Houston Rockets’ Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony Free Agency Watch: Part 5

A local Houston media personality wrote some years ago, on draft night, after Daryl Morey had come up empty yet again in his quest for a splash, that “flexibility doesn’t win championships”, mocking the Houston GM’s statement that despite the inaction, the team still had flexibility.  Such was the sentiment in these parts regarding Houston’s top boss, save for a cadre of few who probably didn’t even go to their Proms.

With last night’s trade, the Rockets set off the first domino in their pursuit of free agents Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony.  With the asset they got back, a pick they will acquire if falling between #4 and #19, the Rockets strengthen their war chest in the Kevin Love race.  In essence, Houston has options, and Houston has flexibility.  There isn’t much mockery any more these days.

When I got home yesterday, I recorded Episode 45 of The Red94 Podcast, shortly after realizing that the clip had been compiled incorrectly.  I re-compiled it, re-published it, and sent it back out to iTunes.  A few minutes later the Rockets traded Omer Asik, rendering 95% of what I said obsolete.

Asik was one of the soundest financial decisions the Rockets ever made, acquired at $8million annually in a move that at the time, locally, was widely mocked.  Sense a theme?  The punchline that he had averaged just something like 3 points and 2 rebounds a game was quickly discarded after his productivity skyrocketed with an increased workload.  One could have easily made the argument that two seasons ago, Asik’s rim protection was just as important as James Harden’s offense.  Statistically speaking, the Turk was at the least the second most valuable player on this team.

Last year, things took a turn for the worse with Asik putting on a shocking display of selfishness of which I would have never imagined he’d be capable.  Upon his return from injury, however, and prior to Patrick Beverley’s ailment, I and others thought the team looked the best it had all season.

Now Asik goes to New Orleans where, in pairing with Anthony Davis, he’ll form a frontcourt tandem which alone should propel the Pelicans into the thick of the playoff chase.  Good luck trying to score on that team in the paint.  That kind of rim protection gives New Orleans all sorts of flexibility with its perimeter defense schemes, so it will be interesting to see how they clean up that mess they have going.  While he already repaired much of the damage his reputation had suffered earlier in the year in the playoffs against the Blazers, next season will really put Omer back on the map for a payday.  If he stays healthy, no one will blink an eye when he receives the amount of cash Andrew Bogut did last summer.

Asik’s one of the most interesting cases of the Morey era.  The definition of an unearthed gem, he epitomizes the enormous chasm between casual and geek fandom.  A remark such as the one I made last night that “Asik is a better defender than Dwight Howard at this point, and it’s not really even a question” would be taken as obvious and trite by most serious followers; there is the group who would respond with “lolwut u r kidding me rite??”  Asik doesn’t block shots emphatically into the third row.

As of today, June 26 (setting aside the legal trivialities of the deal not yet being complete), the New Orleans Pelicans have a superior frontcourt to the Houston Rockets.  While the hope is that that changes in the coming week, the other implication is that the Rockets will likely move the pick they will be getting back as soon as possible.  Like the pick received in the Lowry deal, this one too typifies the concept of a speculative instrument.  Its value is not intrinsic but rather, goes only as so far as the belief of the purchaser in its worth.  If the Pelicans rush out of the gates quickly, the stock in the pick plummets.  At present, that pick’s value is highest when deemed with uncertainty.

There is the belief tossed around by some that the deal strengthens Houston’s war chest for a Kevin Love trade.  While acquiring an asset of this type certainly makes that true, I don’t think at all that last night’s deal indicates Morey’s target is Love.  As it would require giving up even more to get Love, I don’t think Morey would jump prematurely on a deal when he has the opportunity to sign Carmelo Anthony or Lebron James outright.  But this flexibility gives Morey options.  If he strikes out on the top free agents, and Love is still on the table, with the type of asset he’s just acquired, he can go back to Minnesota with a puncher’s chance.

