NEWS Houston leads for DH12 decision expected quickly

[PhoSita]

@PhoSita- You're absolutely correct, actually. Centers are getting smaller and smaller. How many other legitimate SKILLED 7 footers are realistically hitting the market soon? Not counting mega-risks Andrew Bynum and Greg Oden, I can't think of any. Asik would be a great coup at the center position if we retool.

@Neurotic Guy- I am confident. If you'd like specifics of why, I can give you a list. Houston is head and shoulder above their competition when it comes to what they can offer Dwight.

Okay, well, if you think that winning 5 more games next year is worth giving up assets, then okay, sure, it makes sense.

But we have a pretty serious disagreement on that premise.

[rondoallaturca]

No matter how stack it, Howard is a center in his prime .... and regardless of the fans comments not missing him ,   

Howard leaving the Lakrers is a HUGE HUGE setback , even for the Lakers , who can normally reboot their team ASAP most years.

Not even the Lakers can come up with an instant big man replacement for Howard.

Them loosing Howard is a huge win/boost of confidence for the other NBA teams in recruiting , showing that NOT every great player is bound by history to be a laker

Maybe if he departs ...so will some of the mystique of signing with LA

I live in LA, and hear more Laker chatter than I'd like to. However, I will say that while the Lakers would prefer to keep Dwight (hence their desperate billboards around the city), they wouldn't mind at all if Dwight bolted. The Lakers will be setback for sure, but they have their eyes locked and loaded on the 2014 free agency pool.

On that note, I'd just like to point out that it's interesting how the Lakers are eyeing the 2014 free agency pool rather than the draft. Hmm, I wonder if it's because they know they're better off retooling rather than tanking and flat out rebuilding... coughBostoncough

[Birdman]

Surely the Rockets wont keep Asik...jump in there Danny!!!

[rondoallaturca]

@PhoSita- You're absolutely correct, actually. Centers are getting smaller and smaller. How many other legitimate SKILLED 7 footers are realistically hitting the market soon? Not counting mega-risks Andrew Bynum and Greg Oden, I can't think of any. Asik would be a great coup at the center position if we retool.

@Neurotic Guy- I am confident. If you'd like specifics of why, I can give you a list. Houston is head and shoulder above their competition when it comes to what they can offer Dwight.

Okay, well, if you think that winning 5 more games next year is worth giving up assets, then okay, sure, it makes sense.

But we have a pretty serious disagreement on that premise.

Keep it singular. Unless you think Bass is an asset, Olynyk would hypothetically be the only asset we'd have to give up. Maybe I'm underthinking it and Bass/Olynyk wouldn't be enough to get Asik, but I think Houston would be more than happy to unload a $8M backup big for Bass and a NBA-ready rookie who can space the floor.

That means we'd still have Hump's expiring and all those draft picks we have. Package them towards a high caliber PF and a sharpshooter, and guess what? We have a contender, without having to look like the league's laughing stock, and without having to wait YEARS of being completely dependent on MAYBE getting a high draft pick and HOPING our draft picks don't bust.

[hpantazo]

@PhoSita- You're absolutely correct, actually. Centers are getting smaller and smaller. How many other legitimate SKILLED 7 footers are realistically hitting the market soon? Not counting mega-risks Andrew Bynum and Greg Oden, I can't think of any. Asik would be a great coup at the center position if we retool.

@Neurotic Guy- I am confident. If you'd like specifics of why, I can give you a list. Houston is head and shoulder above their competition when it comes to what they can offer Dwight.

Okay, well, if you think that winning 5 more games next year is worth giving up assets, then okay, sure, it makes sense.

But we have a pretty serious disagreement on that premise.

Keep it singular. Unless you think Bass is an asset, Olynyk would hypothetically be the only asset we'd have to give up. Maybe I'm underthinking it and Bass/Olynyk wouldn't be enough to get Asik, but I think Houston would be more than happy to unload a $8M backup big for Bass and a NBA-ready rookie who can space the floor.

That means we'd still have Hump's expiring and all those draft picks we have. Package them towards a high caliber PF and a sharpshooter, and guess what? We have a contender, without having to look like the league's laughing stock, and without having to wait YEARS of being completely dependent on MAYBE getting a high draft pick and HOPING our draft picks don't bust.

despite what any of think is the best strategy to rebuild, the Rockets can get much more for Asik in a trade than Bass and Olynyk. Bass is a negative asset and Olynyk is an unproven rookie from the middle of a mediocre draft, and they already have Demo and TRob in front of him.

[rondoallaturca]

despite what any of think is the best strategy to rebuild, the Rockets can get much more for Asik in a trade than Bass and Olynyk. Bass is a negative asset and Olynyk is an unproven rookie from the middle of a mediocre draft, and they already have Demo and TRob in front of him.

They're looking to trade TRob to open up cap space. Demo is promising and he can also stretch the floor. Additionally, for a contender, I don't view Bass as a negative at all. Considering his athletic deficiencies, he's a very solid defender, and is a scary consistent mid-range PF.

