Best FA news I've heard in a while - a Western Conference team

[indeedproceed]

I think the bigger issue is that Toronto is going to try to unload not only Bosh but also Turkoglu in the deal, and that will be a bitter pill to swallow for Morey.

I don't think Morey will accept Turkoglu's contract.

Morey should consider taking back Jose Calderon though.

If Toronto trades Bosh and Calderon to Houston, and Houston retains Martin, Ariza, Yao, and Battier, they will officially be my favorite Western Conference team, easily overtaking the Timberwolves, Thunder and Blazers.

[FallGuy]

I think the bigger issue is that Toronto is going to try to unload not only Bosh but also Turkoglu in the deal, and that will be a bitter pill to swallow for Morey.

I don't think Morey will accept Turkoglu's contract.

Morey should consider taking back Jose Calderon though.

If Toronto trades Bosh and Calderon to Houston, and Houston retains Martin, Ariza, Yao, and Battier, they will officially be my favorite Western Conference team, easily overtaking the Timberwolves, Thunder and Blazers.

I think it's pretty unlikely any team will take Bosh on a max deal and Turkoglu. I'm not even sure they'll take Calderon, who is one of the worst defenders you're gonna see at the PG spot, and overpaid on top of it.

I think Houston's a longshot except perhaps that they may be willing to give up more talent than Chicago or New York.

[Who]

I think the beauty of Chris Bosh on the Rockets depends on Luis Scola being on the team. To be able to change from a grind it out team (Yao + Scola/Bosh) to a speed lineup (Bosh + Scola) as their second unit.

It is difficult enough to matchup against one of those lineups (grind it out + speed) but it is extremely tough to be able to matchup with both at a high level.

In the speed lineup, Houston would be an excellent transition team (like they were this season) + they would be able to spread out the floor and allow Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin more time and space to create off the dribble. That lineup would be extremely difficult to defend against.

I agree that Scola is a difference maker, but if he is the price to get Bosh, then I think you have to do it.

Yes, absolutely ... I'm just not sure they are a Championship caliber side without Scola but with Bosh. I think they need to make some more personnel moves to get there. Not necessarily a star talent, but a very good role player. A key glue guy.

I think the success of a Chris Bosh + Yao Ming pairing is dependent on them spending ... time in different lineups away from one another. Both in terms of maximizing their own individual games but also in maximizing Aaron Brooks' and Kevin Martin's offensive contributions.

They may be able to get that player in the draft. If they could pickup Epke Udoh that would be perfect. Or maybe Ed Davis or possibly Greg Monroe if one them dropped. Udonis Haslem with the MLE, that would work too.

[PosImpos]

I think the beauty of Chris Bosh on the Rockets depends on Luis Scola being on the team. To be able to change from a grind it out team (Yao + Scola/Bosh) to a speed lineup (Bosh + Scola) as their second unit.

It is difficult enough to matchup against one of those lineups (grind it out + speed) but it is extremely tough to be able to matchup with both at a high level.

In the speed lineup, Houston would be an excellent transition team (like they were this season) + they would be able to spread out the floor and allow Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin more time and space to create off the dribble. That lineup would be extremely difficult to defend against.

I agree that Scola is a difference maker, but if he is the price to get Bosh, then I think you have to do it.

Yes, absolutely ... I'm just not sure they are a Championship caliber side without Scola but with Bosh.

Scola is a very solid player, but he's no where close to Bosh.

With Bosh and Ming, the Rockets would have the best PF in the game - statistically speaking, anyhow - and a top 3 center.  They'd have the only front court in the league with two 20-10 big men, with an average height over seven feet.  Bosh's game also compliments Yao's game very well.  They'd be pretty much impossible to defend, and both are very solid if not great defenders.

On top of that, they'd have one or two very good perimeter defenders, depending on what they give up in the sign and trade - Ariza and Battier.  They'd also have two very efficient shooters on the wing - Brooks and Martin.  

Furthermore, they'd have a bevy of young prospects and role players selected by one of the league's best hidden-talent finders, Daryl Morey.  Oh yeah, and they have two first round draft picks from the Knicks to keep them stocked for the next couple of years.

