The BBS is "WISHY WASHY" because Odom "KEEPS GETTING BUSTED FOR POT" and is "INJURY-PRONE." Let me add that Odom is a "MEDIOCRE SHOOTER," "PLAYS A POSITION THAT DOES NOT PROSPER IN RUDY'S SYSTEM," and "HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A MORE TALENTED TEAM BETTER WITH HIS "UNSELFISH" PLAY." Ok, I am just joining in the recent BBS Fun With All Caps trend, but I think Odom contains more risks than Ming and having picks #8 and #12 is not enough. If we can't get Odom for our #15 and Kenny Thomas, than he is not worth picking up. He's a free agent after next year and will probably want the max to stay. By the way, has it been mentioned enough that Ming, the "project," is a skilled center at 7'5" who has demonstrated an ability to elevate his play in big games (Chris Webber, where are you?), work hard, great attitude, weighs nearly 300 pounds and will bring millions and millions of dollars and interest to the Rockets? Doesn't seem like a difficult choice at all for the Rockets. They are playing with house money, as it is...why not go for greatness, rather than being a Bucks west?
barbourdg-Your post sums up exactly my feelings regarding this situation. It seems to me that since we won the lottery everybody has been intoxicated with Ming's potential. I agree with the fact that he could be a great player, but that is very, very far from the present reality. Ming is going to suck it up next year. Y'all talk about how much Steve and Cat will love him once he does this or that, but I have serious doubts about the guy next year. He arrives after training camp not knowing the offense or the language of his teammates and we expect him to be some force? The guy doesn't lift weights and has all but said that he hates to which is going to seriously limit his ability to work in the post against PFs much less centers and I don't want somebody 7'6'' on the perimeter (hell, I dont want EG out there). Odom might not be Magic but he is a premier player and can anybody question the importance of chemistry (these guys all like each other and WANT to play together). Lastly, I am sorry Dadakota, but I completely disagree with your risk assessment between Ming and Odom. Ming has not played a minute of NBA ball and Odom has had as many solid years as Steve and is but a year older than Ming. If Ming were as great as many on this board make him out then why doesn't anyone but us and NYC want the guy?
HE WILL GET SUSPENDED FOR FIVE count it FIVE games for the next time he gets busted with pot. He won't be gone for an ENTIRE YEAR.
Elvis -- Hilarious first paragraph in that post! (Not to mention spot on.) Reminded me of the late Chris Farley's rants on SNL's Weekend Update ("I might not 'BATHE MUCH' and I 'FRIGHTEN SMALL CHILDREN'...") Look, Odom is mega-talnted, but it's not a sure thing he'll realize his potential. Besides, he doesn't shoot the 3 ball well, and you know Rudy wants someone somewhere on the floor in addition to the backcourt shooting the 3 to create spacing. If Odom's triggering the offense as the point forward, then guess who's spotting up behind the arc. Eddie Griffin, that's who. Is that what we want? Discussion with the Clippers should begin and end with Brand, who, by the way, has realized his potential. And even Sterling's not dumb enough to deal a guy who's averaging a double-double for his career.
Yeh but what if those five games are at the start of the playoffs? This is why we need to get rid of Taylor. Hey I'm no angel, I fire one up every once in a while but no one pays me a million dollars a year not to. I also don't have teammates and an organization depending on me either.
Too much downside potential with Ming, the videotape from China looks good, however, his level of talent isn't that good. I look good on video tape against some 13 year olds. But what happens when I play against 25 year olds, I get slaughter. In addition, his performance against the US in the Olympics was a total bust. His language skills are a concern, Steve Nash was yelling a Zhi Zhi Wang to shot and he had no clue what he was talking about. Also Steve and Cat have no respect for the man and will freeze him out as they do everyone else. Bottom line the number pick SHOULD BE USED TO IMPROVE YOUR TEAM REGARDLESS IF YOU DRAFT A PLAYER OR TRADE FOR A PROVEN COMMODITY. I would trade the #1 and KT, Rice, for Odom, Magettee, #8 and #12 and then send Odom, Magettee, and #12 to Minnesota for Kevin Garnett. I would keep the #8 to draft Bouchardt from Standford, he's tough downlow and blocks shots.
I keeping seeing pro-ming and anti-ming groups continue to throw rocks (pun intended) at each other. However, I would be curious, had we drawn the #5 pick, as to what lengths we would be going to on this board to "trade up" to get Ming. I fear that Ming would take on "savior" status and we would be suggesting trading our souls to get him. Thank goodness, WE HAVE THE #1 PICK. Let's use it to take a chance on greatness.
No disresepct, but anyone that thinks that we can get Brand, Odom, and the farm for # 1 and some fillers needs their head examined.
(Pretends to call up Elgin Baylor on the phone) "Hey, Elgin, have you thought about what we talked about? Still no Elton, huh? Okay, well good bye, then, call me if you change your mind on Brand. You know the number. Good bye."
I can't wait to see Lamar Odom in a Rockets uni. DaDa, The reason why it's Odom, and not Miles, is because Odom wants to be here, and for the simple fact that he's the better player of the two.. Lamar is coMING......
