ROCKETS: Signing Mike James priority or getting a PF?
It is evident that the primary free agent concern for the Rockets this offseason is to sign Mike James. However, he's seemingly being a little biatch by delaying his decision, making the three teams pursuing him bite their nails. My question is...how necessary is Mike to the success of the Rockets? Is he the viable 3rd scoring option on a team that has a dirth in offense, or will TMac and Yao be enough to carry the Rockets? Should the Rockets be pushing for a solid low-post bruiser to help Yao out on the block, instead of signing this potential chucker?
Ideally, Houston will land both Mike James via sign and trade and then perhaps use the MLE to get their PF...but when push comes to shove, whats is more important? MJ or the PF?
PF. They already have Head, Wesley and Alston. They're pretty thin up front with just Deke,Yao and Howard. Howard's not gonna cut it if they wanna go deep into the playoffs, so they better sign a PF.
Management has made it clear, however, that our backcourt is their top priority.
I'm on the fence about the potential of Mike returning. I'll be fine either way. I won't lose sleep if he doesn't return and I'll be happy if he does. He would provide defense, scoring, and desire but he would also bring a degree of selfish play (a "can't have" when playing on a team with Yao and McGrady) and might hold our offense back (like he did in the playoffs a year ago).
For those that don't know, apparently, JVG and the crew want to go small and play Shane at the 4.
What do they plan on doing if the play the Spurs in the Playoffs, throwing Howard out there and "try" to defend him without an offense coming from that spot at all. Another year, another loss in the step for Howard. Rockets are being dumb, da, dumb dumb dumb. They need a starting PF like the olsen twins need food.
What do they plan on doing if the play the Spurs in the Playoffs, throwing Howard out there and "try" to defend him without an offense coming from that spot at all. Another year, another loss in the step for Howard. Rockets are being dumb, da, dumb dumb dumb. They need a starting PF like the olsen twins need food.
The question should be where could they get one? There isn't alot they can afford on the FA market, and they don't exactly have a long list of assets to get one of any value via a trade.
Battier is good (As a SF) but would get battered by any decent bigs.
As much as they maybe looking to go small it's not as if Yao exactly suits the run and gun game...
Reggie Evans shouldn't be too expensive (depends on what Denver wants to do), and he could at least provide strong rebounding, so what if he's a complete void offensively. There's enough scoring.. ah hell, there isn't unless one of Head/Battier can be efficient third options which really isn't all that likely.
I'm not sure I like the idea of playing small when your starting C is 7'6 and really, really can't run.
Question is, what PFs are out there that can help us more than Mike James could? The Rockets were one of the worst offensive teams last year, outside of yao and tmac, nobody else can effectively create their own shot. Mike James can create his own shot, and set up other players to score via penetration.
Houston has Head whose willing to play within they system and would improve. I don't see why they're so desperate for James. They should be spending their time trying to get a PF like Troy Murphy.
The question should be where could they get one? There isn't alot they can afford on the FA market, and they don't exactly have a long list of assets to get one of any value via a trade.
Battier is good (As a SF) but would get battered by any decent bigs.
As much as they maybe looking to go small it's not as if Yao exactly suits the run and gun game...
This is not true at all. Battier spent plenty of time guarding 4's down in Memphis and he does it just fine a lot of the time. I'm not saying he's a long-term solution, but he can definitely fill the role.