McGrady and Ming are fantastic cornerstones, if not for T-Mac's health and poopy attitude. Let me know when he is on a team that wins a playoff series.
Houston does need a shake-up. Signing twenty seven combo guards was a poor choice. I think they are now looking for cap room in the next two years.
This is my dream Houston deal... mind you I have a track record of only putting together one dream trade per season:
Cleveland gets:
Shane Battier: Four year deal, starting at 5.9
Rafer Alston: Three years, starting at 4.5
Luis Scola: Three years, starting at 2.9
Houston gets:
Drew Gooden: Two years, starting at 6.4
Damon Jones: Two years, starting at 4.2
Ira Newble: Expiring at 3.1
Why do we do it?
Shane Battier plays the same position as T-Mac, and they traded for him when they had a defensive coach in Van Gundy. Now with Adelman, they look for motion offense. Battier might be a tweener forward, but he meshed very well with LeBron on the national team, he defends the way Mike Brown wants others to defend, and he has a jump shot to stretch the defense... exactly what we ask from Gooden offensively and the type of shot blocking we crave. I see him taking some of Larry and Pavlovic's minutes as the lock-down wing defender and some of Gooden's minutes when we go small.
I don't think Luis Scola is getting much playing time this year because he doesn't rebound or defend well. He is a one trick pony, and that trick is inside scoring off the bench. I agree with Danny Ferry in that he would mesh well with LeBron because he cuts to the basket on offense. With Z and Anderson Varejao, we can platoon Scola in for interior scoring much like Houston does currently with Battier.
Alston is crazy and has a Hughes-ish shot selection, but you cannot question his production at point guard. He just runs a team. I'd take him for two years as a part-timer then trade his expiring deal. He is like Hughes but productive.
All we really lose is Gooden, who obviously has been a square peg in a round hole since he got here. We have an unquestioned talent upgrade with three guys in their prime and add plenty of basketball IQ, outside shooting. Added bonus: Ferry's desires for Scola are met. We also don't lose a pick, nor do we get stuck with anyone who cannot play anymore. Yes, Kenny Thomas, I am talking behind your back again.
Why does Houston do it?
Gooden would fit very well in Adelman's offense (and defense) and knows how to play off a T-Mac type wing and a true center. Honestly, when I watch their games, its clear that the lack fo a true power forward is killing them. Chuck Hayes? Really? They also get improved cap flexability now and down the road. Newble might play as a homeless man's Battier, or he might just get cut. With the way Head, Brooks, and Wells have been playing, the loss of Alston and Battier shouldn't hurt too much. In fact, I'm certain that they cannot wait to get rid of Alston... he is as ghetto as it gets, and that doesn't play in Houston. Damon might be annoying, but he is from Houston and would likely help them nurture young talent in his home town.
There it is... my annual trade idea.
I'd like to see a 1-2 punch of LeBron-T-Mac. But I still would like to get a PG and a better-than-average post player in Elton Brand first.
