16 replies to this topic

[Red94]

New post: So what is 'Plan B' this summer?

[timetodienow1234567]

I'm almost 100% positive that Pau Gasol would not fit in as our Power Forward. He could be a decent backup C. But thinking about it, in our system he would be relegated to a catch and shoot 3 point player on offense and his defense is not world class. All of the reports coming out of the Houston coaching staff is how to use a "normal" big man in Thomas Robinson. Pau can shoot 3s decently, but that's not his strength. If we got him, we'd have to change our system drastically and I don't know if they want to do that. It's different if we get Dwight because then we can trade Asik(maybe for Josh Smith). I don't see a Dwight/Asik or a Pau/Asik tandem working on THIS team.

[ale11]

I get that what's working with our team right now is our strategy, shooting a lot of 3's, but I think that that's not the chosen strategy rather than adapting to your staff. We had no PF who could put his back to the basket and have proficient post moves, so that's why we play the way we do, not the other way around, in my opinion. I think that McHale would like to have a threat at the post (and of course, Gasol would start, not Asik if you plan on playing him at C). Gasol thrived being the second option behind a superstar, and that would be his role here in Houston.

 

It all depends on how much McHale would want to have a low post scorer. Despite his slump and current injury, he is still one of the best down there, besides, he is a terrific passer, if you teach Lin to shoot consistently and Asik to catch the ball, you have lots of options.

 

Let's give this a thought:

 

#1: give the ball to Harden to attack the rim

#2: give the ball to Gasol so he operates from the post

#3: make Lin attack the basket

#4: find Parsons open for an uncontested shot, or cut to the basket if he has enough room

#5: attract double-teams and give the ball to an open Asik so he dunks it

 

In that order, you can get a gameplan that many teams in this league would like to have. I repeat, having Gasol in the post gives you tons of options given he is a great passer. If you have capable shooters from outside, we could make other teams pay for double teaming Gasol.

[thejohnnygold]

I compiled this list for a diff. thread, but it seems relevant here...

 

There are a lot of different needs we can fill from that list...

 

Some of my fav's are Mayo, Gortat, Webster, and Blatche...of course, price matters...just thinking player-wise

 

Free Agents
---------------

Josh Smith
Paul Millsap
JJ Redick
Kevin Martin
Wayne Ellington
Martell Webster
Royal Ivey
Andray Blatche

Player Option
---------------

OJ Mayo
Marreese Speights

Expiring
----------------

Greg Monroe
Marreese Speights
Marcin Gortat
Samuel Dalembert

[timetodienow1234567]

I didn't say he wasn't a good player and it wouldn't be too difficult to change our system to integrate Pau, but it is a major shift. Pau is still an all-star player(no longer a superstar, imo), but I don't know how willing the coaching staff would be to change their system.

[khyberjones]

Josh Smith is not the right choice. He wants to be the man and he already played with a star 2 guard in Joe Johnson for several years. Not sure he wants that again. He also takes a lot of bad shots and slows down the offense. Dwight Howard has issues with 2 guards who drive the lane. His idea of a 2 guard is Jason Richardson, guys who shoot 3s. Better choice is to go with a veteran like a Pau Gasol who will be willing to be second or third or fourth in the pecking order to Harden. I would get a replacement for Delfino, maybe a role player to do what Patterson and Morris did pre-trade, and then just let the team develop. Lin and Parsons can be all stars in this league. Why would they need anyone else?

[thenit]

There is pros and cons to each of the FA except for LBJ. The way howard plays today since the surgery is that his pick and rolls seems average today. In the past you could see a lot of alley oops to the rims or he will roll and dunk it. If you watch the lakers game he is clogging the lane more than actually setting a good pick. Asik is great at that but can't finish, hopefully Asik can develop some hands with regular minutes and work. I think betting everything on Howard would be a mistake since we don't know for certain about his recovery, he just doesn't seem like himself.

 

Onto the plan B, I think Amare pre knee injuries would be best for the team. But to be honest I can't think of anyone who would fit that bill. Imagine Amare in his prime with Harden and Lin at Pick and roll and amare can even pop and hit a jumper. That would be the best player. I rather wait for 2014 with Paul and LBJ available even Bosh might be a better fit since he can spread the floor and can finish around the rim. Bosh is also a decent rebounder and defender. He is so undervalued.

 

The core is set with Asik, Lin, harden and parsons. We have 1 all-star, top 5 player in Harden for the next 7-10 years. Parson and Lin has all star potential. Lin showed it during the Linsanity, if he can develop his jumper which I think he will and his left hand he will be close to an allstar. We don't really need an all-start guard since Harden will have he ball in his hands at the end of the game and about 50% of the time Lin is on the floor. But a near all-star Lin would be great. Right now they are one of the better offensive back court with Lin developing his flaws, it could be enough to contend.

 

Parsons is already a near allstar in the sense that he can do everything. He might not be great at one thing but he is good in a lot of ways. And keeps improving each game. Look at his 3s he was not a good shooter last year today is pretty good and a good slasher too. We need a PF who can set picks and rollls and can also hit a jumper to spread the floor.

 

Asik is an allstar defenisively, maybe Hakeem or Mchale can teach him some post moves in the off season it woult be great.

 

Everything else is about depth and we should contend

[Steven]

Whatever Plan B is:
In Morey I Trust.

[thenit]

http://www.grantland...working-houston great article about the rockets and morey

[Cooper]

For me in FA it's Dwight or nothing unless we could get mayo or a decent backup defensive center/wing stopper for a reasonable price. (Maybe draft one) no sense blowing max cap space on josh smith he's just not that guy. It will be interesting if the new CBA will cut out the big contracts to middling players like it is supposed to.

