Sources: Carmelo open to multiyear deal with Rockets

My initial reaction is no way I would trade Brooks for Billups. Billups is 34 and you would think he would be decling.

But digging deeper, it's clear Billups is just a lot better than Brooks. He has a TS% of 60% which is outstanding. Brooks is around 55%. Billups is also a lot smarter in terms of being a PG. Also, he is not showing signs of decline.

As for his age, Hollinger has this to say:
Size and shooting ability are the two biggest determinants of career length, and Billups is one of the biggest players at his position and one of the best shooters. He's also kept himself in shape, so the fact that he'll be 33 when training camp opens shouldn't have the Nuggets overly concerned. His numbers are likely to be more in line with last season's than with the previous three campaigns in Detroit, but even so, he's one of the better point guards in basketball. One can only wonder why the Pistons were in such a rush to be rid of him.

Although this debate is kinda irrelevant. I don't see why the Nuggets would give up Billups, unless they want to rebuild with Aaron.

 

Billups was the better player last year, and I expect he will be in the coming season as well. I don't know about doing a trade. Neglecting salary considerations, yes. Brooks has youth and durability on his side, and he presented some matchup problems for the Lakers in years past. If I was making a case for Aaron, that's what I'd focus on. But I like Billups more.

 

Interesting. Those stats are from Synergy, right? Do you have an account?

 

Billups of 3 years ago, yeah, but not Billups at 34......

DD

 

Thats not what i meant at all. I mean couldn't new york just say this is the best were gonna offer you for him. If you don't like it we are happy waiting one year while he sulks on your team, then at the end of the year he can come play for us and we wont be giving you anything at all. Because why would new york give up the few players that are worth anything when there is a chance they could come away with everything. Of course in that scenario Melo would have to be willing to leave money on the table, but who knows crazier things have happened.

 

Noticebly worse? What are you basing this on? I didn't notice this when I watched him play. Either way, his "noticebly worse" is still light years better than Brooks defense. Brooks is a pathetic defender.

I'm watching the Brooks that struggles to get folks involved as a PG and seems easy to trap or control when the game is on the line. There seemed to be three common topics of convo last year. One was Ariza. The other was Brooks and his inability to get folks involved. The 3rd was our inability to close games because we had no one to give the ball to for us to get a shot in crunch time. There are plenty of post game threads griping about that.

Brooks and Billups had similar stats. But Brooks doesn't play defense....at all. Billups does. Brooks is good at scoring but pretty bad at getting others involved. Billups isn't. With Brooks, the majority of the board thinks we don't have anyone to close games. Billups has a history of hitting big shots. Brooks has youth on his side but as of right now he isn't a better PG than Billups. Maybe if you don't care about your PG getting others involved, playing defense or being able to get his own shot at the end of games. If Billups is the short term upgrade that comes along with getting a top 10 player then you bite that bullet everyday.

Now please stop overrating our guards. Last year we weren't even sure if Brooks was better than his backup.

 

I guess you forgot the topic "the Rockets' best player is out for the season". You know, the one that Billups didn't have to experience. Do you think that might affect how each of them plays in "crunch time"?

 

Brooks was horrible late in games.

Now, don't know why but I just got the feeling that the rocks may be getting used and aren't really an option. Hope I'm wrong.

 

Brooks had the same struggles when Yao was here. Billups is a bigger PG and is better at getting his own shot. He is built to get inside and take a pounding, which is why he gets to the line twice as much as Brooks. He isn't undersized for his position. Those are facts that have nothing to do with us missing our best player. No coach is going to want the ball in Brooks hands over Billups to close a game or get a last shot, no matter who else is on the court.

 

Gentlemen, stats is only 1 factor to suggest someone is better than someone else. But I look at the Rockets long term future, I would take the NBA MIP all day over a Chauncey Billups who's had his best days. Let's remember, Chauncey has been traded more times than Shaq.

I would love to see the Rockets vs. Denver in the playoffs. Yes, Chauncey would give AB fits on the post, but I love when PG's take over the shooting responsibilities by posting up AB, which actually puts then in the blocking radius of Yao.

Therefore, please let all of the scoring PG's take as many fields goals attempts they like, because in the end the true value of the a PG is knowing when to get other involved. Also, please assume that AB is going to give them fits on the other end also.

GO AB, give them fits

 

Unless you have suddenly developed a reading problem, you know that the current discussion in the thread is... does taking Billups as the price of getting Anthony, presumably in a deal involving Brooks, a trade worth doing? Not whether we should simply trade Brooks for Billups. You can certainly say that in your opinion it is not, but it isn't necessary to twist the premise around into a leather covered pretzel.

 

The same struggles? You mean in the 20 or so games he started as a 2nd year player with him?

Man...this is a tough crowd.....Brooks is the starter, he is a budding star player and people whine about him starting over another good PG in Lowry.

He may be the most underated Rocket on the team, it is simply......Unreal.

DD

 

Wow, I go on vacation for 1 week and I come back to see a 70 page thread on speculation..

Just because Carmelo said he would be open to an extension if he was traded here, doesn't mean he is automatically coming here.

Sheesh, people need to chill! I love Melo's game but it's definatley not worth 70 pages of speculation..

 

It's the off-season and 108 degrees outside. What did you expect??

 

August has been way too stinking hot, where are all those tropical storms we were promised?

DD

 

Yeah, thats true..

But it wasn't any cooler in Miami! Between those sickening Lebron jersey's and the heat (weather), I do feel your pain lol.

 

The possibility of cool temperatures decreased when Trevor Ariza and his ice cold shooting woes got shipped to NOLA.

 

LOL, man it feels good to be back on clutchfans again. :grin:

 

So the ice age is over...a 3 step process.

1. Rafer traded
2. Tmac traded
3. Trevor traded

If you shoot under 40%...look out.......Morey will ship your butt outta town.

DD

 

It's not a tough crowd. It's an honest crowd. Brooks is not as good as Billups at defense, getting others involved or getting his shot/closing games. His size limits him from being a closer. His brain limits him in running an offense. I can't believe you or anyone else is even attempting to debate those 3 items. Yes he is younger and yes Billups will decline. But if the price tag to get Melo is to swap PG's then bye-bye Brooks. The prize isn't the PG. It's the top 10 player in his prime. If you can get a PG that is currently better as well then you take him. Especially since you only have to pay him one season if he doesn't pan out, and you have a young $6M a yr backup waiting in the wings.