Raps trade Alston to Rockets for Mike James

[fordronken]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2180760

 

[fordronken]

Hm.

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. -- The Toronto Raptors traded temperamental point guard Rafer Alston to the Houston Rockets for guard Mike James on Tuesday.

Alston, 29, was involved in several scrapes last season. He threatened to quit the team and the NBA after a Dec. 3 game in Boston and was suspended by the Raptors for two games for conduct detrimental to the club after he walked out during a practice.

Alston averaged 14.2 points in 2004-05 with 3.5 rebounds and 6.4 assists.

James, 30, has played in Miami, Boston, Detroit, Milwaukee and Houston. In 248 career games, he has averaged 9.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists.

The Raptors opened their training camp in St. Catharines on Tuesday.

 

[coloradosun]

Another team like the Celtics that have a glut in the backcourt. I would still like to find a way to pry Bob Sura away from them, he would be the best insurance policy if Nash gets hurt and is out for a prolonged period of time.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I actually like James more for the Rockets than Alston...

 

[SweetD]

I actually like James more for the Rockets than Alston...

I agree James played well for them. I don't think Alston will fit in well with this team??

 

[Chaplin]

Another team like the Celtics that have a glut in the backcourt. I would still like to find a way to pry Bob Sura away from them, he would be the best insurance policy if Nash gets hurt and is out for a prolonged period of time.

Sura is hurt and might be out for an extended amount of time this season.

 

[scotsman13]

Sura is hurt and might be out for an extended amount of time this season.

yea sura has talked that he doesnt know if he can come back and that he might have to retire.

 

[elindholm]

I guess the Rockets must really miss Steve Francis.

 

[fordronken]

They really don't like stable point guards over there, do they? Rafer Alston? Like Van Gundy won't be yelling his head off come mid-October...

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I bet Yao and "skip to my lou" will be hitting up all the Houston hot spots in their off time......

 

[Errntknght]

I'd have to guess that Houston is after Alston's assists. Mike James did play well for them so I'd also guess that Toronto insisted on getting him. My recollection from scant evidence is that James is the better defender of the two by a good margin which is what makes it an equitable trade from the talent perspective. I agree that Houston is taking a gamble on the 'intangibles' given Alston's history but I suspect they felt they had to do something to shore up the backcourt sans Sura.