T-Mac to Houston

[Andrew]

As a Yao fan, I don't really like this trade. I really thought the Rockets were gonna be a legitimate contender in a few years with the nucleus they had. Somehow, I don't think trading a player that doesn't feed the ball to Yao enough for another player who probably won't feed the ball to Yao enough is such a good idea, but maybe I'm biased toward Yao.

I agree. As I said before, JVG wants to get Yao more touches and establish him as the undisputed first option on the Rockets. Bringing in a guy like T-Mac kind of undermines that plan.

[.]

Am I the only one who thinks the Rockets wont get a better record then this year in the upcoming season?

[Filip]

Awsome news! (I'm a rocket fan...kinda)
Francis didn't have that good stats for his minuts anyway.
16points and 6apg in 40minuts (for a supposed allstar pointguard) .
I'm happy anyways

[Micchy_boy]

Awsome news! (I'm a rocket fan...kinda)
Francis didn't have that good stats for his minuts anyway.
16points and 6apg in 40minuts (for a supposed allstar pointguard) .
I'm happy anyways

hope you also see the other player they giving away, mobley, cato and also (maybe nachbar). and you get howard and lue.

[RedTorro]

A move like that would definately force the Lakers hand in paying Shaq whatever he wants. The T-mac and Yao connection is good on paper but they will have to make strides in order to knockout the Wolves who I think will be the favorite next season. If this deal truly goes down the Clippers should just get the fuck out of the NBA already because they are ripping off their "fans" by not making an attempt to improve the franchise dramatically. The Brand and T-mac connection is a hell of alot better than the Yao - McGrady connection. Brand is a banger in the low post who plays D and crashes the glass unlike Yao who likes to shoot fade-ways.

[Jackal]

A move like that would definately force the Lakers hand in paying Shaq whatever he wants.

This whole situation hasn't sunk in by few, I admit, even I was baffled for awhile.

From recent comments by Buss and the way he's gone around Kobe's free-agency, I get the feeling Buss is totally not interested at winning at the moment. He's busier planning for his future. He let Jackson walk, for Kobe. He's letting Shaq walk, for Kobe. All he wants is...Kobe. What Kobe wants, that's what happens. Kobe doesn't want Shaq, Shaq's heading out.

Buss isn't interested in winning right now, he could care less if Shaq went to a Western Conference team, what does he care...he doesnt need to win right now, let a team like Dallas take the championship if they acquire Shaq some-how, Buss doesn't care. Hah, he's set for his future. They have Kobe, don't they.

Note, this isn't a "hate" post on Bryant, it's what I think Buss is doing. He's giving away the winning formula to win in the future. Please spare me with comments such as "Winning formula? What winning formula, they were ass-whooped by Detroit." There are free-agents you know, there are guys that can make shots. With winning formula I mean: Big man in the middle, PF that can hit the open shot...Horry could, then just lost it, Malone did it a few times, and most of the time he hesitated to take the shot, thus missing it. A SF that can hit an open shot if it's presented to him. Rice could do it and Fox could do it, George does it sometimes, misses them sometimes, unconsistent. They had a lock at SG with Bryant, a player that could put up 15-25 points on a consistent basis and a PG who could drop 3-5 assists + hit the open shots he's presented with. Harper did this, he was good at it. Lue could hit the open three if he was presented with it, although LA had them for his quickness, he could still make a shot. Fisher could hit the open shot...after that Fisher started thinking he was Air Jordan.

All in all, they have a winning formula that can still be used, but...Kobe isn't interested in all that, he's interested in personal achievements such as MVP awards, with Shaq around, he wont be considered the MVP of his team, thus Shaq must walk. Atleast Buss feels that way, he wants Kobe at all costs, so what if Shaq walks & Phil walks...with the winning formula. We don't want to win right now, we want to win 5-6 years down the road.

Tell me it doesn't look like this. Tell me this isn't how it's being perceived by people looking at Buss' actions, tell me.

Again, before all Kobe fans pounce on me, I'm not "hating" on Bryant, I'm hating on Buss and his "let's not win right now, let's win in the future" mentality.

Sorry Andrew, I said I wouldn't do it...I ended up doing it.