Make no mistake, this move was a risk, albeit one Houston absolutely had to make.  If the Rockets strike out on James and Anthony, and use the reclaimed cap space from this deal to shore up their bench, it is my belief that minus Asik, even with the prospective signees, the Rockets will be an inferior team in 2015.  A healthy Asik backing up Howard was this team’s biggest strength, for the short stretch we saw it.  But again, unlike a Lin deal, this trade absolutely had to be made.  In the case of Lin, Morey will wait until he has a commitment, or at least a strong indication, from one of the two free agents.  This is because unlike this Asik trade, dealing Lin would entail a net loss as result of the deal with the Rockets undoubtedly needing to attach a sweetener.  Here, they actually got an asset back that, regardless of what happens these next two weeks, can help them going forward.

Three last points:

-What will be the Lin sweetener?  Would it be this pick?  I asked on Twitter last night whether you would prefer to use this pick as the Lin sweetener or our own #25 along with Motiejunas.  I don’t think the #25 alone would be enough.  Most of you responded that you’d prefer to give up the #25 and Motiejunas, and I think that is reasonable and also reasonably likely to be the eventual transaction.  While in reality, the pick will likely land somewhere in the 15-18 range, its value lies in the speculative chance of high lottery probability.  But I’d counter: if Motiejunas were in this draft, would he not be slotted somewhere in the high 20′s?  Is, say #20 and #25, worth more than, say, #18?  Another twist: While I might be in the minority here, I’d greatly prefer to give up Terrence Jones rather than Motiejunas.  I’m not at all a fan of low-IQ basketball players.

-As noted by many last night, the Rockets realized absolute max value from the Asik contract, extracting full worth from the player at his first two seasons’ ~$8million salary, then dealing him just prior to his $15million payout.  Houston has really cornered the market on creative financing, in that they only got Asik as a result of the backloading maneuvers, of which they won’t now even have to pay.  But they’ll pay the price for such tactics on this Jeremy Lin deal that is about to come up.  A sidenote here: Daryl Morey wins again by not dealing Asik last winter.

-Final note: the Asik contract stands as one of the most fascinating moments of the Morey era, not just for its creative construction, but for its representation of the merits of per-minute productivity extrapolation.  In the past, value was weighted solely upon the basis of per-game productivity, hence the mockery surrounding the signing.  We’re all much smarter now and the critics, for the most part, are under a rock.

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Total comments: 39
  • rocketrick says 1 month ago

    @Rocketrick
    Kahn got fired years ago. The Ego that is Flip Saunders (he named himself coach) drafted Levine this time.

    @dbd
    The reason Chandler got traded from the Knicks is because Melo wanted him traded. Chandler isn't a member of the CAA bandwagon. Melo feels that since Chandler didn't like Mike Woodson, Chandler didn't play that hard. Woodson was Melo's coach. The Mavs aren't getting Melo.


    Kahn being fired recently does not compare even for a second with the Sterling and Clippers current quite obvious Situation................
  • rockets best fan says 1 month ago

    @Knickabokkaz

    on this one point we agree..................the Rockets can't get Lin out of here fast enough. hopefully it's to your beloved Knicks in a Melo sign and trade. .........................can you hear that vacuum sound? that's Melo's departure sucking the life out of NY ;)

  • Steven says 1 month ago @Rocketrick
    Kahn got fired years ago. The Ego that is Flip Saunders (he named himself coach) drafted Levine this time.

    @dbd
    The reason Chandler got traded from the Knicks is because Melo wanted him traded. Chandler isn't a member of the CAA bandwagon. Melo feels that since Chandler didn't like Mike Woodson, Chandler didn't play that hard. Woodson was Melo's coach. The Mavs aren't getting Melo.
  • rocketrick says 1 month ago

    Did anyone see Zach Lavine's reaction to getting drafted by Minnesota? Priceless. Sorry, I'm rambling...


    That was priceless! Although Levine is not guaranteed a long career in the NBA unless he steps up and improves his game going forward. Very few accomplish this.

    Still, I will not soon forget Levine's reaction when Khan drafted yet another PG.
  • thejohnnygold says 1 month ago

    @JLin7's last tweet ... "He may not always rescue us when we want to get out of circumstances, but He is always with us as we walk through them."

    God f*cken damnit! Just send him off to freaking Milwaukee or Philadelphia or where ever the f*ck you want to send him! They had better f*cken trade him! Sick of him being in Houston!

    I feel like you are missing the spirit of Lin's tweet with your angst and anger.

