I'm surprised how many people want to "blow it up". Sports fans are so damn emo. We have a rock solid team here with just one or two obvious needs. If we fill those holes, we have a contender. And we have room to fill those holes without blowing it up. I bet the Rockets will be a relatively attractive location for stars, for one, and we have lots of youth that will continue to grow and improve, and/or is tradeable for a new asset if necessary.
This ones easy. TRADE sCOLA. He is easily the mosty moveable peice now. Patrick Patterson can give you what you need on offense, defense, rebounding, passing from that position. Chuck Hayes can start there whn we get a real 7 foot center. Chuck Hayes and Patterson makes the Pwoerforward position stacked and we have Miler and Hayes backup any 7 foot center we get. Which means Scola is easily the guy you trade. Him and a another young guy or pick for a star somewhere in the lineup. Probably at SF so you trade Budinger also. Two starters will get you a star at least.
No need to blow it up. Its not calling blowing it up when you trade two or three guys like Scola and Budinger for say Danny Granger.. Thats called trying to improve your team. People knee jerk too much when they hear trade scenarios and their favorite Rockets.
I was hoping the Rockets would tank this year, but honestly your statements are a bit ridiculous. Had Brooks not whined and messed up the chemistry Rockets would have a couple more wins, Chuck Hayes missed games which very well could've turned that 2-9 to 5-6 at worst, and Scola missed KEY games late in the season that could have the Rockets sitting with 2 more wins. Obviously this team can't win a title the way it is built, but the Rockets can't catch a break on the injury bug and if their players stayed healthy (with the exception of Yao), they would be sitting in the 6-8 playoff range imo. This is all considering Yao is sitting on 1/3rd of the team's payroll. Pretty damn good role players imo, just need 1 piece and this team can contend.
Patterson is the future at the 4. Hayes gives quality minutes at the 4 and 5, and keeps improving. I don't see trading Martin. Probably look at trading Scola and other parts that add up to value for Bosh. Swing Bosh for a high draft pick and whatever contract you have to take on, or to Sacramento/Anaheim for Cousins. One way or the other, as much as I like Luis, Patterson and Hayes can man the 4. Find a way to upgrade the 5 and go from there. Can't let "Hope Springs Eternal - The Yao Ming Story" continue.
Don't like the choices...we need to be opportunistic and get the best deals/players we can for our team. That requires flexibility and being patient for the right opportunity.
I didn't vote for any of the poll options. I think this team can be restored with the return of a healthy Yao.