[twolvezfanfoever]

THIS IS THE NBA AT ITS BEST

[Jackal]

Nah this is what happens when a manament let's Jerry West walk.

It took awhile, but the effects are finally showing up.

[air gordon]

geez, can at least a few threads not end up talking about that one team? there are a few threads already started for that team already

ON TOPIC..

imo what a great trade this would be for the Rockets. finally they get rid of that malcontent backcourt that consisted of 2 sg's. now just one ballhog, a fine one to boot, instead of 2 undersized sg's. tmac & Yao pick and rolls all day long. i can't wait to buy my tmac jersey

[Jackal]

Geez, can't people stick to their words? If they say something, those folks should stick to it.

McGrady + Yao = many years of entertainment.

As Ben put it:

benji says:
"i'd rather have Francis! he dunks! and Mobley! he passes to the rim and only the rim!"

McGrady and Yao will be fine, just fine. They have Van Gundy.

[DipSetVC]

I thought the Rockets wanted more touches for Yao, oh well...

[twolvezfanfoever]

He should get more touches.Im guessin that T-Mac shot all the time because he had no damn talent in O-Town.If this trade goes down,this should be a career year for Yao.I would think McGrady would give up a few shots if it would mean a championship

[jdb]

A move like that would definately force the Lakers hand in paying Shaq whatever he wants.

What Kobe wants, that's what happens. Kobe doesn't want Shaq, Shaq's heading out.

everybody makes it seem like kobe has demanded all of this, but as far as i can see kobe hasnt said ONE word yet, other than he will opt out

[Jackal]

Buss want's to keep Kobe, way to keep Kobe is to make Kobe feel loved + happy.

He doesn't have to literally say it.

[idiot]

i'm worried about this trade... worried for yao actually...
t-mac or francis... t-mac or francis...

[Yessie]

Francis wont be staying in orlando if the trade is completed, he will be traded to Seattle for Ray allen. that what im hearing.

[Micchy_boy]

Francis wont be staying in orlando if the trade is completed, he will be traded to Seattle for Ray allen. that what im hearing.

any link about this news???

[fgrep15]

That's stupid, then Orlando will have Mobley and Allen at the 2, I guess they can play Mobley at the 3 and Francis at the 2 with Bogans and Stevenson (if signed) backing them up.

[Filip]

Awsome news! (I'm a rocket fan...kinda)
Francis didn't have that good stats for his minuts anyway.
16points and 6apg in 40minuts (for a supposed allstar pointguard) .
I'm happy anyways

hope you also see the other player they giving away, mobley, cato and also (maybe nachbar). and you get howard and lue.

The only player I will miss there is Cato.
Lue will do more than mobley if he gets the same minuts (which he won't)
Howard is almost allstar player man.

[Steve04]

what you said[/b][/i][/color]

Actually, I pretty much agree with everything you said. And I like Kobe. I actually still think with the right players the Lakers can win, but that's what it seems like Buss is doing. It sucks..All the Lakers needed was a consistent SF..if you think about it, that has hurt them a lot more than any other position because of George's inconsistency. That and PF. I'm think they might keep Shaq though..but the problem now is they let Phil walk..I still have a gut feeling that even if Kobe does become one of the greatest ever he's going to have to struggle first..and maybe this is how it's going to come about.

[Chuck04]

The only player I will miss there is Cato.
Lue will do more than mobley if he gets the same minuts (which he won't)
Howard is almost allstar player man.

Do you even know what Mobley did on the court? I can gurantee you there is no way that Lue can do what Mobley did, statistically or otherwise. Just so you know, this is the stats Mobley put up last year, compared to Lue:

Mobley:
15.8 PPG
3.2 APG
1.34 SPG
4.5 RPG

Lue:
10.5 PPG
4.2 APG
0.8 SPG
2.5 RPG

The only stat Lue betters him in is assists per game, which you would expect from a PG compared to a SG.

I can live with giving up Francis and Cato, but I think it will be Mobley Houston will miss the most. Having said that, you need to give up quality to get quality and giving up the players listed for McGrady, Howard and Lue is worth it. And then if Brent Barry is signed, then it would complete an awesome off season for the Rockets.

