What should the Rockets do???

[tha_rock220]

I know this has been talked about a lot, but I was talking about this with a friend of mine today after we found out about the trade. Basically Yao and McGrady might be done is impact players in the NBA, but they might not.

What should Morey do???? Should he look to rebuild, or should he continue to try to make the Rockets a contender???

Staying the course and still playing for it all.

Pros

The team has plenty of talent.
If everyone is healthy they're a contender without question.
It's a lot more fun cheering a team that's in the hunt.

Cons

"Injuries are a concern" is an understatement.
They might still not be good enough to beat L.A. and the Spurs.

This, IMO, is the way to proceed if things like up right. The team they have right now basically took the champs to seven games. If Yao and McGrady come back and do something, then the team could still beat anybody other than the Lakers and Spurs without question.

Rebuilding

Pros

There's a solid nucleus of young talent.
Next year's draft class is pretty damn good.
The Rockets could be a player in the 2010 free agent derby.


Cons

It sucks watching the Rockets as a losing team.
Teams built around younger players with lots of upside don't often work.
Houston isn't really a premier FA destination.
The lottery might screw the team, or the draft pick might not pan out.

If they do decide to rebuild who should be kept??? I would say Scola, Landry, Wafer, Ariza, Brooks, and Lowry for sure. I would like to see Battier sent to a team that has a chance to win like Cleveland. Hayes is iffy. If Yao can still come back, then they won't blow completely, and they could do really well depending on any acquisitions. If this happens then losing Ron Ron doesn't hurt as badly because they don't need to be signing a veteran and having him under contract for 3 years.

[Teckon]

I say if yao and tmac can't play, then develop the younger guys. Let them play more minutes. Beside developing their physical skills, it is important for them to also develop competitive winning mentality. Compete every game. Win or lose, just compete with 100%. effort. If they can get the 7th or 8th playoff spot, go for it. Continuous development of the abilities to play at a higher stage is crucial.

[RoseArcana]

I want to say hold out and hit the 2010 free agency hard, but Ming is expiring but has a player option which means if he isnt back to par then he would be stupid not to use his right to another year leaving Houston with another 15 mil wasted on an injured player... As much as I hate to say it, I think its time to let Yao go... Tracy on the other hand is a 20 mil a year and is expiring in 2010 with no option... I say hold on to his and use it to try and get a really good player from the 2010 free agency pool... It may be time to try to speed the team up a bit with Yao on the bench or gone... All this young fast talent, maybe they can still make something happen? Whatever we do, we really shouldn't go after Bosh... He will only leave us hanging in 2010 because he wants to share the limelight with a superstar, because he actually believes he is a superstar... Bosh is going to New York in 2010, leave him be and look for something else!

We need to do what we can to salvage what we have and keep spirits up. We have to look towards the future, and find our next franchise player! Without a franchise player, we can't contend...

[Alex_De_Large]

I HATE to lose games, but i say we prepare for 2010.
My biggest con for the rebuilding is Scola and Battier, do they really deserve this after playing so hard in the last playoffs? anyway, they should understand we CAN be contenders in 2010-2011 if things go allright.

We can trade one of the best picks for an all-star and also get a good player in the FA, we will only have 1 big contract (Yao), and then Scola, Battier, Brooks, Ariza, Landry and Hayes.

[Fat Kat]

Start some serious scouting for the upcoming draft as the Rockets will certainly be a lottery team. That and keep their fingers crossed that McGrady comes back healthy. LOL.

[Baller 24]

I really have a feeling they brought in Ariza to replace Shane, I mean our number one priority was to grab a big man, now a wing that can defend. This could turn out to be a blessing in disguise as Battier has some good value in the league, pair him up with an expiring Cook, Landry or Brooks, and one of our draft picks other than Jermaine Taylor, and you've got a legitimate chance to grab a big name.

[fisterkev]

I think at this point one would be stupid to assume that either Yao or TMac will be back next season. You can game plan with them in there, but assume that they won't be as your main course.

I say that we stand pat and go with what we've got now. The only real difference between this team and the one that took the Lakers to 7 is the absence of crazy pills, and Ariza's presence mitigates that. They will be young, fast, and scrappy, and they will all get more PT than otherwise. Good year for growth for the young guys.

Wait 'till 2010, ditch TMac for another star, wait and see on Yao, but be prepared to lose him for another star as well. With any luck we get a good draft pick next season to augment this. This season will not be as fulfilling as last, but good things can come of it.

[Mike12345]

I agree with everything accept wait and see on Yao,, im not relying on yaos legs every damn season in order to be a contender.

