Comments on: Sixers vs. Trailblazers: Two Teams Headed in Opposite Directions

By: Morty

Morty — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:33:06 +0000

I wouldn’t part with Thad just to dump Sammy. Sammy only has one year left on his contact and will be a valuable trade piece next year. If a team is willing to take Brand’s contract, then Thad definitely gets thrown in.

By: deepsixersuede

deepsixersuede — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:05:24 +0000

Unlike us they seem better than the sum of their parts; with young pieces like Brooks, Taylor, Ariza , Budinger and Lowry is a center their biggest need? What would you rather have at the 4? [Brand/Spieghts] or [Scola/Landry] ? What amazes me is they continue to defend for an offensive coach; I hope Jordan!s affect on our group doesn!t last like Van Gundy!s affect on theirs.

By: Dannie

Dannie — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:50:26 +0000

I don't think they are going to have enough money to sign a better player than Brand in the offseason.

They have to make a decision on Scola this offseason and to a much lesser degree Lowry.

If they resign Scola they won't have enough money to pry a really good free agent away from their existing team who can pay them the most.

The other question is this: What does Houston feel they need to get better?

Any talent regardless of position? Or do they have a specific positional need in mind? (PG, SG?)

By: Pete

Pete — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:38:41 +0000

you really think the Rockets would take Brand? Especially knowing he's only going to get worse as his contract gets older?

Whoever they get would have to be better than who they could sign with the money from McGrady's contract next year.

I don't think they would do a Carl Landry / Elton Brand swap if they were making the same amount of money.

By: Dannie

Dannie — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:31:38 +0000

Many of the "good young players" are still on rookie contracts OR base year compensation players. Meaning the Rockets understand they will have to take a bad contract in the form of a older player back in order to get a good young player.

Iguodala makes the least sense to me because they just invested in Trevor Ariza and still really like Battier.

Sam makes some sense because his contract is only one year longer than T-macs and he can fill a defense, rebounding and size void for that team this season while Yao is out and as a capable back-up next season when Yao returns (if he returns).

Brand makes sense because while he is undersized he still brings defense and rebounding and you can play him with Scola in the starting line-up. Landry is still your super sub and Hayes is your back-up defensive big. They actually are thin in the front court as a whole without Yao.

Remember also, Yao's contract is up at the end of the 2010 season just like Sammy. I don't think it's wise to invest in another big contract for Yao so they would be in position to have a ridiculous amount of cap space if they took Sam as the big contract.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:17:37 +0000

You guys see John Hollinger had Elton Brand as the most underrated player of the decade

By: Chuck

Chuck — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:16:49 +0000

Thought this was interesting and worth posting….
Most underrated players of the decade accoring to John Hollinger…

1. Elton Brand: Although he’s ending the decade on a down note, he’s the most unappreciated star of the past 10 years as a whole. His unspectacular style won him few fans and fewer sponsors, but Brand nonetheless had eight All-Star-caliber seasons, even though he made the team only twice — once as a sub after he being passed over in the original voting for Wally Szczerbiak. His shared rookie of the year award with Steve Francis was another unconscionable oversight.

2. Shawn Marion: The prototypical underrated player because he rarely had the ball in his hands except when finishing and shot a high percentage with few turnovers. In 2006, Marion led the Suns in games, minutes, points, rebounds, shooting percentage, blocks and steals, and was by acclimation the team’s best defender. His teammate won the MVP, while Marion got one fifth-place vote.

3. Andre Miller: Never quite good enough to be an All-Star, Miller was nonetheless one of the 10 best point guards of the past decade and probably will go down as the best alley-oop passer ever. Splitting his time among various mediocre teams, he never stayed long enough to generate the kind of appreciation that a Richard Hamilton gets in Detroit or a Derek Fisher gets in L.A., and that’s hurt his renown, too.

By: deepsixersuede

deepsixersuede — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:04:43 +0000

Pete, I can!t believe they won!t screw up the Wall sweepstakes somehow, I still expect a 5 to 10 pick but your right, a man can hope!!

By: deepsixersuede

deepsixersuede — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:00:32 +0000

Pete, with this organizations love affair with their young players I just don!t see them giving one of them up without that thought in their heads.

By: Pete

Pete — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:50:26 +0000

dss -

why would you want mcgrady to resign!?

you use the money to get someone like Joe Johnson, get lucky in the lottery and get John Wall, and parade out this line-up next year...

PG- John Wall SG- Joe Johnson SF- Thaddeus Young PF- Elton Brand C- Marreesse Speights

a man can dream, right?