- trade down to orlando for hedo turkaglu, if we cant get him stevenson will work - draft carney or brewer, hoping for carney - draft pj tucker with second round pick - mike james wont take the full MLE its just not enough for him. so dont sign mike james - sign any of these players with the full MLE Speedy Claxton Al Harrington(dont think thats possible, but its worth a try) Nene Keith van horn and Jason Terry ( if the mavs lose in the finals, they might think of leaving) Vladimir Radmanovic Deavan George Any of those players will be a good pickup. I'd also like to see juwan howard leave. Stromile Swift needs more playing time if he's ever going to reach his full potential. I think juwan would go best in a sign in trade or some kind of trade.
Here is a list of people that will be free agents as a reminder- http://www.***************/article_13008.shtml http://probasketball.about.com/od/newsrumorsopinion/a/nbafreeagents06.htm
Wish list, huh? 1) Get lucky with a young swingman who's willing to come here for less than the MLE. 2) Either bring in V-Span now or trade his rights and take our chances that is was not a mistake. 3) Draft an Horry or Cassell that JVG has no other choice than to play him, and not becasue of injuries. 4) Yao finally understands that he's really more important now to the franchise than any coach, GM or even the current ownership. If none of the above happens then I think we rebuild, with a new owner, a lame-duck coach and possibly another year of hell. But maybe not...
OK, this is with the emphasis on WISH list: 1) Trade with CHI to get Chandler and Duhon. Whatever they want. Howard is someone they've wanted in the past. They need some veteran balance, and he's a hometown hero there. They might want him. Head is a hometown hero there too, so they have higher value due to being from there, and living there in the off-season. Swift is someone that some CHI fans, including Sam, who believe he could flourish there. Between Howard and Swift, they were 21/10. That's a lot better than anything they have at PF. Maybe they'd feel better letting Chandler go, if they got another 2nd pick in Swift, who's still got potential. If they wanted anyone else besides Yao or Tmac, they could have them. They'd have to throw another player in there, who's in disfavor. But, even though Chandler doesn't score points, he'd give us depth at 4 positions, and is a great rebounder and defensive presence. 2) If Morrison, Thomas, Gay, Bargnani, Aldridge, or Roy fall, then take whomever falls. But, if our choice is O'Bryant, then see if NO wants to trade their 12/15 to nab him, and take the best PF and SG, hopefully Simmons/Brewer, Carney/Johnson, or Williams/Redick. If they don't, then trade it to ORL for Vasquez and #11, and take the best SG in order of Brewer, Carney, Foye, Redick, or Ager. 3) If the NO trade goes down, and there isn't a good PF left, then trade down to NY or NJ, and get their 2 picks, and take 2 of Sene, Douby, Fernandez or Boone. 4) At #32,. take either Rudy Fernandez, Shawne Williams, PJ Tucker, Steve Novak, Daniel Gibson, Rendaldo Balkman, or James White. 5) Talk with ATL about trading Alston to meet their PG need for either their #5 pick or Josh Childress ... doubt it, but its worth checking on. If for some crazy reason they gave us the #5 pick, I'd take either Bargnani or Aldridge, but I doubt that'll happen ... think we're stuck with Alston. 6) I don't think Spanoulis is ready yet ... sign MIke James or Ronald Murray with our MLE. 7) Find someone who needs our 4.2m TE, and pick up a role player. 8) Sign back Padgett ... 9) For some reason, I don't think Sura will pull it off. But, if he did, I'd love to have him start at PG. We need his toughness. That COULD give us: Yao/Mutumbo/(Chandler)/Sene Hayes/Chandler/Simmons/Padgett TMac/(Chandler)/Bowen/Novak James/(Duhon)/(Chandler)/Fernandez Sura/Alston/Duhon or Yao/Mutumbo/(Chandler) Chandler/Hayes/Simmons/Padgett TMac/(Chandler)/Bowen/(Fernandez) James/Brewer/(Duhon)/(Chandler)/Fernandez Duhon/Alston/Sura or Yao/Mutumbo/(Chandler) Chandler/Hayes/Padgett TMac/(Chandler)/Bowen/ {or Morrisson or Gay} James/Fernandez/(Duhon)/(Chandler)/{or Roy} Duhon/Alston/Sura We'd be a much younger, less injured, deeper team to go with Yao/TMac. That would be my wish, but not confidant that the CHI or ATL deal would happen. But, if I was CD, I'd go after those as hard as we could.
As someone stated earlier the first wish should be a fully recovered Tmac and Yao Ming. Having our two superstars play for the full season and offseason together without injuries is on top of my Wish list! Then I would like to get some experienced vets that really can contribute. I would love to get Sam Cassell back in a Rockets uniform for cheap. I know he is old but he still has gas in his tank and it seems like he has alot of the leadership skills that we need and lack on the floor. I would also only do this if we can find a young healthy back up that could relieve his minutes since he is heading up there in age. A shooting guard that is a bit more reliable at the perimeter offence and defence is also on my list. We have three pf's right now. They aren't the greatest but in my opinion they aren't as much of a gaping hole as our back court.
