I know I am. I like to see the Rocks do good, but after this horrible start ... falling just short of the playoffs again wont do it for me. The only bright spot for me would be to end up with a high lotto pick. Last year we ended up with one(even if it was through trade) and it's been exciting watching Griff progress. Getting another one ... to either use on a great young prospect or to help bring in an already established player thru trade, would be great. No way the Rocks can be as bad as the Bulls, but right now they have, what? The 4th worst record in the league? Even just the chance of landing a great center, like Ming is supposed to be, sounds too good to pass up. I believe the Rocks could have done some damage, yes, in the playoffs, had injuries not kicked in. A lotto pick and a possible chance at Lewis? Sounds good to me. Anything to make this team stronger. And a healthy Rice would be a HUGE boost, though I don't know if that'll happen. Francis/ Mooch Mobes/ Oz Lewis/ Rice/ TMo Griff/ MoTay/ KT Ming/ Cato Am I the only one who doesn't mind as much when the rocks put another L in the column? I still want the them to win, but, well, the losses have kind have left me numb to even more. I really don't see the Rockets making a serious playoff push this year, but I don't see any reason why they can't make a turnaround next season, like the Celts have done this year, like the Mavs did the season before, esp with the healthy team we were supposed to have this year, plus a lotto pick and maybe Lewis. Ah whatever, win, lose, I'm still a Rocket fan. It does suck to have to endure a Bulls type of season tho, no offense GB.
I'd just love a lineup of: Francis Mobley Lewis Taylor Griffin That is a poor man's All-Star Team. Awww...damn. What if they announce us having the first pick at the halftime of a NBC game...ping pong balls, anyone? We're going to, barring injuries, have an awesome team next year. Especially if Rudy & CD pull off another draft-day miracle.
I agree with u every step of da way Crisco. I've been doin/thinking the same exact things about the games.
Obviously, any trade deadline moves would be to position ourselves for this offseason. The possibility of Lewis is VERY intriguing, as an excellent defender, rebounder, and shooter. The key, IMO, is our solution at center. Ming is an enigma, IMO. It'd be really nice to find a way to pull out Brad Miller/Raef Lafrentz at the trade deadline to play next to Eddie. It's possible Eddie becomes the center solution, and that opens up other avenues-such as drafting Drew Gooden. If GBdrops by, how much are the Bulls looking to clear cap room (ie Miller for Walt+pick(s)). At least our youth (Griffin) is playing extremely well.
Tanking is not the solution. We have a complete team, and all we have to wait for is being healthy and developing chemistry. Who are you gonna ship off in the draft? We're overcrowded at every spot next year. The only trades we can do have to involve Walt and KT only. Noone wants anything else from us. Even Cato is playing much better basketball this season. What we have to worry about is what we should do when Griffin and MoT are both back. The only trade that would improve our team, and not make half of the roster unhappy without minutes, is if Mo Taylor played every game after the All Star break, injury free, with slightly improved rebounding and the same or better scoring, then I'd trade him and our draft pick next year for Rashard Lewis in the offseason.
If we got the #1 overall pick, would anyone consider swapping the rights to the respective players chosen, with Chicago (assuming they've taken their regular draft position at #4) & getting Curry/future draft pick or picks from them for Collier/KT or some comparable package? Because we can't trade this year's pick (Francis trade), we'd have to draft for them & they'd have to draft for us. With the Chinese not having an established track record in the NBA yet & the uncertainty of whether or not their government will let them honor their contracts, I'd sure hate to use the #1 overall pick on him, if we could get a very young player that has shown some flashes of the future & reportedly has a good work ethic.
1) Bejing will honor the agreement...they need some good PR and the Olympics are coming..what a great way to unfreeze the relations then with some American Dollars, Michael Jordan and the Houston Rockets 2) I do like moving the pick for veteran players, but is Curry the same thing as Ming in terms of experience...Curry is barely proving right now...I do like the idea of moving...but, 7'6" and he was dominant against the US in the Olympics, is hard to pass up.. 3) PONG PONG PONG
I can't say I like the idea of tanking, and I don't think this team really has it in itself to do so. But with every loss... I become a little more numb, and don't care so much. The possibilities are intriguing. If we have the choice of playing hard and making the playoffs - and a first round ejection - I say play hard and get the guys some actual playoff experience. If we have the choice of playing hard and just missing the playoffs, and tanking and getting a good pick... I'm more inclined to tank now. Of course, the problem there is that if we play hard we might or might not make the playoffs. If only we knew... But as soon as the W-L column tells us that the playoffs are near impossible, we need to start giving Eddie 48 minutes a night and showcasing everyone with possible trade value... Steve and Cuttino can sit.
If we have a shot at Jason Williams, I say go for it. Worst comes to worst, we put Mobley at the 3 or bring him off the bench. The other scenario is to trade Williams for a quality big man - doubtful though. Pretty much wishful thinking.
You know, I keep telling myself "if Francis would just be healthy for a string of games, we could be right back in the playoff race!" But that's becoming less realistic with every loss. And I have to admit that the idea of a lineup with Jason Williams (a real PG!) Steve Francis Rashard Lewis Mo Taylor Eddie Griffin looks awfully appealing.
I'm past pining for more ping-pong balls, having ventured into voodoo. I do like that Jason Williams - Steve Francis backcourt!
Williams at PG Francis at SG Mobley at SF yeah RIGHT....The ALL "Post up against us" team. Williams no more of a PG than Francis is. Francis is much better. If you're looking for pass-first, then you may not have seen Williams play.
I don't think we have a realistic opportunity to get Rashard without giving something substantial up. There are only a couple teams that could sign him without a trade and not at the amount he wants. I would expect Seattle would want Francis or Eddie. Or our 1st pick in the draft which may be top 5 could attract their attention. Would we be willing to give one of them up?
How about Mo T , Cuttino and KT for Lewis, Baker and Payton...i dont want Baker but we have to take on something crappy in that deal..... THE GLOVE AND THE FRANCHISE IN THE BACKCOURT????? I'm with Crisco...I'd much rather get a decent lottery pick than to barely miss or barely make the playoffs this year with no chance of winning it all.
um, just cuz you take baker in a trade, doesnt mean the sonics will jump all over it. your also taking gp AND lewis. i dont see the sonics getting excited at all over mo t, cuttino and KT.
I don't ever want Glove on my team for any reason. I can't stand him. If he'd ever won anything, then I might not feel so strongly about it.
