Honestly it depends on what ownership and management believe our direction will be over the remaining years of his contract. Vocal leadership and great ?guyness? aside, Shane's value will never be higher than it is right now and for a 9ppg guy if you can get value in return I think you have to seriously consider it. Especially when you have Ariza who should be able to fill Shane's rold on court quite nicely. I'd trade him for the right deal but I'm also a guy who thinks the core of this team must rebuilt at pretty much all cost. I simply don't believe that we will ever be contenders ?again? with the off court problems of our core guys.
Don't know for sure either way until I see how Ariza fits the team. If he can step his offensive game up, I might be opposed as we would still have a playoff shot and Battier is key to stopping certain players. Also if you trade him away to early and Battier might not be able to impart on Ariza some defensive wisdom to improve that side of his game.
I pitched a fit when we passed on Rudy-1. I have since been converted, and I'm a believer now. Shane is a leader, a perfect role player and a good citizen. He's also the kind of guy I'm sure you don't miss until he's gone. Keeper. Although we'd be crazy not to at least consider a can't-miss offer (Rudy-2)...
I know, scola and battier should retire as rockets, yet elie,smith,thorpe,dream, and moses didn't and they did way more for the rockets than shane and luis.
When Yao went down he kept the team together, he stepped up to get the young guns focused. He led the huddle before that Game 4 and I was like yeah that's our leader. His work ethic rubs off on the other players and we need a leader in the locker room now that Deke is gone and not sure what role Yao will play off the court in a leadership aspect while he is out. We all know Tmac doesnt even spend time with the team. My vote is to keep Battier.
This poll is meaningless. The true question is what you think Battier's value is. I think at sf position, he had similar value with matrix, prince, Jhoward, RJefferson, Ron atest. But now I would only trade him for prince, maybe jefferson. The others are all on downside.
We need to just be patient this whole season and just wait. Does anyone remember how much better our defense got when Battier got when he came back? He not only brings individual defense, but he also brings the best team defense in the league. If you trade him, you also trade the team's defense. Just wait. PLEASE. Next year when everyone is back, we'll be better than ever.
I'll keep him just because I highly doubt we will get anyone that will bring as much to the game as he did. Shane may not win many fans because he don't dunk, not flashy, and often put up below average ppg. But his basketball IQ is very high and though he is very mild manner, he is an undercover pitbull for the Rockets. He brings intensity and he is our leader. One of the best underrated defender ( I still don't understand why Bruce Bowen is rated a better defender than Shane...I think that is bull****!!!) But back to my point, Shane is an intelligent player. But his value is low because other teams think that he is not that valuable due to his stats but if they coach him and watch him play every single game.....they will realize how special Shane Battier is.
I love watching Battier play defense......the lost of true one on one defense is lost to most players. But not him.
I think right now is the best time to trade Shane Battier, he has high value with certain teams like Portland for example......if we can get our hands on Outlaw, Fernandez, and Bayless for Battier, Cook, and Brent Barry...it would be really beneficial for both teams, Portland can get those players with experience (brent, and battier) that can get them over the hump......mean while the rockets get younger and also save money in the process......http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=mqcy5j .....which than we can use the money we save to sign Wafer and McCants......lineup Aaron- Bayless/Lowry Fernandez-Wafer/McCants/McGrady(when ever he comes back) Ariza- Outlaw/Budinger Scola- Landry/Dorsey Andersen-Hayes/Petro(sign for minimum) PS. I posted this on a different battier thread already, sorry....
Jackpot. People should just try to keep an open mind and let things fall the way it should. Games are won on the court and not by how strong a team is on paper. Have faith and trust the players and management.
Portland won't trade three "potential" guys for a role player like Battier, get real, they probably gave Morey a list and said pick one you like. Morey is probably holding out for two or one potential franchise guy like Aldrige. We'll see but I don't see Portland being willing to part with Oden or Aldrige for him but one of Outlaw, Fernandez or Batum and then a guy like Bayless or Webster might be workable. Personally though I'd still hold out for atleast two of the first three preferably Batum and Fernandez.
What did shane do for memphis his first couple of years before they brought in Hubie Brown? Sounds familar?
I'd go for Outlaw and Bayless but only because (1) it frees up more cap room for next summer; (2) Ariza offers us similar defence to Shane, and I don't see it as profitable to have both of them in the lineup (3) we'll probably have a worse record next season with the 2 of them, meaning we get a better draft pick while still TRYING to win games. I think Portland would be keen to involve Webster though - I'd be happy with a Webster/ Outlaw/ Bayless package - we give them Battier, Cook and Barry. So we'd save $2.6m this season and even if we took up Bayless' option, be $400k better off next season. Plus it would help out in the long term to have 2 decent wings in Ariza and Webster at quite reasonable prices - a max player would at least have something to work with in terms of teammates (and Bayless might turn out ok too?).
