Even if the Clippers don't want Mobley, we'll (before next season) unload Mobley. Even if we don't get Brand, I hope to unload Mobley. It's now a knock on the guy himself. He's a brilliant players who adjusts to anything and improves every single year. It's just his on-court relationship with Steve, plus his desire sometimes to "get his" disrupts the team. Cato/Griffin? Would sterling pay Cato 6M for the next 3 years? I guess it's better than paying Kandi 9M for the next 5 years, lol. It's a good deal for them, but still, I'd like to let Mobley go. Maybe for Aaron Mckie? How much does he make? I'm sure Mobley would like to go to his hometown Philly, and Philly needs some hard-working scorers right about now. Yes, I know Ivy's at the 2, but I'm assuming Mobley takes all of Mckie's minutes, with Ivy playing SLIGHTLY more PG than before.
Mobley for Aaron McKie now? I thank the dear Lord that Rudy and Carroll Dawson possess something resembling a brain.
Anyone who says that trading for Elton Brand is a good idea is a genius. Elton Brand has put up good numbers on bad teams, yes, but he did so while shooting >50% and scoring without even having plays run for him! This guy is a total badass, and is definitely one of the most underrated players in the NBA. The Rockets already traded an offensive-minded PF in Kenny Thomas for a defensive-minded James Posey who has absolutely no desire to shoot the ball. If the Rockets are able to trade Mobley and Griffin for Brand, they've gotten rid of a SG who commands the ball on offense, and an undersized PF who is still very raw but still talented. People call Elton Brand an 'undersized power forward' ? Puhleeze.. the man is 6'8" 265 and still averages over 2.5 blocks and 11 rebs per game. That is just sick. Eddie Griffin is 6'10" but only weighs 220 lbs. Griffin is one of the most undersized PFs in the Western Conference. It's not his fault, but it's a reality. I really hope this trade somehow goes through. I would love to get Piatkowski as well, who is a career 40-41% 3 point shooter. Imagining a lineup of Yao/Brand/Posey/Piatkowski/Francis sends chills down my spine. You have three potential 20 ppg scorers, and two great role players at the SF/SG position, with a perfectly intact bench. I doubt that this trade goes through, but if it does, we're going to be in a GREAT position. Even without Piatkowski, I still love it.
What is wrong with you people? I never said that I heard Mobley was on the trading block. They might want Cato because they are losing Kandi man. We don't know who the Clippers want or even if they want anybody. Why all the talk about Mobley? You never know, they might want Moochie or Taylor. You never know.
I don't know why you are so desperate to deal Mobley. Yes he takes shots but if he goes, who is our shooter when Yao kicks the ball outside? Mobley's our best shooter now aside from an always injuried and old Glen Rice. Aaron Mckie may be a slightly better defender than Mobley but he's nowhere the shooter Mobley is. Not to mention Mobley's younger and still improving while Mckie is like 31-32 years old. I've said this and I say it again. As long as Mobley learns to defer to Yao and Francis (as he's getting better now and did in the last 2 games), I've no problem with him as our 2-guard.
Ummm...even I wouldn't say no to that. Somehow I highly doubt that though. Anyways, I am not the one suggesting it will be Cuttino that gets traded. I'm just getting tired of all the negative Cuttino trade scenarios. Cuttino for Aaron McKie Cuttino for Troy Hudson Cuttino for Brent Barry Cuttino for Piatkowski Cuttino for Martha Stewart Cuttino for the towel boy. Its funny how fans of our own freakin team don't realize how talented the guy is.
Make no mistake about it, Elton Brand is the goods. As much as I hate Duke players, he's super-legit and just as passionate about the game as Yao and Francis. I'd add Brand to the Rockets over every other PF in the league except Tim Duncan. In terms of pure rankings, I'd put him behind only TD, Dirk and Jermaine O'Neal. But the risk inherent in this trade is adding too much talent to an already loaded team. Recall how Tomjanovich couldn't develop an offense to accomodate Olajuwon, Barkley and Drexler (courtesy of Chukster for Horry and Cassell). But could he manage with Yao, Brand and Francis? Brand's style of play would suggest so. So the only dealkiller for me is if we can't get Brand to sign an extension as part of the deal. Even with Brand, the Rockets' timetable is accelerated only by a year or two. I think the Rockets win next year (Yao can't manage physically this year). But if Brand leaves at the end of the season, it would be like the Barkley trade (giving up talent and potential for a rent-a-player) except Brand would remain in the league to torment us rather than just retiring. p.s. - I live in Los Angeles, and yes, Donald Sterling is ridiculous enough to make this trade. I hope he does. p.p.s. - We need to get rid of Cat as part of the trade because four guys with 15+ shots/game is too much. He's also a decent value which is something Sterling can appreciate. p.p.p.s. - For the same value considerations, no way will Sterling take Mo Taylor back (and Mo wouldn't want to go back, so it wouldn't be a good situation, not to mention that between Mo and Lamar Odom, the Clippers give the Blazers a run for the pot smoking title). p.p.p.p.s. - While Cato is a solid center and a starter for many teams in the league, he's probably too expensive for Sterling. Kind of funny how Cato's contract might finally be a good thing for the Rockets since he provides much needed explosiveness and energy off the bench.
