I'm both surprised and pleased at the number of people defending Alston. I don't think he sucks. I don't think he is a quality starter, as in top 10 quality (which should be the target since we want to be a contender). I just wonder what his trade value is. If we had James and Jones, there's still value in keeping Rafer. I'm not suggesting he is trash. We're better with him than without, he is a legit rotation player if nothing more. But, if his value is sufficiently high in the marketplace - - say you could trade him for an athletic 4 -- I would seriously consider doing it.
I dont understand why you guys not like Alston. He is the best option right now for PG situation unless we get Kidd, Terry, Nash or Hinrich. Last season he was injured so he did not make much impact also he cant make an impact if star players like Yao n Tmac are out. But he did play great as a PG, except for his shooting. Before injury he averaged 9pts 2ast per game. After injury in Jan: 14.0 ppg 6.9 apg. Team record: 5-11 Feb: 10.6 ppg 8.2 apg. Team Record: 10-3 (with Tmac n Yao playing) March: 13.3ppg 6.8 apg. Team record: 7-8 April: 13.3ppg 7.2 apg. Team Record: 2-8 In Feb. Alston played his best because Tmac and Yao were both playing and he averaged 8.2 apg and had a good record with 10-3. So my point is that Alston is a very good PG for Rox and we should not get rid of him unless we are getting a proven PG in return. Mike James in my opinion is not a proven PG, he is more of a SG. For Alston averaging 8.2 apg with Yao n Tmac playing and 10-3 record proves that he can create plays for others which we desperatly needed before last year and now we have it. I think we should give him a chance since last year was a disaster for rockets with so many players injured. My ideal offseason looks like this: Pick up Mike James for a decent contract maybe able to spend on another decent Forward/Center. If not then this lineup will do fine: Yao/Mutombo Jho/Hayes Battier/Novak Tmac/Head/Frahm James/Alston/Sura When playing against fast offensive small lineup such as Dallas n Pheonix switch to Yao, Battier, Tmac, James n Alston, now that looks like a bad ass offensive lineup as well as defensive.
I know Alston is best pure PG that we can have but if the right trade came along he could be traded but he really need to improve his 3 point shot.
Trades seldom occur but it seemed to me for all Rafer brought to this team---few turnovers, good entry passing---Van Grumbles seemed intent on getting defensive PGs who could get to the rim. We tried for Stevie Franchise to no avail (not that he plays D). I guess what I'm saying: If some sort of trade came along (2-way, 3-way) that netted us an athletic PG (Antonio Daniels?), Rafer just might be gone.
jvg did say he wanted three pg's. if anything we're adding james and another guy who's capable of starting while keeping alston.
I'm guessing the 3rd PG will either come from the summer league or Europe depending on how much of the MLE is available.
Rafer Alston on his best days is a backup PG. Period. I'm at work and don't have time to do a search. But in another thread I put together a composite of the games Alston played with both Yao and TMac. We won in spite of him, not because of him. SnT James, partial MLE Marcus Banks and put Alston on the blocks. http://www.82games.com/0506/0506HOU.HTM
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/3795500.html "If I had a chance to sit down and talk with him, I'd much rather talk about the importance of having three point guards on a team, the importance of having bench depth, the importance of having more firepower, the importance of adding a range-shooting four-man. All those to me are of much greater concern." that was all i could find, but i was sure i heard him say on 610 that he wanted three points of equal ability.
Any word on Sura? Is is gonna retire or will he play for this season? If he comes back then all our PG problems will be solved. Rotaion of James, Alston Sura will be what JVG could want.
so what can alston net us? if nothing of value, better to use the partial mle on something other than Banks.
Marcus Banks is looking at at Least the MLE by most reports. Banks also has a lower Roland rating then Alston so I am not sure why we would make that trade he is a way over rated defender, quick hands but plays for the steal too much. He could not get time in Boston in a place STARVED for PG play. Alston is not a great shot and I think last year that really hurt us, however, if Battier, James, and Novak can hit shots I think his assist numbers will go up and he was have better production. Last year was horrible by many accounts not just the injuries but guys also lower then average numbers. As for Rafer's Trade Value, I do not see it getting us a major piece towards a Title. Also unless Darius Washington, whom I like, rocks our socks off we would be down to 1 point guard. All and all. The Raf is more then likely here for a while longer, while he is not steve Nash he is also not Moochie Norris. Fierguard - Celebrating 20 years of Bleeding Rockets Red
I don't understand how there are so many Rafer-haters out there. He averaged 6.7 assists per game last year which was good for 10th in the league, and 3 assist/turnover which was good for 20th. Half the players ahead of him were on winning teams or were at least paired with great offensive options (with an exception or two). With the injuries we had and some of the awful lineups we had to put out there, I say kudos to Rafer. Anyone can have a career year in points on a crappy team (no offense to MJ of course), but I think you have to be pretty good to be able to have your best passing year on an awful team.
I'm sure he'd love that, but it's not realistic in building a balanced team. Can you imagine San Antonio having Rafer and Wesley instead of Udrih and Finley? Van Gundy will have to settle for a 3rd string PG to be the 3rd string PG.
This is sorta irrelevant to the topic, but I dont wanna start anymore trade idea. Can we get Steve Francis back in Rockets? Is he obtainable? Salary Match? Anyone knows?
Didn't a lot of you say that you wanted a pass first/low turnover point guard before last season? You got him...he's just not much of a scorer I would love to keep him...he and MJ would be perfect compliments to each other
(Salary wise) Tmac for Francis straight. Yao n Alston for Francis. Howard, Battier n Alston for Francis.( then we have no role players around Yao n tmac) If u wanna do any of the above trades, then yes we can bring in Francis. But guess what: NONE OF THE ABOVE IS EVER GONNA HAPPEN!!!!!
Oh and if Knicks would do the above trade, then you will never see Knicks franchise even again because the fans will bomb the owner and the stadium.
First, get off Rafer. He's as solid a complimentary piece as we can have for '07. Second, I look at our PG position (with James) like the Kings of old: Rafer & MJ = Bibby & BJ Bibby's more of a scorer than Rafer, but Mike's a better scorer than Bobby. Plus: Peja & Vlade < Tracy & Yao Here are some of our best lineups to compliment Tracyao Mingrady: Skip T-Mac Battier Howard Yao or MJ T-Mac Battier Howard Yao or (Use this as much as possible) Skip MJ T-Mac Battier Yao And Alston (not some other scoring PG like Banks) makes it all possible.
or knicks waive him and rockets sign him for the vet's min. chance of that happening? well, it is the knicks, so...
