This is the place to post your ideas to improve this team... I think we need toughness in the worst way. I would make 2 trades. I'd send the TE we created in the Tsakalidis trade to Phoenix for Marcus banks and a late first round pick. (Phoenix has wanted to ditch banks for some time). He gives us a big defensive point guard that can give Rafer some backup minutes cause i just dont see how we can improve the point over Rafer with our cap and draft situation. Second i would make the big controversial move of bringing Ron Artest in. Sacramento has been about as bad this season with him and he was just sentenced to to jail time. Horrible character guy but as tough as they come, a 3rd scorer, ball handler and defender. He makes Battier our 6th man, thus strengthing our bench. Since Sacramento is so desperate to get rid of Artest we could probably make it work for Sura's expiring contract, a 1st round pick and V-Span.(it works under the cap) We could add Head to the deal to sweeten it if we need to, but i dont think Sacto is getting many offers for Ron Ron. I would then try and sign the best player available with the MLE. There isn't alot of talent on the free agent market and so many teams will have the same MLE to spend that getting a player will be tough and shouldn't be considered the primary strategy this offseason. For that reason i would trade the first round pick remaining to San Antonio for the rights to Luis Scola PF from argentina who plays for Tau Ceramica. He could come in and take Juwon Howards minutes. We would have to use most of our MLE to sign him and resign Hayes but there isn't anything else better out there. I would also resign Mutombo. The team would end up looking like this. Yao---------Mutombo Scola-------Hayes------Howard Artest------Battier------Novak McGrady----Snyder Alston------Banks-------Lucas This gives us a stronger bench as Battier takes over as 6th man. We get more toughness in Artest and Scola gives up a 6'9 a power forward who is bigger and more athletic than Hayes giving us less matchup problems. Banks should be the best backup point guard we have had in years and extra size. By no doubt is this team perfect but its significantly better, and probably more able to beat Utah in the playoffs.
Yeah, going back in history and nabbing Steve Francis is really going to change the fortune of this franchise. We all remember how awesome a time it was to be a Rocket fan at the time. We weren't winning but by god we were enjoying every minute of it!
if we can get Artest for cheap, then i love that idea Artest should be able to shore up our rebounding/tenacity inefficiencies but no if we have to send Battier, Mac, Yao We can then play TMAc Artest Battier Hayes Yao TMac can play point while artest or battier can defend the pt gaurd on D Develop VSPAN let him play 20 minutes a game Play Novak in situations in which he cannot be exploited such as with battier and artest and Yao on the floor.
Francis obviously isn't good enough to do anything on his own, but as a replacement for Alston, well, at least Francis can create his own shot off the dribble. That would be a HUGE upgrade on all the role players. Couple that with a coach who has a system that lets other players do something besides shoot 3 pts and the ROX will be a much better team.
Ok guys i hate to bump every post but look this is exactly our team now expect for a few changes. I wrote this post 05-06-2007 MAY of 2007 BEFORE the scola trade... so in 1 post i predicted SCOLA and ARTEST.... can i sue morey for stealing my ideas?
yes, but then you go and say things like this: and your credibility goes right out the window again... are there any other old posts you want to bump? maybe you said something about yao getting hurt a couple years ago?
and yes i will toot my own horn because it needs a good tooting. minus the rookies that have joined the team since the post that i didn't predict the only difference was Snyder and Banks instead of Francis and Barry.
First its was predictive, not subjective. Second, and i stand by it if Landry's knee is fine he, in the short term is worth the MLE. He will be a fairly tradable asset if we need to and provides alot of depth and front-court athleticism which we still lack. I feel now that we have a big 3 of our own expectations are higher and thus saving luxury tax money should be less of a concern now. We can still give him a 3 year deal with a team option for the 4th giving ourselves room in 2010. And yes we all have made some silly remarks or things off base, but all i'm calling attention to is that i nailed one right on the head.