1st: Draft; At #8, assuming the sixpack at the top is taken, if Marcus Williams is on the board, I'd take him. Otherwise, the Rockets should try to trade down to #11 with Orlando, acquiring the rights to Fran Vasquez and one of #41, #44 or a 2007 second round pick, as well as $1 Million in Cash, then draft a swingman, in the order of a) Brewer, who has leapfrogged Carney due to the tale of the measuring tape, b) Carney, or c) Foye. If they are all taken, look to get Patrick O'Bryant for a future trade. The theme of this draft has been depth, and picking up a former lottery pick in Vasquez is way too much to turn down. Even if he comes over in 3 years when he's 26, it will be when Juwan's contract is up, and we'll be needing a new Power Forward, even in a backup role. At #32, under the assumption we pick up a shooting guard in the first round, I'd try to take one of the late first round Point guards that may slip into the second, or use the second round pick we acquire from Orlando to move up and get one; whether it's Lowry, Collins, Farmar, Brown or Washington. They might not be able to shoot well, but if they can take care of the ball and play D, they'll be able to earn time with Van Gundy as the third point guard (if Brunson can do it, any of these 4 can do it). If we retain either #41 or #44, I'd look to pick up one of the West Virginia Boys, Gansey or Pittsnogle, or Bobby Jones of Washington. 2nd: Trades; Two trades I'd particularly like Houston to pursue are: 1. Stromile Swift and Ryan Bowen, along with $1 Million to waive Bowen to Milwaukee for Joe Smith. With a trade of Jamaal Magloire seemingly imminent this summer, Milwaukee will be left fairly shorthanded in the front court, with only Andrew Bogut and Dan Gadzuric locked in after the 2007 season. Stromile seems to fit in well as the third bigman off the bench, with Bogut able to slide over to the 5 and being a great interior passer to set up Stromile. Joe Smith is an expiring contract that had almost identical numbers to Swift this season, and has basically the same reputation as Juwan Howard as a strong teammate and professional throughout his entire career; Minnesota contract debacle notwithstanding. Ryan Bowen also again helps the team out in ways that don't show up on the stat sheet by acting as the perfect salary filler in the trade. 2. Trade the $4.2 TE to the Clippers for Zeljko Rebraca, James Singleton and a 2007, Top 20 Protected Conditional First Round Pick (Conditional being that it will only be conveyed if Minnesota finishes outside the top 10 next year, and therefore gives its own pick to Los Angeles to complete the Marko Jaric/Sam Cassell swap, if not, the Clippers must have a draft pick for 2007, as they traded away this year's, so the pick will roll over to 2008 and beyond). The Clippers were rumored to have been shopping Maggette for a draft pick in order to free up salary to sign Radmanovic and Sam Cassell. I personally think it would be madness to give up one of your top 6 players when you're fresh off a playoff run that screamed of promise. Instead, in this trade, the Clippers are able to shave off about $4 Million from their estimated budget (usually the salary cap, so about $52 Million for next year). This gives them enough to start Radmanovic at about $6 Million, and Sam at $7 Million, while still staying under their self imposed budget. They also shed the guaranteed contract of a low first rounder in the next few years; it works out perfectly if the pick is delivered in 2007, as they won't want another rookie if they've already got a lottery pick. As for Houston, if Rebraca can play, he might be useful as a 3rd string center; if he's truly done due to injury, he's only under contract for 2007, with a team option for 2008, and will come off the books anyway. James Singleton has been a favorite of mine for a while now; after Bill Simmons started talking about him in his Clipper recap columns, I took a look at a few Clipper games; he's got great athleticism, and a good nose for offensive rebounds. I'd definitely like to try him out as a backup to T-Mac at the 3, and as the 4 in an athletic lineup. And of course, we pick up an extra first in the next few years; a low one that will give us another opportunity to find more roleplayers to put around our stars. 3: Free Agency; Now the team is significantly more athletic, however, it is still lacking perimeter shooting, as well as a proven back-up to Tracy. I'd remedy both situations by giving a Mid-Level Exception contract to Matt Harpring for 3 years, to play as a starting 2-guard and a backup to Tracy at the 3. If he doesn't accept, I'd look to Jumaine Jones or Rasual Butler on a short contract to fill in until hopefully Luther or Brewer was able to take away the starting 2-guard spot (or even more hopefully, Bobby Sura). The roster I assembled so far looks something like this, under the assumption we draft Ronnie Brewer and Darius Washington Jr. (and trade away Orlando's Pick): PG: Alston/Sura/Washington SG: Harpring/Head/Brewer SF: T-Mac/Singleton PF: Howard/Smith/Hayes (Though like most, I'd prefer if Juwan didn't start) C: Yao/Mutombo/Rebraca This plan leaves the roster at 14, with an opportunity to sign a free agent out of summer league or pick someone up for the small trade exception, an additional first round pick to pick up a deadeye 3 point shooter for a championship run, Fran Vasquez and Vassilis Spanoulis (Badiane too, I guess) playing in Europe, as well as adding no additional future salary commitments beyond our draft picks by removing Stromile from the Roster. We keep 4 out of 5 starters, and 5 of our top mpg guys from last year, as well as only carrying two rookies and not forcing them to start on opening night. Now all the team needs to do is keep healthy, and the tracks have been set to not only make the playoffs in 2007, but to constantly add role player talent over the next 3 years as the Rockets hopefully make their run.