Assuming the players stay relatively healthy throughout the season, I'd say you're looking at one of the top 3 teams in the league if they pull that off.

[Roy Hobbs]

I think the beauty of Chris Bosh on the Rockets depends on Luis Scola being on the team. To be able to change from a grind it out team (Yao + Scola/Bosh) to a speed lineup (Bosh + Scola) as their second unit.

It is difficult enough to matchup against one of those lineups (grind it out + speed) but it is extremely tough to be able to matchup with both at a high level.

In the speed lineup, Houston would be an excellent transition team (like they were this season) + they would be able to spread out the floor and allow Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin more time and space to create off the dribble. That lineup would be extremely difficult to defend against.

I agree that Scola is a difference maker, but if he is the price to get Bosh, then I think you have to do it.

Yes, absolutely ... I'm just not sure they are a Championship caliber side without Scola but with Bosh.

Scola is a very solid player, but he's no where close to Bosh.

With Bosh and Ming, the Rockets would have the best PF in the game - statistically speaking, anyhow - and a top 3 center.  They'd have the only front court in the league with two 20-10 big men, with an average height over seven feet.  Bosh's game also compliments Yao's game very well.  They'd be pretty much impossible to defend, and both are very solid if not great defenders.

On top of that, they'd have one or two very good perimeter defenders, depending on what they give up in the sign and trade - Ariza and Battier.  They'd also have two very efficient shooters on the wing - Brooks and Martin.  

Furthermore, they'd have a bevy of young prospects and role players selected by one of the league's best hidden-talent finders, Daryl Morey.  Oh yeah, and they have two first round draft picks from the Knicks to keep them stocked for the next couple of years.

Assuming the players stay relatively healthy throughout the season, I'd say you're looking at one of the top 3 teams in the league if they pull that off.

The big question would be where does the toughness come from?  Substituting Landry and Scola for Martin and Bosh is a huge upgrade in talent, but a huge downgrade in terms of softness.

(And yes, as good as I think Bosh is, I do agree with Shaq that he's the "Ru Paul of big men".)

[PosImpos]

I think the beauty of Chris Bosh on the Rockets depends on Luis Scola being on the team. To be able to change from a grind it out team (Yao + Scola/Bosh) to a speed lineup (Bosh + Scola) as their second unit.

It is difficult enough to matchup against one of those lineups (grind it out + speed) but it is extremely tough to be able to matchup with both at a high level.

In the speed lineup, Houston would be an excellent transition team (like they were this season) + they would be able to spread out the floor and allow Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin more time and space to create off the dribble. That lineup would be extremely difficult to defend against.

I agree that Scola is a difference maker, but if he is the price to get Bosh, then I think you have to do it.

Yes, absolutely ... I'm just not sure they are a Championship caliber side without Scola but with Bosh.

Scola is a very solid player, but he's no where close to Bosh.

With Bosh and Ming, the Rockets would have the best PF in the game - statistically speaking, anyhow - and a top 3 center.  They'd have the only front court in the league with two 20-10 big men, with an average height over seven feet.  Bosh's game also compliments Yao's game very well.  They'd be pretty much impossible to defend, and both are very solid if not great defenders.

On top of that, they'd have one or two very good perimeter defenders, depending on what they give up in the sign and trade - Ariza and Battier.  They'd also have two very efficient shooters on the wing - Brooks and Martin.  

Furthermore, they'd have a bevy of young prospects and role players selected by one of the league's best hidden-talent finders, Daryl Morey.  Oh yeah, and they have two first round draft picks from the Knicks to keep them stocked for the next couple of years.

Assuming the players stay relatively healthy throughout the season, I'd say you're looking at one of the top 3 teams in the league if they pull that off.

The big question would be where does the toughness come from?  Substituting Landry and Scola for Martin and Bosh is a huge upgrade in talent, but a huge downgrade in terms of softness.

(And yes, as good as I think Bosh is, I do agree with Shaq that he's the "Ru Paul of big men".)

