Looking at it thus far this season, I think the Rockets will be better next year than we were expected to be this year. Luther Head will have alot of good playtime underneath his belt. Rafer and Swift will definately have played more minutes under JVG and will know the offense alot better. All of our role players are having to try to step it up with both superstars out. It shows us what they really have in them and how to use that when our superstars come back. If we have a healthy T-Mac next year we will be great with the squad we have now. If we pickup someone, or make a couple trades we could end up in the same boat we are now. let everyone get healthy, lets see how this year should have turned out. Yes ppl are getting older, but the young guys (rafer, swift, head JL3) will gain enough experiance to make up for that.
Two points T MAc will not imporve from what he is today ( I am referring to the back problems). If we are going to be lottery bound, and have a shot a stud PF who can start- I am not sure if Stromile makes sense. IF that is the chosen path, we have to trade him now and try and get a "greater than mid-level Exception" talent who could be the third option. We have to do it this year- else we will lose the expiring contracts of Moochie and Wesley ( although I hope we can sign him back next year). Sura and JB are history- if we can scout talent better we should get some younger horses to run. I am convinced we wont ever look for a marquee PG- and I never understand that. And talent like that needs a financial commitment more than the MLE. I am sceptical of Les Alexander wanting to add to talent even if it means we will be slightly in the Luxury tax area. IF we dont do that, I think bringing in McGrady - does not seem like a great idea. We have to invest in a Legitimate PF who can score and defend or bring in a Stud Point guard. Alston is decent but he is by no means a Stud ( I am talking Mike Bibby or Baron Davis calibre)
The future is very probelmatical. Assuming good health by Yao and T-Mac. (If either is down we are lottery bound for seveal years). Our talent is poor. Alston, Howard and Swift, Bowen are not clearly rotation players on a championship team, much less starters. Wesley, Barry, Sura, Anderson and Deke are old has beens who there is no reason to expect anything other than a fall off next year--if they play at all. Our young players are a poor group. Luther is a possible rotation player on a contending team, even a starter, if he develops a mid-range game. This week's others, Lucas, Chuck Hayes are not even 12th men on many deep teams and will most likely not ever be rotation players When all is said and done we just wasted two years of having two young stars, Yao and T-Mac with no plan to surround them with talent that could build to a true contender. We are back to square one with Yao and T-Mac two years older.
