HotShots wrote:You got to give them something. Youth or first rounder. First rounder doesnt guarantee Houston anything. Especially giving them Dallas's first rounder........it could end up being a marcus williams or a antoine wright. There is no guarantee of what you'll get with a first rounder. Not like when you trade a young guy who has played in the NBA. You at least have an idea of what the guy can do.
It could also end up being Josh Howard or David Lee another decent player drafted in the mid-late 20s. The point you are missing is that we are giving them flexibility. We are providing them with high character expirings to increase their depth for this season (which they need rather badly) without them losing their cap flexibility. Sean Williams and this summer's 2nd rounder (since I doubt we'll use it) is all they're getting from me, and I honestly don't think T-Mac is worth that. If we want him, we can continue to suck, get a high draft pick and see if we can sign him in the off season.
Bottom line for me is: You only give up first rounder, no matter where that first rounder is, for an expiring if you can sign him to the extension during the season. If that doesn't happen and you lose the player in free agency, you're in a worse position than you started. You still have the cap room you originally had, but now you need to fill 1 more roster spot than expected and you lost a 1st rounder as well.