The real priority in the New Wild, Wild West : a defensive 4

EG!

 

Those two are probably the most likely choses if we opt to persue them aggressively.

 

I do not care if we get burned for the 3rd or 4th time, let's bring EG into camp this October. NO QUESTIONS ASKED. Except for this question of course: What is his contract status? Would we have to pick up something that was left on the table during his part-time work with the Nets?

 

Battie just signed an extension w/ the Grizz and he is a SF. Swift would be nice, but he still couldn't handle the West PFs. While these teams have a great PF, they don't have a C.

Yao is currently the best C in the West and no one really comes close. Compare Yao to the Centers on those teams:

Rasho, Kandi, Pavel, Miller, Collins, Nene, Voshkuhl, Ratliff?

Plus, no other team has TMac running around Yao for shots.

 

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap.php#1090170079

It says Jazz probably won't resign Ostertag, maybe that will be a decent pick up for Rockets back up C?

 

gucci888 we are talking about Tony Battie F/C for the Cavs not Shane Battier who is a SF and has signed an extention with Memphis.

 

If we sign OsterFAG, that will be one of the worst days in the the history of the Rockets to me. We can't ever sign any of those 1996-1998 Jazz, especially not that goon. Shandon was okay, probably shouldn't have signed him either.

 

I wouldn't mind Ostertag if we could get him cheaply and if there was a weight clause in his contract.
I wouldn't be surprised if other teams offered him a decent contract because of a lack of centers despite his past failures because he has size,can rebound, block shots and can score a little bit too when he is motivated.

 

4's who can't have absolutely no place on this team. Soft doubles from the 4 are cryptonite to Yao. That was where Cato absolutely killed us last year. We don't need a post player, we don't need a long range bomber. We need someone who's consistent from 10-13 feet.

 

I'm thinking the only reason Utah hasn't re-signed GO is because he wants too much money, which means the Rox should also avoid him.

 

Thanks, I misread that.

 

Yes but soft Fours who can't help Yao guard the paint are also crypotonite. The key is finding a combination, which Juwan Howard will be more of. I'm not to worried about the four situation until Yao has to come out of the game. Then it would be nice to have more of a banger.

 

Dale Davis? What his contract status? We could use a defensive big man that could play (and start) at the 4, and also play as Yao's backup, ala Cato. Not sure how much game DD still has left, but I've always liked his play.

Azim da Dream

 

It's self-evident to argue that defense is important. Unfortunately, I find too many people wanting a Cato clone, forgetting that Cato's offensive ineptitude at anything other than alley oops really dragged the team down frequently.

 

My concern is Yao is going to be in so much foul trouble next season trying to help out on defense. Not only helping out on the opposing power forward, but also pretty much any activity that's in the paint, Yao is going to have to contest. He's going to be exhausted.

I also think we're still going to have a lot of trouble guarding those quick perimeter oriented power fowards. Cato may have been slow, but he at least had some athleticism and his length to make up some ground. Howard is not significantly faster than Cato, he's very unathletic, and he's undersized.

 

I'm with you brother

 

Since Swift is a FA with significant upside, we only have the MLE to offer, and Memphis is a division rival, there is close to a 0% chance we can get him.

With Boozer leaving, Battie's price went up, probablt TE alone is not enough. Probably cost us Howard, and I don't think I like that deal even if Battie is better defensively. Maybe Mo for TB + Ollie would be fair to both teams. Spoon and #1 and filler for TB, heck yeah from the Rockets view.

A. Davis was not protected by Chicago. Maybe Mo, Pike and their choice of Boki/Gaines could swing it, I don't know.

D Davis could probably be had too. (drop Pike from above).

But honestly I don't think those deals are worth a 35 year old rent a player for a year or two.

I think JH/Mo are fine to solidify the 4--both those guys won't win most 4 match-ups but they can compete. But we do need a 5 or 5/4 to back-up Yao, preferrably a defensive presence. And the trade exemption looks logical for that. If we don't like FA prices (Ostertag, Clark, Medvenko, Tsakalides) We should have no trouble taking on an overpaid but nonetheless useful back-up C with it if you look who was unprotected in the Bobcats draft (Seattle trifecta, Pollard, Ervin Johnson, Lo Wright, Outlaw).

 

Unless we wait out the rush and he's desperate. Don't forget JJ last year. Even if it's for a year, ala Stephen Jackson, he'd be an amazing complement to Yao.

 

it's kryptonite