Bottom line,,,,get new stars

[Teckon]

I agree with everything accept wait and see on Yao,, im not relying on yaos legs every damn season in order to be a contender.

Bottom line,,,,get new stars

Yao's value is at all time low now. It will be foolish to trade him now. Morey's standard mode of operations is buy low sell high. Yao is not going anywhere. We will have more info next week when the team of doctors made their conclusion.

[Mike12345]

Im not saying trade Yao now, im saying next year he will be expiring and we should move him then. My point is if we pick up a star in the 2010 FA that i hope we are not planning to team him with Yao.

Clearly we have no choice now but to keep him, im just saying regardless of any health announcements we should not be looking to build our team around him. Also i dont think theres going to be a high with Yao,, everybody is aware that his health problems will only get worse and that his legs can break down at any moment. Trading high would have been at the deadline when Mcgrady was out and we were not competiting for a championship, that ship has sunk

[texasholdem]

Im not saying trade Yao now, im saying next year he will be expiring and we should move him then

Yao has a player option next summer for $17.6 million so he would probably excercise it rather than be a free agent given his current condition.

How about trading Yao and Scola to Toronto for Chris Bosh?
http://www.realgm.com/src_checktrade.ph ... id=5170498

Scola is a free agent in 2010 anyway so we might lose him.
Bosh will probably opt out of his player option
We'd probably have to have some kind of guarantee Yao can play similar to the Portland-Darius Miles situation.

Rockets
F: Battier
F: Bosh
C: ???
G: Brooks
G: Ariza

Raptors
F: Turkoglu
F: Scola
C: Bargnani
G: Calderon
G: DeRozan

[Teckon]

Im not saying trade Yao now, im saying next year he will be expiring and we should move him then

Yao has a player option next summer for $17.6 million so he would probably excercise it rather than be a free agent given his current condition.

How about trading Yao and Scola to Toronto for Chris Bosh?
http://www.realgm.com/src_checktrade.ph ... id=5170498

Scola is a free agent in 2010 anyway so we might lose him.
Bosh will probably opt out of his player option
We'd probably have to have some kind of guarantee Yao can play similar to the Portland-Darius Miles situation.

Rockets
F: Battier
F: Bosh
C: ???
G: Brooks
G: Ariza

Raptors
F: Turkoglu
F: Scola
C: Bargnani
G: Calderon
G: DeRozan

I failed to see how this proposal helps the rockets as they still end up with a BIg hole at the center position. At least now with Scola, he can play center position with a post game. Bosh is not very big upgrade over Scola IMO. If your objective is to just throw away Yao's contract then I am glad you are not the GM of rockets.

[Ribalding]

What should the Rockets do?

If you will allow me just a moment, I'll answer your question accurately, concisely, and in a manner you will appreciate on both an emotional and intellectual level. Sadly, I am forced to preface my answer with a brief story, but it will prove useful in the long run - (rather like a Frank Zappa LP or your 1st heartbreak, in that way).

Preface: When I was 18, I spent the summer working in a faraway place for people who turned out to be something less than honest. In fact, they were con artists. Being young and omniscient, I would not accept this at the time. Other people suspected as much, but I was omniscient, remember? I knew better, so I spent all summer in a very hot, shockingly awful town, trying to win an un-winnable battle and feed myself at the same time. (See? I told you this is a lot like a Zappa album.)

By August 1st of that long summer, I found myself in a public park at midnight. It was a Wednesday. I was alone, I was hungry, I was shocked at my own naiveté, and I was well beyond broke. I had lost 20 pounds I never had to lose in the first place, I was 500 miles from the warm embrace of my mother's hearth, and only the absence of courage was standing between me and suicide.

It was a bad day.

It was so bad I leaned against a tree and started crying. It was, as the ladies say, "a good cry". It was such a a good cry, in fact, that I unzipped my pants and began to abuse myself...while crying and leaning against said tree. I was not doing this for pleasure. Nay. It was intended (pretty damn effectively) as tough self love. I needed to remember the awful hubris that had landed me in this place. Somehow, I knew weeping and masturbating against a tree in Kansas would help me remember. I hoped the horror of the moment - the sheer, unrelenting pathetic-ness of it all, would sear itself into my being, forever available as a quick harbinger of the dangers of pride.

It freaking worked. Really good.

The point/points?

1. Your/My Houston Rockets are living a lie, far from home.
2. They didn't mean to get conned. Honestly, they didn't. Two health-challenged players snuck up and tricked them...like Oglala Sioux or quasi-Texan presidents.
3. You and I are sorely tempted to pretend (for our own sanity) that our beloved team stands a chance of competing in a real way, in the near future.
4. We need it because we're accustomed to it.
5. That temptation is a lie, and can only lead to our personal, spiritual, doom.


