Nuggets/Rockets

[berserker]

Battier for Hunter/Balkman?

Nuggs don't lose anything defensively but Battier is much better offensively than Balkman. Plus, he can play backup to either Melo or Kenyon at the 3/4.

Houston gets cap space and a comparable young defender.

Thoughts?

I think with Battier, the Nuggets are back as one of the elite teams. Bench is Lawson/Weems/Kleiza/Battier/Anderson, with a starting 5 of Chauncey/JR/Melo/Kmart/Nene....

Houston replaces with Ariza and Balkman...and to be honest, unless they can move Yao or TMac they need the cap space....

[denvers_finest]

Doesn't sound like nearly enough for Battier.

[RoxFan08]

Houston could do better. As you've stated, Balkman isn't worth much on the offensive end, and is a significant downgrade on both offense and defense.

Steven Hunter has never, and probably will never light the world on fire with his play.

Houston's not really trying to be charitable.

Moving Tmac has nothing to do with creating capspace, in fact, he's expiring, and moving him would likely mean giving up said cap space.

Frankly, I'd rather just keep what we've got, suck terribly next year, get a top 10 pick, get Yao back, and sign Bosh (or Amare or heaven willing, Wade) and look like:

Brooks/Lowry
Battier/Wafer
Ariza/Landry
Bosh/Scola/Landry
Yao/Hayes

With potentially a John Wall or Avery Bradley or Demarcus Cousins in there somwhere.

Instant contenders? Maybe not, but a lot closer than making a trade like this.

[ecuhus1981]

HOU would likely ask for JR instead of Balkman, which is a no from DEN.

[Beefsicle]

You guys want Kleiza. I also think that Battier would start and JR would still be sixth man.

[eslr]

The Rockets gave up Rudy Gay to get Battier.

I doubt they would now give up Battier for two guys with zero trade value.