Being #1 is a good thing. There, I've said that. But, it is also wierd. We all know about all the Ming issues from 100 other posts, but trades could be odd as well. Here's why... Of the teams who might be willing to make a deal to get up to #1 AND still be able to provide us a decent return on that investment AND have players who we could fit with our salary cap constraints, only a couple have centers even mildly worth looking at for the deal. Ultimately, this is a small-forward rich draft. Great. We need one. But, if we assume center is at the very least #2 on the needs list, how can we trade down and still get both. Let's look at the top 8 picks... 2 - Chicago - Would they be willing to hand over Eddie Curry plus the #2 for #1? Doubtful. They're probably very comfortable taking the leftovers of the JWill/Ming sweepstakes at #1. They would be fine either way. 3 - Golden State - Assuming they gave up Jamison and the #3, who the hell do we take at #3, Caron Butler? We aren't going to take another 4 and there really isn't a center worthy of the #3 unless you are convinced Curtis Brochart is the man. I'm not. 4 - Memphis - Let's face it. They aren't going to give up Gasol or Battier, so you want Swift? Why? So, we could have another young, thin power forward? No thanks. 5 - Denver - We won't get McDyess (even if we wanted him now) because of the cap problems, so what do they have that we could want? 6 - Cleveland - I don't care if you are a UT alum, Chris Mihm ain't worth that much. Andre Miller is but that won't happen no matter how much DaDakota might like . Cleveland has nothing we want. 7 - New York - They are desperate to get Yao, but they have NADA we want. Sprewell? Houston? Camby? No thanks. Besides, the cap room makes it impossible. 8 - LA Clippers - This is the most intriguing. If you get Miles or Odom and the #8, it might net Stoudamire or someone else of that calliber. Or, if you think the Kandi man is worth that pick, you could still get a decent small forward at #8. Now, we can assume something completely different...the Rockets ignore the center position altogether and draft one top SF along with a European SF to add some extra offense. Then, they could make trades, etc, to bring in the center, but whatever. It is a wierd spot to be in...but good. Wierd, but good. Yeah, that's right.
Yeah, it's a crap shoot. On one hand I would like the Rockets to take Ming, but on the other history points to too many busts. The Rockets took a risk last year with Griffin. It's too early to tell, but it's looking like it was worth it. Should they take another risk with Ming or trade the pick for an established player(s)? Glad I'm not CD or Rudy T right now. JB
Interesting. I wouldn't mind trying to pry Kandi from them in a sign-and-trade and take Odom, Kandi and their #8 pick for the #1 and #15 pick. Basically we would trade the #1 for a superstar SF and a center with great upside, while at the same time upgrade the #15 pick to #8 giving us another lottery pick.
the suns pick 9th and could hand over maion and the 9th for #1 #15 and rice. our sf needs are not an issue anymore and at 9 take a chance on borchardt, hilario, or marcus. the suns get ming and the best available player at 15 new line-ups: cato-griff-#9 moT-kt-collier marion-Tmo cat-oz steve-mooch-brown ming-tsakalidis-#15 googs-outlaw rice-j.wallace hardaway-j.johnson marbury-palacio
If we could also trade Maurice Taylor for Bo Outlaw, that would be cool. But that would be a hard trade to do, and it could happen in the middle of the season. Maurice Taylor and #1 pick for Shawn Marion, Bo Outlaw, and their first round draft pick.
That Marion deal isn't too bad, but I don't see why everyone is so determined to get a SF as the main option in a trade. We have Eddie, KT, and Mo all likely worthy of starting, plus Morris and Rice off the bench. I think all 3 of those guys (EG, KT, Mo) are going to have to play some SF, depending on how the matchups go. They sure won't all three split time at the 4, and only get 15 minutes a piece. SF is not that great of a weakness, to me.
The Clippers would never do that. Change #8 to #12 and they might, but to get Odom and Kandi for that we would probably have to not ask for any pick at all in return.
In my mind, this is the one team with whom the Rockets should strike a deal, if they make one (Jamison could always be moved in a three way or packaged with the #15 to move up). The Warriors really want the #1 pick. But I would only trade it to them if they want the pick to get Jay Williams. This way the Rockets can sit at #3 and take the leftovers between Ming and Dunleavy (assuming Rudy wants Dunleavy and a deal can be struk to get Ming). I woudn't do a deal with GS for Ming because there is the possibility that Jabba the GM would take Dunleavy leaving the Rockets with JW, who they don't need.
Jeff, Why do you say that we couldn't get McDyess because of cap problems? We've got plenty of bloated contracts that we can include to offset McDyess' salary. Personally, I'd do Rice, Moochie, Collier and the #1 for McDyess, Posey and #5. If we feel that McDyess is healthy, I can't think of a player that would be a better fit (of guys that we realistically have a shot at). Outside of Shaq and Duncan, who's a better low post threat than McDyess? Plus he's a very good rebounder and shot blocker and he runs the floor very well. Posey would give us a defensive minded player to play small forward. A front line of Posey, McDyess, Cato, Griffin and Thomas would give us quite a bit of flexibility. It would also allow the Rockets to take the best players available at #5 and #15 and to bring them along slowly.
