Kennedy: Rockets Waiting for Blockbuster Deal By: Alex Kennedy With the trade deadline less than a month and a half away, the Houston Rockets are doing their due diligence after failing to live up to expectations early in the season. The team is taking calls and exploring their options, but the team isn't itching to make a deal after winning eight of their last 10 games. The Rockets have been able to ride their recent five-game winning back into playoff consideration and are competing for the final seed in the Western Conference which they held prior to Wednesday's loss to the Miami HEAT. While much of Houston's core has been mentioned in trade rumors recently, sources close to the situation say that the team isn't in any hurry to make a move and will only pull the trigger on a deal if it yields a significant upgrade. So far, the Rockets haven't been overly impressed with any of the offers they have received and are waiting for the right package to materialize. After stockpiling talent and picks, Houston would love to turn their assets into an All-Star so they continue to do their homework and are aware of what's available around the league. The team has had conversations centered around Yao Ming and are asking for prospects, picks, and ending contracts in return. Though his health is still up in the air, Yao brings plenty to the table when it comes to the team's sales and exposure. That's why it will take a very attractive package for Houston to part with Yao. Even when injured, he generates plenty of China-based sales and remains a valuable piece for the franchise, so much so that one source close to the situation insists that the Rockets won't move him unless it means acquiring a superstar. Kevin Martin is in a similar boat. Teams have approached the Rockets with offers for Martin, but management won't budge. When the Orlando Magic offered Marcin Gortat for Martin prior to completing their six-player trade with the Phoenix Suns, Houston declined and instead countered with a deal involving Courtney Lee. Like Yao, Martin won't be moved unless he's included in a package that would bring back a superstar, such as Carmelo Anthony. The Rockets want to be players if the Denver Nuggets decide to trade Anthony because they believe they have the talent to both acquire Anthony and also convince him to sign a contract extension. One person with knowledge of the Rockets' thinking jokes Houston would trade anyone, including Rick Adelman and his staff, if it meant acquiring Anthony before February's trade deadline. Trade rumors involving Aaron Brooks have also surfaced, but sources say that he's the least likely player to be moved by the Rockets. Teams like the Sacramento Kings, who have always let their interest in the point guard be known, continue to pursue Brooks, but the chance of a deal happening is very slim. Because he's a restricted free agent after the season, teams aren't offering anything substantial for Brooks. No team, including Sacramento, wants to risk losing or overpaying to keep him this summer should he sign a large offer sheet elsewhere. The Rockets aren't going to blow up their roster for just anyone which is why many of the incoming offers haven't been appealing to the team. While pieces such as Jared Jeffries or Courtney Lee could be made available for roster tweaks – the Rockets have had their eye on Brendan Haywood – they'll continue to hold onto their other assets should an All-Star become available closer to the trade deadline. With a huge cost clearing chip in Yao Ming, plenty of talented players, and draft picks to sweeten a deal, the Rockets are expected to be players closer to February should a team choose to part with a star player. But until that happens, don't expect Houston to settle and deal away the valuable pieces they hope to eventually use in a blockbuster trade.
