Rockets Trade Juwan Howard To Minny For Mike James

[Its_asdf]

I don't think you're really understanding the point that Shannon and I are making.

If you look at all of the other guards on the team, they all suck. Marko Jaric, Troy Hudson, Randy Foye all aren't very good, and although Mike James underachieved in Minnesota, he was probably the best bet for the team at the guard poistion. He still stunk it up, but he was better than whatever was below him in the depth chart, so obviously losing him would hurt the team, at least for the time being.

However, if you look from a more long-term standpoint the trade opens up a few opportunities to grab a youngster like Conley or possibly develop Foye's point guard abilities. Although this move can potentially create an upgrade at the point guard spot, you still don't know how they will develop and there's always a risk factor involved with banking on young players without experience.

[SVSM/CC-23]

öh i`m not sure about their contracts...does howard become a free agent? if that is the case it would make sense for the wolves.

[el badman]

Huh, I guess I'm the only here who finds a use in Juwan Howard. Agreed, he can't defend for shit and he's getting too old, but as a backup PF I think he's a pretty decent choice since he can bring some points and rebounds.

[Laker Socks]

jeez...

The only point i was making is that the t-wolves wanted to get rid of Mike James and his contract while they still can.

yes, as simple as that.

[Gedas]

Doesn't really make much sence for me. Why didn't they go after Bibby, he is on the trading block as I remember.

Imagine Yao, Hayes, Lewis, McGrady, Bibby, that would be sick.

[Sauru]

how come everything thinks bibby will be super easy to trade for?

[JT_55]

Bibby is too expensive and the Kings will ask a lot for him.

Edit: Got beaten to that by a minute.

[Indy]

I think Sacramento is trying to unload Bibby. They'd probably trade him for another first rounder in the 12-16 range.

[Gedas]

Excactly, a couple of draft picks, perhaps couple of guards and it could work.

[Sauru]

I think Sacramento is trying to unload Bibby. They'd probably trade him for another first rounder in the 12-16 range.

i guess the question is, do you think a team should jump on it with a first round pick within that range? would you want your team to take him if it costed them a first round pick this year and possibly a second next. this question is for all not just indy.


to answer i say no but thats cause my team got the 5th pick and i pray to whoever will listen that the celtics have a chance at, then take, Yi

[Gedas]

Well, looking at Houston, I do not think that they would get anhing too high in the draft, because they will obviously be one of the stronger teams in the league, while Bibby could be one of those last pieces to a real contender.

[Cartar]

By the way Justin Reed was involved too in this trade: http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/wo ... 70614.html

[JT_55]

Reed doesn't make much of a difference to the trade.

[BZ]

Well, looking at Houston, I do not think that they would get anhing too high in the draft, because they will obviously be one of the stronger teams in the league, while Bibby could be one of those last pieces to a real contender.

Bibby is kind of out the question for Houston considering the contract circumstances. The Rockets would have to give up Battier for sure, and a few others in order to balance out the salary numbers.

The best player that the Rockets can get at this point, is Rashard Lewis... but at the cost of Shane Battier. I remember criticising the trade for Battier last year, but now I totally sound like a hypocrite because Battier needs to stay in Houston if the Rockets want to make a serious run for the title.If the Rockets somehow pull off a trade for Lewis without sacrificing Battier (which I highly doubt), having Yao/Hayes/Lewis/Battier/McGrady would definitely be a serious line to deal with. It's either that, or have Battier come off the bench as 6th man. It'd be interesting to see T-Mac run the point.

[Riot]

As a Timberwolves fan, I like this trade for quite a few different reasons. The people who say this trade makes no sense for the Timberwolves need to look at the big picture. I'll try to paint it for you.

Mike James was starting to create some problems here in Minnesota. It's obvious he wasn't getting along with some of the players here in 'Sota. Some people even said him and Garnett had some issues between the two. Kevin McHale and company said they want next years team to be more team oriented club. We had too many hot heads and tempermental people on this team. They want to clean that up.

I was estatic when we signed Mike James last summer. I thought he was going to be Sam Cassell's clone here Minny. It just didn't happen. He couldn't shoot like he did the past few seasons (especially his last in Toronto) and defensively he was slower than usual. The team played better when he wasn't on the floor. He wasn't aggressive. For well over half the games he played in he was a complete non-factor. Getting rid of him was something that had to be done.

How does Juwan Howard help us? He helps us a lot! The Timberwolves are in desperate need for big men. We could use another one this summer, in actuality. Craig Smith is a bright spot and he is going to get a lot of playing time next year. However, last year (with Craig) we were often playing with a 3 man big man rotation (Garnett/Blount/Smith) because we had nobody else who could play. Blount is solid but he can't rebound. Smith is solid but his size limits him. Garnett has to start playing less minutes. Juwan Howard brings another body to the paint but he also brings some more...

He isn't a great rebounder but he'll be our second or third best one on the team (which isn't saying much). He's better than Blount. He is a smart player so despite his lack of athleticism and height he can understand and execute defensives schemes. He isn't clueless, he knows what he is doing and offensively he can hit the open jumper which is perfect for spacing the floor for Ticket. He won't be an all-star. He won't lit the Northwest division on fire but he'll be a solid addition to the team. Juwan is a good team player and a great locker room presence.

Overall, solid move by the Wolves but hopefully this is the first of many this summer.

[Andrew]

öh i`m not sure about their contracts...does howard become a free agent? if that is the case it would make sense for the wolves.