  • dbd says 1 month ago

    All of a sudden, Mavs became top contender for Melo's service. Rose, Harden, and Dwight said they won't recruit him (or any FA); Tyson & Dirk are very vocal and asking him to join them. Wonder how Melo feel about all those chatters.

  • Buckko says 1 month ago

    I like it how knickabokkaz refers to us fans, the rockets FO, and the franchise as a whole as one entity.

    Even with lebron to cleveland or Miami. He simply isn't going win any championships. Sure free tickets to the finals only to get beat every time by a completely superior western team.

  • Knickabokkaz_2 says 1 month ago

    @JLin7's last tweet ... "He may not always rescue us when we want to get out of circumstances, but He is always with us as we walk through them."

    God f*cken damnit! Just send him off to freaking Milwaukee or Philadelphia or where ever the f*ck you want to send him! They had better f*cken trade him! Sick of him being in Houston!

  • CC. says 1 month ago

    Cleveland might work, but why do that when Miami would still be a contender (with Lebron)in the weak East. Let's not forget the conference those two teams are in. Lebron gives Miami an instant ticket to the finals next season, and Vegas actually has them winning it all.. But yes you're right, that wouldn't be enough to win the 'ship. Miami could drop Bosh or Wade if possible, then retool with other superstars or cheaper big men (Gortat?) which looks completely believable for Riley and Miami.

    This, in my opinion, is the most likely scenario and I'm completely fine with it. Sorry if I don't want the best player in the planet on our team, haha.

  • timetodienow1234567 says 1 month ago The only way he saves face is to go back to Miami or to Cleveland. Neither of those are conducive to winning championships unless Miami gets Gortat.
  • CC. says 1 month ago

    Just saw Fargo a few days ago for the first time, liked it.

    Wow, it's been a while logging back to this site. What a disappointing last season due to higher expectations, hmm.

    And hey am I the only one who doesn't want Lebron or Melo? I actually want Lebron to stay with Miami and avoid the Shaq rainbow jersey career.

  • Steven says 1 month ago Fargo is in North Dakota.
  • rockets best fan says 1 month ago

    @JG

    totally agree. may be some of you guys have already forgotten what kind of rumors were coming out of LA this time last year. nothing is certain till Morey lays down his pitch

  • timetodienow1234567 says 1 month ago The only good thing to come out of Minnesota is Fargo.
  • thejohnnygold says 1 month ago

    • It sounds as iftheRockets‘ pursuit of ‘Melo is unlikely to result in a success.“The only reason Carmelo will go to Houston to listen (to the Rockets) is because ofKevin McHale,” a source told Lawrence. “If the coach wasn’t a top-50, all-time player or was a lesser-name coach, then ‘Melo wouldn’t even visit there. But he’ll listen because it’s Kevin McHale.“ -Hoopsrumors

    Bosh opting out, carmelo saying this is all irrelevant to me. I don't care what happens until Morey makes his sale's pitch to lebron. It should all be for lebron, carmelo to the bulls makes too much sense not to happen.

    As an added note to give knickabokkaznightmaresis if the rocket strike out on a top tier FA, then lin is stuck in houston for another year.

    Ugh, I'm sorry, but that just seems like such junk. Why waste anyone's time? If all he can see is McHale's long shadow and not the talent of the current team then I hope he goes elsewhere. Since I don't believe that, I'd say this "source" could very well be Knickkabokkaz as it sounds exactly like something he would say.

    What that snippet actually sounds like is trite internet rhetoric that people who live on message boards read and believe. Melo may wind up elsewhere--that's fine--but a statement like that just reeks of ignorance in my opinion. I'd be more likely to believe, "Melo isn't coming to Houston because Lala said so, but he's going to come visit anyways since the plane ride is free and he knows the boys will take him out to the best restaurants and clubs all weekend so why not."

    If you run a sports "TMZ" site, you'll print anything any "source" says....it's what you do. Using the word "source" used to happen to protect insiders from getting in trouble for leaking actual info...these days it protects journalists from having insiders at all.

    At this point, I'm starting to think that Love may have been the target all along and there are lots of smoke screens around from media and management......Minnesota has so many problems....their owner has got to be looking at ways to get out of Minny and into San Diego. Did anyone see Zach Lavine's reaction to getting drafted by Minnesota? Priceless. Sorry, I'm rambling...

