Not sure if this has been asked or not. If so, I humbly appologize. Like everyone else, I've been pulling my hair out hoping the Rockets will get a good (or at least a decent) pg this year. As that hope dwindles, perhaps they should just try to weather the storm with lue and let gains get more experience and dip into the FA market next year. But that's only if the market looks good next year. Anybody know who will be available???
Here is a list of the more notable ones from Realgm, I hope I didn't miss any: Jeff McInnis - Cleveland - Free Agent Avery Johnson - Dallas - Free Agent Tyronn Lue - Houston - Free Agent Jamaal Tinsley - Indiana - Restricted Free Agent Marko Jaric - L.A. Clippers - Free Agent Gary Payton - L.A. Lakers - Free Agent Earl Watson - Memphis - Free Agent Darrell Armstrong - New Orleans - Free Agent Damon Stoudamire - Portland - Free Agent Bobby Jackson - Sacramento - Free Agent Tony Parker - San Antonio - Restricted Free Agent Raja Bell - Utah - Free Agent Steve Blake - Washington - Free Agent A few options, but the good ones are Restricted...
why cant we just till next year to get a better pg?? lue isnt that bad, i think he can handle one year till we find some one better
I think we should go after Jaric or Watson next year. If we can't get either of them for cheap, we can try to get Stoudemire.
Well like I mentioned in another thread, I think we should sign a cheap guy like Mike James this year for about half the MLE. Let him hold down the fort, and then next year let Lue go and make a big run at Bobby Jackson. I'd throw him the full MLE for 4 or 5 years. Then move James to the backup.
Next year's list certainly looks better than this year's. They didn't include Antonio Daniels or Nick Van Exel(who has no chance of his option getting picked up), either. So I'm guessing there are even more options than the ones given. There's zero chance we can land Parker, and I strongly doubt Jackson's available for just the MLE. Unless it's a 6-year deal in which case he'd be way too old and overpaid by the time the deal's done. From that list, I think Stoudamire, for the right price, is my dream choice. He's a veteran PG who can both shoot and pass very well. I also wouldn't mind giving McInnis or Watson. There are certainly more options than this year, where we only had Hudson/Fisher/Barry to choose from.
Alvin Williams of Toronto has a player option next year. As a side note, Posey, Peja, & Webber all have player options next year, as well. Adding to that, SAR, T-Ratliff, Ray Allen, Ronald "Flip" Murray, & Donyell Marshall are all unrestricted FA's. If Yao & McGrady make some serious noise this year, we might really have some FA's lining up to sign with us next year.
Lot of really nice role players in that list, HT. I'd really like to pick up Flip Murray for a future 2 (as JJ is aging) and Donyell Marshall for the frontcourt. Murray can score but can also deal out the assists pretty well for a 2 guard - as evidenced when he ran the point for a month for the Sonics, and had more than 1 8 assist game. Marshall is a smart guy that can rebound pass and shoot reasonably well - a real asset at the bench from the 4 spot, and competent help at the 3 spot with Mc Grady at 2. Those are the kind of guys we could get affordably to really build a strong total team like San Antonio has - with depth and versatility.
Honestly that list makes me think the smartest move is to get MJ or DJ this year. Parker is completely unrealistic. Forget Tinsley as he is restricted as well and Indy like SA can match any offer. Jaric is modestly promising, but I believe he will be restricted and he doesn't play defense. Looking at the salaries of DFish and BB, a proven hgih profile vet, even on their downside, like BJ, is going to be too expensive relative to player value. There will be zero game left in AJ or GP or DA. Watson is OK as a back-up, but he is a much worse shooter than MJ, DJ AND Lue, so no thanks. Stoud is OK, but I'd probably prefer the younger, cheaper, Lue if we are going for a shrimp to share the 1 burden. Bell can't shoot Blake isn't very talented. IMO the only realistic signing I would prefer over MJ or DJ this year off the list is McInnis. But he is no spring chicken. If he is our target let's trade for him this year, not count on us landing him next year where some other team offers him ridiculus money, and potentially have another year with the PG position in flux. Locking up MJ/DJ for 3-4 years to share the load with Lue (resign next year for quality back-up money) should put us in reasonable shape at the point for a while. I think this is by far the most prudent action at this point. We can always see if Gaines, late round draftees, or FAs beat one of them out down the line, but won't be in bad shape if that does not happen.
I am sure Toronto would jump, maybe even give us a 2nd rounder, to take AW off their hands for the TE. If he can pass a team physical, we can get him this year if we want.
Situations change so often in this league, it is hard to say that the restricted free agents can't be had. Both Parker & Tinsley have been inconsistent with their teams and both teams have been been off and on about them. What if the Spurs make a deal to acquire Kidd? What if the Pacers just feel that Tinsley cannot help their team get over the hump in the East? These are things that are unforseeable and, even though they seem very unlikely, we can't rule them out. I could very well see Jaric, Tinsley and/or Parker being moved in a sign-and-trade next offseason. Or even traded during the season.
Jaric would be my favorite. The guy is 6-5, pair him with Mcgrady and that has to be one of the tallest backcourt in the league. Under JVG im sure he will learn how to play defense.
Most of our realistic choices are available this year except for Jaric. He would be very interesting. Don't panic!!! Most GM's acted too fast, and salaries for marginal players went crazy. We need someone that can take care of the ball and set-up the offence. The guard needs to shoot the open jumper. With TMac, Yao, Howard, JJ and others scoring, we will be in good shape this season.
I like the prospect of Jaric on this team also. He seems to be a nice player who can only get better, yet a Clipper board I went to had him behind Livingston & McInnis (which they wanted to trade for) in the rotation. If he is viewed like that there, I wonder how likely we could make a deal for him.
Houston has a European PG coming next year -- which is why it would make sense for them to trade for a veteran PG with two to three years left on his contract. Of course, all this PG talk can stop if they sign Sura. University (Skip the Lue) Blue
