From a True LakerHater! Trade Rumor - Caron/Haywood to Hou

[heyvik]

I just read this trade rumor http://

The Houston Rockets are in the discussion stages of a complicated, three-team trade that would send Tracy McGrady(notes) to the New York Knicks, sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The centerpieces of the trade would include the Washington Wizards shipping forward Caron Butler(notes) and center Brendan Haywood(notes) to the Rockets. The Knicks would send Al Harrington(notes) to the Wizards. For the Wizards’ part, they would still need another player, as well as a draft pick and cash to make this a workable scenario, sources said.

Other players and contracts would still need to be agreed upon for a deal to come together, but there is a framework to the discussions.

The Rockets have been peddling McGrady’s expiring contract of $23 million since exiling him in late December.

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I would absolutely LOVE the fact that some East stars will go to the Western Conference to actually give the Lakers a good chance of being knocked off. I hate to see all of the stars come of the West come to the East to give the Celtics competition. I would like to see this year the starting line up of Aaron Brooks, Butler, Ariza, Scola and Haywood, bench: Lowry, Battier, Hayes/Landry really rough the Lakers up and give them a real run! Next year, when Yao comes back - Even better.

[Edgar]

I just read this trade rumor http://

The Houston Rockets are in the discussion stages of a complicated, three-team trade that would send Tracy McGrady(notes) to the New York Knicks, sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The centerpieces of the trade would include the Washington Wizards shipping forward Caron Butler(notes) and center Brendan Haywood(notes) to the Rockets. The Knicks would send Al Harrington(notes) to the Wizards. For the Wizards’ part, they would still need another player, as well as a draft pick and cash to make this a workable scenario, sources said.

Other players and contracts would still need to be agreed upon for a deal to come together, but there is a framework to the discussions.

The Rockets have been peddling McGrady’s expiring contract of $23 million since exiling him in late December.

.

I would absolutely LOVE the fact that some East stars will go to the Western Conference to actually give the Lakers a good chance of being knocked off. I hate to see all of the stars come of the West come to the East to give the Celtics competition. I would like to see this year the starting line up of Aaron Brooks, Butler, Ariza, Scola and Haywood, bench: Lowry, Battier, Hayes/Landry really rough the Lakers up and give them a real run! IF   Yao ever comes back - Even better.

[Who]

Wow ... everybody is worse off in that trade.

Houston loses it's cap flexibility for a non-All-Star that doesn't make them a contender. It locks them into the same team, a 55 win team, for Yao's remaining good years which makes it very likely that Yao never wins a title.

Washington loses it's most valuable trade asset for mere cap flexibility, which has little-to-no positive results because Arenas + Jamison + Stevenson + Blatche are still on the books. If you're going to blow up your team, do it right, don't go halfway with it. Commit to rebuilding.

New York loses a valuable rotation player (Harrington) for a non-rotation player (McGrady).

[heyvik]

Wow ... everybody is worse off in that trade.

Houston loses it's cap flexibility for a non-All-Star that doesn't make them a contender. It locks them into the same team, a 55 win team, for Yao's remaining good years which makes it very likely that Yao never wins a title.

Washington loses it's most valuable trade asset for mere cap flexibility, which has little-to-no positive results because Arenas + Jamison + Stevenson + Blatche are still on the books. If you're going to blow up your team, do it right, don't go halfway with it. Commit to rebuilding.

New York loses a valuable rotation player (Harrington) for a non-rotation player (McGrady).

Are you serious? Last year, a Houston team last year, much weaker all around took LA to 7 games. Are you saying that with the additions of Butler and Haywood, would NOT give them a better chance at beating LA?

[Who]

Wow ... everybody is worse off in that trade.

Houston loses it's cap flexibility for a non-All-Star that doesn't make them a contender. It locks them into the same team, a 55 win team, for Yao's remaining good years which makes it very likely that Yao never wins a title.

Washington loses it's most valuable trade asset for mere cap flexibility, which has little-to-no positive results because Arenas + Jamison + Stevenson + Blatche are still on the books. If you're going to blow up your team, do it right, don't go halfway with it. Commit to rebuilding.

New York loses a valuable rotation player (Harrington) for a non-rotation player (McGrady).

Are you serious? Last year, a Houston team last year, much weaker all around took LA to 7 games. Are you saying that with the additions of Butler and Haywood, would NOT give them a better chance at beating LA?

I am saying that their team isn't a legitimate contender after this trade ... and that they will have given up on their best hand, their best opportunity, to build a contender in Yao's remaining elite years.

[heyvik]

Actually, any team constituted with players who love to do the dirty work - aka 2004 Detroit Pistons, can knock off the finesse Lakers. I think the Rockets with this trade will be built to stop the Lakers.

Brooks   Fisher
Ariza    Bryant
Butler   Artest
Scola    Gasol
Haywood  Bynum

I don't care about cap flexibility, all I care about are teams that can dethrone the Laker show

[footey]

Knicks don't do this unless they have been told via the grapevine that LBJ is going to sign with them as FA. You don't create cap room and just hope he comes. 

[PosImpos]

Well, if Daryl Morley does this, it means he's worked out the numbers and the numbers say it's the right thing to do.  I trust his judgment.  The guy sees talent and what works where others don't.

[Ersatz]

Wow ... everybody is worse off in that trade.

Houston loses it's cap flexibility for a non-All-Star that doesn't make them a contender. It locks them into the same team, a 55 win team, for Yao's remaining good years which makes it very likely that Yao never wins a title.

Eh? Butler is an all-star. Houston figures, probably correctly, that they aint getting Wade, Bosh, James, or anybody like that. Butler at his best is just behind those guys. Wings Butler and Ariza can both defend and score. With Landry and Scola to rebound and scrap, that's a great core of people. I'm excited just thinking about it.

[heyvik]

Wow ... everybody is worse off in that trade.

Houston loses it's cap flexibility for a non-All-Star that doesn't make them a contender. It locks them into the same team, a 55 win team, for Yao's remaining good years which makes it very likely that Yao never wins a title.

Eh? Butler is an all-star. Houston figures, probably correctly, that they aint getting Wade, Bosh, James, or anybody like that. Butler at his best is just behind those guys. Wings Butler and Ariza can both defend and score. With Landry and Scola to rebound and scrap, that's a great core of people. I'm excited just thinking about it.

I'm loving it because for once it helps a Western Conference team get much better. I really want to see Kobe with an early exit this year.

[Who]

Eh? Butler is an all-star.

By reputation? Yes

By impact? I don't think so.

[Who]

The Rockets would be a very good team. A 55+ win team (next season after Yao returns).

I'm just not convinced they're a legitimate contender + if they're not a contender, I don't how they manage to upgrade their roster further.

[PierceMVP08]

Based purely on basketball, the rockets make out like bandits in this one.  I have no clue what salary cap ramifications are.  Clearly the Rockets gave the Lakers all they could handle last year and with the added guys they COULD knock them off this year.  Any team that knocks of the lakers is a legitimate contender.

[Ersatz]

Eh? Butler is an all-star.

By reputation? Yes

By impact? I don't think so.

You could turn out to be right. I think though that if he gets out of the crappy situation in Washington, he explodes. Don't forget when he's had seasons not marred by injury or disfunction, he's been phenomenal. Very close to Pierce good.