I still like the idea of getting Bayless back in anything that goes down with Portland. To me HE is the real hidden gem there. Rudy is nice and would be a key role player for us when contending year after next, but Bayless has shown both at Arizona and in brief stints with Portland (such a logjam/not enough minutes) that he's got the goods to be a special player.Who cares if we already have AB? We are supposed to be stockpiling right now.
Battier + Lowry for Rondo + Scalabrini + Allen (tony....) I like Battier and Lowry, but I think this would be hard for the Rockets to pass up. If Boston was trying to deal Rondo, as it appeared during the draft, they might go for this. Battier fills Posey's role, and Lowry gives them a tough young defensive point guard who could replace Rondo, to a degree. http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=lrce65
I do not think Battier + Lowry is good enough to snatch that trade. Rondo would be a good upgrade to Kyle Lowry.
Your point being? Duncan, Kobe, Tmac all declining yet superstars. If Battier declines he is worthless. Tmac is a bad example since if the point I was making is moving Battier while he has value still or we could end up like with Tmac a valueless player we cant really get rid of for what teams used to offer us for him. In this case of having to waite till 2010 to compete it makes more sense to not gamble having him still able to compete a year from now or able to be moved if we want someone else in his slot. The time is now after his best performance in the playoffs against Kobe while teams are still high on him and not after this season if we potentially go to 35 to 25 wins and his stock is totally destroyed if any injuries occur or drop off. Then again like Yao and like Tmac we would have to keep him or give him away for peanuts.
Trade with Chicago - Battier for Salmons. Gives Chicago a defensive wing to combine with Deng and gives us a solid all-around scoring wing. Saves us about 400k this season and almost $2million next (or more if Salmons opts out). Chicago might do it if they want to get a wing stopper to help out Deng/Rose on the defensive end. Houston might do it because Salmons can score and play the 2.
Why would Chicago trade the only 2 on their roster for a 3 who makes more money? They already lost Ben Gordon this offseason...
Tmac for a pack of skittles! Battier for Marbury! We could have a potential starting lineup of Anderson Scola Skittles Marbury Brooks
Salmons is as much of a 2 as Deng is. They're both 2/3 "tweeners" - Battier can "play the 2" defensively (ie - he guards Kobe/ Roy etc for us) - and Deng can play the 2 offensively (ie - gets the ball in positions to score while Battier spaces the floor.) Why would they trade for a guy who makes more money? Defence/ role I guess?
B/c his value wont be higher than what it is right now, Plus where not going to be competing for a championship next season so we could trade him to a contender for good young pieces, we at least owe him that much....if we could trade him, Brent and Cook to Portland for Fernandez, Outlaw, and Bayless.. The Rockets can add MORE TALENTED young pieces to this young core we have going, and from the money we save we can sign McCants and Wafer ....Line up Aaron- Bayless/Lowry Fernandez- Wafer/McCants/ McGrady(if he comes back) Ariza- Outlaw/Burdinger Scola- Landry/ Hayes Andersen- Dorsey/ Petro(sign for the Minimum)
I think you're right. I think I would still do that deal, even if it meant losing brooks. Will all of the talk around the draft about the Rockets going after a lottery point guard, you have to wonder if they're trying to sell high on Brooks. I think Rondo gives you similar production on offense to Brooks (although in a totally different way). The big difference is how much of a difference Rondo would make on the defensive side of the ball. His length and athleticism make him a match up nightmare for most guards. Though to be fair, Brooks held his own against Chris Paul and Deron Williams in a couple games last year.
3 team trade that helps everyone: Houston trades: Shane Battier Brent Barry Brian Cook Houston Gets: Mark Blount (Good back up center, expiring contract) Michael Beasley (#2 draft pick, tremendous upside) Daequan Cook (Good 3pt shooter, expiring contract) Miami Trades: Mark Blount Michael Beasley Daequan Cook Udonis Haslem Miami Gets: Shane Battier Carlos Boozer Brian Cook Utah Trades: Carlos Boozer Utah Gets: Udonis Haslem Brent Barry Draft pick from Miami This trade doen't affect our cap space for next summer, and we get top talent in return. Miami gets to surround wade with two veteran bonafide players. Utah save some money and gets a pick which what they are asking for according to reports.
I'm a little surprised at some of the ideas discussed. Clearly Battier has value, but not enough to get a 'near star' and more than just a dump. I can see how Fernandez or Salmons seem appealing but is that really enough? If it is - then perhaps Carlos Delfino could also fit the bill, but with an added player like Wright, Ukic or O'Bryant? - the latter of some possible help up front in the absence of Yao. S&T Delfino @ $5 mil + O'Bryant + 2nd round pick(s)? Delfino's stats as a Raptor are similar to Battier's in Hou, except in 10 fewer minutes per game, so with Shane's minutes he could level out at 13 / 6.5. He's more of a true SG who can handle the ball, score with ease and rebounds well. He'd fit right in with Scola. If not O'Bryant, then perhaps Antoine Wright as a Battier lite off the bench?
There is no overestimating the best perimeter defender in the league. Even if the guy only scored 5 ppg, his ability to make the best players in the league shoot 35% from the field instead of their normal 50% is unparalled. When the best basketball player in the world (Kobe) says that Shane is the best player to ever guard him, you do not take that lightly. Trading shane for anything less than a budding all-star, or a proven all-star is stupid. Shane has been screwed out of defensive player of the year at least 2, maybe even 3 times in his career. Not only is he probably the best on ball wing defender in the wing, but also probably the second best wing weak side help defender too. His smarts and leadership just up his value as well. There is no way shane isnt worth a lottery pick. He is the Model role player in the league.
Only 2 or 3 times? Are you serious? Have you ever even watched him play? Man, every time it seems like Shane is starting to get the credit he deserves, I read a comment like this, and I realize how underrated he truly is. I can't believe there are so many Battier-haters, like yourself, who call themselves Rockets fans. I just hope biased people like you don't end up keeping Shane out of the Hall of Fame.
A pick that could be a lottery pick plus Battier for an old player with a bad contract who is also a legendary headcase? Perfect. Trade proposals are not for you.