  • Buckko says 1 month ago
    • It sounds as iftheRockets‘ pursuit of ‘Melo is unlikely to result in a success.“The only reason Carmelo will go to Houston to listen (to the Rockets) is because ofKevin McHale,” a source told Lawrence. “If the coach wasn’t a top-50, all-time player or was a lesser-name coach, then ‘Melo wouldn’t even visit there. But he’ll listen because it’s Kevin McHale.“ -Hoopsrumors

    Bosh opting out, carmelo saying this is all irrelevant to me. I don't care what happens until Morey makes his sale's pitch to lebron. It should all be for lebron, carmelo to the bulls makes too much sense not to happen.

    As an added note to give knickabokkaznightmaresis if the rocket strike out on a top tier FA, then lin is stuck in houston for another year.

  • Ostrow says 1 month ago

    So this is going to be all about hypotheticals and I'm aware of that but... Contingent 1: LeBron leaves Miami. 2: He decides Hou isn't the place for him. 3. Bosh decides to officially opt out (as I'm writing this, the last tweet I saw about it is that his agent says he has not made a decision yet.)

    If that happens, would Morey choose to go after Bosh instead of Anthony? Personally, I think he should. Bosh is a more natural fit for the Rockets. He is a good defender. Can play 4/5. Can stretch the floor. Is a pretty good passer. Energy guy. Doesn't need the ball in his hands all the time. Knows how to play with other great players and be the 3rd option so he's unselfish. I do think that Carmelo is a better player, but with this team Bosh would be a better fit. We know Morey likes Bosh because he tried to recruit him before. I think that would make us better than Melo, and favorites to finish in the top 2 out West. He'd be a better defender for the team against LMA, Griffin, Ibaka, Duncan/Diaw/Splitter/what ever random big they find who is great/A. Davis/Dirk/Love/etc. out west than we have had in a long time. Our paint protection would be unbelievable, and if Howard gets in foul trouble, or we just want to go small, Bosh can play the 5 against most players.

  • Knickabokkaz_2 says 1 month ago @HowardBeck: Dwyane Wade has opted out, per AP. With Wade, LeBron and Haslem all opting out, Heat will get the cap flex they need to remake the roster.

    @Chris_Broussard: Source: Chris Bosh opts out of his contract . Seeking 5-year deal worth roughly $15-16 million per year

    Well there goes the chance with Lebron, Melos next
  • feelingsupersonic says 1 month ago

    Just a suggestion though I'm sure some of you know already, for LeBron/Heat updates follow Skolnick who covers the Heat and the NBA for Turner Sports. He seems pretty solid.

    (Seriously, James isn't coming to Houston but once that ball starts rolling other situations will fall into place.)

  • rockets best fan says 1 month ago

    @TTDN

    now that I agree with

  • timetodienow1234567 says 1 month ago RBF he meant last year before Howard.
  • rockets best fan says 1 month ago

    'without Asik, Houston doesn't even sniff the playoffs"

    totally disagree.......they played well enough this year to make it without him. they may not have been a 4th seed, but dropping out of the playoffs altogether..........unlikely

  • Red94 says 1 month ago

    Rick:

    I'm genuinely confused by what you are asking.

    Are you saying that Asik is bad offensively (I would agree) or are you contesting the point that he was the 2nd most important Rocket?

    If the latter, as Buckko noted, I would point to the team's +/- without Asik on the floor. You state that with Asik as the team's 2nd best player, the team lost in the first round. That should not be seen as an indictment on Asik but rather the talent around him, but more importantly, I would counter that without Asik, Houston doesn't even sniff the playoffs.

  • Buckko says 1 month ago

    Rocketrick what are you talking about? For the 12-13 season asik was undoubtedly the most important player with the difference in the rockets defense from when he was off/on the court was earth shattering.

  • rocketrick says 1 month ago

    New post: Houston Rockets' Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony Free Agency Watch: Part 5
    By: rahat huq


    Asik was one of the soundest financial decisions the Rockets ever made, acquired at $8million annually in a move that at the time, locally, was widely mocked. Sense a theme? The punchline that he had averaged just something like 3 points and 2 rebounds a game was quickly discarded after his productivity skyrocketed with an increased workload. One could have easily made the argument that two seasons ago, Asik's rim protection was just as important to this team as James Harden's offense. Statistically speaking, the Turk was at the least the second most valuable player on this team.


