I think Gay could contribute immediately. Remember Charlie Villanueva? The Uconn pick that supposedly was lazy and lacked heart? He had a very good rookie year. Lottery picks from Uconn have fared quite well in the NBA and Gay was the star on one of the most talented teams in recent college hoops history. I think Battier does help the Rox, but he's a 10/5 guy. Swift is a 10/5 guy. I do think Battier is better than Swift but we also gave the #8 pick up. If we were intent on trading the pick we should've given up less for Battier or gotten more. I really don't think Gay is a project (see above rationale). Stromile stats are close to "smart guy" Battier. Again, I think Battier > Swift, but we gave up too much. I hope you're correct. Right now we get an F-.
Does it look better than this? 1: Sura/James 2: Wesley/Barry 3: McGrady/Bowen 4: Padgett/Weatherspoon 5: Yao/Mutombo I didn't think so, and that team was a #5 seed. If we can make a smart move with the MLE and get a decent combo guard or longer wing and if Sura can make it back or another deal enables us to add some depth in the backcourt or at that four stop, then we will be in much better shape than the year before the last. One important consideration is that we always had more needs this year than options to fill it (#8, MLE, two TEs). With Battier, we got longer on the wings and he can also play the four in a smaller lineup. Throw in a decent spot shooter in Novak who is pretty smart on the court and you already have added some length and shooting to the wing spots. We still have needs and I think Howard and/or Head could be the bait to improve that four spot, while the MLE may get us a good combo guard.
Is it done? OMG, I just can't believe it!!! I think Gay for Battier is enough! Stromile? Why? Just for the damn salary cap?
I dunno'. at first I was in shock. then I started thinking about it knowing that some other players will be on their way. This probably frees up enough cash for Mike James for instance. We has a few needs, and one of the hardest to fill was a really good defender on the perimeter who can hit an open three. Battier is almost 40% from behind the arc. I like that. He can defend and is a known commodity in that he plays hard and isn't injury prone. We give up vast potential and uh... vast potential. One of those has had about six years to be vast. The other one has that same potential, although it may just be youth. Either way Gay would realistically need a couple of years to be what you guys see. I do like the fact we are trying to win now. I don't like that the cost was that high but I do like the piece we got. My opinion will be reserved until I see who else we get during the offseason and what else may be involved with the Memphis deal (if it happens at all). The balm to the wound is that we get back brains, open jumpers and perimeter defense. We're also pretty tall out there depending on what we do with Tmac. With a few more moves we could be a pretty scary defensive team who can hit their shots. I like that. We'll see...
Anyone even remotely on board with this trade right now is missing the point. The Rockets could have, AND should have gotten more. Heck, if the Grizzlies threw in a 2nd round pick it still wouldn't be enough but CD couldn't even get that. Maybe they'll end up getting more, but that sounds suspicious to me. ESPN kept reporting it happening, Jerry West (NBA rules be damned) talked about the trade as being done, and for all intents and purposes, it looks like Shane will lose his BYC status July 12th, at which point Swift and "Who's Your Daddy" salaries will match. Conclusion 1: Trade is just as, if not more likely to be just as reported then any different. Conclusion 2: That's pathetic. How they didn't get ANYTHING...2nd round, cash considerations, 24th pick (Lowry, Brown, Ager all available), future first round pick, a bag of potato chips....well, it's truly pathetic.
this is a lot better.. because divac was way better at that time than battier and he got swift + rg for battier..
if it was Stro for Battier straight up then it would've been a no-brainer BUT the #8 makes it hard to swallow
Exactly, I thought we would at least get Memphis #24 at least. Rudy Gay better be a bust otherwise this will be a day of infamy in H-Town.
What angers me the most is that idiots like Dick Justice will try to rationalize this as some sort of smart, safe move. Battier fits this team perfectly and if McGrady stays healthy, we'll undoubtedly win 50 games next year. That's not the point here. This was our chance to hit a homerun and we couldn't have struck out any worse. Rudy Gay isn't a safe choice by any means but you have to take that risk. A guy touted as going #1 overall earlier in the year absolutely FELL into our laps, and we traded him for a mediocre NBA veteran. Unbelievable. I don't think I could have scripted this any better.
I still believe that the Spurs are much more athletic than us. I think we're arguably the least athletic team in the league and Battier will make us a better team but we gave up way too much.
Why is everyone saying this? Can someone explain to me what cash we're freeing up by sending Stro for Battier? I'm not seeing it.
I agree with JayZ750, CD should've at least demanded next years 1st. If not then no deal. I'd drive a hard bargain, how bad do you want Rudy Gay, Mr. West? We could've gotten more than what we got.