If we get Shawn Marion and Borchardt is available, that would be an awesome combo that we should pursue. Other than that, I would take the risk on Ming and pick up a SF with the 15th pick. Another possibility would be: trade down to #3, pick up Jamison (give up #1 and #15), then trade down again from 3 to 7 and pick up Borchardt with 7 (#3 for #7 and unload Glenn Rice). That way the Knicks can move up to 3, we get SF Jamison, C Borchardt, and unload Glenn Rice's contract. A double move down would make a lot more sense to me than a straight up deal.
The Clippers might agree to trade Kandi for Ming,but are highly unlikely to give any of the picks,because they would still need a backup center to help Ming like Borchardt or Marcus,and are probably looking to get Tskitishvili and then send Odom to get Miller from the Cavs. However if we do get Kandi,we could still use the 15th pick to get Nachbar as a SF. But if the Rockets want a SF like Odom for Ming,then I think they might get the 12th pick from them and select Marcus if he is still available.
As much as I would love to see Marion wearing a Rockets uniform, I just dont see why Phoenix would trade Marion. Maybe I am missing something. Fill me in!!
Saleem, why in the world would the Rockets trade the #1 pick for Olowakandi straight up? Kandi who until this year was considered a HUGE bust. He's had 1 productive year (If you call a 7 footer shooting 42% productive) and we're giving up #1 for this guy with a potential contract issue? No way.
You think Denver would do that deal? Even if they did, McDyess is a free agent after next season. We could end up losing him after only one season as a consequence of the trade. Plus, there are injury considerations. Now, I would do that deal but I just can't see them taking Rice, Collier and Moochie (particularly given the long contracts of Rice and Norris) and still giving us #5, Posey and McDyess just for the right to pick first. Seems a stretch. But, I do see your point.
RIET,the reason why they might consider that as an option would be because Ming might be just as big a risk as Kandi,and also could take the same amount of time to produce as much as Kandi is doing right now. The Rockets are looking for instant results,that's why I think they will end up trading him.
McDyess is coming off a major injury and is a free agent next year. Do we really need another power forward on this team? Tell me again how many playoff runs he has participated in? If he is the best you can get out of trading the number one pick, then I think you have to go for Ming. Sure, there are risks, but there are also *tremendous* match-up possibilities. He gets a lot of rebounds, block shots and has Sabonis-like range and passing skills...and he is seven frickin five! Imagine him and Eddie closing down the middle on defense. Imagine the spacing he will create for Steve and Cuttino. Imagine the *years* of wide open looks for Eddie. Of course, Yao won't shut down Shaq- who has, or ever will? Three high schoolers were taken in the top three last year, so I hardly think that Ming will totally wilt in the NBA after years of international competition.
I can understand Golden State really wants Jay Williams. But to trade Antawn Jamison to move up to two slots to get him? I'm skeptical. And if GS were willing to do that, I'd be asking myself why they'd let Jamison go so easily aside from the fact they may feel like he's not the answer and they need a change. Still, maybe I'm overreacting, but like you said, I feel there is no better time to solidify the 5 spot than now. I want Ming, but if not Ming, I at least want a very solid center (like Brendan Haywood or something). I like Dunleavy, but I think we'll have wasted a once-in-a-generation opportunity if we come out of this with anything less than Dunleavy and a very, very solid center. Dunleavy and Jamison are tempting, and in terms of pure talent is worth it, but in terms of fitting out team, I don't see that. I think we become worse off defensively than with Ming, and I don't anticipate Ming being any stud defender.
Jeff, To Do that deal, McDyess would have to want it to happen and he'd have to agree to an extention. He use to live here (I'm not sure if he still does )so it's not too much of a stretch to imagine him wanting to play here. I agree that it's a steep price for Denver, plus I don't know if they even have an interest in Yao, but if you want a potential franchise center, then it's going to cost you. Elvis C, McDyess is a 20/10 guy and is a great shot blocker. He's a known quantity (assuming he's healthy). He is a huge low post presence. Yao has short arms, so scouts are saying he won't be the shot blocker that Bradley is. Also, there's questions about his low post game. Still, his potential is great. I'd be happy with Yao or with a deal like this. Yao has huge potential, but if we aren't comfortable with the Chinese officials or we don't want to wait for him to develop, McDyess, Posey and #5 would be a great option. As far as McDyess playoff record, what does that matter? Which of his previous teams did you expect to make a playoff run? Had Jason Kidd ever made a playoff run prior to this year? How about Antoine Walker? McDyess has played on mediocre to bad teams his whole career.