Maybe I should clarify something. I know we're not going to get Brand from the Clippers. Like I said in a previous post, even Sterling's not stupid enough to trade someone who's averaged a double-double for his career. I'm saying that discussions with the Clippers should begin and end with Brand. Therefore, if they're not willing to part with Brand for the Number One pick, then trade talks are over. Neither Odom nor Kandi or both together are worth the Number One pick. In my opinion.
Lack of interest is not entirely tied to lack of ability. There is also the consideration of whether China will let Yao play in Memphis, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Pheonix, Miami, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Orlando, Utah, Portland or Minnesota. Jay Williams is a possibility (even if a remote one) so he is discussed. Although it was good enough for Mikan, Yao's not going to reside in Minneapolis any time soon.
Brand was given up for a high schooler last year. Lets ask yourself this question. Would you rather have Jason Williams or a High Schooler. You have to remember that the Clippers aren't trying to build a championship team. All they care about is putting a semi competitive team on the court with a bunch of low contracts. No easier way of doing that than to put a bunch of young guys on the floor with rookie scale contracts.
Jerry Krause was in 2001, and that was for the #2 pick. Elite draft picks can bring a high price, especially when GMs get desperate. Exactly. As holders of the Number One pick, the Rockets can ask for whatever they want. Let the Clippers know that if they want Jay WIlliams, it's going to cost them a lot. Brand is a lot. Odom and Olowokandi aren't.
The safe way : Tell Lamar you want him, and he can get a MoT deal. Ask him not to resign with the Clips. Rox record of paying FAs speaks for itself. Trade no-one. Also works with Kandi. If you get them when they are FA's, do the year one contract as a MCE, then dump contracts as needed (ie : trade for expiring contracts) and max your new guy asab, (as soon as bird-rights) or whatever the wink wink deal is. Trading for the last year contract player just makes the bird clock run faster, and keeps you from losing the opportunity. It doesn't guarantee the player will resign with your club. So, if some crappy team can swing a better deal for Odom or Kandi, that still does not ensure they won't sign with the Rox when the contract ends.
I agree with DaDakota. I wouldn't do it simply because I think Odom will not be a GREAT player. He's got talent and has put up some pretty good numbers, but its a lot easier to put up good numbers on a crappy team. For his first two season he was pretty much the only player on the Clippers worth a damn, so his numbers are going to be inflated. His 16 to 17 points per game on the Clippers probably translates to 12 to 13 points per game on the Rockets...just like it did for Mo Taylor. His assists will go down, because he's not going to have the ball in his hands near as much as in LA. His outside shooting may improve a little, but he will by no means be considered an "outside threat". I'm guessing his numbers would be something like: 35 minutes per game 12.5 points per game 4.0 assists per game 2.5 turnovers per game 7.0 rebounds per game 44% Field Goal Percentage 30% 3-point Percentage 70% Free-Throw Percentage 1.0 steals per game 1.5 blocks per game I think those are pretty fair numbers for Odom's production based on his past statistics and how we would fit in with a diminished role on the Rockets. In fact, those stats might even be a little generous. Can anyone honestly see him producing a lot more than that? To me, that's not going to help the Rockets very much. They'll still be a lousy defensive team, a lousy outside shooting team, and increase their already dreadful turnover total. As for Ming, he's going to get rebounds and alter shots quite a bit, that much is true. His height will be good enough for that. I can easily see him producing more in every statistical category over Odom except assists per game. And he would actually be helping us in areas we need the most help with: higher percentage shooting and defense. There's a lot more unknowns with Ming than Odom, but I think the potential for Ming to fill those "unknows" is a bout twice as big as Odom's potential. Of course, this is all hearsay, because Ming has not proven if he can play against NBA talent, but to me, it's just as much of a stretch to say Odom will be a GREAT player.
Disclaimer: Everything below is strickly my opinion based on hours of reading all reports on this site and sites linked to this site. If you think I'm full of sh*t, you can easily find the same info right here at CC.net. Go look for it, cause I ain't got time to provide the links. I keep seeing some in the anti-ming group try to say this and that about Ming to make thier points. Some of the things they say I can't refute with any degree of certainty. But I do know one thing, language is not going to be a problem. From all reports I have heard, Ming speaks passable English...Do not compare him to Wang, he is not Wang, he is Ming...a totally different person. duh... As for their other points: I don't see that much of a problem as long as the possible interference from the government is worked out. Ming is a TEAM player, and is also reported to be an exceptional passer. Why not get a 7'5' guy that believes in the success of the team over himself, believes in passing, and has a good shooting percentage from both the floor and the line.. It's not like we have alot of guys like that on the team already and any serious baller will tell you that these are important qualities to have. You Ming-haters are dredging up any rumor or half-ass report you can find to make it look like he will be the next coming of Bradley. While I can't guarentee 100% that he won't be a bust, he is a good player at a position that we are very weak at. As the old expression goes: No guts, no glory. I feel that we should take the risk. after all, if he's a bust we still have a good team. But if he's not a bust ,we will be set at the 5 for quite some time.
Odom may be better right now but Miles will be better in the near future. I would rather have Miles than Odom.