I think toughness is about the attitude of the players, not the players themselves.  In a better, more competitive situation, I would expect Bosh to be a tougher player - especially alongside leaders like Shane Battier and Yao Ming who are both tough players.  Rick Adelman also seems like the kind of coach who encourages tough, scrappy play.

If Daryl Morey thought it were an issue he could also find tough role players to add to the squad and give it a more physical attitude.

[Who]

I am concerned about the Rockets offensive spacing + ball movement when Yao Ming and Chris Bosh are in the game together.

Two big bodies who require a lot of defensive attention and take up a lot of prime real estate. They also need a lot of touches ... which brings us to

I am also concerned about the diminished returns from the two big men and secondarily from Kevin Martin and Aaron Brooks offensively.

[Who]

A core of Brooks + Martin + Bosh + Yao is very good but not a Championship team by itself.

I think that group of players needs a high quality supporting cast with excellent depth ... and if they get that backup big men, and use Bosh extensively in the second unit (speed lineup), then I like them as a title contender.

They already have the makings of that supporting cast with Ariza + Battier + Lowry, but they still need one more piece to put them over the top. That backup big men. If their backup bigs are only Chuck Hayes + David Andersen ...

Otherwise, I think they're close but not quite there. Like San Antonio.

[Fafnir]

A core of Brooks + Martin + Bosh + Yao is very good but not a Championship team by itself.

I think that group of players needs a high quality supporting cast with excellent depth ... and if they get that backup big men, and use Bosh extensively in the second unit (speed lineup), then I like them as a title contender.

They already have the makings of that supporting cast with Ariza + Battier + Lowry, but they still need one more piece to put them over the top. That backup big men. If their backup bigs are only Chuck Hayes + David Andersen ...

Otherwise, I think they're close but not quite there. Like San Antonio.

Basically they need Lamar Odom on the bench, or someone like him.

I'm really worried how strong Yao will come back from sitting out a whole year.

[Who]

A core of Brooks + Martin + Bosh + Yao is very good but not a Championship team by itself.

I think that group of players needs a high quality supporting cast with excellent depth ... and if they get that backup big men, and use Bosh extensively in the second unit (speed lineup), then I like them as a title contender.

They already have the makings of that supporting cast with Ariza + Battier + Lowry, but they still need one more piece to put them over the top. That backup big men. If their backup bigs are only Chuck Hayes + David Andersen ...

Otherwise, I think they're close but not quite there. Like San Antonio.

Basically they need Lamar Odom on the bench, or someone like him.

I'm really worried how strong Yao will come back from sitting out a whole year.

I don't think they need someone as good as Odom but definitely above average relative to other first bigs off the bench ... top 10 in terms of bigs off the bench ... with the correct skill-set.

Needs to have superior mobility and good-to-very good defensive ability. The guy doesn't need to be a jump shooter to complement Bosh offensively, he can be a garbage man, but the player needs to be able to move (Varejao vs Dampier). To be active, to be a strong cutter and presence on the glass. Someone who can get to the rim quickly from 13-17 feet out and finish at the rim if their man helps off of them. If he is comfortable passing off the high post, that would be an excellent trait to have. Also pick and roll play. Preferably someone with enough size defensively to switch between the four and five so you can cherry pick the defensive matchups with Bosh. With enough strength to take some of the more physical post players.

First Big Off Bench -- Zaza Pachulia, Rasheed Wallace, Tyrus Thomas, Anderson Varejao, Brad Miller, Eric Dampier, Chris Andersen, Charlie Villanueva, Ronny Turiaf, Jeff Foster, Chuck Hayes, Craig Smith or Drew Gooden, Lamar Odom, Hasheem Thabeet, Udonis Haslem, Kevin Love, Ersan Ilyasova, Darius Songaila, Kris Humphries, Al Harrington, Serge Ibaka, Marcin Gortat, Elton Brand, Marcus Camby, Channing Frye, Spencer Hawes, DeJuan Blair, Paul Millsap, Amir Johnson, JaVale McGee

A guy like Serge Ibaka would be very good.

[Fafnir]

I was just thinking skill set wise Odom would be very good, though he does lack the strength to defend 5s all that well.

Ibaka would be excellent, I wish the C's could get someone like him....