I think the Rockets have too many players that are of the same type. Too many guys who NEED the ball to be sucessful as individuals but not as team players. I would trade Cat for Odom and draft Ming, this would allow OT to start at SG and you would instantly have a team that is better at defense and passing. Also, all this talk about trading the pick is frivolous as the Rockets clearly are going to draft Ming. Remember, actions speak louder then words and the mere fact that the Rockets asked Mayor Brown to talk to the Chinese about Ming speaks volumes about their intentions. Cat and Steve have ZERO clue how to win, so ignore their ignorance and draft Ming. DaDakota
You Stole my Idea DaDakota. Who is OT? I posted that same idea under another thread, half jokingly. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Imagine this lineup if the Rox wanted to go big. Francis Odom Griffin Mo T Ming Wow! Now strictly dreamcasting here but would the Clipps jump on a Mobley plus 15th pick for Odom and filler trade?
SF, OT Odom KT/Griff Ming/Cato Not bad Cat maybe a bone head. . .but he's OUR bonehead I'm not ready to trade him . .. yet Esp since I'm scared about how much money odom is gonna want Rocket River
I was going to make this point in another thread, but never got around to it. Thanks for pointing this out, Da. It's one thing for the team to give quotes to newsmedia about the "special value" of the number one pick etc, etc. That's the usual smokescreen PR BS that comes out around draft day. But it's a whole other thing to call the mayor of America's fourth-largest city while he's in China and ask him to change his schedule (these schedules are planned waaaay in advance, mind you) for a meeting about Yao. Brown's going to be in office for 4 more years -- no way you jerk around the mayor like that just to send a smokescreen to Elgin Baylor and Jerry Krause. No way. Back to the topic. I just think it would be funny. Gee Cat, you made a good point about needing Lamar. Thanks for speaking out against management on national TV. See you at the Clip Joint.
So, we'll have a rookie PG and a rookie center to go along with our 20 year old SF/PF and another PF coming off achilles rehab. I'm sure the 5,000 people that still watch this team would love to see our rebuilding effort set back another three years.
Does anyone else think that China-Houston business relationships could factor into this pick? How would auctioning off China's national sports hero be viewed there especially if the Clips don't take him #1?
Yes the rebuilding effort would be set back a few, but Lamar Odom is a far superior player to Cuttino Mobley. Odom is a better passer, rebounder, ball handler and shot blocker. Mobley is an erratic 2-guard who needs to have the ball in his hands to score. Mobley is better at getting off his own shot though. Remember if we dealt Cuttino, we'd have to draft Kareem Rush to take his place.
**** it, let's just cut these two because they simply expressed opinions about who they want to pick up this offseason.
It goes back to doing things the hard way. We have probably the 2nd best backcourt in the NBA, all the Rockets need is frontcourt help. They have the #1 pick in the draft and bargaining room, hey lets break up the backcourt, throw in a rookie SG, or an unproven SG (Oscar Torres hasn't proven to be a regular 2-guard) and try and rebuild chemistry all over again! As for Cat and Francis having zero idea to win, ummm, didn't Francis and Mobley help the Rockets win the most games of any non-playoff team? Wasn't Mobley the starting PG for a playoff team in 1999? Am I dreaming or something or did any of that really happen? Leave the backcourt alone. God forbid our two star players add input to the team this offseason. I guess they should be like the fans and not talk about rumors, or trade talks, or what the team needs to win. The fans don't do that huh? Call me crazy, but I'm willing to bet that Francis and Mobley know more about improving the team then we do.
DaDakota - Forget OT, have the Clipps send the rights to Marko Jaric - he's a 6'6" SG and was just named to the All Euroleague 1st Team at the recent finals. His team (Kinder) finished second and Ginobili is a teammate.
Rm95, Now quit exaggerating, no one said cut anyone. However, trading Cat for Odom is a real possibility, and would make both the Clippers and the Rockets better. I love Cuttino's heart etc, but he is exactly like Francis and we need some diversity on this team to get better. The Rocks are too easy to defend, they have only one style of play, adding Odom and subtracting Cat makes them better already, then adding Ming makes them a LOT better. Sign Francis to a long term deal, then trade Cat for Odom, and the Rockets are on their way. Millenium, I am also fine with keeping Cat and Francis as long as we draft Ming, if they are going to be the focus we need someone who will get their missed shots and add put backs into the mix, not to mention if Cat and Francis can't play Defense at least having EG and Ming in the paint would help them immeasurably. Either way, you HAVE to take Ming. DaDakota
Grummett, Li Yaomin did say that their original favorite plan was to deal with the Knicks since they are owned by a big cable company, and the Sharks are owned by Oriental TV. I definitely think they are looking at business trades outside of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. I also think Stern could do a very simple deal with the CBA to give them NBA rights to broadcast games and line up Coke and Pepsi as advertisers...all that being contingent on Ming going #1 and his rights being completely and utterly released for good. Another idea is that Nike signs Ming to an mega-endorsement deal with the promise that Ming then uses his mega-millions to pay off the Sharks for full release out-of-pocket.
The Rockets are easy to defend because they're so predictable. All you have to do is fall into a soft zone, and the isolation plays are worthless. Also, Francis won't resign if Cat's traded. I don't think he'd want to play on a team without his boyfriend.
Here's a trade that worked. Houston trades: PF Kenny Thomas (14.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.9 apg in 34.5 minutes) SG Cuttino Mobley (21.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.5 apg in 42.1 minutes) #15 overall pick Houston receives: SF Corey Maggette (11.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.8 apg in 25.6 minutes) SF Lamar Odom (13.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 5.9 apg in 34.5 minutes) #12 overall pick Change in team outlook: -11.3 ppg, -1.4 rpg, and +3.3 apg. L.A. Clippers trades: SF Corey Maggette (11.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.8 apg in 25.6 minutes) SF Lamar Odom (13.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 5.9 apg in 34.5 minutes) #12 overall pick L.A. Clippers receives: PF Kenny Thomas (14.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.9 apg in 72 games) SG Cuttino Mobley (21.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.5 apg in 74 games) #15 overall pick Change in team outlook: +11.3 ppg, +1.4 rpg, and -3.3 apg. TRADE ACCEPTED
