While I doubt he uses a trade threat on players, I do think we've seen a lot more turnover with JVG that may cause free agents to worry some about the environment. Won't they know they have maybe a 50/50 shot at clicking with JVG and, if they don't, they'll soon be moved to some random team?
JV didn't say that. He's simply stating a fact (the high turnover), and his opinion that the high turnover could possibly worry some free agents. He has a point. Whether it's a serious "problem" is something for speculation, I guess.
Just to clarify... I agree being traded is probably something on players' minds when they enter free agency-- at the very least, we KNOW for sure that it was on Mike James' mind. I'd think about it if I were a free agent. I still think, however, that's not something you can really worry about. The harm of keeping the wrong player far outweights any potential gain in your reputation for stability with free agents. Besides, there's a lot of turnover with almost every team. Look at Dallas... ask Juwan, Jamison, Toine, Raef, even Nash and Finley about their willingness to make changes and let their players go via either trade, free agency, or tax-exemption cut. Look at Miami, too.. they kept Wade, but really turned over almost the entire roster since Wade's rookie year. It's just the nature of the business. I doubt players have much less worry about getting traded with other teams.
well it showed to be true this year when james wanted a trade kicker. trading JJ after one season (a great season at that) and then doing the same to stro the very next season makes us look pretty bad. however, those moves did make us better.
The one thing I griped about JVG in the past couple of seasons was the high roster turnover. He kept trying to find his "type" of player. What it says is that either his talent evaluating system sucks or he can only coach a small selection of players. It is also a tacit way to shift the blame from the coach to the players. But one thing good about JVG is that he is willing to admit wrong. He is stubborn to a certain extent. But when he realizes he has been wrong, he is willing to change. For example, I was really mad at him last season for keeping on harping on the players' effort when it was so obvious that the problem was the lack of shooters. This offseason, he adjusted and addressed the shooting problem.
JVG didn't address the shooting problem. CD and Morey did. We will still have to see if JVG has adjusted to a more offensive, open style, or if he keeps running Juwan out there with our best "defensive players". I think he will make the right adjustments but it is very apparent that his success or failure with this franchise is determined this year with what he does with the talent that has been laid at his doorstep by the front office.
I think Van Gundy likes Luther a lot. I am amazed that we haven't seen him play yet this season but I am already excited about how much he should have improved. If Van Gundy has confidence in a second year player you know he is a keeper.
Let's look at the offseasons the Rockets have had with Van Gundy coaching: 2004: Traded Steve Francis/Mobley/Cato for TMac/Juwan/Lue. Signed Sura and Ward to replace Francis. Any gripes about that particular set of changes? 2005 offseason: Kept most of the 2004-2005 squad, except adding Stro and Anderson. Also traded James for Alston. They didn't do enough change. The 2004/2005 squad got old and could not survive the team's injuries. Stro didn't make a difference by himself. James for Alston didn't turn out well... but I doubt MJ could have saved last season. 2006: Major turnovers: Battier, Wells, Snyder, and co in, Stro, Wesley, etc out. Any arguments they should have stayed with the status quo? If anything, the Rockets ****ed up when they didn't turn the squad over enough in 2005. The 2004 and 2006 changes are much needed improvements. Now, there have been a lot of mid-season changes, too. Out with Mo Taylor, Ty Lue, Jim Jackson, in comes Barry, Welsey, Moochie, James. Then filling in for all the injured players with Hayes, Brunson, Frahm, Bogans etc. Is there really any arguement that the team should have kept Taylor, Lue, Jim J, Gaines instead of brining in Barry, Wesley, James, etc? The hiring of Hayes, Brunson, Frahm, Bogans were compelled by circumstances... You'd rather see them play with a 10 man roster (not rotation, roster)? It's just not easy to find the right combination in this league.
head is a gem. noway were gonna trade him unless we get a very, very good offer in return. after watching him tonight, he has really matured in my opinion. his decision making seems to be better. he picks his spots really good. his ballhandeling is improved. plus he seems to have really gained a few pounds of muscle in the upper body 2. Snyder is another keeper. he is atheletic, can shoot the rock and is a willing defensive workhorse. not to mention we got him for nothing. this season we have the right mix vets and young legs to seriously challenge for our 3rd ring as a franchise.
i don't think JVG has any real power or control over offseason signings. i think JVG might have made known his wishlist, but a GM really shouldn't let a coach do his job.
in 2004, the Rockets attained the best player in the trade which usually means they won in the trade. they gave up 2 key starters and their main backup center. you forgot about the Rockets signing Mutombo, which more than made up for the absence of Cato. Sura almost made up for Francis. it was also T-Mac's brilliance, and the mid-season trades that brought James, Wesley and Barry (those 3 by committee made up for Cuttino) that more than made up the difference. even Howard was still an upgrade over Mo Taylor/Griffin/Spoon. it was basically the equivalent of simply adding T-Mac (minus Jim Jackson) outright to the 2003 team. as for the Rockets screwing up in 2005, there wasn't a whole lot more they could do. Sura got injured; you can't trade an injured player. remember CD said it was an impossibility. all he could do was trade a combo guard for a true point. that didn't work out too well in the short term, but it might just turn out to be the right move this season. Stro was a gamble that fell through. Derek Anderson was less of a gamble that also didn't pan out. yet many Clutchfans can remember how excited they were that season. it was pure luck that the Rockets could acquire Battier. it required a high lottery draft pick AND Stro. the signing of Bonzi was also pure luck. that doesn't happen any other off-season. the trade for Snyder was a pure coup. he's worth way more than a low to middle second rounder and cash. the Rockets were able to get 2 key starters and a 6th man virtually out of thin air. all they lost was Stro and a dubiously attained draft pick. but NO ONE could have prepared for the onslaught of injuries to the entire rotation old and young alike (T-Mac, Yao, Sura, Rafer, Stro, Deke, Barry, Anderson, Wesley; only the hated Juwon and the rookie Head could stay healthy) that occured last season. even this season, if T-Mac and Yao...can't finish that sentence, the Rockets are... i think the Rockets did about as well as they reasonably could the last 3 seasons. they just didn't have any real tradeable assets after that first splash that netted McGrady, and they had the same exceptions as every other team. if anything, it was the first and second off-seasons after Yao was drafted that were very non-eventful.
these extensions are no-brainers. those two are practically starting caliber and cost less than 2 million each. they're not going anywhere.
