early season bottom feeder thread

[Who]

I think the Rockets best trade asset is Aaron Brooks and I reckon there is a very good chance that they'll shop him around mid-season. I expect Daryl Morey to be wary about Brooks' upcoming contract extension (almost assured to be a bad long term contract) + be aware of Brooks good trade value.

I think the Rockets next best trade assets are their expiring contracts of Shane Battier and Jared Jeffries. About $15 million worth there. Plus they have Yao's but they'll only consider letting him go if he is a total failure this season (looking unlikely).

The Rockets own the Knicks 2011 pick. The Knicks have more cap space this coming summer, or the ability to make the trade, which should net them one more quality player. That should make them a certainty for the playoffs in 2011. So likely a pick in the 14-18 range. A mid first rounder.

The Rockets also have the option of swapping their 2010 pick with the Knicks. I like the Knicks to make the playoffs this season but they are not a certainty. So a 10-15 range pick. There is a decent chance Houston's pick will be in the same range if Yao's path to recovery is slow. Houston has all it's future first rounders but is owed no other first rounders.

The young talent -- Courtney Lee, Jordan Hill, Patrick Patterson and Chase Budinger -- not a star amongst them. Role player variety.

I'd also expect Daryl Morey, given his short track record, to be highly reluctant to take on bad long term contracts.

-------------------------------------------------

I think the Rockets best chance at making a big trade is moving Brooks + expiring contracts to a team that wants a young point guard and is convinced that Brooks high scoring ways makes him a possible future star.

-------------------------------------------------

In terms of the Sixers, I hope they wouldn't pursue a trade package with Houston. They already have a better prospect at the point with Jrue Holiday and a comparable talent in Lou Williams.

Also, the Rockets young players aren't worth sacrificing a player of Iggy's ability + I don't think the cap flexibility in a deal like this is worth that much to them. Not with Brand's deal still on the books. Or taking back another contract in Brooks (upcoming contract) or Lowry.

The odds of Phily signing a better player than Iguodala with that cap space are pretty slim. That's why they should keep him or trade him for talent ... but not cap space.

The Sixers need to be able to move Brand for cap space to be worth losing Iggy.

[PosImpos]

I think the Rockets best trade asset is Aaron Brooks and I reckon there is a very good chance that they'll shop him around mid-season. I expect Daryl Morey to be wary about Brooks' upcoming contract extension (almost assured to be a bad long term contract) + be aware of Brooks good trade value.

I think the Rockets next best trade assets are their expiring contracts of Shane Battier and Jared Jeffries. About $15 million worth there. Plus they have Yao's but they'll only consider letting him go if he is a total failure this season (looking unlikely).

The Rockets own the Knicks 2011 pick. The Knicks have more cap space this coming summer, or the ability to make the trade, which should net them one more quality player. That should make them a certainty for the playoffs in 2011. So likely a pick in the 14-18 range. A mid first rounder.

The Rockets also have the option of swapping their 2010 pick with the Knicks. I like the Knicks to make the playoffs this season but they are not a certainty. So a 10-15 range pick. There is a decent chance Houston's pick will be in the same range if Yao's path to recovery is slow. Houston has all it's future first rounders but is owed no other first rounders.

The young talent -- Courtney Lee, Jordan Hill, Patrick Patterson and Chase Budinger -- not a star amongst them. Role player variety.

I'd also expect Daryl Morey, given his short track record, to be highly reluctant to take on bad long term contracts.

-------------------------------------------------

I think the Rockets best chance at making a big trade is moving Brooks + expiring contracts to a team that wants a young point guard and is convinced that Brooks high scoring ways makes him a possible future star.

-------------------------------------------------

In terms of the Sixers, I hope they wouldn't pursue a trade package with Houston. They already have a better prospect at the point with Jrue Holiday and a comparable talent in Lou Williams.

Also, the Rockets young players aren't worth sacrificing a player of Iggy's ability + I don't think the cap flexibility in a deal like this is worth that much to them. Not with Brand's deal still on the books. Or taking back another contract in Brooks (upcoming contract) or Lowry.

The odds of Phily signing a better player than Iguodala with that cap space are pretty slim. That's why they should keep him or trade him for talent ... but not cap space.

The Sixers need to be able to move Brand for cap space to be worth losing Iggy.

All of that makes sense, but I wouldn't put it past Daryl Morey to find a way to make it happen.

We've seen far more lopsided deals happen.  

