I think I will start a thread....state my OPINION....and strongly disagree with anyone who differs. I also think I will insult them at the same time. That's the best way to gain cred on the board.
Ok, so here's my little game. Surs stays, DS is added. Look at this team. Tell me what you see. c Yao/Deke PF Howard/Swift sf T Mac /Ryan Bowen 2g mj/Head pg ds/Sura bench - jBarry/wesley/Spoon? Blocking drives and scoring are going to go way up with this crew. They would totaqlly clog the middle making perimter defense better for sura and JB cause nobody wants to go in there. Anyway I am not tied to PF must have big legs and a fat *ss. speed-mj-tmac-swift-head defense- ds-wes-Head-Bowen-Swift-Yao hustle - Bowen-Head-jBarry-TMac-ds-Deke-mj rebounding - sura-Swift-Tmac-Yao-Head-Bowen-Deke scoring-Tmac-ds-jBarry-Swift-mj-Head-Howard-Yao experience - TMac-Howard-Deke-wes-surs-DS-JB-MJ Youth - Head-Swift youth/experince dont go hand in hand,and some of these guys are the middle ground, and then Yao is of course the usual "that's Yao" deal, experience, youth, non NBA history, unlimited still unrealized potential. He's the joker that every other team wants. Mr Head will be a BIG addition off the bench this year IMO, and with Swift and the DS, hey let's not get greedy. I tell ya, what you need is all ready here with the addition of DS, and keeping wes-sura-mj. Playoffs seem to always come down to match ups. I truly believe that we HAVE THE MATCHUPS if DS becomes a rocket. Please punch holes in this line of reasoning, I can always be enlightened. You DO NOT want a team of stars, they never work out the way the idealization wants you too. This is as balanced and dangerous a team we could put on the floor then we have had in many years. what's wrong with it?
I do think there's nothing wrong with considering the statements of you best player or assessing whether a player fits well into your coach's system. I would never have guessed DS would be a "JVG guy", but I'm also certain we wouldn't have contacted DS without JVG's approval. So you have to assess what DS has that JVG and T-Mac think we're lacking at the 1. T-Mac mentioned scoring, but I think JVG is thinking our biggest deficiency is playmaking. I don't care what DS did at Portland any more than I care what Sto did in Memphis. I want to see what they can do here. I think a lot of average pgs would probably excel here DS' ability to score might be more valuable to us than we think now. Defensively I'm not worried because I trust JVG and because I can't give Sura an edge on DS there (except rebounding). DS' quickness might actually prevent Yao from picking up fouls. I agree with Desert Scar that some people have bashed our backcourt pretty heavily but most agree we do need and upgrade there. I've always said Sura will be here next season because he has limited trade value and health questions and he is more valuable to us than anyone else. Regarding Deke he's not going anywhere no matter what else we do.
Well, if we add DS and it isn't a sign and trade (James, Wesley) there just won't be a roster spot for Bowen, there probably won't be anyway: c Yao/Deke PF Swift/Howard/Spoon/Baker(inactive) sf T Mac (Sura) 2g Sura/Wesley/Barry/Head pg ds/James/Ward(inactive)/Norris(inactive) Right there is 15 players under contract. Also, as you can see, we need Sura to play more swing positions (2 and back-up 3) than PG. Sura or DW starts at the 2 (I think Sura b/c DS is so small), and Sura is our primary back-up 3. Unless we can and want to send Head to the NDBL (and if this creates an extra roster slot--unclear at the moment) there is only room for Barry, Bowen, Baxter, Glover or Padget. Honestly Bowen is my last choice among this group. Now lets say we do a S&T (DW or MJ) for DS or waive 1 player (still pay the contract), I'd still pick Glover or Baxter over Bowen. No way do I see Bowen a Rocket this year, we just have better options at this point.
Maloney is killing this team. Wait. What year is this? Cato is killing this team. No, that's not right. [insert name here] is killing this team.
desert scar I see your point, but JVG sure seemd to take a shine to Bowen. Padgett, ( I honestly lost him in all this), had some good pick me ups during the season, but seemed invisible come playoff time. We'll see, but Bowen can be a nice asset for loss cost, IMO. We sure don't neeed to think about ward and VB, maybe the clippers are interested !
We must be watching 2 different players. The Damon Stoudamire I saw was Mighty Mouse a long time ago in a land far, far away. He is no longer that player and hasnt been for sometime. He isnt close to being a top 5 pg. He does have more PG skills than Sura, but his attitude has always been suspect, so why gamble on him now. I would take Sura over Stoudamire b/c Sura is a tough player and has qualities that you are looking for when building a championship team. I'd rather find a real PG than Stoudamire.
Sura is playing out of position. Wesley is playing out of position. Our backcourt was consisted of two sgs before, and now it's a sg(Sura) at pg and a pg(Wesley) at sg. With DS on board it's totally different. PG - legit point guard in DS. SG - legit shooting guard Sura(the man played most of his career at sg). That's the significance of getting DS, the Rockets not only upgrade their talent level but also get a real backcourt in half a decade. DS at the expense of David Wesley and 3 mils a year in a S&T, no brainer.
I very much agree with these points. However with Wesley in a S&T, DS has to be paid a minimum of 4.2 mil (DW's salary x .8) year starting (up to over 6). I think starting low to mid 4s is very reasonable for DS as long as the years are four at the max.
I have no problem with giving DS 4 millions a year in a short term contract. He has been a starting caliber pg throughout his career.
Sura is the new JYD for those of you who want him traded... He is what Mario Elie was to us and the Spurs... He is an exceptional role player... He's definitely a keeper!
