You can't have it both ways...either Luther is more valuable than Cook, or he isn't. If a trade of Luther + #26 for Cook + #19 is on the table, then that is cler indication that BOTH teams would think Luther to be the more valuable player. #19 pick is > #26 pick. In order to compensate for that, the Lakers have to get somethng in return / the Rockets have to give up something in return. I don't believe the Rockets would entertain Cook for Head straight-up...
i agree....Head is not as great as some of you are making him out to be...cook would spread the floor by drawing out his defender, leaving more room for yao...thats what we want isnt it?
Why does anyone care about either of these guys? They are re-plac-able. The putative move up of 7 slots is the only po-ten-tial upside in the deal.
The trade with the swapping of 1st rounders isn't a bad idea, if pick #19 lands us something we want. Those who object to this trade still haven't come up with a response on the question, "What does Head do better than Cook?" The answer is of course "nothing." Both players are good spot up shooters and that's about it. The issue here is not whether this is a fair trade. The issue is whether we need a PF like Cook. If, like some people have pointed out, we already has Novak who can do the things Cook is supposed to do, then why trade for him? It might be better to use Head for some other deal to get us a PF that can really fill our needs.
Head is a significantly bigger threat behind the 3-point line than Cook. He made more 3-pointers last season than Cook has made in his entire 4 year career. Head is a good spot up shooter for a rotational player (7th-9th man). Brian Cook is a good spot up shooter for an end of the bench player (10th-12th man).
Smoothie answered part of it. If we were as deep in guards as the Lakers are in players and upside prospects at the PF Head would play less than 20 minutes. We don't have an Odom, we don't even have a Turiaf or Bynum. This are just false. Cook isn't great, but is respectable in rebounds and blocks given his PT. Much line line with J. Howard except a better shot blocker and probably more athletic at this stage of Howard's career. Cook is a decent athlete with a true PF frame, he is no Padget or no Novak. I would not want to start Cook, but I see him as potentially a valuble back up. Since when do we assign any merits to Laker's fans opinions? They probably inflate Head from a couple of games when they left him open (which good teams don't do) and still have gurdges on Cook. Cook didn't perform that bad for them objectively (82games, stats, efficiency) and say you took off Odom off that team he would be valued. That's all you need to know. I am not saying this is a slam dunk deal, but it isn't that far off and Cook IMO is a usefull bench player, and with James on board the utility of Head off the bench is more questioned. If you told me we would change out Howard and Head for James and Cook while also improving draft position I'd say we did great--I think we would have added a lot of offensive punch (our chief weakness) and flexibility while a wash in rebounding and defense (two strengths).
I love Luther's game cause I love real shooters. I know Luther is great but I also know he has to improve in his ball handlin' and drivin'. Brian Cook played good games in LA but he didn't get his minutes. He is a big man with a nice range but that trade ain't work for me at all
im a head fan, and although he has his weaknesses the guy has got better so far in his short career and his attitude is one where you know he will continue to improve in certain aspects.
I do. Discounting any BYC implications for Cook, Head (who is undersized and one dimensional) is not going to get enough playing time with McGrady and now Wells at SG to have a significant impact. Cook on the other hand only has to compete with Chuck Hayes for PT and can also play some backup C. IOW, it's not Head being "better" than Cook...it's who can get on to the floor to have an impact. Cook wins this easiliy IMHO.
^Cook cannot play center. He can barely play PF, what the heck are you talking about?? We might as well stick Bonzi at center and have Head at SG.
I guess this is a hint at the Rockets really wanting Morris Almond. Why does everyone hate Brian Cook so much?
Valid point. But Cook hasn't played with Yao and Tmac. For instance Shane took more 3 pointers this year with Houston than his last two with Memphis combined. Maybe last year because Cook's team was so deep in alternative PFs and the Rockets were so pathetic in backcourt shooting. But I think you exaggerate the difference on most teams. I'd say Cook is a 15-24MPG player for most, Head maybe 20-28MPG for most--but they are in the same ballpark as usefull but limited NBA players with Head having more room for growth. But given our roster (now better at guard and terribly weak at PF and could use a guy to fill in C minutes after Yao and Deke, which like Howard Cook can do in a pinch) and if the Lakers will trade picks--I'd def do the deal.
Cook's minues have completely been divided in his minutes at PF and C the last two years, with a strong majority at PF. PF/C is only a slight stretch for him. He can fill in as 3rd center, probably better than Howard did for us last year (since Cook is a better shot blocker) and has major size over Hayes.
What????? With Yao's injury, Juwan Howard played 13% of the available C minutes and Chuck Hayes 7%. You've got to be joking or a close personal friend of Luther Head to draw your conclusion. Surely and easily, Cook can play spot minutes at the 5.
I would be ecstatic with that scenario. Williams is easily a top ten pick without the problems. I think Williams can help the rockets immediately. They could always move Cook later on in some sort of package with Sura's contract as well or keep him.
I disagree. I don’t think you make this move unless you think Brian Cook is a better player than Luther Head. Trading Head on the assumption that Bonzi Wells will come into camp in shape and ready to play, and Mike James will be a long term fixture here (very unlikely) is just foolish. This team is too starved for talent to make a trade in which we get a less talented player. If there’s a glut at the 2/3 position, you trade the player who you feel you can get the best value for. If freakin’ Brian Cook is the best value you can get for Luther Head, you move to the next guy and see what you can get for Bonzi Wells, Kirk Snyder, or Shane Battier. Any trade that involves us getting a less talented player is unacceptable IMO.
The offensive philosophy in LA with Kobe is essentially same as it would be here in Houston with Yao and Mcgrady. Kobe draws the double/triple teams, the other players spot up and take 3-pointers. The past 3 years, the Lakers have ranked 4th, 5th, and 3rd in 3-point attempts per game. Cook’s role on this team would be no different than it was in LA. It’s not as if last season was Brian Cook’s first season in the league. He been in the league for 4 years and has proven in his 4 years that’s he’s nothing more than a player that can give you maybe 15 minutes a game. He has not proven, at any point in his career, that he can contribute more than what Luther Head contributed in his 2nd year. Swapping picks would make the trade easier for me to swallow, but if the Rockets head into next season with Brian Cook being anything more than a 3rd stringer, I would hurl.
Well anyone can then play spot minutes at the 5. Maybe Bonzi can as well. Didn't he play 4% of the minutes at the 5 in Portland when Sabonis went down? Look, I think we all know Head is an overrated scrub. But the key word here is OVERRATED. Lets use his value and get something better than Cook. IMO it's not very intelligent to trade downwards in talent to fill a temporary need.
