Houston Rockets playing with fire offering Battier and Brooks for RubioJune 29 09  Breaking NBA news mixed with analysis … Their news: "Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News reported that the Wolves turned down a deal with the Houston Rockets that would have resulted in Aaron Brooks and Shane Battier headed to Minnesota for Ricky Rubio." (Mitch Lawrence of The New York Daily News via Real GM) Our Very Quick Analysis: After winning a playoff round with effort, hustle, and chemistry, the Houston Rockets were reportedly willing to sacrifice that momentum by entering the Ricky Rubio sweepstakes. Recent reports had ‘H-Town’ offering the Minnesota Timberwolves a package of glue-guy Shane Battier and lightning-quick table-setter Aaron Brooks. Well, if you’re Rockets’ GM Daryl Morey why would you risk breaking up a developing team for an eighteen-year old kid’s potential? Rubio has upside and his presence would have improved the team’s profile in Europe. And perhaps, Houston would’ve survived with Ron Artest (if they re-sign him) and Luis Scola manning the forward spots. Also, Kyle Lowry, who was acquired at the trade deadline, could’ve replaced Brooks as the starter and provided Rubio with time to develop. Still, the conservative, money-ball Rockets pushed the world champion Lakers to seven games in the second round of the playoffs. Why risk the good feeling among players by chasing a shaggy-haired, skinny teenager? Houston fans: would you have swapped Battier and Brooks for Rubio? Get at us with thoughts in the comment box below and return to HoopsVibe The Blog for more NBA tidbits. Photo courtesy of rich115.
Posted by
acodforthegods
on 06.30.2009 | I don’t know. Brooks is only a second year and he only had half a year starting so far. I think based on those circumstances, Brooks has done remarkably well. He even scored 34 in Game 4. I can easily see him become the kind of player who can at least contribute 20 a night. I feel in another year or two, he will develop into an indispensible asset to the team. To the person who said Battier is only a glue guy, I think Battier is too valuable to be traded. He is arguably the epitome of the Rox defensive game save maybe Ron-ron. True, Battier is not a person who is noted for any skills that cannot be easily replaced save phenomenal defense but Battier is a cornerstone to this Rox team. He was one of the keys to the round against the Lakers as was Brooks. They took the Lakers to a game 7 without their star center and even with Yao, they lost 2 out of 3. Lowry is good but I think Brooks is a potential goldmine who can overcome all his flaws in time. I think trading Battier is unthinkable. First of all, because he’s my fav player and second he’s a leader, the orator, the collard greens and mashed potatoes that you use to fill gaps in your meal even though they don’t taste so flashy like the Peking duck(Yao) or the Thanksgiving turkey(T-Mac). Battier is an example for the younger players by following orders. He does what asked of him and executes to the best of his ability. Go on youtube and look up which rockets player would be named president of the team. I’m not trying to contradict anyone but I’m a strong supporter of Battier and Brooks and I’m relieved the Timberwolves turned down the trade. I don’t know how the Rox can manage without a center but I feel the Rox can do alright with a subpar center who can just barely manage to hold it down. Maybe that position could be supplicated with Hayes like they did before. I can imagine what a lot of you would say. Maybe I’m brain dead to think about a permanent 6’6 backup center. Maybe it was a one-time fluke thing but I really thought Hayes did well as a center. I just thought the Rockets really proved their mettle in the playoffs and now the team might get torn up over this whole center thing. It’s really tragic cause this team has a lot of potential together and has a unique chemistry I feel is impossible to duplicate without a the intangibles that people like Battier, Hayes, Artest(call me crazy), and Landry bring. Mark my words, if Morey trades Brooks, he will live to regret it. Anyway, I’m no expert at basketball, I’m a novice. Yeah so that’s just what I think. Don’t laugh at me for stating the obvious and dont guffaw cause of all the melodrama. . | Posted by