here's my dream season (THE RIGHT ONE) 1. sign al harrington 2. sing nene!!!! 3. with the breakup of the clippers, why dont we try for corry maggette 4. somehow get CUTTINO back 5. dont sign mike james, go after arroyo from utah or a marcur williams in the draft 6. trade stromile and jho for a box of donuts and then spend the money you save on somethign worthwhile. 7. sign drew gooden 8. get rid of alston, bogans, bowen, brunson, frahm, howard, sura, swift, and wesley somehow... someway 9. J Pryzbilla... nuff said 10. dont screw up this draft
1. Get Tmac and Yao healthy- no explanation needed 2. Draft Brewer- he is big guard at 6'7 223 who has the ability to run point and play D is almost to good to pass up. He also averaged 2 steals a game last year. 3. Find a good complementary player at #32 4. Sign Mike James - he wants to come back and I'd like to have him back. Right now I could care less about V-Span.
It's pretty simple for me intitially, draft Ronnie Brewer and sign Mike James (MLE). Ideally I would love to get Mike James in a S&T (to free up the MLE) but I dont see that happening. Maybe we can get a nice utility player with out 2nd round pick, a PG or a range shooting 4 guy. I am ok going to camp with this team PG: James / Alston SG: Brewer / Head SF: McGrady / Bogans PF: Howard / Swift / Hayes / {2nd round pick} C: Yao / Mutombo I would be ready to go to war with that team. And then next summer (2007) you add in another 1st round draft pick and perhaps we bring over V-Span. Maybe finally by then our talent/role players will finally be restocked.
Obviously I like your idea's but who do you like at 32? I prefer PJ Tucker because I think he is going to be a lot like Mario Ellie and I think Ellie was very valuable to the Rockets championships plus I think he was the glue on S.A.'s first championship team. Having said that with so many needs (perticularly at shooting) it would be hard to argue against guys like Gansey, Novak and Pittsnoggle at the 32.
DRAFT: I hope we somehow end up with one of these guys: Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, Adam Morrison, Andrea Bargnani, LaMarcus Aldridge Tiago Splitter too; he hasn't officially pulled himself out of the draft. Yeah, unlikely, so the next best available are, in order: Shelden Williams, Marcus Williams, Ronnie Brewer, JJ Redick (if back is not an issue), Randy Foye 2nd Round pick? Not sure, it depends on who is drafted in the first I guess... FA: I like Flip Murray, love James Posey, Speedy Claxton, Penny Hardaway, Vladamir Radmonovich, Tim Thomas, Jumaine Jones, Bonzi Wells, Darius Songaila, Bobby Jackson, Kieth Van Horn, and Lorenzen Wright. We can get a couple of those players since not all of them would demand 100% of the MLE, or just one of the MLE stars from that group would help too. I honestly just don't know about Mike James, if they get him fine, but I wouldn't mind if they pass on him either. Trades: Try and trade Juwon, please, I bet he's a good person and all, but still, he might be bad luck. I think that's all, besides that I guess they better hope Yao and McGrady stay healthy, if they do they could push a bad group of players into the playoffs.
Honestly I'm not sure who I'd want at 32. I like PJ Tucker too but I say the Rockets should go for best player available.
1) Draft Sheldon Williams - Will be our starting PF for years to come averaging a solid 10 points + 10 rebounds. 2) Sign Rasual Butler SG/SF Hornets - A 6'7 player who can shoot the ball and averaged 38% from the 3 last season. A player who has trouble getting off his own shot on a team without any stars, but will flourish on a team with two stars giving him wide open jumpers. Will come cheep. 3) Trade Stromile for anything. The guys a loser.
Sign Mike James Buy out seatles pick. Draft Sheldon Williams and brewer/carney Trade Juwan for a decent 2/3 man MJ,Skip,Sura brewer,head,? for Juwan Tmac,Flyin Ryan Stro,Sheldon,Chuck Yao,Deke
