Idea: Brandon Bass/Courtney Lee/1st round pick for Omer Asik

[McHales Pits]

I think my thought IS close to reality - actually. The most inefficient shots are actually 3 pointers. Lin is not a great three point shooter, his strength is driving to the hoop and playing PnR. Casspi and Garcia don't play significant minutes. Harden is also better at driving the the hoop, but can shoot with range. No disagreement here on Parsons.

Defending the paint is easier than defending both the paint and the 12-15 foot range. Knowing that you can just collapse and contest a layup makes defense easy. Knowing that if you leave your man to help that you could likely be burned for an easy 10 ft 2 pointer makes defensive decision making harder. It also opens your driving lanes and makes layups easier to convert. Being a Celtics fan (I presume), you have probably seen that Bass' biggest strength is his mid-range jumpers. I'd be willing to bet almost anything that his shooting percentage between 10-15 feet is better than Lin's from 3 point range.

In moving Asik, the Rockets are looking for a better front court partner with Howard. Howard needs to work alone in the paint and be paired with someone who wont crowd his space. Not many bigs shoot threes effectively, so they will be looking for a forward who has any type of shooting touch and range - aka Bass. Pair that with Bass' familiarity with Howard, his modest contract, and his hustle on defense and Bass should emerge as an obvious target.

[McHales Pits]

I agree that he isn't worth a draft pick.

But just for clarification, he was let go due to contractual issues - not performance. Chicago was at their best when they had Boozer-Noah starting and Gibson-Asik coming in off the bench. The reason he left was because Houston negotiated a "poison pill" into his contract. At the time, Houston was still in the mode of compiling assets so they had the cap space to offer such a deal. Chicago - strapped with Rose, Noah, Deng, Boozer contracts - could not match despite having right of first refusal.

For anyone who might not know - a "poison pill" is a specifically negotiated contract in which one year of the deal pays him a large portion of the total money owed. I believe Asik's deal was structured 5-5-15-5. Because of the luxury tax implications, it causes teams to not match.

[Endless Paradise]

I think my thought IS close to reality - actually. The most inefficient shots are actually 3 pointers.

When you're not weighing in the extra point a 3 pointer adds, then sure, you're right.  When that's weighed in, as it should be?



The Rockets can't play Asik with Howard, but they're more than willing to play him as a backup, i.e. when Howard isn't on the floor.  Of course, Asik isn't so willing, but that's honestly irrelevant; he signed a contract and they will continue to pay him as they see fit.  The Rockets have to ask themselves: is the potential of guaranteed rim protection and rebounding for 48 minutes worth trading away?  If so, for what?  Knowing the Rockets' gameplan, a guy like Bass isn't the answer unless he's paired with something to sweeten the deal like a young prospect or a draft pick - two things I don't think the Celtics would or should give up for Asik.  Lee probably isn't the guy they're looking for, either, considering they just traded him to Boston last summer.

[McHales Pits]

I think you and I just disagree on how to build a team around Howard and which philosophy suits them best. I appreciate your thoughts though.

I usually am a fan of metrics, but I question those eFG numbers. They say you can alter statistics you make whatever argument you want and that certainly promotes driving to the hoop and shooting 3s.

Not trying to sound ignorant, but I know there is value in a mid-range game and I think most who have played basketball would agree.

[D.o.s.]

There is value in the mid range game, but the Rockets have built their team around driving and getting open 3's. Bass doesn't help them offensively, and the Rocket's don't really do defense, so whatever he's got going on there isn't that important.

[Endless Paradise]

No, no, no, you're misunderstanding me: this isn't me talking about what I think about the mid-range shot and how Houston should construct its roster.  I'm just saying they value the mid-range shot the least of all shots and as such, they avoid taking them.  Their personnel reflects that in that every single player on their roster - save for Howard and Asik - are either capable 3-point shooters or working on developing a long-range shot.

I know there's value in a mid-range shot; my 2K13 player's shot charts reveal that. I'm just saying the Rockets don't place much value in the shot.

Basically, this:

There is value in the mid range game, but the Rockets have built their team around driving and getting open 3's. Bass doesn't help them offensively, and the Rocket's don't really do defense, so whatever he's got going on there isn't that important.

[2short]

Houston is soooo deep I don't think lee gets minutes at all and IMO bass doesn't help them.

Patience is key for the celtics.  I

[McHales Pits]

No, no, no, you're misunderstanding me: this isn't me talking about what I think about the mid-range shot and how Houston should construct its roster.  I'm just saying they value the mid-range shot the least of all shots and as such, they avoid taking them.  Their personnel reflects that in that every single player on their roster - save for Howard and Asik - are either capable 3-point shooters or working on developing a long-range shot.

I know there's value in a mid-range shot; my 2K13 player's shot charts reveal that. I'm just saying the Rockets don't place much value in the shot.

Basically, this:

There is value in the mid range game, but the Rockets have built their team around driving and getting open 3's. Bass doesn't help them offensively, and the Rocket's don't really do defense, so whatever he's got going on there isn't that important.

I see, I see.

Well - what do I care anyways? I follow the Cs! I'm only interested because I thought they might want our crappy contracts haha