The Rafer trade is about locker room leadership too.

Yao isn't a leader.

 

Exactly.

DD, you really think this is about leadership, come on man, you gotta have more sense than that.

 

if we play Jazz in the playoffs we're done... no way AB can matchup with DW

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again - obviously Morey and/or Adelman really, really like Lowry's game. Because it doesn't look like we are going to have any other deals.

 

Yao can only need by example.
Barry, Battier, and Mutombo are our vocal leaders.
I do think that Artest should step in as the new leader though.
People respect him.

 

Excellent point, DD.

Alston was saying that he was trying to lead, and no one was listening to him. I think he's lost the confidence of the team. This gives Brooks a chance to demonstrate if he's got what it takes to be our future PG, and if he isn't, we know what we have to get in the off-season.

Rafer really is a backup who is starting. With Lowry, we got a backup, who will be a backup, at a much cheaper price, younger with future potential.

Cook allows us to have another expiring to trade next year, or let a majority of Alston's salary expire for space for 2010, while keeping value in Lowry.

 

You really think Rafer was standing in the way of Yao being a leader?! What, Yao wanted to call T-Mac out in the media, but Rafer stepped in and stole his thunder?

 

No offense to Yao, but if he couldn't be the leader with Rafer present, he doesn't deserve to be the leader.

 

I guess you have not seen him play in the olympics.

 

i agree it's up to Yao to take over, but i dont think that's one of the reason behind the trade.

Rafer is the oldest of the rockets core, about 3 years older than most of them, and a weak link sometimes, they know the window of opportunity has shifted with the injuries and rafer wont be a solid point for the remainder of that window. You replace him now, gets something in return, and you do it earlier rather than later so it doesn't disrupt a championship run. Yeah i know it disrupts this season, but better this season than a season when we're at full force and making some real noise.

 

1) If they want Brooks to start, they could just bring Rafer off the bench
2) Tmac is still with Rockets, and so is Artest, I see them more of a road block to Yao than Rafer. With your logic, they should be traded by now...

Man, I love your posts sometimes, but this time, you aren't really making any sense..

 

I agree with DaDakota fully.

Kyle Lowry will get to the rim at will and attempt free throws. Watch when he gets time how this young guy plays. Great move Morey. I love this.

 

Exactly. He's had many chances to prove that he is, but he failed...

He is a phenomenal center, great player but the only leader on this team was RAFER. He was not afraid and he played HARD.

Now if Artest can't take over that role, our season is done...

 

I don't think his presence has much influence on Yao's leadership. But I do believe he has made a lot of trouble in the locker room, causing disintegration of the team.

 

that just means yao never wanted to be the leader

 

damn i cannot believe how poorly this trade has been received around here, rafer gets ripped to shreads day to day here and now all of sudden its like we trade away best PG in the league... you can't have it both ways

 

If Yao can't take the leadership position from Alston, he doesn't deserve it and won't be able to keep it. In a group of peers, the guy with the best leadership qualities will rise to the top and the others will follow or get out. You can't gift-wrap leadership to one guy and expect him to keep it if he hasn't earned it. So, we've given away valuable leadership for nothing. Leadership is exactly why this trade sucks so bad.

 

I know, Baron is better than all of these guys. Really, Trading Rafer was by far one of the worst moves this team has ever made.