on 06.30.2009 | Adelman needs a true floor general to run his system, Brooks is not that. Battier is a solid guy, but a glue/role guy, while Rubio could be a star at arguably the most important position on the court. A no-brainer to pursue it, but it’s going to take more than that to get it done. . | Posted by
O.Sandor
on 06.30.2009 | Hi there ... thanks for commenting last poster. Yes, he could be good. But the key point is that you ’have a feeling’ , but you don’t know, while the Rockets even without Yao were pretty darn good. Breaking up a strong team based on a feling is risky. One I’m not sure the Rockets take, quite frankly. Thanks for writing in. Feel free to disagree with me and get at me with your thoughts. . | Posted by
on 06.29.2009 | I have a felling he’s gonna be reallly good . | Posted by
Balphagor
on 06.29.2009 | The Wolves passed on the offer, and they were right to do so. The trade doesn’t put them in the playoffs, and in the long run (not next year wherever he plays) Rubio at point could make the Wolves a perennial contender.And in the LA series, Houston was better without Yao than they would have been WITH him. I don’t really understand it, either, but it’s absolutely true . | Posted by
peterl
on 06.29.2009 | My first reaction: I doubt the Rockets made that offer. On the other hand, the Rockets did not deny the story. The Rockets should probably be able to get Rubio for less. . | Posted by
rzurzel
on 06.29.2009 | Houston has a good team. I agree with you Oly they shouldn’t break it when they are strong. As for Rubio...maybe he’ll be a good player but not from the start. He can develop i mean adjust to this league ane be good but you don’t know that and giving away 2 solid players for him wouldn’t be smart. Besides in my opinion Rubio will get a few steps under the basket, get smacked by those monsters and that’l be it...he’s so damn thin that this is a mystery for me how the hell he could survive in NBA. . | Posted by
Rockets234
on 06.29.2009 | My point is how many Jordans, Lebrons and Kobes level players have you seen who are white. God has naturally gifted the African Americans physically to dominate in Basketball.And sorry Yao is not a dominating center that Shaq was. Just Look at the stats. . | Posted by
Rockets234
on 06.29.2009 | He is white! Sorry. . | Posted by
O.Sandor
on 06.29.2009 | Hi BayouCityBill ... A Stat and Yao four-five combo ... Interesting? Amare is on the block, for sure! Not sure if he’s ideal for Houston, though. Scola, in some ways, is a great blue-collar, scrappy guy to pair with a skilled post like Yao. Still Amare and Yao is an interesting thought! Thanks for dropping your opinion. . | Posted by
BayouCityBill
on 06.29.2009 | The Rockets need to focus on one player and one player only; Amaré Stoudemire. Rockets GM Daryl Morey needs to take a "whatever it takes" attitude and get this done because you do not know what your going to get from Yao this year. We have a guy who, if we lose Brooks, can play an adequate point in Lowery, you have to get someone to patrol the middle. Once yao is healthy a front court of Yao, Stoudemire and Artest will be very difficult to deal with in the half court set. Stop worrying about guards and get the bigs. . | Posted by
O.Sandor
on 06.29.2009 | Hi J ... Sure, Flynn is a nice player and perhaps he’s the guy the Wolves keep. But why if you are Houston go after Rubio and risk the chemistry of a developing group? It’s a stretch in my mind. Thanks for writing in . | Posted by
J
on 06.29.2009 | If minisota didnt think that jonny flynn was their future point guard for their team I think it would have been a great trade for both teams . | Posted by
O.Sandor
on 06.29.2009 | Hi Adam, Thanks for responding. I agree Rubio could be a nice player, but the Rockets are right there! They pushed the Lakers without Yao and are developing into a deep, well-balanced club. If they keep Ron-Ron, the West needs to look out, so why risk that on a plyer who may not be here next year, needs some time, and may or may not develop into an All-Star. Just my thoughts. Thanks for writing in! Feel free to disagree and respond. . | Posted by
ADAM TREVINO
on 06.29.2009 | GONNA BE THE BEST PLAYER IN THE NBA . |
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Oly Sandor | Daily take on NBA Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More |
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