I think we still need a legit big man who can start at PF and play backup C. Mutombo is almost done. I don't like Battier starting at 4. The ideal lineup for me is: Alston/Spanoulis/Lucas McGrady/Snyder/Head Battier/McGrady/Bowen X/Hayes/Novak/Howard Yao/X/Mutombo If we can't get a legit big, then go for another perimeter shooter like Korver and we'll have to go with: Alston/Spanoulis/Lucas Snyder/Y/Head McGrady/Battier/Bowen Battier/Hayes/Novak/Howard Yao/Mutombo With the second lineup, the frontline is considerably weaker and the backcourt isn't much better. I'd say use the rest of MLE or the TE to get that X big man.
Fantasy scenario: Juwan Howard + Luther Head + Steve Novak (not yet signed) to Milwaukee. Jamaal Magloire to the Jazzholes. Mehmet Okur and Milwaukee's future 2nd to the Rockets. Howard plays 4 alongside CV, Novak isn't hurt too bad by the trade as he would be playing where he played college ball, Luther backs up Redd. Jamaal gets 35 mpg and again gets to produce and work for that next contract. Being from Toronto, Utah might not rub him the wrong way, but I can't say I know the guy. Okur gives us starting 4 and backup 5 with 3 pt range. 1. Rafer, V-Span 2. T-Mac, Snyder, Sura 3. Battier and guys listed at "2" 4. Okur, Hayes, Battier 5. Yao, Okur, Deke
Hmm..I think Bowen is a good veteran, and we shouldn't cut him. I'm guessing that I missed some of his terrible play this past season. I think Hayes can be our backup 4. Possibly ready? 3rd string..I'd go with Lonny Baxter. Also, we have Battier ready to play the 4..adjusting to the new style of play.... I don't think we need Ariza anymore
To be honest, I am not happy with this move. It is still unclear whether V-Span could play well in NBA or not. In my opinion, most likely not.
I don't see it at all. I agree with you guys very much (except the Crawford idea--over priced and poor shooter). Basically I see our back court with 2 erratic NBA players--Alston and Snyder, 1 guy off a solid NBA rook year--Head (lots of guys have trouble being better in year 2 while opponents start focusing on their weaknesses--think Marq Daniels), and two complete unknowns as far as being regular NBA minute caliber players in VS and JL3. In short I don't think we have a very proven guard on the roster, unless Tmac plays guard. So I'd like to see us get Fred Jones, maybe not any better than what we have, but not as erratic as our vets (Alston, Synder) and more proven than anyone else (Head, VS, JL3). Jones gives us another viable player, very important given the high likelihood one or more of the above perform below what we hope. IMO another guard is more important than another swingman for sure (Ariza). Jones has the best combination of being somewhat of a known commodity (decent combo guard) with some upside/athleticm--if fact probably a more proven record than any Rocket guard under contract. I'd like an all out blitz for him personally (rest of the MLE or use the TE to work through Indy). The other option is Reggie Evans. I don't like L Wright much. We don't need another slow/older 4/5, we have 3 of them already in Yao, Deke and Howard. If we get another 4/5, get a different kind of one, physical, young and/or athletic. Evans has some of those qualities in a bigger fram the Chuck Hayes. But honestly right now I am more comfortable with our small forward spot (TMac, Battier, Synder, can play it, Novak might be able to), power forwards (Battier, Howard, maybe Hayes and Novak can play spot duties) and centers (Yao, Deke, even spot duty to Howard) than with our guards (Synder, VS, Head, JL3--don't want to have Tmac play there), that is why I like the bulky, athletic, and realtively well rounded combo guard Jones of the remaining options.
Fred Jones would be good. Reggie Evans would be great as well. Yao Evans Tmac Jones Alston..Battier, Hayes, Howard, Mutombo, Span. Head, Novak, JLIII I guess we're set at the 3.
But we already have cheaper verisons of Evans and Jones in Hayes and Head. What I read mostly on these boards is the pursuit of the perfect team. Now, that is a great pursuit and we all want it, but the reality is you can never have all the pieces--that's where good coaching and a little luck matchup-wise comes into play. I would much rather have a longer, more athletic four who can play some center (basically Swift if he played with intelligence, heart, and skill), but a combination of Battier, Howard, and Hayes gives us a perimeter scoring four who can defend more athletic fours, a more physical four who can hit his jumpers and defend more physical fours, and a sparkplug young kid who can hit the boards and defend the post well. Even though we don't have ONE single legitimate starter, our combination is not as bad as some think. Same goes for the two: While I would like to see another guy added, the combination of Head, Snyder, and spot minutes from McGrady really give us everything we need there--an undersized, but athletic scorer, a longer and more physical two against better scorers, and spot duty from one of the top athletes in the league to take advantage of certain mismatches on the floor.
