Francis is garbage. I can't believe some of you are serious about wanting him back. Personally, I'd like a point guard that can figure out what to do when pushing the ball up the court on a 3 on 2 fast break...
I'm not wild about Rafer as a starter, but I think people tend to place too low a value on Alston, considering that he has a season under his belt playing in Van Gundy's system and with the team. (same with Head) That should be a plus going into next season. It's also a plus if we get James back. Of course, I wouldn't hesitate to move Alston if the right deal came up.
People that want the Rockets to trade Rafer are the same type of people that would have wanted us to trade Mario Elie because it didn't look spectacular enough. Same people that probably wanted Detroit to trade Rodman back in the day because his stat line may have not been the most impressive. Rafer is a very rock solid point guard in this league. Luckily, in this case at least, Dawson is in charge and realizes that Alston is a very valuable piece on this team.
Everybody needs to calm down on this Rafer hating. When he was healthy along with Tracy and Yao, he was consistently putting up double-doubles. He's got quickness, he doesn't turn it over, he handles the ball well, he scores 12 ppg. He is one of the main pieces of this team, I thought he had a really nice year especially considering him playing without Mac and Yao and distributing to the brick brigade, plus he missed quite a few games himself. Keep Rafer!!
I think a rafer/mike rotation can be very good. I love the fact of James coming off the bench, I just think he'll be that much better for us.
We need a PG who can distribute, shoot if open, keep turnovers down as much as possible, be young enough to stay with this team for a few years at a high level and have a reasonable contract. Rafer is one of the few who fits this description, Marcus Banks too. ATL: Claxton - Career Back-up BOS: Telfair - Unproven. CHI: Hinrich - no chance in hell we get him here. NETS: Kidd - You want that age and contract? Don't see Marcus Williams going anywhere, he was a steal for them KNICKS: Marbury anyone? Didn't think so SIXERS: Iverson - We need a distributor, with all due respect. RAPTORS: TJ Ford - Going nowhere unless he busts in Toronto, but in that case why would we take him? CAVS: Damon Jones or Eric Snow - No thanks PISTONS: Billups - We wish PACERS: Tinsley - We are trying to stay healthy this season. Anthony Johnson is more of a shoot first undersized guard, we have James for that (hopefully). BUCKS: Mo Williams - Solid Player, but i don't see Milwaukee giving him up since he's been good for them, should improve with starters minutes. BOBCATS: Felton - He's a keeper for them HEAT: Williams - Rafer fits our needs more MAGIC: Nelson - Part of the core-not going anywhere WIZARDS: Arenas - We wish MAVS: Terry - Dude's gettin PAID GRIZZ: Stoudamire - We had our chance, brass said no/couldn't afford him. HORNETS: Paul - 'Nuff said SPURS: Parker - No chance in hell NUGGS: Miller - Paid too much, rather have Alston's quickness WOLVES: Banks - I like him, seems like he will improve. Wait and see... BLAZERS: No PG's on that team i want SONICS: Ridnour - good distibutor-even worse defender than Rafer. Watson is a possibility-but i think Seattle likes him. JAZZ: There to stay, and Jazz could get more for him if they wanted to WARRIORS: Davis - Highly paid, injury prone, shoot first, second and always CLIPPERS: Cassell - Snatched up, will retire a Clipper LAKERS: Parker - Not starting Caliber SUNS: Nash - Nope KINGS: Bibby - Would be nice, makes too much. Without going into too much money specifics, There just aren't many starting caliber PG's available. We all want our PG to be able to distribute, shoot, defend at an extremely high level-they have a name for these guys, they're called all-stars. All-Stars are a) highly paid b) Not going anywhere unless they are getting an all-star in return. The young studs like Chris Paul, Hinrich will also be highly paid by their respective teams at the first oppurtunity. Considering what Rafer provides for us, we can't really do much better because we don't have the money, or assets to trade for a high caliber PG. If we get Banks, i'd be happy with that because i feel that he is one of the very few PG's who we can afford that will become a better player than Rafer. But considering where we are and what this team needs, Rafer is a pretty good fit so let's just stick with him. We have the best center in the league, and a top 3 SF, we don't need an all-star PG, just a solid player to play his role as best as possible. Until a high caliber PG let's it be known that he wants out of a team, or a team makes their intentions of trading him clear lets just stick with what we've got.
low rish, high reward speculators: magic: travis diener, made 3s when given game time. blazers: steve blake, started at 1 & 2 positions. bombed rockets with 3s in last encounter.
Rafer's value is probably what he is as a player - a fringe starter, but more likely backup. Highly unlikely that you get a quality big for him.
Rafer averaged 7 assists per game on what was perhaps the worst scoring team in the entire league. Stop hating.
exactly! i don't see why would you guys trade rafer, unless for a natural 4, like haslem or equivalent. next year with yao, mac, james, battier, novak, the guy might lead the league in assists. from what i have seen, alston distributed the ball well, just that wesley, bogans, howard and bowen couldn't hitted them during the season.
I would say you could probably have gotten a player like Haslem or maybe even a guy like Odom if packaged with a pick! He is worth much more than his contract and thats not just living in rockets fairyland the guy is good! Also some forget the last couple of season he shot the 3 at about 38% now thats not half bad maybe it was not that he cant shoot just that he wasnt comfortable being asked to shoot!
Andre Miller racked up like 11 assists a game on what was one of the worst teams in the history of the league. big ****ing deal.
