be what he is right now, a consistent low post option who can rebound on both sides of the floor. And as for Brand not winning on the Clippers, how can a team filled with expiring contracts play together as a team? Besides, they're the Clippers. They can have the western conference all-stars and find ways to lose.
I don't know why everyone is so afraid of giving Brand the max. We're talking about maybe the 3rd best power forward in the league here. He's still just 23 years old and he's going to get even better. Big men win championships. With Brand and Yao, we would have 2 of the best big men in the NBA on the same team.
Mo Taylor's BEST season, he averaged 6.5 rebs. After today's 19 reb game, Elton Brand is averaging about 11.5 rebs a game. That is a difference of 5 rebs a game. That is huge . Brand is a better scorer, shoots a higher FG %, blocks more shots, and grabs more rebounds. How many other relevant, PF categories are there?
Brand will get the contract that the market will allow him to get. If the market dictates that he gets the max, then I have no problem with it. I'd be a lot happier with him getting the max then say, Posey getting 6 million a year.
I loves my Eggie, but I think I'd have to let him go if we could get Brand. I don't understand what all this nonsense is about, whether he is a franchise player or not? The guy has put up 20/10 for nearly 4 years now and doesn't show any signs of slipping. I'd take that, and his physical mentality, on my team any day of the week.
How many other 23 year old player averages 19 ppg 11 rebs, 2 blocks, and shoots 50% . These are his career statistics - not a one hit wonder. Oh yeah, he's just a glorified blue collar worker.
And does the silence from our "insiders" mean anything? Why I couldn't have edited this into one post, I'll never know.
One think that you must consider when bringing in Brand is, what are you going to do with Taylor. I have no problem with giving Brand near-max or max dollars, but if we do, I have a problem with a back up PF who will be lucky to play 15 minutes a night make 8 million a year. If Brand comes, Taylor and either Moochie or Cato have to go.
I just have to chime in and say any trade in which we recieve Brand while not giving up Steve or Yao would be awesome. Brand is a great rebounder, a good offensive low post presence, and an awesome defender. With Brand and Yao on the inside, Francis making a few shots from the outside, it'd be over. Plz pull the trigger rox. Depth for a stud anyday. What's a lil cool is the rox can break up the backcourt now(if they so choose) w/o the fear of Francis bolting. *droooll* As cool as the last 2 wins have been, Brand on the rox can only be an improvement imo.
