Houston would be great trade partners...

[Scalabrine]

I think the Rockets have given up on their season. Aaron Brooks and Yao Ming (arguably their two best players) went down with big injuries early and it doesnt seem like they have enough to recover in the deep western conference. Multiple reports have come out stating everyone is available, a fire sale in Houston. We have made trades with them recently so we know that communication lines are up with both GMs.

There are several players that I would like to have on this team but with fiscal Donnie Walsh making moves, and Carmelo Anthony still set to become an FA in the offseason, making a move that will hinder our capspace is not a move that will happen realistically, which is where it gets creative. The goal is to win this year, maybe not the championship, but to get as far as possible and still be in a great position to attract good player in the offseason; meaning we need to acquire some good players that have either small contracts for multiple years or expiring contracts.

The guys that fit the bill on Houstons roster are:
- Shane Battier: I love Landry Fields but Battier is the type of player I feel Fields can become. Battier is one of the premier perimeter defenders in the league and he is also a great shooter. He knows how to win and is a great locker room presence. We cant expect Fields to continue this play throughout the season, and Battier would be a perfect addition. He also has an expiring contract.
- Jared Jeffries: There have been rumors on him being waived, and maybe picked up by NY, in either case, it would be a nice acquisition. He has played in this system before and while hes attrocious on offense, his versatility on defense and the ability to cover all 5 positions was something that was really nice to have. I dont want him playing heavy minutes but get 30 minutes per game out of him and Turiaf is necessary if we dont want Amare playing the 5 all the time.
- Ishmael Smith: Havent seen much of his game but I know hes quick, young, and on a very small contract, would be a good backup guard for this tea. The name Ishmael is an awesome name too!

We have some very good players that play together beautifully, but we just arent deep enough to sustain this play throughout the season and into the post season. Guys will get hurt, players will slump, many things can happen.

We can offer the expiring contracts of Curry and Azabuike that are covered by insurance, we can also offer young guys like Rautins, Walker, Williams, maybe Randolph or Douglas, and some second round picks.

Is that enough to get anything done? What other players can we acquire without hurting our already solid core that fit the requirements?

Amare/Turiaf/Mozgov
Chandler/Amare/Jeffries/Williams
Gallinari/Chandler/Battier/Williams
Battier/Fields/Chandler
Felton/Douglas

That would be a Curry, Azabuike, second round picks, for Battier and Jeffries trade. It makes us a much deeper team filled with scrappers, shooters, and defenders. I would be much more comfortable going 9 deep per game for the rest of the season then I am right now.

[TheBluest]

Why give up the youth we have... plus future assets for 2 expirings who fall on the depth chart?

Why can't we get an "Official Trade" thread stickied for a couple months?

[god shammgod]

there are rules about retrading players so we can't trade curry. we're just going to have to wait. it is what it is.

[Scalabrine]

there are rules about retrading players so we can't trade curry. we're just going to have to wait. it is what it is.

what do you mean? Im pretty familiar with the trading rules, and salaries, and I know Curry has a trade kicker. He hasnt played in so long now which means a portion of his contract is being covered by insurance, same with Azabuike. If a player is traded does that mean the contract is not covered by insurance until they miss 41 consecutive games with their new club?

Even if that were the case, Curry and Azabuike could both be traded as expiring contracts but that decreases their value for sure.

Why give up the youth we have... plus future assets for 2 expirings who fall on the depth chart?

You think Shawne Williams, Andy Rautins, and Bill Walker are really worth holding onto? Id be reluctant to trade Randolph or Douglas for those guys but all of them would improve our team without hurting our future. We arent deep enough right now to sustain this level of play, and if you think we can go a full year without any of our key players getting hurt then you havent been around the game long enough.

[god shammgod]

there are rules about retrading players so we can't trade curry. we're just going to have to wait. it is what it is.

what do you mean? Im pretty familiar with the trading rules, and salaries, and I know Curry has a trade kicker. He hasnt played in so long now which means a portion of his contract is being covered by insurance, same with Azabuike. If a player is traded does that mean the contract is not covered by insurance until they miss 41 consecutive games with their new club?

Even if that were the case, Curry and Azabuike could both be traded as expiring contracts but that decreases their value for sure.

the player/players we get back for curry can't be retraded unless individually for 2 months which pretty much kills the melo trade. we can't do it.

If a team acquires a player in a trade, they are allowed to trade that player straight-up for another individual player immediately. However, if they wish to package that player with another and make a trade, the team must wait 60 days before doing so.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_salary_cap

[jwise44]

umm since when have the rockets given up on our season?...were at .500 now and playing well lately and were in the playoff hunt again(were currently in 9th)....

add to that morey isnt a man who wants the rockets to tank...last year when yao was out we could have easily tanked but we played hard and tried to win all year

also rockets need size, not expirings or youth

[BrOnXKing1]

I dont want anything to do with Jeffries. We basically had to give 2 first round picks and an option to switch another to get rid of this guy.

[LarsV8]

lol, the Rockets have given up on the season?

They are 8-2 in the past ten.

[#1 pick]

I don't think Houston are great trade partners but they are good ones. They have a bunch of good players. Scola, Martin, and Brooks. Yao has great marketing value but his playing value is below par. They are great for a team looking a decent piece but no one really has the potential to move the needle which is what Houston seemingly wants.

