Wassup, blog crew, I've found myself with some free time, so I'ma weigh in on the offseason moves. From the top:
Rockets: Juwan Howard to TWolves for Mike James and Justin Reed
Looks like the Rox are gambling that last year was a fluke for the 30-something James. And I ain't gonna lie: I haven't seen MJ play since his last stint in Houston, against the Mavs in '05. He was the second or third best scorer on the team in that series (Yao was good, but always in foul trouble). JVG shoulda given him more burn, but instead stuck with the shooting-challenged Bob Sura. Not that I'm still bitter about that series or anything.
But in 2007, I don't see Mike James as a significant upgrade over Rafer Alston, if at all. Both are thirtysomething guards who are perfect coming off of the bench on a winning team. But no one of these guys now is going to have to start.
Losing Howard hurts as well, leaving Chuck Hayes as the only power forward left. Unless the Houston braintrust knows something I don't about Justin Reed, this deal doesn't do much for the Rockets. Grade for Rockets: C-.
On talent, I think the TWolves came out ahead on this one. Howard may be older than Mike James, but at 6'10'' hes a good shooter out to 18 feet and can pass the ball unusually well for a four, a skill underutilized by JVG (man am I making him look bad!). All in all, Juwan's a solid veteran role player.
But Minnesota's acquiring him just goes to show how little direction this franchise has. If, as rumored, they are planning on moving Kevin Garnett, why bring in a vet in a rebuilding project? If they plan on keeping KG, is Juwan Howard going to get them back in playoff contention? Probably not. It's early in the offseason, so this could just be an intermediary step in a bigger scheme. But with Kevin McHale at the helm, why should we believe 2007 will be any different from the last 9 years or so? Ever since the promising Garnett-Gugliotta-Marbury team died stillborn, he has made one desparate move after another to remain competitive, and other than the 2004 conference finalist team, it hasn't worked out. Still, for unloading the James contract for Howard's shorter deal, Minny fans can't be too disappointed. Celebrate the small victories, right? Grade for TWolves: C+
I don't see this as a trade that does much of anything for either team. You say several times about James age. Howard is no spring chicken either and certainly is no b####er at this point, not that he ever was. Much ado about nothing on both sides is my take.
Perhaps McHale is clearing house, or should I say salary cap space, to throw even more money at KG when he opts out next summer. That is, if he doesn't force his way out before then. I doubt he'd want to return, but you just never know with McHale. He's proven he isn't the smartest GM in the world.
As far as Mike James goes, I think it was a bad signing for the Wolves in the first place. Just being able to unload him at all could be the best move McHale has been able to pull off.
