There is no denying that since Mutombo is gone, the team has needed a suitable back up for Yao Ming. Some would argue Mutombo wasn’t good enough for this role. Either way, this has been a goal fans have demanded of the Rockets for years. While Yao isn’t in the game this season, that doesn’t mean that the Rockets management brass has stopped looking, I’m sure. In fact, they may be biding their time for a trade with all of these recent acquisitions as they did last year after they let go of Strawberry and kept Von “illa” Wafer, etc. So that leaves the question of who is it going to be for a back up? A good enough back-up could even help by starting this season and propel them further in the playoffs with a healthy T-mac. What better way to test a back up to Yao and prepare him for the next season than acquiring him early on. One solution could be with the Griz. The Rockets are stacked with small forwards and guards they can’t possibly hope to keep all of for the season while the Griz are stacked with four large centers, two of which will see little play time if they stay: Marc Gasol, 7-1; Hamed Haddadi, 7-2; Hasheem Thabeet, 7-3; and Steven Hunter, 7-0. The two franchises have a good relationship and have done trades in the past, IE Kyle Lowry. So, perhaps this could be a possible solution in sight? What other solutions are there other than tanking and trying to play small ball all year? Maybe it hinges on other factors? Nonetheless, I think it could be the year for a new center and Morey has been making moves to position himself for a trade.
Haddadi seems like a good target. He'd make a good understudy to Yao- he's tall, he's Asian, etc. Thabeet's definitely going to get more playing time being the #2 pick and all and Marc Gasol is probably the best overall player of the bunch. Plus we need Haddadi's defensive presence in the middle. He's a guy who deserves more playing time than he gets.
It would take a mighty good package to get Marc Gasol I'm liking Andersen backing up Yao and playing them both on the floor at once.
Uh, Anderson? I can't see them letting Gasol or thabeet go, that's their 1-2 for years to come... Haddadi doesnt give us a different look from Yao, and Hunter isn't that great.... let's hope anderson's game is effective in the NBA and if so, give him the back up job.
Your point isn't anything new. Its only been brought up for the 567th time that I can recall. The problem is there just aren't good viable options out there. We just have to hope Anderson is a good viable NBA asset.
never said it was new... I'm just not convinced Morey is done at Andersen. Andy doesn't seem to have the defensive qualities this franchise practically requires. We'll see though.
I think Andersen is going to be the answer here. This is a guy that fills a skill set we havent had on this team before. A shooting big man who can chase down Okur and Barnarini types.
Like everyone has said Andersen would be our backup C if everything works out for him this year. If his game doesnt translate to the NBA, maybe then will Morey look to other teams.
anderson has a way to go. maybe a quality backup for yao in a few years but not this year or next. mgasol would be good choice. but maybe even a better quality player will be available next year and Yao can come off the bench. at least during the first year back
Ummmmm.....Haddadi is Iranian I believe.....but I think Andersen is a great pickup as a back up to Yao, we don't need anyone else for that role. He's a shooting big who can spread the floor and has size.
Haddadi is a very good player. the grizz rate him highly. this is a guy who led the olympics in rebounds and block shots and was 5th in scoring and second points %.. he is far better then thabeet. he and yao would give us easily the best C rotation in te entier league.
Haddadi is a better interior ddefensive player then anderson and a much bettr interior scorer. but the thunder from downunder i a better shooter, passer and is way better at running the lanes
Possibly it might be called Asia in the present era but most Iranians are not of Asian Blood. They are closer in facial charateristics to being eastern european, don't you think?
A good thread...and I don't understand why God Morey is standing pat...all those hustle and rebounds by a midget center will all be cancelled out by height.
In the off season go after Camby and Chandler and maybe Jackson then resign McGrady then we will have hungry vets wanting to win a chip. Hopefully they all could sign for cheap and play smaller, but more efficient roles with a chip on their shoulder.
We must remember Camby is really a 4 who can man the 5, but he really a weakside shot blocker would blossom nicely next to Yao. Then behind Yao comes in Chandler, this would be very wise to rest Yao more and let him finish strong. Then behind camby at the 4 comes in Scola and all the front court problems will be solved. Scola brings energy off the bench. Not only did we get bigger, but now we have the leagues best front court. Sign Jackson and McGrady behind McGrady in comes Ariza and behind Jackson in comes Budinger. Then there is Brooks and Lowry. All the undersized nightmares will be gone and we will give other teams nightmares. They all play less minutes, but this is important because we need to finish strong. Camby, Jackson and Chandler along with McGrady and Yao is not getting younger so we would be deep and beefy. We could steal them for cheap 2-3 years.
I know Andersen creates match up problems on occasions but I'm worried about if Yao gets injured again... we need a decent sized Center to back him up.