[Mr. E]

The OP's opinion of Houston and the reality of Houston are separated by a rather wide gulf.

Houston had a terrible start, yes; but they've since recovered quite well.

Again this "fire sale" word. Why is this term being used? I know that a story came out that Houston was willing to consider any of their players in deals; but those deals would be to improve the team. They are not looking to get whatever they can with what they have.

This team has not given up. They are not looking to blow up the roster. You're way off on this one, dude.

[old rem]

Why give up the youth we have... plus future assets for 2 expirings who fall on the depth chart?

Why can't we get an "Official Trade" thread stickied for a couple months?

yeah....you'd think.

Battier WAS all that,just a few years ago and now...isn't. Shooter? He's WAY down the list in terms of points per min ....like WAY. He has not been able to pace a SG in a few years (ditto Jeffries) but is still good on D vs a SF...however.....if Battier holds a guy to 12 pt,and just scores 6....that IS minus 6. Same math for Jeffries,which is why he also isn't playing much. With Jeffries,however, his D was never consistantly very good,it was just the only positive thing there. If Azubuike can play in a few weeks or at all...he's worth more. As erratic as Douglas is or mysteriously unused as AR is..both worth more.
Chandler is doing well.....Neither Battier nor Jeffries would have any impact.

[old rem]

The OP's opinion of Houston and the reality of Houston are separated by a rather wide gulf.

Houston had a terrible start, yes; but they've since recovered quite well.

Again this "fire sale" word. Why is this term being used? I know that a story came out that Houston was willing to consider any of their players in deals; but those deals would be to improve the team. They are not looking to get whatever they can with what they have.

This team has not given up. They are not looking to blow up the roster. You're way off on this one, dude.

Houston has no real reason to Blow Up Fire Sale Lemming mass plunge.......nor do most teams because that crap is a FAIL. Most teams poke and probe,and most things DO have a price.

the stuff Houston would likely WANT to get rid of.....they would only get back about the same.
Houston has some young talent. Scola is propbably more asset as a keeper than a trade chip. Martin? They got him cheap..do they expect to sell higher? Yao? Forget it. Brooks,they will want to keep but...make a GOOD offer.

[Mr. E]

Houston has no real reason to Blow Up Fire Sale Lemming mass plunge.......nor do most teams because that crap is a FAIL. Most teams poke and probe,and most things DO have a price.

the stuff Houston would likely WANT to get rid of.....they would only get back about the same.
Houston has some young talent. Scola is propbably more asset as a keeper than a trade chip. Martin? They got him cheap..do they expect to sell higher? Yao? Forget it. Brooks,they will want to keep but...make a GOOD offer.

Bolded that first part because I agree 100% (for any team).

The popular mentality in Rocketland is that Brooks is actually very likely to be moved. The thing that the Rockets have going for them is that they have depth at several positions, so they can give up players in a big deal, and that they are willing to absorb negative contracts to get the player they want. Kind of like last year how they took back Hilton Armstrong & Jared Jeffries in the Martin/McGrady deal; or how they took back Cook in order to get Lowry. Houston is kind of predatory like that; so they'll be looking at the teams in bad financial situations for their moves.

This is, of course, all just my opinion, and I do get hit in the head a lot.

[LarsV8]

Battier WAS all that,just a few years ago and now...isn't. Shooter? He's WAY down the list in terms of points per min ....like WAY. He has not been able to pace a SG in a few years (ditto Jeffries) but is still good on D vs a SF...however.....if Battier holds a guy to 12 pt,and just scores 6....that IS minus 6.

This might be the dumbest thing I have ever read.

[pretender_2002]

Why give up the youth we have... plus future assets for 2 expirings who fall on the depth chart?

Why can't we get an "Official Trade" thread stickied for a couple months?

yeah....you'd think.

Battier WAS all that,just a few years ago and now...isn't. Shooter? He's WAY down the list in terms of points per min ....like WAY. He has not been able to pace a SG in a few years (ditto Jeffries) but is still good on D vs a SF...however.....if Battier holds a guy to 12 pt,and just scores 6....that IS minus 6. Same math for Jeffries,which is why he also isn't playing much. With Jeffries,however, his D was never consistantly very good,it was just the only positive thing there. If Azubuike can play in a few weeks or at all...he's worth more. As erratic as Douglas is or mysteriously unused as AR is..both worth more.
Chandler is doing well.....Neither Battier nor Jeffries would have any impact.

What if that guy he's guarding is Kobe Bryant or Kevin Durant... or what if that guy is 6-24 shooting to get his 12 points and Battier is 5-7 ???? your logic is fundamentally flawed.... Battier is still one heck of a player....

[Sports Arsenal]

Rockets 8-2 in the last 10. (One of the losses included a nail biter with Miami.)
Knicks 5-5 in the last 10.

Now who did you say has given up?

[Alex_De_Large]

Rockets are not giving Battier for nothing.

[DreamShakeFTW]

The Rockets were 11-4 in December.

Giving up?

Not quite.

[AMG]

Rockets 8-2 in the last 10. (One of the losses included a nail biter with Miami.)
Knicks 5-5 in the last 10.

Now who did you say has given up?

one in the east, the other in the west...big difference

[M4P]

Try watching a Rockets' game before you assume that they've "given up" on their season...