His contract has a player option in 2008, so assuming he doesn't exercise it he'll be off the books at the end of next season. Even if he does exercise the option, he has a shorter deal than Mike James and he'll give the Timberwolves an expiring contract they could possibly use to match salaries in a trade to the tune of $7.3 mil. In the meantime, I expect he'll make a decent contribution in Minnesota.

[1CenT]

I think its an awsome trade..
Guys... Twolves are rebuilding.. they better be.. look at their competitors

I'm a huge rockets fan... THEY REALLY needed some intensity, size and shooting, i bet mike James would pick up some of those loose balls ( offensive rebounds ) goddamn..and make some damn shots... Hes a hot head... Mcgrady and Yao are not... You think Mike James can cancer this team? Yao is 7'6 and the prob 1 of the 5 hardest working players in the nba.. Mcgrady is a superstar, Battier is an exceptional leader...

With James.. They get relieve with another ball handler.. Luthur couldn't play point... It was Alston and Tmac... James would help A LOT.... Shooting? Novak will be playing next season prob with Adelman as the coach...

He isn't in a losing situation here, he just can't go off shooting like crazy.. he'll get his head chopped...

Howard makes sense for Twolves, they need a big, Howard is an awsome professional, good for their young guys.. Also they lose a cancer.

I was jumping around when they made this trade....


AND NO WAY Kings could have traded Bibby to Rockets... They would have prob given up Battier...

Rockets don't need an awsome PG, they use tmac to create and Yao in the post.. They need a shooting/defensive PG kind of like Fisher and the Lakers.... And Mike James is just that..

Millsap to the Rockets for junk would be orgasmic for Houston fans... thats impossible.. Millsap looks like he can be an all-star calibre player.... Definately a productive starting PF....

[Its_asdf]

I was jumping around when they made this trade....

I don't think that you really know how crappy Juwan Howard and Mike James are. They're both role players, they can't impact a team as much as you think (unless you're Toronto and stupid enough to let James run loose on the perimeter).

[1CenT]

I was jumping around when they made this trade....

I don't think that you really know how crappy Juwan Howard and Mike James are. They're both role players, they can't impact a team as much as you think (unless you're Toronto and stupid enough to let James run loose on the perimeter).

I don't think you really know how important role players are.
The addition of Mike James would prob be enough to push Rockets over Jazz.

And seriously, can ANYONE create ANYTHING on the rockets other than Tmac and Yao? They really needed some playmaking, James give them minimal, which is an upgrade already. Also ball handling problems, James will help as well. That adds up to a few more wins a season.

Where would Cavs be without Daniel Gibson? I think it is the same effect. Good role players/shooters make superstars much more effective.

[Its_asdf]

Good roles players do make up an exellent team, but my main point was that Mike James isn't going to be major game-changer. I've seen him in Toronto when he was at his best statisically, but he's not going to make any difference in the win-loss column for the Rockets. He can create his own shots and do some positive things, but that doesn't mean that the Rockets will automatically become contenders because of a shoot-first role player.

[3PK]

Well the trade was finalized on Thursday june 14th according to NBA.Com which stated...Minnesota acquires Juwan Howard from Houston for Mike James and Justin Reed.

yeh i think the problem still lays that now Houston have two guys that can be a decent Back-up PG and no PG that can take them to a Championship and now they weaken their Talls even more maybe another move is on the cards because this isn't going to help them that much. As for the T-Wolves what a terrible trade i just can't find the logic in it.

[el badman]

yeh i think the problem still lays that now Houston have two guys that can be a decent Back-up PG and no PG that can take them to a Championship

I dunno why everyone thinks Alston and James are all of sudden only worthy of coming off the bench. While they're not top notch PGs by any means, I think some teams actually have it worse when it comes to the PG position, like Atlanta, Clev or LA. If they can get Alston to pass more, defend more and avoid turnovers, I don't think having James as a backup would be a disaster for example.
With Yao injured for so long and T-Mac being quite inconsistent this season, I don't think the Rockets managed to be this good only because of Battier or Head, I'm sure Alston deserves some praises too...

[3PK]

I dunno why everyone thinks Alston and James are all of sudden only worthy of coming off the bench. While they're not top notch PGs by any means, I think some teams actually have it worse when it comes to the PG position, like Atlanta, Clev or LA. If they can get Alston to pass more, defend more and avoid turnovers, I don't think having James as a backup would be a disaster for example.
With Yao injured for so long and T-Mac being quite inconsistent this season, I don't think the Rockets managed to be this good only because of Battier or Head, I'm sure Alston deserves some praises too...

All true he isn't the worst PG you can get but if you look at the teams winning the title over the last few Years i think where they have all thrived and been able to create from is the PG. Should Alston be catgorised with the likes of Tony Parker, Billups, Payton and J. Williams maybe not but when this is thought about in-depth i think that it will be tough to see Alston playing a NBA "Star" PG with James coming off the bench or vice versa, i guess we will just have to wait and see because this is a very subjective matter

[Riot]

I can see the logic in the move for the Timberwolves. Mike James complained in his short time here. He underachieved. He had a long contract. We need big men. We need veterans.

Makes sense to me.

[magius]

mike james seems to have a better role player mentality than alston, and also is a better defender. also i don't think he demands the ball in his hands as often. if he plays his role, i think it is a good repickup from houston. He is a solid pg, kind of like fisher. What houston really needs though is a tough, stocky, energy, gritty pf. I think they should try to steal evans.