Which position is most in need of an upgrade? PG/SG?

What keeps on getting lost to a lot of folks is Sura IS more of a shooting guard than a point guard. He is almost equal parts small forward as point guard. We had no choice but to play him at the 1 last year because Barret, Ward and Strickland were the alternatives until James arrived, and by then Sura had accumulated his injuries.

Sura is our only reliable big guard at this point, best rebounder who isn't a forward/center, and right now is our best back-up small forward. He is very valuable.

As for Wesley, I agree he is more effective with the open jumpers. He got way more of them playing with Tmac and Yao than he did in New Orleans with Davis the last two years. His 3% was up 5% over his last two year average in NO since arriving here. I think we plain burned him out on minutes last season, I wouldn't mind keeping him if we brought his minutes way down. But if he has to be part of a trade to get a younger, better, player (Stoudamire), it has to be.

 

if that is the only thing he is looking for we already have that mike jomes so I got to go with the 2.

 

from Desert Scar:

I love Sura and I don't think he's going anywhere. I also firmly believe he earned the right to show us what he can do when healthy, if he can do so.

I'm also scared to see him play the 2 exclusively. His shot's too iffy and his quickness as a defender brings to mind the horrors of the Mav's series. I will say this though, T-Mac's statements about DS does lead me to believe he's not really half as worried about the 2 as I am.

The only place I slightly disagree with you here is that JB was a hell of a backup swingman. According to JVG the + point differential when he was on the floor was "just ridiculous". JB, like Sura seems to get his job done, but unlike Sura JB has a reliable j.

 

We need a 2 guard, but I wouldn't mind getting rid of Sura in the Right situation. He can't guard anybody because he is too slow and is inconsistant on the shooting end.

 

JVG must have read 82games.com.

http://www.82games.com/0405HOU.HTM

 

I do not want to start a new thread-


?What is the status of Juwan Howard??

His situation will affect other moves...Insurance could kick in for 80% of his 9 mil salary. I hope he is fine and fit- I was very pleasantly surprised at his level of play last season- he did a very good - near excellent job.

If he can play - what level do we expect?

I t hink there is 5 years remaining on his contract- or at least 4 years....

 

Juwan has 3 years left with a player option for a fourth year. His contract is 6mill not 9. Of the players we have who are "overpaid", he's by far the most deserving of the contract. I don't think he's overpaid. MLE for a former all star and 17ppg career player is not that bad. If he doesn't fit our needs we won't have a lot of problems trading him. There are teams out there who need a scoring PF and would happily pay 6mill/year. With all the huge contracts signed this summer, Juwan's contract is good by comparison.

 

I think we need a attack the basket type of player. The Rox were 25 in att and 22 in makes. They need to get to the line more often, but right now they have too many stand still players.

 

I will not understand if Sura still be there for starter. coz right now T-Mac is the only good passer in the team, but that is not his job. A good passer PG can be much much more important than SG to make this team different.

 

I stand corrected on J. Howard's money. I really was asking if anyone had heard any recent info on his health. There was a rumor 3 mos ago that his viral infection in the heart sack had long term implications.

My question was -If he cannot play -and insurance does kick in for 80 to 85% of his salary - does this count against the cap? Who do you want as Stromile's backup?

I may be worrying about a problem that does not exist. If no problem then I think our biggest need is at point guard.

We had a great front line in 1997 and lost to Utah in game 6 of the Western conference finals because we were weak at the point with Maloney. Things are different now in that TMac can create and score. I think we need a playmaker to allow Tracy the freedom to perform....

I would be interested in Dickau, Duhon, or another younger mobile smart player to create....