    Even though Asik never was able to simply learn how to catch a pass at the bucket ala D Jordan and the Clippers. I mean, really, that is pretty much all that D Jordan can do, catch lobs at the bucket. And block shots which Asik has the ability and sometimes actually accomplishes. At least D Jordan has proved those are skills he possesses without a doubt.

    2nd most valuable Rocket player? Uugh, OK, maybe that is why the Rockets didn't get past the first round last year against OKC. This season, that would mean Asik was supposedly the 3rd most valuable Rocket player. Same result, the Rockets inability to get past the first round.

    Of course I absolutely do not blame Asik for the Rockets failures in the playoffs these past 2 seasons.

    Still, food for thought, was Asik truly the 2nd (last season) or 3rd most important Rocket?
  • Buckko says 1 month ago

    I'm not entirely sure what you mean on either of the two points.....

    ...and definitely not sure what you mean about Asik being the #2 choice on offense...

    It's a bad day.

  • Red94 says 1 month ago

    #1 I had been saying those 95% things that Red94 seemingly forgot or just simply didn't bother to consider.

    #2, when Red94 stated early in this post that Asik was the #2 offense choice that for some supposedly strange reason the Rockets chose to ignore, ..........well,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I must admit, I just completely stopped reading.

    Kind of the same as the earlier articles and posts by this greatest of all time Rockets fan to absolutely today, yesterday, don't think twice, Automatically trade Harden for Carmelo.

    Makes me want to throw up and also wants me to just quit coming to this blog period. It's really sad.

    I'm not entirely sure what you mean on either of the two points.....

    ...and definitely not sure what you mean about Asik being the #2 choice on offense...

  • Red94 says 1 month ago

    I must admit, I am not totally sure why you would rather give up Jones because you're "not at all a fan of low-IQ basketball players." Does Motiejunas actually possess a higher basketball IQ? I mean, as much as you have railed about Jones cannot take on the elite power forwards ( rightfully so), Motiejunas would be even worse, and we all know his massive defensive flaws.

    By the numbers, Motiejunas was the superior defender, especially if judging per-unit

  • Buckko says 1 month ago

    The "great defender" Dmo did not play in the playoffs when we were noticeably short on great defenders so not sure I'm buying that one. But really either our first this year or next year plus a couple million cash should be enough to move lin he isn't raymond felton.

    Well then my friend you're going to have to ask mchale why he didn't give him one shot in the playoffs. Then again, its hard to fit in an 8th man when you're playing with a 7 man rotation.

    Lin sweetener? Well if reports are accurate that the Rockets will hold Lin until its almost certain that Melo or Lebron will sign with Houston that means that he won't be traded tonight along with the 25th pick. And unless the team that takes Lin wants whoever the Rockets take tonight (unlikely) its pretty logical to assume that the Rockets will have to trade the pick they just acquired from the Pelicans.

    Disagree. They already have a trade lineup, meaning the rockets are probably picking the player the other team wants to later trade his rights along with dumping lin on said team. Plus the rockets have to get rid if their 1st this year anyway to make up as much cap room as possible

  • uojoe82 says 1 month ago

    New post: Houston Rockets' Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony Free Agency Watch: Part 5
    By: rahat huq

    -What will be the Lin sweetener? Would it be this pick? I asked on Twitter last night whether you would prefer to use this pick as the Lin sweetener or our own #25 along with Motiejunas. I don't think the #25 alone would be enough. Most of you responded that you'd prefer to give up the #25 and Motiejunas, and I think that is reasonable and also reasonably likely to be the eventual transaction. While in reality, the pick will likely land somewhere in the 15-18 range, its value lies in the speculative chance of high lottery probability. But I'd counter: if Motiejunas were in this draft, would he not be slotted somewhere in the high 20's? Is, say #20 and #25, worth more than, say, #18? Another twist: While I might be in the minority here, I'd greatly prefer to give up Terrence Jones rather than Motiejunas. I'm not at all a fan of low-IQ basketball players.

