Yeah, in light of DA's signing it really does seem strange that we singed Bowen as quickly as we did. That also makes me think we will make a trade before the season starts. We have four natural 2's who all might play real minutes at pg: Sura, James, DA and Head. And we have 2 "pg's only" that won't see the light of day: Ward and Mooch. We have six natural 2's that probably will see minutes there (see above add Wesley and Barry). DA being able to fill in for T-Mac at the 3 and the option of sending Head to the NBDL makes this logjam more workable, but it's pretty damn bizarre for a team that people here are saying is a top 5 NBA team. Having said that I think we only make a deal if a pg we want is available. Given our recent history and what we have to offer that seems like a long shot, but I still think it will happen.
I really like this team right now and would be happy to stand pat. But a subtle move or two could work: 1. Cut Ward or Mooch. 2. Bring in Baxter or Glover w/ the open roster spot. *If DA can prove to be healthy and that he can contribute, I wouldn't mind dangling Wesley for a guy like Eric Williams. EW would be the perfect backup for TMac.
I already pointed our Barry is not part of this (defense) equation. Sura and DA, like Spree, are solid 6'5 wing defenders, Tmac of course is taller and better. Sura is a much better swingman defender than he is PG defender, his main problems defensively are with smaller/quicker players, not the players Spree is well adapted to match up with either. Thus I still fail to see how Spree significantly adds defense to a team with good sized, good defensive, wings in Tmac, DA and Sura, and another solid if undersized SG in DW. The defense Spree would bring to the 2/3 is marginal, and Spree had the weakest 3 point % of this group last year by a good margin, so he isn't as good in helping you spread the floor on offense. I would take Spree for the vet min, sure, or I would have taken him for the LLE had DA not taken it. But I would not trade for him. Mike James, Wesley and Sura all had better seasons than Spree did last year. James and Sura are considerably younger, Sura is our best rebounder shorter than Tmac (and better than Spree in RBper48), James is our quickest perimeter defender (critical for this reason), and both can play the point, which Spree can't. DW (also younger if you can believe it) is a solid all around player and superior spot up shooter who was excellent in playing a role for us. It would be pretty much a wash skill wise to trade DW for Spree at this stage in their careers, and a chemistry risk. Plus it would mean you would have had to signed Spree for over 4 mil a year, I think at least 2 years guaranteed, for DW and his expiring contract, no thanks. Now if Minny will trade him to us for Baker or Mooch, you got me talking. But defintely not for MJ, and probably not for Sura or DW strait up. The risks outweigh the benefits given the full roster. I scratched my head at the early commitment to Bowen as well, and really scratch my head now. I much rather split up the back-up SF duties to DA and Sura, and I also would rather have Baxter in his roster spot. My thinking is we were real suprised we could land a player like DA with the LLE and thought we would have had to do a 2-1 to acquire such a player. I would add Head to the Ward and Mooch list this year. Head and VSpan will be able to refine their games in the NDBL and Europe respectively and have chances to contribute next year. Our group isn't that odd. We have 48 minutes of PG, 48 minutes of SG and some 10-13 minutes of back-up SF to spread around five players. DA and Sura can play the 1-2-3, and JB can play the 2 and some 3 (at least in the offensive sets). Only James and DW are really looked into certain positions. Barrying injury, Barry's PT will be well below 20, and the rest of the guys well below 30. I would add DA or James > Head > Jay Williams. This would not be a good team for Jay Williams to play for, and it would not be good use of a roster spot if we do manage to free one (waive Ward, 2-1 trade). I would like to make room for Baxter for the vet min, but I don't even know if that will be feasible.
I would not trade Mike James, but I would trade Sura for Spree in a heartbeat, and try to get a better point somehow later. Sura is a liability, when it comes to the upper echelon playoff teams. He just shouldn't be starting. His three point shot is too inconsistent and he takes too long to shoot. We don't need his rebounding as much this coming year. I do like Sura tho. but i'd trade him for spree in a second. I don't agree at all that he is equal to Spree in Defense OR offense. He is good at the break tho. and hustle. But depending on him, we won't beat spurs or mavs or pistons or heat. he is expendable.
Do you think the Rockets will use their Guard glut for draft picks, like the drive time players said? I was Josh from Kingwood by the way in the 3' oclock hour.
hey can somone that has ESPN insider access post the article on the the espn nba front page titeled 'dismember that alamo" in this forum. i wanna see what they say about the rockets chances of taking out san antonio. thanks
If you are worried about Sura's inconsistent 3 ball you should be worried about Spree. Sura shot it better than Spree last year (36% to 33%) and they are about equal for their career (33-34%). Wesley (38%), Barry (45%), James (39%), and DA (38%) all shot it a LOT better than Spree last year and have shot it better over their careers. So at best Spree shoots it as well as our worst perimeter shooter last year (Sura). As for him being a liability, who says Sura needs to start? If James or DA beats him out for the starting 1, fine. Than Sura can be your primary Tmac back-up (10-13 minutes) and fill in here and there in the back-up 1 and 2 roles (another 10 minutes total). Given Sura is at least equal perimeter shooter than Spree, and being the better rebounder, any advantage Spree has in this role is counterbalanced by other factors. If we are getting hurt by missed outside shots, neither Sura nor Spree would be in there, we would go with some combination of DA, Barry, DW and James--all more consistent outside shooters. Pretty much a wash at best in my book skill wise between Sura and Spree at this stage in their careers, except you traded a known great chemistry guy for one who you don't know how he will take to the role and affect teammates. In sum, the only reason I would entertain trade offers of Sura for Spree is if our docs tell us Sura will never be physically fit. And again if you try trading James (I am glad you are rightfully against this, some fools on this BBS would not be) or DW we lose much of the perimeter shooting needed to take pressure of Tmac and Yao plus guys who showed they could play important roles for us last year.
