I'd take Francis over James or Sura any day of the week, month, or year. And I'd take Davis over Francis. Geez, Davis is incredible.
No way he will be had for MLE. I thought we could throw a little more, esp knowing there are some expiring contracts after this year. Swift fits the bill, and Chandler too. I just hope we wont go 2 for 1 deal like we signed Sura and Ward last year. We need a real PF and it wont come cheap.
I'd love to have an athletic PF...but not overhyped overrated ones. I've seen enough of Swift that he reminds me of the PF version of Steve Francis, a streetballer that's all flash. Yeah, maybe he'll get the occasional highlight dunk but I just don't think he'll give us the blue collar type of work that our PF needs to give us. To me, he is just an energy bench guy that gives you a spark off the bench. Again, I don't think that deserves a fat contract that Stromile is looking for. I'm not a big fan of SAR either. Something about that guy tells me he won't improve our team. I know that guy has been on bad teams and it's not his fault but he just seems like the stats/loser type, guys who will get his numbers but at the end of day your team still lost. Who knows, maybe a change of scenery would do him good, but then again he's getting up there in years, not a good candidate to build around Tracy and Yao.
Thanks steddinotayto. Looks like SAR and Donyell Marshall would be our top choices of the UFAs. My guess is we will make some kind of trade for a good rebounder and have them back up Juwon Howard. Am I the only one who thinks we need PF depth more than we need an upgrade? Juwon was playing very well and his injury was so devastating because the backups were so sorry. I still say our primary needs are a good point guard who can pass and hit the open jumper plus a deadeye gunner and that is where our money goes this summer (besides Yao's extension). Oh yeah, nobody has anything against an athletic PF. We just want someone who produces results in addition to being athletic.
After Suns vs Memphis series, I don't want Swift anymore. Amare schooled him every single minute and got two posters of dunking on him. He is just a high fly dunker. He is not known for his shot blocking, rebounding and defense, thus he has no use for us. Meanwhile, after watching Chandler's play in playoff, I pretty sure he is the one we need.
I strongly disagree with Marshall. He's a bandaid. We've got too many old men on this team now. It's time for some youth. SAR may be young enough. I suppose we could get lucky and get five more good years out of him, but Marshall is what? 32? We'd be lucky if we managed two or three good years out of him. When our two star players are 24 and 25, I'd like to add some core players around them in which we can count on being there for four to six years, at least.
Some how I just dont see SAR in JVG's system playingwhat JVG demands. SAR will be a black hole, a.k.a a more reliable MoTay.
Assuming Stomile Swift wanted to be a Rocket....why in hell would he lock himself up for 6 years of MLE money when the Rox could have his Bird Rights in 3 years and give him a big raise? The way you bargain with Swift is that you have a playoff team, a possible starting postion and you'll reward him once you get his Bird Rights. Whatever else you're saying makes no sense to me.
I'm not high on SAR either, because while I do see him as a upgrade to Juwan Howard, he isn't much of an upgrade and he isn't young enough for me to be excited about the future he'd share with McGrady and Yao. If we are keeping Juwan Howard, and most likely we are, I'd like to see them get us a power forward that brings us something vastly different on the floor.
The best scenario is we get Tyson Chandler, an atheltic PF, rebounder and shot blocker! But i doubt we can get him. Swift is injury proned... athletic but not a good rebounder. I prefer Donyell Marshall only if we can get him cheap or MLE. Here is my view of Marshall:- Pros:- (1) Good Rebounder and shot blocker. (2) Good 3pt shooter (3) He can play SF too. So we can move T-mac to SG for certain matchups. Cons, (1) Old...... (2) i think he got some attitude problems... dunno true or not...
If SAR is all we can get, I would wait till the trade deadline. SAR and Juwan is redudant IMO. SAR wont be our long term solution, and maybe not a short term one either. I just dont see SAR will play a complimentary role to Tmac and Yao. Ball swung to him at high post, forget pass to Yao, he will take it as he is the option A all the time.
i can't think of an example where your scenario plays out. i remember motay did a 1 year contract with us, then signed a big one after, but i don't see anyone out there taking 3 year deals while expecting to get bird rights. alot can happen in 3 years. the fact of the matter is all we have is the MLE, we give him our biggest offer, play up our contender status, how nba players love living in houston,ect. and hope he bites hes not going to risk taking a 3 year deal. he'll get 6 or 7 years. either it will be from other cap strapped teams offering their maxed MLE, or a big money deal from a bottom dweller like the Hornets
hahhahha. The dude looks mentally challenged but he hustles like a mo fo and can actually handle the ball in the paint (unlike Bowen). And he rebounds. I'm just basing all this off on the possibility that none of our much coveted FAs would want the MLE
Is there any chance that Badiere might come here from Germany? Or is he still on the list as a prospect rather than a viable option?
Mentally challenged. Man never seen another nba baller shoot air ball on free throws. It's shame people like Madson, maybe Evans, Nejara are in the league.