Considering that Brand is looking a lot better so far this year I wonder if the Rockets would consider taking on Brand and Iggy in exchange for Scola, the Knicks' pick, a few young assets (not Brooks), and expirings.  That would be a lot of future salary to take on, but it would make them a scary team to face.

[Who]

I think the Rockets best trade asset is Aaron Brooks and I reckon there is a very good chance that they'll shop him around mid-season. I expect Daryl Morey to be wary about Brooks' upcoming contract extension (almost assured to be a bad long term contract) + be aware of Brooks good trade value.

I think the Rockets next best trade assets are their expiring contracts of Shane Battier and Jared Jeffries. About $15 million worth there. Plus they have Yao's but they'll only consider letting him go if he is a total failure this season (looking unlikely).

The Rockets own the Knicks 2011 pick. The Knicks have more cap space this coming summer, or the ability to make the trade, which should net them one more quality player. That should make them a certainty for the playoffs in 2011. So likely a pick in the 14-18 range. A mid first rounder.

The Rockets also have the option of swapping their 2010 pick with the Knicks. I like the Knicks to make the playoffs this season but they are not a certainty. So a 10-15 range pick. There is a decent chance Houston's pick will be in the same range if Yao's path to recovery is slow. Houston has all it's future first rounders but is owed no other first rounders.

The young talent -- Courtney Lee, Jordan Hill, Patrick Patterson and Chase Budinger -- not a star amongst them. Role player variety.

I'd also expect Daryl Morey, given his short track record, to be highly reluctant to take on bad long term contracts.

-------------------------------------------------

I think the Rockets best chance at making a big trade is moving Brooks + expiring contracts to a team that wants a young point guard and is convinced that Brooks high scoring ways makes him a possible future star.

-------------------------------------------------

In terms of the Sixers, I hope they wouldn't pursue a trade package with Houston. They already have a better prospect at the point with Jrue Holiday and a comparable talent in Lou Williams.

Also, the Rockets young players aren't worth sacrificing a player of Iggy's ability + I don't think the cap flexibility in a deal like this is worth that much to them. Not with Brand's deal still on the books. Or taking back another contract in Brooks (upcoming contract) or Lowry.

The odds of Phily signing a better player than Iguodala with that cap space are pretty slim. That's why they should keep him or trade him for talent ... but not cap space.

The Sixers need to be able to move Brand for cap space to be worth losing Iggy.

All of that makes sense, but I wouldn't put it past Daryl Morey to find a way to make it happen.

We've seen far more lopsided deals happen.  

Considering that Brand is looking a lot better so far this year I wonder if the Rockets would consider taking on Brand and Iggy in exchange for Scola, the Knicks' pick, a few young assets (not Brooks), and expirings.  That would be a lot of future salary to take on, but it would make them a scary team to face.

I haven't seen Brand play yet this season. he's been putting up some nice stats ... I'm looking forward to getting an extended look at him.
 
If Brand became a useful, or even a neutral, trade asset ... that would give Phily much a lot more options in rebuilding their team.

Reportedly, the Rockets refused to take on Brand during the summer and at mid-season last year. But if Brand has gotten his career back on track, those previous decisions mean nothing. Whole new offer.

[wiley]

Might as well discuss Toronto too.

[wiley]

Toronto needs a center.  Wonder if Alabi has potential as a defensive center who can start one day. 

Washington is getting great play from its starting bigs:  McGee and Blatche.  If that continues, with Wall and Hinrich starting, they just need to updgrade the starting SF.  Imagine if they could trade Arenas for Gerald Wallace (they'd surely have to sweeten the deal significantly).

Wall, Hinrich, Wallace, Blatche, McGee

bench:  Thornton, N. Young, Yi, etc...

[Who]

Washington is getting great play from its starting bigs:  McGee and Blatche.  If that continues, with Wall and Hinrich starting, they just need to updgrade the starting SF.  Imagine if they could trade Arenas for Gerald Wallace (they'd surely have to sweeten the deal significantly).

Wall, Hinrich, Wallace, Blatche, McGee

bench:  Thornton, N. Young, Yi, etc...

Washington's big men are killing them defensively. That is why they can't compete.

It is, by far, the Wizards' biggest flaw.

Second biggest is their lack of true wings. They lack players with physical size (the small backcourts), defensive ability and rebounding. Their current wings (A.Thornton, N.Young) are one dimensional scorers + small backcourts with similar issues (defense/rebounding).