Post by GMGreggor on Mar 24, 2008 15:31:41 GMT -5
The Rockets entered the 2003 season with the primary goal of playing the young guys and letting them develop and whatever happened after that so be it. If we made the playoffs great, if not hopefully the PT will help develop their games.
As of the 76th game of the season the Mavs stand at 19-32, needless to say the odds of us making postseason are pretty slim. That's the course season has flowed so we will probably stick with it. No need to make any kneejerk moves at this point. In all likelihood we'll ride out the season with our current roster. This is'nt however the roster with which the Rockets initially began with.
Lets take a look back and evaluate some of the deals that shaped the current roster.
1st deal ...Rockets-Cavs
Cleveland Sends
Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Houston Sends
Gerald Wallace
David Wesley
06 Rockets First
07 Suns First
07 Heat First
Retrospective analysis- At this point in time we were a borderline playoff team. Thought I'd trade for a legit big man and see how it pans out. We went into the tank after this deal.Z had a terrible first week with us. For some damn reason I guess he missed Cleveland. Then he was injured and we continued to slide.However, it probably was for the best as we were just too young still to seriously contend and need to add more talent anyway. Dont really think any of those picks will be much. I think by 06 we will be pretty good team and Suns have heir picks after this yr and nice young C in Kaman along with cap room,Miami GM seems to have an idea of what he needs to do as well. But that is the pick I think has the most potential to bite me. I just decided to go with the Heat GM knows what he's doing moreso than just got fortunate on a few deals.
Wallace may turn out to be a good bench player but I really think thats about all he'll be. He took hits his first 2 TC's, and just doesnt score. Also has had 2 RC's used on him I believe so he's probably about tapped out. Big Z is still a very solid big and after this FA will be relatively cheaps. I'd still do this deal as I dont want a team full of only youth next yr which usually doesnt win consistently,and I want to show marked improvement next season from the get go. Big Z with a decent supporting cast has proven you can win with him.
2nd deal...Rockets-Blazers
Houston sends
PF-Murphy
PF-Collins
Blazers 05
to Portland for
SF-Prince
Spurs 04
2 vet FA's
Retrospective analysis- We send a solid producer at PF in Murphy along with longshot type in Collins and Blazers 1st for Prince who I like a lot and the Spurs 04.
Liked Murphy but felt he also is more suited to come off the bench and be a very good role player I felt in the long run. The Blazers 05 i had a few GM's asking me why I'd move what looks like a surefire lotto and my feeling was this. There's gonna potentially be a ton of movement in FA next year I think and some picks that look great will suck or be avg. and some that look bad will drop to lotto I think. More than a few players move from good teams to bad and vice versa you never know. I just didnt like the looks of that. What we got in return was a real nice young SG/SF in Prince.
I think Prince will be a good passing,great D,low TO type and
score enuff to be just below impact player status but can score when opportunites arise.The Spurs pick is looking better at this point than I expected. Looking at their roster after the big trades I thought they might struggle some, did'nt expect them too this much but I thought they might be low seed to just missing level.
I'd still do this deal.
3rd deal...Wolves-Rockets
Wolves send
Samaki Walker
Mike James
2 one mil FAs
05 Pistons
06 Wolves
06 Nets
to Rockets for
Mike Dunleavy
Lindsey Hunter
Retrospective analysis- We send a promising young SG in Dunleavy and a solid vet in Hunter to the Wolves. Dunleavy after his great TC was probably at his peak value at this point. He may turn out to be much better offensively but I think he'll always be pretty much avg defensively. Unless he's coming off the bench I want defensive players. Hunter is a nice player but on our team right now really doesnt fit in. We got back basically a couple of expirings and 3 picks. Who knows how the picks will turn out as all futures are somewhat a gamble but what the hell. I think 3 picks for Dunleavy is pretty good value. I'd still do this one.
Of all the trades I think the main thing I would do differently is hold back that 3rd pick in the Z deal. I initially refused to send 3 picks but finally said hell with it.
That Miami pick may bite me in the end but you gotta just say what the hell sometimes. The plan is to get a couple of real nice rookies in the draft.,make a big FA signing at nearly any position.PG would be the ideal, and trade for a nice veteran PG or whatever hole is left if thats not addressed in FA.
Overall I like the looks of the Rockets future. Should be a nice blend of youth and vets next year and ideally make some noise in the postseason. Check back next year and lessee how it shook down.