[Sir Thursday]

It's worth bearing in mind (although I'm not advocating him as necessarily the right option to pursue) that it would make sense for Josh Smith to consider looking for a one year deal this season. As usual, Zach Lowe explains it best:

 

• A quirk in Smith's contract status/ego. This is Smith's ninth season. Players who hit free agency after their 10th season become eligible for the highest possible max contract, one that can soak up 35 percent of the salary cap — up from 30 percent for players at Smith's current experience level. Depending on Smith's sense of his market value, there might be some incentive for him to sign a one-year deal, and then hit free agency again right away. The difference could be quite large. A straight five-year max deal with Atlanta signed this summer would pay Smith about $98 million. A one-year/four-year max in the above scenario would pay about $105 million.

 

A lot of the complaints about Smith cite locking him in for the long haul is a sure-fire path to mediocrity. A one-year deal would get around that (and I'm told that in the summer of 2013-14 there is a wider pool of Free Agents to choose from). So the question is: would we be contenders next season if we signed Smith?

 

ST

[Steven]

It's worth bearing in mind (although I'm not advocating him as necessarily the right option to pursue) that it would make sense for Josh Smith to consider looking for a one year deal this season. As usual, Zach Lowe explains it best:


A lot of the complaints about Smith cite locking him in for the long haul is a sure-fire path to mediocrity. A one-year deal would get around that (and I'm told that in the summer of 2013-14 there is a wider pool of Free Agents to choose from). So the question is: would we be contenders next season if we signed Smith?

ST

In a word, No!

[Jeby]

IF we were to make a decent run into the playoffs (unlikely) and IF Motiejunas and Robinson both fizzle out (possible, hope not) then I would be totally in support of signing Smith or Gasol to a one year deal just to have a puncher's chance at a championship. If D-Mo and/or Robinson play well, and if it's clear that signing Smith or Gasol wouldn't give us a dark-horse shot at the Finals, I would say to let the young bigs develop on the court and save Mr. Alexander's money.
By the way, I think adding one of those guys makes the Rockets a top-4 seed in the West in the short term, and I would consider any top-4 team out West a contender (#4 being the long shot).

[Cooper]

A one year deal would be interesting and your probably have to take that but there's too much risk in it for the player. If smith tore his acl that season he'd be screwed out of a lot of money and someone will be desparate enough to offer him near max money for 4yrs.

[Alituro]

The one year deal scenario is interesting for Smith or Gasol in particular, because as it stands now this team is not a contender next year. But, this team could possibly contend with further development from Lin, Asik, T-rob, D-mo and Albrecht. The latter two of which have no predetermined ceilings.It is not a stretch to say that either two could equal Pau in the future, nor is it a stretch to say that T-rob could be every bit the player Smith is. I could take or leave anything that only helps us next season, but could hinder the development of our young bigs. Locker room presence and team chemistry needs to be a big concern when talking about Pau, Smith and even Dwight. I am not even completely sold on signing Dwight long term because I just don't think our team would be the same with his huge ego and prima donna like sense of entitlement. The most beautiful thing about our core squad is their lack of ego and chemistry, they all trust each other. I don't think those feelings would be reciprocated by Dwight and it could be a huge problem. (See LAL today).

 

If we've determined that our nucleus is going to be Lin, Harden, Parsons and Asik, the only moves I would like to see made at this point would be with the idea of preserving this core for the next decade. Olbrecht may help us preserve Asik, as I don't think G.Smith is the right guy for the job. Right now our bench wings are Delfino and Garcia, who are ok. Courtney Lee would be nice to have right about now. Maybe Webster? The Rockets high-speed game changes when the bench comes in, but if we were able to field a more traditional roster in those times like with Beverley at the PG and T-rob and Olbrecht seemingly being more traditional bigs, if we can add some D to our bench wings then we could round off our second unit.

 

Mostly though I would like to just see these guys grow and am hesitant to want to add ANY (except for LBJ or CP) established stars to our team.

[thejohnnygold]

I actually really like the 1-year contract idea.  It's an extended test drive....Josh Smith is a sports car (to continue the metaphor)...let's take it out and see what it can do...I don't think he will hinder our player's development all that much since nearly everyone can play two positions--Parsons, J. Smith, D-MO....T-Rob still needs seasoning anyways....perhaps a little time in the D-League...

 

I think this move would definitely make us a contender.  SA has to get old eventually, right?  OKC is beatable.  The Clips and Griz are beatable too.  Utah, Minny, Lakers, portland....are any of them better than that on paper (or on the court in the laker's case)?  Smith gives us two elite defenders on the roster (important), two stars, and more flexibility with match-ups.  Also, many of the talking heads believe the Rockets offense would maximize his talents...Personally, I am concerned he'll shoot too many threes (he is ok at 33%...only shooting 29.5 % mid-range ).

[2016Champions]

Plan A, B, C and D is Dwight Howard (but to be honest I don't see Dwight leaving the Lakers, lets hope I'm wrong). Plan E is JJ Reddick (Delfino has been great, but JJ would be a significant upgrade). Other than that the Rockets really don't need to make any changes, the Rockets have so many young players who are likely to improve alot as individuals, and the sheer fact of that alone will ascend the Rockets towards true contender status. For instance, I see D-Mo being a consistent 20ppg guy within 2-3 years and entering the conversation as a top 5 PF in the league - yes I'm seriously that high on this kid. Thomas Robinson doesn't look very good yet but I honestly thought he was the 2nd best player in his draft and all he needs is a little more time - he's only 21 - those 51 games on a dysfunctional Sacramento Kings team seemed to have sucked the soul out of him but I'm sure he'll get it back in Houston.