It could be. But Rudy had a history of getting the best out of players on a certain level. Chucky Brown, Mario Ellie, Mark Bryant, and even Charles Jones did more for that team they did playing for other coaches. If Rudy were here, Battier might be another Mario Ellie. I like Battier's game, and I am happy to have him on the team. It is just I am not sure if he was worth the price. I am of the camp that it is too early to tell. I don't think the world ends today because we don't have someone who has never played a game in the NBA.
but the whole point of the draft, if you're in the lotto, is to get someone who never played in the nba, that includes someone who is young, cheap, and part of your long-term plans. if you're in the lotto, you're not supposed to get a role player looking at only about 4 more good years.
here's the difference. the Rockets were just a couple of key players away from being a legit championship contender in those years. they brought in elie as a guy off the bench. and they spent very little to get him. pallillo is missing the point. it's not that battier is a bad player. it's not that you don't want him on your team. it's that giving up the 8th pick in the draft is a very high price to pay for someone of that caliber.
8th picks in the draft are generally NOT difference makers, nor all-star players, they are more often than not, solid starters, after a couple of years. DD
you're just completely convinced that Gay will be a dud, which is irrelevant. the MARKET VALUE of the 8th overall pick AND Swift is greater than just Battier. period. CD and co. just get so ******* trigger-happy that they just caved in to West's proposal.... no counter-offer, no asking for additional picks/players, just a straight up "Yeah, we'll do make that deal." CD and co. got took for the pushovers they are.
You are comparing Rudy Gay to Caron Butler and you think posters should be happy with the addition of Battier? Let's compare playoff averages...Battier 6 ppg - 5.2 rpg // Caron Butler 14.6 ppg - 9.1 rpg Let's get them on the phone and pray the Wizards management is as dumb as ours.
Well, I hate the trade, but: If Ainge set the value of the # 7 at freaking Telfair, we may have gotten all that we could get (I HATE THE TRADE) out of it. Given the addition in Battier and addition by subtraction in Swift.
he's clearly well-liked. i look forward to having him here, frankly. still doesn't mean i think it was a good trade.
IMO, we simply gave up too much. I like Battier and I think he would be a great role player on a championship team, especially as a 4th option. If they liked Swift so much I would've been thrilled if it was just Swift for Battier, toss in Hayes or someone to make it work, whatever! Battier isn't worth an 8th pick IMO, and to throw in Swift. . . it just makes me sick.
yeah the trade was plain lazy, unprofessional, and stupid.. why will you agree on a trade before the draft? why in a hurry? when they were offered battier they thought they had the steal of the century??.. if battier was a free agent, I don't think he'll even crack the top 5 free agents that we want.. why not wait until AFTER you make the pick.. i'm pretty sure a lot of other gms will be offering players or their own picks.. and even memphis might give something more.. if they were convinced they really did not want gay, at least trade him wisely, use him as leverage, and get the most out of him.. i bet cd & co buy cars at msrp or the NADA price..
Caron Butler was a MUCH better player in college at UConn when compared to Gay. It is hardly a comparison. Also, lets not forget the Wizards play in the East and Memphis plays in the West. There's quite a bit of difference in who each team plays in the playoffs. Of course, things will be different with T-mac and Yao, as opposed to Gasol, being the only "double-teamable" players.
Butler like Gay slipped a good deal in the draft and vowed to make the teams that passed on him pay just like Gay recently did.
