I guess I just don't see Utah letting Arroyo go for the reasons you state, so I haven't thought of him as a serious candidate for us. But hey, if I'm wrong, all the better for us, right?
Daniels can play the point, right? I say we convert him to point. We can get a good offer off him. He's going to be improving every year. Last year was his rookie season and he did so good. Even in the playoffs, he wasn't bad. The guy gaurding him was Doug Christie I think and he did pretty good. I support a long term deal for Daniels, Arroya, or Hudson.
I think the Daniels people are talking about is Antonio, not Marquis. The Mavs just gave Marquis Daniels a huge contract. As for Barry, the ESPN article on Ray Allen's getting shopped said: Meanwhile, the Sonics are trying to re-sign free agent guard Brent Barry. Seattle has offered Barry a three-year, $18 million deal. However, at least one team is planning to offer the 32-year-old Barry $20 million for three years. Any idea who that team is? http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1833036
Im leaning toward Fisher. -Finals experience -Defensive Player -Knows his role -Knows how to play with a Big Man -Lefty
Two good analyses from Desert Scar. Thanks. I mentioned in another thread that the Rockets' choice for PG would be determined by how they viewed Gaines. If they think he can grow into the job, they will pursue a vet who can tutor him and play big minutes while he learns, then give up minutes due to age as Gaines learns to play more. If they decide Gaines is a scrub, they'll go after a younger guard like Alston, Arroyo, or Crawford. Another point no one has mentioned is McGrady's ball handling and passing. His shooting and driving will let him (should he so desire) elevate Yao's game with easy buckets. He could play a role like Penny Hardaway's on the '95 Magic. Regarding the point that Barry could also play backup 2, we have Jim Jackson for that, as well. If we pick up a "pure" 1 instead of a swing man like Barry, it could signal that the Rockets view Nachbar as able to play big minutes at 3 next year. And of course there's Lue. Despite his size, I think he will be a major player for us at 1 next year. He's a good shooter, a pesky defender, and is young but has championship experience. My personal preference is Barry, who brings experience, size, and shooting, but has health concerns and doesn't play good enough D to start. I'd like to see him playing limited minutes at both 1 and 2 behind Lue and McGrady. He's averaging 20-30 games missed the last few years and I'd hate to see him go down during the stretch run. That said, I predict that the Rockets will sign Fisher. I further predict that by spring, virtually everyone on this board will be saying that it was boneheaded move.
I think it is best to assume Gaines will not be ready for prime time minutes at PG next year, he had an aweful everything year (just compare his shooting, assists, steals, etc., to Lue) the guy wasn't even protected by Orlando. Maybe sometime he will be a useful NBA player, maybe at the 1, maybe at the 2, maybe a tweener--but right not it is a long shot. Keep him for potential, but he doesn't factor in assets we want to produce next year. I don't see Crawfor many teams will give the edge on upside relative to performance and consistency, not the Rockets. The other two, or even Damon Jones, don't have the upside of Crawford, but are more consistent/efficient players. They make more sense given whay tMac and Yao bring to the table, and would be cheaper. Yeah I think Lue was a solid addition, much more important than Gaines. Worst case is the Rockets have a relatively weak starter, but they won't have an incompetent starter. Now I think we look for the more physical or bigger counterpart to Lue. Mine too. It is Ok to have one weak defesive guard, Kenny Smith, Steve Kerr and John Paxton were all on great defensive teams. Much more important on the defensive side is shoring up the interior defense. Barry's lights out shooting and ability to play off other players is just impossible to ignore. It all comes down to money. I don't think the Rockets will touch a 3 year full MLE for him (3/16 range). If he wants to be reasonsble, more like half that or the MLE fior 2 years with a team option fo rthe 2nd year, different story. I kind of have this sense too. What many Rocket fans see is a flash in the playoffs that Fisher can not still deliver most of the time over a long regular season. Appreciated, thanks.
What Rockets offerered Brent is a little too risky. I want to get Arroya for a long term deal. He is real good at the point. Hudson is also good, and Damon Jones had a pretty good season last year. I think Fisher would be cheaper than Brent. Fisher wants to play for the Rockets, so maybe we can get him for pretty cheap.
By the Rockets going after Barry, it tells me that they want someone who is proven. It also give Gaines a boat of confidence; that if he can come in and play effectivley, then he is the heir apparent to be the point guard for the future. Gaines is only 23 as well. It tells me that JVG wants proven veterans to surround McGrady and Yao. Howard is 31, Jackson is 33, and Barry is 32. All 3 guys have proven themselves around the league for about a decade. They all 2 or 3 years of solid play left.