The thing with Mobley is that, his improvement (in terms of deffering to Francis and Yao) is always "in the past 2 games.." Fine, bad idea to deal him for McKie. But unless there's a consistency in him defering to our other players, then he's just not a good fit here. Clippers MAY want Mobley, but from what I've read, I'm convinced they don't UNLESS we take 2 of their G's in return. I guess Cato/Griff for Brand/Rooks is the best deal that's been proposed here. I think if Orlando gets wind of this, we'd have a good 3rd team to deal with, and it would be a slightly bigger trade. Orlando have lots of picks plus Mike Miller to dangle around. But then again, what's to say Orlando doesn't just tell the Clippers they can have Mike Miller and 2 draft picks for Brand?
I have to wonder what our competition is ... I am very encouraged we have David Falk to help. He can find a new home for Taylor, later. Speculating Clips want to keep Odom, Brand Kandi Miller Q, out. Clips will need a center and pg; they have backup pf/cs, still need a starter pf. Speculating... Memphis could offer Gooden or Gasol plus Swift or Lo Wright or picks. Memphis would offer J Wil for Andre Miller, sure. They look like top competition. Atlanta could offer a Jason Terry /SAR/ picks package NY has Spree /KT. - too old/expensive. Boston could move Walker/Battie/ picks Philly has KVH/Snow Cleveland has Z / picks Toronto - well, VC could throw a monkey wrench into things. Don't see it. Indy - kiddie corps? Possible. Chicago. Trade for Chandler again? Jay Williams, maybe. New Orleans - possible. If they move Baron Davis, Mash - that's pretty sweet. Here's a funny one : Minnesota trades KG for all of them! Brand, Miller, Odom, Kandi and some more contracts. That would make me laugh. Utah...nothing Seattle ... nothing San Antonio...nothing - hmm, Parker and D-Rob? umm..nope. Portland ...lotsa expensive players Dallas ... expensive players. They have Nowitzki. So... it looks like us and Memphis. Go Rox!
Too much talent, there's no such thing It like way too funny or goin' too fast don't make me break out into song tslee98. Also, those guys were old and harder to form than younger guys. The three of those guys had the majority of their success around different players. In other words, I wouldn't worry about the offense if we add brand.
Cuttino 18.2 pts, 4.2 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.32 SPG, .46 BPG, 43% FG, 87% FT, 32% 3FG (and moving steadily up) Aaron 9.0 pts, 4.8 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.76 SPG, .13 BPG, 41% FG, 84% FT, 31% 3FG Lets trade a 20 pt scorer who shoots better from the field, free throw line and the 3 pt line (slightly) for a guy who averages almost 10 points per game less. Hey buy he averages 0.8 better reb and 0.9 more assists! A big ass:
By all means, please start naming them. Be reasonable, no Kobe/Shaq or TMac/Miller type stuff. I'm really interested in who has a better tandom than that. Gotta love these newbies.
If you have to give up Eddie ,Cat and whoever to get Brand, i think you do it. Its no wonder this team does well when we get some good production from the 4 spot. One night its Mo, one night its Eddie. It would be nice if every night we knew we would get 18pts and 11 rebs from one person at the 4 spot. If we made that trade, it would be nice to unload taylor and his contract. If this team was championship quality, les would do the luxury tax, but just beaing mediocre and having the luxury tax will not cut it. After all, brand is still only like 23 or going on 24.
This is said about any player posters on this board don't get a chance to watch. Brand is major. How many player in the past 10 yrs have came into the league and avg 20-10? Let me give you some players. Shaq,Duncan,Mourning and Brand. Thats all folks. Since 1992, it has been 4 players to avg 20-10 as a rookie.So now no one wants to give up a erractic 2,inconsistent 4 and a rebounding 5 backup? i wouldn't care personally. If the clipps wnted to do a brand,rooks,and piatoski for Cato,griffn and Cat, do it before they change their mind. The way Posey plays the 2 without requiring alot of shots and the way Morris have been playing lately, it would be a case of getting more atheletic in the starting lineup and really becoming better defensively.3 bonefide stars like Ellis,X-man and Chambers and 2 hustle role players would be great. At the end of the season you send pay posey and Brand, and send Taylor and Rice with his last yr of the contract somewhere. I would prefer to do a Grifin/Mobley for Brand and Maggette or Q, but I'm not sure the clipps are that dumb. I'd even throw in a 1st rd pick if they wanted it.
FORGET the Aaron Mckie deal. FORGET the fact that Cuttino averages 40+ minutes, whereas Mckie plays a backup role. Forget the fact that Mckie would be the BACKUP G for a second. Are you saying that you wouldn't trade Mobley if it meant probable Championship in the next few years? Would you not trade Mobley if the trade made the HOUSTON ROCKETS a better team? BTW, some trades for Brand: Gooden and Battier for Brand and Maggette Reef and Ratliff for Brand and Wright Rasheed Wallace for Brand and contracts Ricky Davis and TyHill for Brand and Maggette Derrick Coleman and Todd Macculough for Brand and contracts Troy Murphy and Jason Richardson for Brand and Q Richardson That was off the top of my head, right before statistics class. I'm sure there are better deals. That's why we need a pick to sweeten it. Clipps love picks.
Brand leads the Clips in points, rebounds, blocks and FG%. He is the heart and soul of the Clippers. The Rox will not have enough trade bait to make this dream-trade happen.