Francis has been in Houston for 5 years and hasn't been able to improve much or lead the team anywhere, excpet a solitary first round exit. He can say all he wants about he was looking forward to building something and had good feelings about the team -yadah, yadah, yadah, blah, blah, blah. He hasn't shown much worthwhile for 5 frickin' years (except his ability to create highlight reel material and gather up tech fouls like the old Raseed Wallace).

[magius]

i will go on record saying that this is an absolute steal for orlando, and that you who dislike it will be eating crow next season

i dont think tmac is going to force shots ala vince or iverson or stupid ones like francis, because history shows that he at least knows how to play second fiddle to carter. What we know right now is that tmac wants to win..... he left toronto because he wanted some individual success first so he could get respect financially and as a player, and now i think his motivation is team success.

I also think that tmac may make the all defense team. I remember the day s he average 1.9 steals and 2.0 blocks per, and now even if he gets beaten he has the wall to alter the shot, and he has the length and foot speed to funnel any 3 or 2 into yao save maybe kg and dirk.

If houston gets barry, this starting lineup will be very, very impressive. Houston would probably become a favourite of mine to contend.

As long as yao improves in his post position and aggressiveness he will get more shots no matter who he plays with whether it had been stevie, tmac, ai, kobe or pierce, etc..

The bench will be decent and more than if they can sign an average sized centre with moderate to average to good defense.

starters:

Yao Ming
Howard
jim jackson
tracy mcgrady
brent barry

bench:

Taylor/padgett
Weatherspoon/padgett
nachbar
pwiatowski
lue

looks good to me.

gaines is probably going to be a part of this deal going houston's way as well who could be a wild card in favor of houston.

[Fresh8]

Man- I still don't like this... Yao and Francis were gonna be a team....if Cat had gone Yao would be getting 30 and 12 this year. Francis just had an off year- Houston will regret this trade!

Francis will do well this year and if he has stats of 20+ ppg, 7 rpg and 6 apg plus 2 spg I'll be laughing at Houston cause by All-star break Yao's touches will be limited because of T-mac... btw any quotes from T-mac about playing with Yao?

Looks like Francis was wanting to stay playing under Van Gundy afterall...but not now! READ IT:

Francis, however, left little doubt he wanted to remain in Houston.

"I thought we were really building something, something very good in Houston," Francis said. "Obviously, that's not the direction they want to go. I still think we could be a very good team.

"I'm not crying. Like I told you before, I know this is a business. Things like that happen. I'm not mad. I'm not upset. This is what they're trying to do. But like I said, I still think we could be something."

Francis would not comment about going to the Magic, who finished with an NBA-worst 21-61 record last season. But Fried said Francis was not happy about the possibility of playing in a rebuilding situation.

"Steve's preference is to not go to Orlando," Fried said. "Steve's tasted the playoffs. (The Rockets) got a series under their belts. He was looking forward to going further with the same Rockets team but with another year of experience together. This is certainly not his preference. He loves Houston.

"Steve loved the fans and his teammates. He's very friendly with Cuttino but also pretty friendly with Yao (Ming). Many of us thought there were the beginnings of something big there with a great center and great point guard."

And plus he had a good first round playoff series...why couldnt they keep him? :

Francis averaged 19.3 points, 6.4 assists and 6.1 rebounds in his five seasons with the Rockets. He averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 7.6 assists in the Rockets' first-round playoff loss to the Lakers this year.

Only Francis, Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson and Grant Hill have averaged 15 points, five assists and five rebounds in each of their first five seasons.

LINK : http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2639975

[Nel]

If this deal pulls through, francis would have a hard time making it into the eastern all-stars.

[Filip]

The only player I will miss there is Cato.
Lue will do more than mobley if he gets the same minuts (which he won't)
Howard is almost allstar player man.

Mobley:
15.8 PPG
3.2 APG
1.34 SPG
4.5 RPG

Lue:
10.5 PPG
4.2 APG
0.8 SPG
2.5 RPG

The only stat Lue betters him in is assists per game, which you would expect from a PG compared to a SG.

Yeah, but Lue did all this in 10 minuts less than Mobley.
Imagine what the stats would be if mobley played 30 minuts 2.