I don't see Freddie Jones as much of an upgrade over Head. Jones is much stronger and more physically developed but he's also older and is an inch or two shorter with no capability of running the point. I think we're much better off sticking with Head as our immediate backup at SG and try the "wait and see" approach to let him develop more and see how much better he can get. Besides, Jones is a restricted free agent anyways. It's doubtful we could acquire him without overpaying in a S&T. Reggie Evans? We basically already have a shorter, non-testicle grabbing version of Evans in Chuck Hayes. I'd also prefer a skilled big man with size like Wright or a physical, defensive presence like Cato before i'd consider adding a player like Evans at this point. As for Crawford, I think its a risk well worth taking if NY was willing to do the suggested trade. As of now, we still don't have a 3rd scorer which clearly remains an area for concern. $7-9 million a year for a player that could bring the kind of scoring, versatility and ability to create matchup problems that he can for that prize seems well worth it to me.
I understand that homers exist on this board and the way our off-season has gone, any news that isn't negative is received to be outstanding. But I have to agree with Desert Scar and some others - our backcourt is still atrocious. If Yao and/or T-Mac miss significant time again like last season, we will still be lottery bound. We STILL don't have that 3rd scoring option (sorry but Battier is not that player).
I bet the Orlando homers did not expect t-mac to step up his game they way he did grant will went down. Call me crazy but I think Snyder is gonna be a star if given a chance.
I think this is a reach on both accounts. Head did have a solid rook season--excellent for splashes, as did Hayes. But that is far different from being confident you have a long term heavy minute quality NBA player. Many guys have great splashes (Marq Daniels, Flip Murray) only to be shown much more limited players once teams start analyzing them. While neither Jones nor Evans are great players (which is why a 3.5 mil range MLE could land them), both have proven they belong in regular rotations based on multiple years of their play. I like having Head and Hayes on the roster, but I in no way see them making Jones or Evans obsolete. I am not looking for the "perfect" team, but I think we have a woefully unproven backcourt. Jones would give us another option with different physical abilities (more powerfull, athletic) and it would not surprise me at all if he has a better year next year than any guard on our roster whether Jones is a Rocket or not. I see Evans as less necc, I am OK with Batt, JH and maybe Hayes or Novak taking the PF minutes, but one cannot deny Evans is nasty player and great rebounder (two straits years of the highest RBPM), thus does offer a different kind of contribution (rebounding as primary, but physically protecting Yao and Tmac is not insignificant either). I mostly agree with you here (OK with Battier, JaHo, and maybe Hayes or Novak mixing and matching at the 4) see above,.... I really don't want Tmac to play the SG. I want him to play the 3 exclusively and Battier to play most of the 4 minutes and some back-up 3 minutes, that makes those positions better (and JaHo becomes a good back-up 4 and spot back-up 5). But with Alston, JL3, Snyder, and VS I am not sure if we won't have to play Tmac or Battier at the SG, screwing up our front line roation. Getting Fred Jones gets us much closer to playing a rotation like this. Further, say Head, Synder or VSpan do all blow up and make Jones redudent (I'd say maybe 25% chance all these happen), we have more trade flexibility. I see little risk and much to be gained for the medium contract we could offer to a reasonably solid/proven guy like Jones (like 5 year 18 mil with player option is about the best we can do as a strait FA contract).
We need more size. Lo Wright would be best. PG: Alston/Spanoulis/Lucas III SG: McGrady/Snyder/Head SF: Battier/Novak/Bowen PF: Howard/Wright/Hayes C: Yao/Mutumbo
So, is Mutombo ready to go one last season? I dont see us adding any other big men unless we trade some players to free roster spots because who are you going to have sitting on the bench inactive. Sura, bowen, and ? You're pushing an active player to the bench if you sign another big guy or am I missing something? It'd be nice to have a backup C that played PF, as well.
Our backcourt is fine...do you think Miami built their roster around DWade getting hurt? Nope, and we should not worry about Tmac and Yao. DD