Gortat seems unhappy with the suns have to keep an eye on this maybe trade deadline move with the suns. Marcin Gortat Rips Suns Defense After Disappointing Loss to Sixers By Brett Pollakoff PHOENIX -- Frustrations reached a boiling point for the Phoenix Suns both during and after Wednesday's dreadful 123-110 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers over their inability to play defense. Philadelphia ranks just 22nd in the league in offensive efficiency and 23rd in the league in points per game, averaging just 95.6 per contest. But the Sixers put up 123 on the Suns by shooting a gaudy 54.9 percent from the field and getting to the free-throw line 35 times to Phoenix's 17. There were plenty of questionable calls that didn't go the Suns' way, including an out-of-bounds call late in the fourth quarter that went to the Sixers -- one that Steve Nash was certain should have gone in his team's favor. For a few brief moments, Nash completely lost it, picking up a technical foul for demonstratively arguing with the official who made the call. Nash continued to protest after he was whistled for the technical, and seemed as though he was trying to get the second one called so he could take an early shower. Two sources sitting close enough to hear Nash's comments independently confirmed the statement he made to Alvin Gentry but was clearly directed at the official: "I'm going to f*****g punch one of these motherf*****s in the face." Yes, it was that kind of night for the Suns -- and the frustration continued in the locker room afterward. Gentry's post-game press conference with reporters was delayed for an extended period while the locker room remained closed, presumably for the team to discuss its woeful lack of execution on the defensive end of the floor. One of the newest members of the team, Marcin Gortat, was incredulous at his new team's abysmal defensive effort, but thankfully, he wasn't speechless. The backup big man had plenty to say about what went wrong, and how much hard work it's going to take for the team to fix all its problems. "It's just a little bit frustrating when you come in the locker room and people are talking about the offense," Gortat began. "That's not the way you're going to win NBA games. I don't know if it's just me, or maybe I'm just different, but I came from a team where everybody's competing and trying to do the stuff that coach is saying. We're just totally changing our rotations, changing our stuff that we set before the game. We're not playing hard enough and I've just got to tell you, there's a lot, a lot of work in front of us. The positive thing is? It can't be worse." Gentry said the Suns are working hard in practice, but for whatever reason that hard work isn't translating into that effort being there in game situations. But we'll stick with Gortat, as he seemed to give the most honest and straightforward assessment of the team's defensive struggles. "I just think we have to be at the gym every day for three hours," Gortat continued. "Learn the rotations, learn everything from the beginning. I mean, there are so many things we're doing bad, I just can't find an explanation. I'm trying to get some rebounds and stops, but unfortunately there's not too many opportunities for me to rebound because the team is scoring 120-something points. "It's just frustrating; frustrating as hell. I'm not going to lie." Gortat played in Orlando the last four seasons, on a Magic team that was elite for the last three. He knows what it takes to reach that level, and it's been quite an adjustment for him coming to a team that's near the bottom of the league defensively. "It's kind of a reality check for me, being on a team who is winning then all of a sudden coming to a team which is losing," Gortat said. "I mean, we are the worst defensive team in the league. I don't know; we've just got to come tomorrow as early as possible and just put in work -- three hours at least." Gortat then preached the importance of work ethic as he continued to break down how he's seen his new team approach things during his brief time in Phoenix. "I think we've just got to be more serious about everything that we do," Gortat said. "We've got a lot of young guys on the team. A lot of potential, but a lot of young guys who don't know how it is to be on top and play at a high level. It's not only focus on the game, it's also focus on the practice. When you come through that door, that's the time to lock in and get ready for the game or practice. It can't happen where you're coming in and doing different things. We've got to read the scouting report, which guy likes to do what, and we've just got to learn it. "There's a lot of work in front of us, I'm telling you guys. A lot of work. With Philly scoring 120 points, I don't want to see teams like Boston, Orlando, San Antonio ... because it's going to be bad." As Gortat mentioned, things are already bad. And defensively, they seemingly can't get too much worse for the Suns. link http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/12/30/marcin-gortat-rips-suns-defense-after-disappointing-loss-to-sixe/
Has anyone been watching how Gortat has been playing with the Suns? I am intrigued to see how he has been performing now that he is the number 1 man in the middle. Looking at his stats, especially rebounding, are not at all impressive. Any comments?
Clicked send too soon: http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=2fsnugt Jeffries and Gortat's contracts line up perfectly.
Thank you, srrono. Very enlightening. I was sceptical of Gortat before, just because he lived in the very large shadow of Dwight Howard and has never player significant minutes in the NBA. I'm now a HUGE fan, and think he would be a great addition to the team, both from a culture and need standpoint. Does anyone know of any reason Gortat can't be traded again before the deadline? I wonder if we have something Phoenix would want. Bud would probably fit in that offense, and he went to UA.
He can only be involved in single player trades (1 for 1) and can't be traded back to Orlando for a calendar year.
Phoenix sun could not get much worse? How about 130 or 140 points?Hope they lose by that much so we can get their backup center for free.
Gortat said: I'm trying to get some rebounds and stops, but unfortunately there's not too many opportunities for me to rebound because the team is scoring 120-something points. They run too much dont box out.
I would trade Jeffries, trade exceptions, 1st round pick and AB for Nash and Gortat. We need somebody to block at least 2 shots a game at the rim to deter the Dwayne Wade type onslaught and improve our rebounding.
does anyone have any yao responses to all of this? I don't seem to remember a yao interview/report after this injury. I would love to hear what yao has to say about being potentially traded/career ending.