Finally, to answer your question: The Rockets have to be realists at this point. They have to acknowledge their bad luck and their hubris. They must embrace the tree and have a good cry.

They can keep their hands in their pockets if they want.

But it's time to run home to momma. ("momma", in this case, is Daryl Morey's ability.)

It'll be ok in a year or so.

I promise.

[stockmarketgod]

blow it up, get rid of both Yao and Tmac...

and for heavens sake fire the training staff and the consulting doctors...

Yao should have had a cast and crutches on

not walking around with just a boot...

[stockmarketgod]

What should the Rockets do?

If you will allow me just a moment, I'll answer your question accurately, concisely, and in a manner you will appreciate on both an emotional and intellectual level. Sadly, I am forced to preface my answer with a brief story, but it will prove useful in the long run - (rather like a Frank Zappa LP or your 1st heartbreak, in that way).

Preface: When I was 18, I spent the summer working in a faraway place for people who turned out to be something less than honest. In fact, they were con artists. Being young and omniscient, I would not accept this at the time. Other people suspected as much, but I was omniscient, remember? I knew better, so I spent all summer in a very hot, shockingly awful town, trying to win an un-winnable battle and feed myself at the same time. (See? I told you this is a lot like a Zappa album.)

By August 1st of that long summer, I found myself in a public park at midnight. It was a Wednesday. I was alone, I was hungry, I was shocked at my own naiveté, and I was well beyond broke. I had lost 20 pounds I never had to lose in the first place, I was 500 miles from the warm embrace of my mother's hearth, and only the absence of courage was standing between me and suicide.

It was a bad day.

It was so bad I leaned against a tree and started crying. It was, as the ladies say, "a good cry". It was such a a good cry, in fact, that I unzipped my pants and began to abuse myself...while crying and leaning against said tree. I was not doing this for pleasure. Nay. It was intended (pretty damn effectively) as tough self love. I needed to remember the awful hubris that had landed me in this place. Somehow, I knew weeping and masturbating against a tree in Kansas would help me remember. I hoped the horror of the moment - the sheer, unrelenting pathetic-ness of it all, would sear itself into my being, forever available as a quick harbinger of the dangers of pride.

It freaking worked. Really good.

The point/points?

1. Your/My Houston Rockets are living a lie, far from home.
2. They didn't mean to get conned. Honestly, they didn't. Two health-challenged players snuck up and tricked them...like Oglala Sioux or quasi-Texan presidents.
3. You and I are sorely tempted to pretend (for our own sanity) that our beloved team stands a chance of competing in a real way, in the near future.
4. We need it because we're accustomed to it.
5. That temptation is a lie, and can only lead to our personal, spiritual, doom.


Finally, to answer your question: The Rockets have to be realists at this point. They have to acknowledge their bad luck and their hubris. They must embrace the tree and have a good cry.

They can keep their hands in their pockets if they want.

But it's time to run home to momma. ("momma", in this case, is Daryl Morey's ability.)

It'll be ok in a year or so.

I promise.

you could have called the suicide hot line... instead of abusing that poor tree, who did nothing to you to deserve that...

[moofs]

What, no knothole?

(On second thought, limit that statement such that it only applies if you're somehow Canadian.)

[Ribalding]

Actually, that never happened.

Sorry about the crazy post. I was working on 45 hours without sleep. Got a little punchy.

[moofs]

Not familiar with that, having never pulled over 36 at any point in the last 3 weeks.

"Count your blessings" and such. (especially as Miami Beach was a perfect relief for that stint)

Btw, if you got the PM, I think my schedule's mostly back to its normal, non-hideous configuration.

[fisterkev]

I really could have done without the visualization of a young, hope-drenched man masturbating against a tree in a public park... Even if I agreed with his final analysis of the situation. I can think of better places - and certainly better reasons - to rub one off.

If I ever walk through a park and see some dude leaning against a tree crying like a little girl and rubbing one out on the roots, the first thing I am going to do is check and make sure my kids are nowhere near the scene (I would only be in a park with them). Second, I'm going to call the cops on him, and bear witness in court. Third, I might knock the s*it out of him for being such an obnoxious, self-centered nanny as to do such a thing in a place where kids are supposed to play. In which case I might not call the cops.

You need help, dude.

[Ribalding]

...e-thuggery...

While I pretty much agree with you, it'd help if you glanced up to the top of this page.