Just because Luther Head struggled with his shot in summer league that does not mean that will carry over into training camp and into the season. Thats the only area of his game that he struggled with during the summer games if i recall correctly. He's certainly not just an athlete. Wesley and Head are both good at running off picks and moving without the ball to get open and both play solid defense but Head gives the defenses a different look with his ability to create not only his own shot when he has to but create shots for others as well. We just can't get enough of that type of player on our roster. We need creators. David Wesley can not create shots. and thats why I think Head will either take his spot or will be the reason Wesley is shipped out of here. But Head will have to get back the shooting form he had in college last year. we should probably make a bet on whether Head will be on the active 12 man roster next year. It looks like the pro-head camp is small right now but i expect it to grow in size once news of how good head is starts comes out of training camp.
I am hopefull for Head long term but not for next year. We have 5 good guards in addition to Tmac. James is proven, athletic and 1 inch shorter but stronger than Head. DA is proven, bigger, still somewhat athletic, and can do the things your are talking about. Ditto some about Sura. DW may not be able to create, but he is tough defensively, a lot stronger than Head right now, and knocked down from the NBA 3 point line (.383) almost what Head managed to do from the shorter college line (40%). JB was even better (45% 3 pointer). There are just a lot of good NBA guards--great basketball players, on the Rockets roster (6 deep including Tmac), it is no insult that Head is inferior to them as all around players right now. Head needs to go down the NDBL to get PT, and work like mad on his shot and physical strength. The NBA is a big transition, very few lotto guards, let alone late 1st rounders, are ready to play effectively and smartly right away.
damn you DS, you make some good points. I'd still be willing to make a bet that Head makes the active 12 man roster. His ability to create is what jvg is searching for this year. The reason I say that is after the loss to Dallas in the playoffs, when JVG was asked to reflect on the series, he repeatedly focused on Dallas overabundance of creators on the floor, and our not being able to match them there, as the difference in the series. Without that repetitious thought from JVG I would not be as confident as I am that Head will earn playing time to start the year. and lets not forget dennis lindsey statement that 'the drafting of Head will make more sense once the off-season is over'
Good to have civil debate In response to JVG comments, he acquired Swift and DA--major infusion of length and athleticism that helps with our match-ups. I'd would take the bet barring injury Head does not play in half the games and does not average 8MPG in those he does plays. More likely he will be in the NDBL where he can play. If he only had to beat out Barrett, Strickland, Ward, Lue and Gaines I'd like his chances. But James, DA, Sura, DW and JB will be tough guys to earn minutes from. Those guys are going to have a hard time earning their own minutes versus each other--this a good thing. I took it as referring why we passed on PFs, including the focus on PFs with our MLE. We took an athletic guard to develop instead. Given Wesley, Barry and (maybe) James have expiring contracts and may not be with the team next year, Head (and VSpan) would be on a two year plan where we hope they contribute for 06-07.
Guys and gals, we simply must address our glut of guards. Not to mention having Juwan Howard for four more years to play 18 minutes per game for us, when we could get nearly the same production from a Lonny Baxter or a (gasp: barf!) Marcus Fizer. Juwan Howard was offered up in trade not long ago, apparently. I don't know if teams still have interest, given the number of years left on his contract, and his recent medical problems; certainly the Rockets organization advertised to the league "JUWAN HOWARD IS HEALTHY AND READY TO BE TRADED...ER, READY TO GO FOR NEXT SEASON"! We aren't done at all, nope. If we can trade Juwan (big "if"), he's gone, and Lonny Baxter is in (other than Minnesota or Jersey or, hmn, I don't know who else might want Juwan). If we can trade two of our guards not named Anderson and maybe James, and land a Gerald Wallace in return, that'd suit us well, too.
I'd actually like to see an experimental small lineup for short stretches in the preseason, featuring Stro at the 5, TMac at the 4, DA at the 3 (insert smaller guys @ 2 & 1). This could work out to facilitate short stretches of the Twin Towers lineup that I've heard called for here (with Yao and Deke on the floor at the same time). The new personnel may open up a few new twists for the team.
You equate Lonny Baxter and Marcus Fizer to JH? WOW! You are willing to trade JH and assume Lonny Baxter is ready for serious minutes as a backup to an injury prone starter? If we were the Hornets, maybe. But I thought we were trying to make a serious Finals run next season. People talk about Sura and Wesley getting disrespected, but JH is #1 on that list, IMO. If Swift plays to his "potential" AND isn't injury prone, maybe we can think about trading JH. But we still don't even know if Swift is better yet. JH needs to stay on this team because we must have depth at the PF, unlike last year. If we cut Ward or Moochie to put Baxter on the team, fine. Trading JH to make room for him makes no sense at all.