However, the one thing that concerned me in the back of my mind was what you said, that other teams could potentially offer something more enticing. Almost all our trade assets are assets for rebuilders, not contenders.

[Lucky17]

The only way Asik is going to Boston is if Ainge has a trade exception large enough to take on his salary (and send Houston some draft picks).

No way Houston takes on salary in exchange for Asik. The whole point is for them to clear cap space.

[NocturnalRebel]

I'm from Houston so I would love for Howard to come team up with Harden. L.A can probably offer him more money than Dallas and Houston can but I think Houston offers a better situation than what L.A and Dallas can offer.

I don't know what it means for Asik if Houston lands Howard but I hope they keep him.

[rondoallaturca]

The only way Asik is going to Boston is if Ainge has a trade exception large enough to take on his salary (and send Houston some draft picks).

No way Houston takes on salary in exchange for Asik. The whole point is for them to clear cap space.

Houston wants to clear cap space so they can get Dwight. Any trade involving Asik is under the premise that they've already gotten Dwight, hence why Asik becomes expendable.

[hpantazo]

I think if your going to legitimately contend with Howard, Harden, Parsons, etc, then it makes much more sense to pay Asik 8 million to ensure that your team is ok when your foul prone superstar center with an injury history goes out, which he will, instead of paying Bass almost 7 million to play behind Parsons, Demo, and TRob.

[rondoallaturca]

I think if your going to legitimately contend with Howard, Harden, Parsons, etc, then it makes much more sense to pay Asik 8 million to ensure that your team is ok when your foul prone superstar center with an injury history goes out, which he will, instead of paying Bass almost 7 million to play behind Parsons, Demo, and TRob.

Considering the Rockets' roster has glaring holes they need to fill, I disagree. Once again, Robinson won't be on the team. Furthermore, I know they liked going small with Parsons at the 4 last year, but that's cause they had Garcia and Delfino to play the 3. Both of them are off the roster now. Who fills in for the 3 if they slide Parsons to the 4? As for Demo, I really like him as a player. But on a contender, are you seriously going to rely on a young player who was rather inconsistent last year as he visibly showed growing pains? I think you have a valid point that the Rockets could get more from other teams for Asik, but I don't think it's correct to say the Rockets benefit more by keeping around Asik.

[Neurotic Guy]

@PhoSita- You're absolutely correct, actually. Centers are getting smaller and smaller. How many other legitimate SKILLED 7 footers are realistically hitting the market soon? Not counting mega-risks Andrew Bynum and Greg Oden, I can't think of any. Asik would be a great coup at the center position if we retool.

@Neurotic Guy- I am confident. If you'd like specifics of why, I can give you a list. Houston is head and shoulder above their competition when it comes to what they can offer Dwight.

Okay, well, if you think that winning 5 more games next year is worth giving up assets, then okay, sure, it makes sense.

But we have a pretty serious disagreement on that premise.

Keep it singular. Unless you think Bass is an asset, Olynyk would hypothetically be the only asset we'd have to give up. Maybe I'm underthinking it and Bass/Olynyk wouldn't be enough to get Asik, but I think Houston would be more than happy to unload a $8M backup big for Bass and a NBA-ready rookie who can space the floor.

That means we'd still have Hump's expiring and all those draft picks we have. Package them towards a high caliber PF and a sharpshooter, and guess what? We have a contender, without having to look like the league's laughing stock, and without having to wait YEARS of being completely dependent on MAYBE getting a high draft pick and HOPING our draft picks don't bust.

Given your quick-fix scenario, we have:
Rondo/??
AB/Lee/Crawford
Green/Wallace
Sully/Shav
Asik/Melo

If the high caliber PF is Josh Smith and the sharpshooter is JJ Reddick, I am in agreement that this is a quick turnaround to a solid playoff team -- but far from convinced this is a contender.   With that said -- really good thinking - TP.

[rondoallaturca]

Given your quick-fix scenario, we have:
Rondo/??
AB/Lee/Crawford
Green/Wallace
Sully/Shav
Asik/Melo

If the high caliber PF is Josh Smith and the sharpshooter is JJ Reddick, I am in agreement that this is a quick turnaround to a solid playoff team -- but far from convinced this is a contender.   With that said -- really good thinking - TP.

Smith wouldn't be my ideal name to fill the PF spot, but that's the gist of it. And we wouldn't even necessarily be done. Wallace is a decent backup SF/PF, but we could use his stretch provision to free up nearly $6M in cap space  for another quality rotational player.

Due to the lack of flashy names, I think it might not come away as a contender to many, but I believe it is. Rondo might not be a superstar in the regular season, but he absolutely kicks it into an otherworldly gear come playoff time. We would have at least above average players at every other position. The Pacers, Bulls, and the entire Western conference have proved that solid team play can absolutely make up for not having superstars. A team following this blueprint might not be instant contenders, but I wouldn't mind a first or second round exit at all. Once the team builds chemistry and experience, it will be a force to be reckoned with.