    Lin sweetener? Well if reports are accurate that the Rockets will hold Lin until its almost certain that Melo or Lebron will sign with Houston that means that he won't be traded tonight along with the 25th pick. And unless the team that takes Lin wants whoever the Rockets take tonight (unlikely) its pretty logical to assume that the Rockets will have to trade the pick they just acquired from the Pelicans.

  • Cooper says 1 month ago

    The "great defender" Dmo did not play in the playoffs when we were noticeably short on great defenders so not sure I'm buying that one. But really either our first this year or next year plus a couple million cash should be enough to move lin he isn't raymond felton.

  • thejohnnygold says 1 month ago

    That's a highlight, everyone makes their occasional highlight. Jones just barley averaged an assist per game.

    That's a statistic. Everyone has statistics. Jones' job is to score, not facilitate others. He throws some pretty good alley-oops to Dwight.

    Jones is definitely not a basketball savant, but I think he can learn to be a sound defender.

  • Buckko says 1 month ago

    That's a highlight, everyone makes their occasional highlight. Jones just barley averaged an assist per game.

  • slick shoes says 1 month ago

    Rahat is referring to the fact that jones gets by with his size, athleticism, and cutting/finishing abilities. He is very bad passer, defender, and overall low basketball IQ....

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr00MbFO5Mk

    very bad passer huh? :)

  • Buckko says 1 month ago

    If you think about it. The rockets got two years out of asik for 5 million apiece and a late lottery. Morey is hustling.

    Honestly with the value with the value of 1st round picks as high as they've ever been plus the fact this is an incredibly deep draft. The 25th should be enough and if not, throw in one or two of the rocket's future 2nds because they have a lot of them. Do not trade Dmo or Jones because that's a championship caliber backup frontline and they're just getting better. Plus lin adds a lot of marketability in the asian market and puts butts in the seats for teams looking for both those factors.

    I must admit, I am not totally sure why you would rather give up Jones because you're "not at all a fan of low-IQ basketball players." Does Motiejunas actually possess a higher basketball IQ? I mean, as much as you have railed about Jones cannot take on the elite power forwards ( rightfully so), Motiejunas would be even worse, and we all know his massive defensive flaws.

    Rahat is referring to the fact that jones gets by with his size, athleticism, and cutting/finishing abilities. He is very bad passer, defender, and overall low basketball IQ unlike Dmo who has become a great defender right before our eyes towards the end of the season. He also always keeps the ball moving as stated by the coaches why they like him on the floor. IMO Dmo is due for a breakout season and if he was on the spurs, he would become one their best players. He can shoot the 3, pass and defend very well, always runs the floor hard, great post game, hard working and intelligent player plus he's foreign. For all of the spurs inter-nationality, they lack a Lithuanian. I think Rahat has even said he wonders what Dmo would be under Pop.

  • timetodienow1234567 says 1 month ago Great post Rahat.
  • timetodienow1234567 says 1 month ago

    #1 I had been saying those 95% things that Red94 seemingly forgot or just simply didn't bother to consider.

    #2, when Red94 stated early in this post that Asik was the #2 offense choice that for some supposedly strange reason the Rockets chose to ignore, ..........well,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I must admit, I just completely stopped reading.

    Kind of the same as the earlier articles and posts by this greatest of all time Rockets fan to absolutely today, yesterday, don't think twice, Automatically trade Harden for Carmelo.

    Makes me want to throw up and also wants me to just quit coming to this blog period. It's really sad.


    What?
  • rocketrick says 1 month ago #1 I had been saying those 95% things that Red94 seemingly forgot or just simply didn't bother to consider.

    #2, when Red94 stated early in this post that Asik was the #2 offense choice that for some supposedly strange reason the Rockets chose to ignore, ..........well,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I must admit, I just completely stopped reading.

    Kind of the same as the earlier articles and posts by this greatest of all time Rockets fan to absolutely today, yesterday, don't think twice, Automatically trade Harden for Carmelo.

    Makes me want to throw up and also wants me to just quit coming to this blog period. It's really sad.
  • PKM says 1 month ago

    I must admit, I am not totally sure why you would rather give up Jones because you're "not at all a fan of low-IQ basketball players." Does Motiejunas actually possess a higher basketball IQ? I mean, as much as you have railed about Jones cannot take on the elite power forwards ( rightfully so), Motiejunas would be even worse, and we all know his massive defensive flaws.