I don't know.. You're arguing for the Rockets but I was looking at it as simply deals that made sense. I still not convinced the Rockets can offer better.
Personally? I don't think our bench was THAT bad, not enough to call for shipping everyone out. We have a beast in Landry, we have Bobby Jackson, a great scorer, we have Hayes who can rebound and defend the best of them. Our problems were just we couldn't hit the shots we were making at other times. Head was useless this season, really had a poor shooting performance, he is the one player I would like to see gone from our bench. If anything on this team needs to be resolved it is a backup center if deke retires and a PG, I would prefer to see Rafer as the backup, that is the role he played for most of his career and I think he suits it better, but I would only do this if we had a quality starter, it is not that big of a wound to let him start. This team doesn't need drastic changes, just one piece is missing, shooting has to improve, freethrows and finishing at the basket, I like where this team is heading...
While at first I thought that the prospect of getting both Mike Miller and Kyle Lowry from Memphis was far-fetched at best, I am starting to come around to the reality that the Rockets COULD get those players without giving up anything of major basketball value IF Les Alexander is willing to pay some quasi-serious luxury tax. I firmly believe that Memphis would be willing to make the following trade(s) with the Rockets: Trade #1: Bobby Jackson, Luther Head and the 25th pick for Mike Miller Trade #2: Trade Exception for Kyle Lowry Obviously, the Rockets would do this deal in order to get the third scorer they need (Miller) and a high-energy backup PG capable of playing lock-down defense (Lowry). The Grizzlies would do this deal for several reasons. First and foremost, these trades would immediately open up an additional $2.5M in salary cap room to pursue free agents this summer. That extra bit of cap space will give the Griz enough room to overpay, I mean sign, someone to a max contract AND have room to sign another player. However, knowing Michael Heisley, he'll probably just pocket the savings himself. Second, the Griz get Bobby Jackson's and Luther Head's expiring contracts, in case Memphis wants to wait until next year, when it will then have even MORE cap space. Third, Memphis gets a first rounder to add to their arsenal of young talented players. Fourth, the Grizzlies get a veteran PG in Jackson to mentor the young second-year PGs Conley and Crittenton. Lowry was not drafted or traded for by the current GM, so he's expendable (or at least more expendable than the other two PGs). Fifth, Memphis gets a young player in Head who can actually hit a three-pointer. All in all, that trade would probably happen if Les is willing to pay several million dollars in luxury taxes. A hefty price to pay, but the Rockets could conceivably come out of this with two rotation players in exchange for a first rounder and two lesser rotation players. The team would still have Francis's expiring contract and the other half of the Kirk Snyder trade exception to use in trades, let alone Aaron Brooks, Carl Landry (S&T), and Shane Battier (please no!). Pony up, Les, and make it happen!
I agree, it makes sense. In fact, I would be willing to forego the Lowry deal if we could get an early second and get Lester Martin.
MEM already has cheap young talent and they have $13m in cap space and they have their Lottery pick and they have the Lakers' #1 this summer and the Lakers' #1 in the summer of 2010. So what's your offer? BJax and a draft pick? Thanks...it's been a rough day and I needed a good laugh.
Totally agree 2 peices 1) a backup SG/SF who can create his own shot 2) a backup C who is more than 6'6 the harder to get is (1) but someone like Ricky Davis or Mike Miller would be perfect - question is, can we get to them before everyone else does? And if so, we get stuck with Azubuike and no real depth in the position that we need it...
I would not offer anything besides expirings and picks for Mike Miller. He's not worth giving up Shane to get. He's not worth more than expirings and picks to our team........because he's gonna be a 6th man. You don't give up a quality starter for a 6th man. What would you offer for Miller? It has been a rough day and I need a laugh.
I'm not much on Battier so I'd give him up in a heartbeat. IMHO, you couldn't touch Mike Miller unless Battier or Scola was part of the deal. Now that I think about it, since they already have a 20 ppg SF, they'd probably not be interested in Battier. All joking aside...I'll make you a tip jar bet that Mike Miller doesn't go anywhere in a deal centered upon an expiring contract. Deal?
