I know everyone is high on T-mac (me too), but I really like some of the other players being named in this deal... well, the two others besides Lue Howard is overpaid and over-rated, but he is a sound, experienced player (15 and 8) who rebounds better than Mo-T Lue - I could do without his game -- too short and not enough passing Reece Gaines - I have been reading about this guy all day - and I like what I have read. Tall, good shooter, plays the 1 and 2 - i,.e. a PG in a SG's body... instead of a SG in a PG's body (like Francis) http://www.nba.com/draft2003/profiles/GainesReece.html just because the Magic (with their coaching changes and bad team) couldn't develop this guy doesn't mean he won't be a nice 20 mins a nihgt player getting the ball to Yao and T-mac... and hitting some open shots. I just hope we ditch Lue and find a way to get SOME prodcution from Howard, Mo T, and Spoon
Reece Gaines may well turn out to be the sleeper in this trade. Sure, we all know the capabilities of T-Mac, and Howard is an okay power forward. IMO Lue is filler, but Gaines gives us the big PG we've been coveting. He will require a season -- maybe just a half-season -- of JVG boot camp and advanced individual training, but, if we works out as his pedigree says he should, then the Rockets look like this: Gaines -- 6-6 T-Mac -- 6-8 Boki -- 6-9 Howard - 6-9 Ming -- 7-5 Jim Jackson and Mo Taylor come in as backups to keep the pressure on the opposing team. Now, if we could get Chris Mihm (perhaps in a trade for MoT), we would have a PF/C for JVG's Big Man boot camp.
that is what I was thinking - he may not have all the upside of a high schooler (i.e. room to grow) but he matured by playing college ball in a good league - and the Magic are terrible at developing talent I figured he might be a good player for JVG to work with and develop
I'm pretty sure we want JJ on the floor as often as possible, him being our "Gandalf" of the team. Boki sits.
We really need STRONG power forwards to go along with Yao...especially now that Cato's gone. I hope we aren't finished trading after this deal goes down.
I think he does - and considering that other than Shaq, the Center position is pretty lean - league wide (Mo T played some Center last year) everyone keeps talking about losing Cato - but the guy kept getting in JVGs dog house and/or in foul trouble - I really think it will be OK with just the PF by committe and a backup Center to spell Yao for 18 mins a game
maybe we could sign Shawn Kemp to play backup center. terms of the contract would be that he'd be paid in bigmacs.
Everybody is dissing Lue. Why? Didn't we just acquire Ollie who is even worse? I really don't see why we need both Lue and Ollie. And I don't see why we try to get Ollie if we are getting Lue.
Did we acquire Ollie? Is this true? I have seen some talk about it, but is it a real thing going to happen, or is it rumor on the net? I would really like to know.
Chris Mihm is another underachiever, but I believe he could blossom breathing native Texas air. When looking at his averages under a 48-minute criteria, he looks even better. He is a more natural power forward than center, but he certainly can back up Yao Ming better than Mo Taylor. Mihm has a very decent shot and gets his share of rebounds, plus he won't cost an arm and a leg like Lo Wright or Eric Dampier (both of whom are fragile).
