Thoughts on Richard Justice's Column

[tisbee]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/spo ... 11840.html

There are some very interesting tidbits in Richard Justice's column. We should be advised Morey is a master of spin,so reader beware this is my interpretation.

Rafer Alston was traded because he and Artest couldn't get along. Once T-Mac shut himself down the team had to give up on trading Artest and instead traded Rafer. Irony is Alston was one of two players the team counted on to keep Ron in check.(The other,Battier,basically said Artest is uncontrollable,he'll do whatever he wants.)

The team alledgely wants Artest back next season. Seems kind of strange considering how hard they tried to trade him before the trading deadline. Very possible this is a GM trying not to tell a player he's gone after season while counting on the player to lead the team into Playoffs. W/the Rockets only some $6mil under next yrs predicted Lux Tax they are going to need to just give away Hayes,Landry or Scola to have enough room to give Artest what he makes THIS yr.

The public rehab of McGrady's reputation has begun. Now Morey is claiming it was just a misunderstanding on the surgery announcement by T-Mac.
Justice's comment on McGrady playing for the Rockets "at some point next season" is very intriguing. Coupled w/the comment on doubts about T-Mac's rehab efforts,I believe the Rockets won't let McGrady play his way into shape next yr. They are going to wait until he is completely ready to play before they put him on the court. And if it takes a few months into the season,so be it. (Which may be why they are thinking of re-signing Artest.) That,or nobody has any idea how long McGrady's recovery is going to be.

Morey believes that McGrady and Artest can work together,that the injury issues prevented it from happening this yr. I bet if McGrady and Artest are Rockets next yr that Battier is the one to come off the bench.

[reupdadj1]

I do not believe in nuthin Richard Justice says he is a Babseball reporter last time I checked he is given his opinion on what is going on in the locker room. But anyways Alston doesn't play for the Rockets anymore nor does T-Mac sorry self. His name should be placed on a gag order so we kant discuss him anymore. I'm tired of talkin bout that disgrace of a player.

[Iggyemu]

I truly don't believe the Rockets want Artest back. I think they will put up with one more year of McGrady only b/c they won't be able to trade him with his health up in the year.

[YoungMoney23]

I do not believe in nuthin Richard Justice says he is a Babseball reporter last time I checked he is given his opinion on what is going on in the locker room. But anyways Alston doesn't play for the Rockets anymore nor does T-Mac sorry self. His name should be placed on a gag order so we kant discuss him anymore. I'm tired of talkin bout that disgrace of a player.

Seriously dude, T-Mac gave us more than pretty much everyone on this team bar Yao, He carried us to the playoffs twice so if you have nothing intelligent to say please go and post on the Jazz Board

[tisbee]

reupdadj1,
Richard Justice is a senior writer for the Chronicle. You are right that he doesn't "do" basketball.
On the other hand,when he wants to talk to senior Rocket officials they talk to him. What he writes is pretty much what Morey wants written.

Iggymu,
I agree that the Rockets don't want Artest back. But they may feel they have to bring him back because of uncertainty over McGrady's health. Both sides may well end up agreeing to a pretty hefty 1 year deal,w/Artest counting on all the teams clearing room for 2010 not getting who they wanted and settling for him,and the Rockets figuring Ron can help carry the team while McGrady rehabs and in 2010 starting over.
I go back and forth on next yr. For the most part I think they intend to tweak the bench,but sometimes I wonder if they aren't going to make some drastic changes. I don't think the Rockets know and are prob waiting to see what happens in the Playoffs.

[moofs]

tisbee, I was thinking a few of those things myself reading it. Another thing in there is that "if he does get back on the court, since he wasn't going to make it back on without proper rehab work, he obviously has a great commitment to rehab work, is definitely not lazy, and last season was just an unfortunate incident"

The whole "tough competitor" thing is overblown, but in its coming from Battier and management I'm sure that's at least half-intentionally. I'm a tough competitor at several things that I'm not necessarily effective in, doesn't mean I'm not going to compete my hardest. Artest and several people around the league take that as a pure complement rather than a veil, I'm sure (it may well be).

[BaYBaller]

Is there really anything even there? Come on guys...

Let me put it this way, what do you expect HOU management to say? T-Mac's contract is an albatross right now, virtually untradable. I would be very surprised if he's not in a Rockets uniform next season because Morey needs to showcase T-Mac while T-Mac himself needs to work for his next contract.

Morey has stated himself that he believes it takes 3 elite players to win a championship. The moment T-Mac went down meant that this year, and very very likely next year will be "growth" years (unless T-Mac returns to form and Artest is resigned, e.g. highly unlikely) for this team. That's the reason they moved Alston.

[moofs]

Shhh Bay, I'm bored, sick and tired. It's better than moaning after every loss and changing the starting lineup or proposing a random trade at any rate.

[kam_soluusar]

And Yao isn't getting any younger. McGrady was sick of G/Hill always being injured in Orlando, same thing probably applies here. Injuries are a really bad curse, especially when it is your highest paid player, (Allan Houston Anyone?) Mac would want to be healthy, as I don't think Yao will tolerate another first round exit. We pretty much have the right support pieces, and if Wafer continues to improve significantly, and consistently, then the Mac issue might become moot. I personally, would like to see Ron back next year, I guess we'll have to see what happens.

Endnote: If Ron helps us get through to the second round, I really think it would be curtains for T-Mac in H-town next year, as I said earlier, Yao is not getting any younger.

[PocketRockets]

It'd be very hard for Ron to be back here next year unless he would take a sizable paycut, which I don't see him doing. Maybe Morey can get a s&t done? Like someone said, it all depends on the playoffs this year. If we can get deep into it (wcf or so), Yao says he "wants" Ron back and is adamant about it, then I think Rockets will find a way to make it work. If it's a first round exit, then i don't think anyone will care about no. 96 in a rockets uni.

[YoungMoney23]

When do we think T-Mac will be fit enough so that he can be traded if that is the case?