Barry is getting old, can't play a whole season... hes spent the last few seasons injured.. Arroyo = system player.. unless sloan is coaching him ,hes not coming out.. Hudson.. HA JVG hated coaching steve at the pg, hudson is a much less talented version then stevie, this isn't even an option.. Snow = huge contract, can't shoot at all.. With TMac slashing and Yao demanding attention its very important to have a swingman who can hit the outside shot, and sorry guys but JJ is old.. THE ANSWER? RAFER ALSTON! plays with heart, intensity, improved his jumper tremendously this season... obviously has the handle (skip!), and is great passer.. i can't begin to explain how impressed i was with his play and ability to change the game when i watched miami in the playoffs. ______________________ Enough with this Rockets FA talk.. Its time to become a MAGIC FAN Steve's numbers next year: 25pt, 7rbs, 6asts, 2 steals..
Alston's still a streaky shooter and a bad defender. He's a very good backup PG. But I don't see Alston as a starter on a contending team. Interesting option as a backup, but he'll probably command more money than we can afford.
I can agree with most everybody on this bbs that Brent Barry would be the overall pick of who we'd like to be our point guard next year. He has stated that he would like to remain in Seattle, so if my wish can't be granted by him playing for us next year, I will have to find a plan B. I've seen some very good point guards thrown into the discussion, but I've failed to see the point guard's name that absolutely killed Steve Francis and the aforementioned point guard's numbers.... Damon Jones... Yes my friends.. DAMON JONES. Is he a scorer? No... Does he get the job done? A RESOUNDING YES! He is a DISTRIBUTOR FIRST. He averaged 7 ppg last year in 24 minutes, but he averaged darn near more assists in 24 minutes than Steve Francis did in 40+. Still not convinced? ok He is the NUMBER 2 point guard in the NBA in assists to turnover ratio. 4.64- 1! Do you know that not one Rocket was even in the top 50? The only player that beat Damon in assists to turnover ratio was Antonio Daniels and it wasn't by much 4.89 - 4.64. Now the part that I like is that Damon Jones is from Houston, and would be MUCH MORE Inclined to come here to play in Houston as opposed to any other team in the NBA. I'm not so sure about Antonio Daniels coming here, but for those that are partial to Antonio over Damon, know that Damon averaged a cool 1.9 extra assists per 48 minutes over Antonio.. 11.4 - 9.5. Not bad for a Houston boy eh? Oh yeah, he was number 4 in the NBA in assists per 48 minutes. Yes, I'd still like to have Brent Barry here as my first choice, out of sheer ability to stretch the defense as we continue to exploit our strength in Yao Ming. Yao will continue to get better as he accustoms his body to his new weight he gained and will probably gain this summer. Keep in mind he gained 30 pounds last summer from 280 to 315. That's a pretty tall task to get used to, especially with the daily rigors of the NBA. Don't discount the toughness it takes and the shape it takes to get used to this. That being said, Damon Jones would be a highly welcomed consolation prize, and very well could be the steal of the offseason if the Rockets are smart enough to land him if Brent Barry shuns our alleged offer. He's always been good with the ball, and his three point percentage mirrors or beats the aforementioned point guards as well as overall field goal percentage, and he's only 27.
Oh I agree. I will always go for the well-rounded PG over the specialist PG. Jones is no compromise. He can play the PG spot very well. I like him a *little* better than Snow.They are born the same PG breed. If we get Fish. Fine. Decent pickup. But he's NOT my first choice. I don't want to build our team on that "type" of PG. Call me greedy. But I want the best of both worlds: A PG that can distribute AND shoot (not just one or the other). Defense is important too. But that's secondary to me because JVG will transform whoever we bring here into a better defender. This is why I'll always pick PGs similar to Arroyo, Hinrich, Barry, Snow...over PGs like Fisher, Hudson, Darrell Armstrong (example). Just a note on how accurate a distributor Jones is...check this out...Last year he averaged 5.8 apg, and only 1.26 TO per game! If we get Barry, good. But lets keep an eye for Jones as well...just in case.
I agree of getting Damon Jones. He wouldn't be that expensive, and we can get him on a long term deal. He has lots of seasons left on him. I say we get him! Especially if he is from Houston.
I totally agree with this thread. However, I would want Damon first then Barry. I attended University of Houston when Damon played for the school and I went to alot of the Coog's basketball games. I would honestly admit, back in his college days he was the "Shoot first, ask questions later" kind of player. But, I think his journeyman ways and his continuous growth and education of NBA and international play have really matured his ability at the point. So I give my Vote to Damon Jones.
