On the surface, that's a fairly accurate statement. But it ignores some key factors... 1) Mutombo is another year older. 2) Hayes is usually on the floor part-time because of foul trouble. 3) When on the floor, Hayes is not very efficient at C. 4) Because Hayes is an offensive liability, it may hinder how effective an Adelman offense can be as a defender can back off of Hayes and play passing lanes. 5) My recollection is that Hayes is only an adequate NBA passer. 6) Historic implications are that as a Rocket, Morey can't or won't attract talent upgrades outside of the $Ball parameters. Right now, Hayes, Landry and Novak appear to be the PF depth. What can/will Morey add to the list to augment it? As fans, we'll dream about Rashard...we'll evaluate McDyess...what Morey will deliver is Joe Smith. 7) Juwan Howard played exeptionally well in the stretch Yao was out. Can Landry...or the next $Ball PF...equal that level of production. In spite of Brooks' college level speed, the Rockets still have not addressed the fundamental overall team speed, size and athleticism disadvantages they have to the WC elites. IOW, they had HCA advantage to Utah and ultimately lost from the lack of speed, athleticism and heigth. James and Wells and to a minor extent Brooks, likely pushed them past the Jazz. In spite of 55 (or 60) wins...without an infusion of speed, heigth and athleticism, all they've done is increase the probability of moving to the 2nd round.
The Lewis trade attempt will fall through. But the silver lining will be we get a True 'near all-star' PF instead, giving up say Rafer, Head, Snyder, and Sura. Yao/Tsak/Deke [Wilcox or Darko]/Hayes/Landry Shane/Novak TMac/Wells/Vspan MJ/JL3/AB If we don't get a true PF, we will have a lineup where our SG/SF's will be taller than our PFs again.. not good...
i doubt we get rashard... but its too early to tell our roster but just for fun ill play along James/Alston T-mac/bonzi Battier/Novak (PF WE TRADE FOR)/hayes Yao/Deke
when Yao was out last year, they then had 2 offensive liabilities in Deke and Hayes ultimately forcing Van Gundy to play Juwan 30+ mpg which still left Hayes playing 20+ mpg. when Yao is in, the PF won't need to equal Juwan's offensive production from last season. Hayes isn't a good passer, but he moves quite well without the ball and should be the beneficiary of teams ignoring him in the new offense. however, the backcourt and the small forward depth just got considerably better and that should count for a few more wins even in the postseason. as for speed, athleticism and height, the Spurs had Parker for speed and that's about it. Ginobili's about the same as T-Mac, but more reckless going to the basket, and Duncan isn't really considered all that athletic or quick, but his fundamentals more than make up for it. outside of their big 3, who else did they have? Bowen, Finley, Horry, Barry, Oberto/Elson and Udrih don't really impress me as athletes or speedsters and outside of Bowen and to a small degree Finley and Horry, they're not defensive dobermans either. but they were good enough to convincingly win it all. right now, the only plodder on the Rockets is Yao and maybe Bonzi, but they have considerable advantages otherwise. the only "midgets" in the rotation are the new guy Brooks (assuming he even makes the rotation), Head and Hayes, although Hayes plays about 2 inches taller, leaving him only moderately undersized. so i only see one starting position, where they lack speed, and one starting position where they lack size.
James - Brooks - JL3 TMac - Bonzi - Snyder Battier - Novak - Reed (and Bonzi) Starter PF from Rafer/Head trade - Hayes - Landry Yao - Mutombo
