The following is the second part of an e-mail conversation between Red94 founder Rahat Huq, and myself, Red94 writer Michael Pina. We talked about hypothetical trade situations, the possible optimism this offseason brings, and a little bit about the draft.
Michael: Here’s a hypothetical question forwarding our conversation along: if forced to choose between one of the following scenarios, which would be more to your liking, and why:
1) Rockets trade Kyle Lowry and both the No. 14 and 16 picks to Charlotte for the No. 2 pick.
2) Houston keeps both picks and uses them both.
3) Take No. 14 and 16 and deal them to Sacramento for the No. 5 pick.
4) Same as option number three, but let’s say the Kings aren’t willing to do it unless a Kyle Lowry for Tyreke Evans swap is included.
Rahat: I lean towards 3. As for 4, I want no part of Tyreke Evans. The Rockets had him before, except he went by the name Steve Francis back then.
Regarding option 2, I don’t know that the team would want to bring on two rookies from the draft when they are already expecting Donatas Motiejunas to come over and weren’t even able to give minutes to last year’s #14 (Marcus Morris.)
I said no to #1 just because I’m not sure there’s much difference between #2 and #5 in this draft. Though I’m speaking from ignorance on just what I’ve read. If the Rockets liked someone at 2, I wouldn’t at all be opposed to the deal.
I picked 3 from your options, but I don’t think 14 and 16 would be enough to get the 5. I don’t see any reason for the Kings to want to give up a better rookie in favor of two inferior rookies when they already have one of the youngest teams in the league. If they traded the 5, they’d probably want a young vet, like Kyle Lowry. Kyle Lowry and #14 for the 5 is something I could see as a possibility.
Michael: Tyreke Evans intrigues me. He’s had two bad years in a row (although the first was attributed to a serious foot injury and the second had him playing a new position with a slew of gunners and nobody filling into any certain role).
If you bring him on and make him the starting two guard, I think his size (he’s 6’6″ and only 22-years-old!) can create serious mismatch problems for pretty much every team in the league. He’s just such a versatile freak, and I can’t get that rookie season out of my mind. A change of scenery could seriously do him good.
Anyway, I agree that the second option isn’t much of an option. In any and all alternate universes, they can’t afford to keep both draft picks
Forgetting Evans for a second, I think if Houston gave up Lowry and the No. 14 pick for the No. 5 pick, things could really get interesting. Apart from someone with superstar potential, what “need” do you see this team wanting to fill more than any other if they had a draft pick that high. Do they then dangle it alongside Kevin Martin for that franchise player they desperately want, or do they use it on a rookie? And who do you think they’d have their sights on should they go with the latter?
Rahat: Honestly, I think they’re at a point where they aren’t looking for anything in particular, whether it be a positional “need” or some development classification (young vet/rookie). Where they are, I think they just want to do anything to get some kind of impact player to give themselves some sort of foundation. They could trade for Pau Gasol; they could trade for the #2 pick. Anything is on the table. Obviously they have preferences (Dwight Howard), but I don’t think they will be too picky in this regard. They just want to do something to move these assets and get the car out of neutral.
Michael: Honestly, that’s exciting. You can argue that no fan base in the league should be looking to this offseason with more optimism and excitement than Houston’s. You KNOW that there’s going to be a big move made, but at this point you just don’t know what it’s going to be. It’s an optimistic mysteriousness, like a teenager who KNOWS they’re getting a brand new car for their birthday, but it isn’t known whether it’s going to be a Mercedes, Lexus, Audi, or Saab. And if no car arrives, he/she can always disown their parents.
A lot of teams are sweating out free agency to deal with an unknown future, (Nets, Mavericks, Celtics, Magic Lakers), but doesn’t this feel, in a league that still feels very much up for grabs, like for the Rockets it’s just the beginning?
Rahat: Well, let’s not get carried away. They’ve been trying, technically, for the past three years. They’ll keep trying, but it’s not in their hands whether something gets done, as we’ve seen to this point.
Michael: You’re right. Maybe it’s because this is my first year really following the team that I’m so hopeful. Do you feel more/less optimistic heading into this offseason compared to the last two?
Rahat: I’m not sure how I feel. They’re always trying, so if they haven’t been able to get it done in the past, it hasn’t been for a lack of effort. My fear is that because of the pressure this year—due to last year’s failure—they’ll make a move that they normally wouldn’t have. I feel that patience is typically the best policy. But of course, that’s easier said than done when profits are at stake.
