How are you able to predict that an extremely talented big man will have a career lessened and ultimately ended due to significant injuries?
I would think the point being that passing up Melo has a big oh shiznit factor, they (Detroit) knew it when they drafted him (based on need), and the suspicion now has some litmus tested results. Only one-half of one season of results, but Melo is exceptionally good (why he wouldn't get better is beyond me), and has a vast fan support - thus lending further to a perceived mistake by Detroit. I wonder how many Melo jerseys are walking the streets of Detoit? IMHO, Darko could end up being a very solid PF, and the parallels to Bowie may run for a long time ---that is how good Melo is now and I wouldn't doubt would continue to be. Thanks for hearing me out, your greatness.
I'd say more BMW to Nissan -- he's not a Hyundai. Still one he!! of a downgrade though. But, if we're getting the promise of one of those really cool concept cars (Darko), along with a nice Nissan (Billups) -- it would be something to consider. I wouldn't do it though - I'm all about the BMW.
BMW's are great fun. I know...I've driven a ton of models for stretches of time. There is one guarantee, though - they will be in the shop with some problem or another, and frequently. When they are at the top of their game though...look out.
I don't think the intitial inference was no oblique as to evade detection, but obviously my rejoinder was. Point I was maiing: Darko is a complete unknown quantity yet. To judge a kid that young, with that much potential, who's still growing...Had Yao been in the draft 3 or 4 years ago, he would have been lucky to have been treated as a project as Darko has, yet his ceiling would not have been determined by those initial months. Everyone knew Darko was a long term project. He wasn't drafted based on needs; Dumars himself said that if he were going for need, he'd have drafted Bish, who also has exceptional upside. He said that the investment in Darko is that he has a chance to be an elite superstar, and his size makes the payoff on that potential higher than Anthony or Bosh's. That hasn't changed, and the fact that Brown is coaching increases the logevity of the project. That he is what everyone says he was shouldn't come as a surprise, nor lessen his potential. The only reason I suspect he might be available to us is : We're giving a star player back, and they might be pushing for this year. On a side note, I don't think Anthony is doing anything I didn't think he would have. In fact, of all the rookies, he was the one whose first year impact has been the most as I expected, maybe with Wade or Ford. James, Bosh, and Hinrich have been much better, much sooner than I expected.
If Brown wanted Francis, why wouldn't he have just signed to coach the Rockets this summer? He could've gotten Yao too.
the thing about billups is that, while not being a dominating scorer, he has this weird knack of hitting clutch shots down the stretch. i wouldn't mind having that. that said, it's really more of a mitsubishi to nissan downgrade, or anyway what i'm saying is it's not as huge as BMW to Hyundai. but it's a downgrade. however, piatowski for prince would be like trading the vespa in your garage you never use for something you'd actually drive. all in all... does it really help us? i don't know.
shows how much i know about cars... but i always thoughts those spyder things were cooler than anything nissan had... but i don't know that much about nissan.
...for those thinking that this trade has no chance because it would lock up thier $$ to sign okur, consider these 2 options: 1. okur is included in the deal. we would send them steve, pike boki, and get back billups, prince, okur and sura. 2 its a 3-way deal involving sheed.
No question in my mind as to Darko's potential. In casting Darko as Sam Bowie II, in Draft Day Mishaps (coming to a theater near you soon), my decision was based much more on them *passing* on Melo than Darko's inability to improve. Thx for the reminder about how Bosh fit into the equation, clearly they considered near-term/long-term need (a big) when they made the selection. Funny to me, that a team with that much vision would even consider trading Darko away just months later - which is why I scratch my head at the thought. Of course, Steve wasn't on the board when they made their selection this past summer. I'd give a long hard thought to a Darko/Billups/fodder for Francis deal --- just don't put Billups on any commercials. Geez that dude could cure our mirror pandemic (you know using them).
I agree with most of what you said with this exception. I would not be so quick to call Boki a wasted pick. Of his athleticism there is no doubt....it has been his comfort level on the court and his shooting that have been suspect. I have been one of the few predicting that eventually the kid would get it together...and while I will wait a for a few more nights like last night to say he has turned the corner...he has looked better every time out. Maybe you didnt see the game..or didnt bother to check his numbers...but for the first time ever in a Rockets uni...he hit multiple shots in a row and finished a nice slash to the basket. Plus he plays better D than most of you seem to notice. my point? too early to call him a busted pick.
Billups and Prince for Francis!? The Rockets would essentially be throwing up the white flag and quitting on the season with a ridiculous trade like that.
Darko is an 18 year old kid, how are you going to call him the next Sam Bowie? I think Darko is going to be a very good player once he gets experience.
I'm not opposed to considering any trade at the end of the season. This one is one of many that may or may not be good for the Rockets after we see what this team can do. Changes to the core of your team do not lead to championships in the near future. Look at the east, as a whole the eastern teams change rosters like AK47 changes hair styles. And they all suck. Consistancy and chemistry are as much a part of a champion as tallent but are far less glamourous or easily measured. Let this team play. They are pretty good.
The element we can exploit to get value in this trade, ie Darko, will no longer be in place at season's end.
BOKI has some serious slashing ability. I recall him going into traffic and then just rising above all the bystanders and almost dunking it home with those (Stretch Armstrong) arms of his. Not being able to dunk it, he simply made a lay up, but man I thought he was going to dunk from what seemed like the free throw line.
There seem to be 3 rumours involving Steve every day now. Having said that, Billups and Prince for Steve... NO. Billups, Prince and Darko for Steve + filler... YES.
