Alston to Houston for James

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Rafer Alston fell out of favour in Toronto after a well-documented feud with head coach Sam Mitchell.

Sportsnet.ca -- Looks like Rafer's madness earned him a trade to the Houston Rockets.

The Toronto Raptors traded temperamental point guard Rafer Alston to the Houston Rockets in exchange for guard Mike James on Tuesday.

Alston, 29, was involved in several controversies 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.

The six-foot-two, 170-pound Alston averaged 14.2 points per game in 2004-05 with 3.5 rebounds and 6.4 assists.

James is a six-foot-two, 188-pound NBA journeyman who has played in Miami, Boston, Detroit, Milwaukee and Houston. In 248 career games, the 30-year-old has averaged 9.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists.

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

[FromWayDowntown]

Damn, and the Spurs could have sent Bruce Bowen to Houston for Mike James.

I can't believe the Spurs allowed themselves to get punked like that!!!

[boutons]

Why would Rockets do this trade, a solid-citizen, hustlng James for flaky punkass Alston (who unprovokedly shoved Tim on the shoulder last season in the 4th-qtr fiasco @TOR )

[batman2883]

ha hah a ha Skip to my lue pushed Timmy last year when they played the Spurs it was funny

[TwoHandJam]

Alston might be more talented than James but he's a walking powder keg. I'm not sure this is a good deal overall for the Rockets. They get talent and insurance for Sura but how long before Alston starts to chafe under the discipline of JVG?

[JamStone]

Curious thing is how Houston is changing their team. If Yao Ming is the building block for the success of the Rockets, then the acquisitions of Stromile Swift and Rafer Alston are at the very least questionable. Both Stromile Swift and Rafer Alston are better suited to be in uptempo systems that run a lot. The transition game does not favor Yao Ming at all, especially considering his conditioning his first few seasons.

Now, while Stromile Swift may help in rebounding and shot-blocking, he is not well suited for a half-court offense. And, while Rafer Alston is very talented, he has never proven to be successful in a regimented, structured, and defense-oriented environment.

Mike James offered steady ball-handling, very tough and gritty defense, and good spot-up jumpshooting. I think Houston let go of a real good player for a talented headcase.

Talent-wise, the Rockets definitely improved. I am just very curious as to how these pieces work well together.

[ShoogarBear]

I agree with the majority here. Theoretically, Alston is a better player, but I think I'd rather have James.

[FromWayDowntown]

I'd think that this deal has much more to do with the uncertainty about Sura and Houston's immediate need for a starting point guard than with talent. James is a PG, but he lacks that quality to be anything other than, really, a nice bench guy who can sustain a team through periods, but not a guy who can give 30+ per night for a playoff-quality team. I'm not sure that Alston is that guy, either, but he's a better option as a starting point than James.

It probably also has a lot to do with the fact that James' contract could expire next summer, while Alston's got several years left on a fairly big deal for a player of his caliber (signed in 2004 for 6 years/$26 million).

[G-Nob]

Rockets quietly getting better. Starting to get a little scary.

[Frenchise player]

This move is in order to counter a little better the Spurs and Phoenix.
They get what they missed last year at the point: fresh legs.
Last year Parker had fun, toying with Rod Strickland, maybee they hope Alston will be more able to defend on him and Nash because he is quicker than old Sura and James.

[Marcus Bryant]

A typical Rockets' deal, if you think about...

[2centsworth]

I dunno, James seemed to be a great finisher and real spark plug off the bench. Alston can shoot 3's and that's it.

[navarat]

stupid move. MJ went nuts during the mavericks series, he's tough, can score and got more talent than given credit for. Rafer might have some playground skills but he's a headcase, and bad attitude kind of guy. I can't stand the guy after he showed Timmy in that game. Bad move all the way.

[Medvedenko]

I like this trade for the Tdot....Rafer wore out his welcome....the Raps will suck, but it will be a hardworking team. I got seasons this year so I'll check the boys out quite a bit. I wished they had more talent, but oh well.
Lakers Dec 7th, should be sweet.

[leemajors]

put yao ming in the high post like walton used to play and everything will work out. they really need to to this, i never undestood why they didn't. you have to take advantage of his passing and the double teams on mcgrady. if they do this right swift will be dunking on everyone (but the spurs).

[z0sa]

mike james was my boy during the rockets-mavericks series - he came through for the rockets so many times. I have no idea why the hell they're trading him. Hes especially good on defense.

[exstatic]

Alston is talented, but he's a baby and a prima-donna.

[Sense]

Rockets quietly getting better. Starting to get a little scary.


Better? Nothing's proven.

Scary? Give me a break. They are just as scary as the HEAT are in my book... which is really not scary at all.


Alston? I doubt this is a good move for the Rockets...the guy likes to hold the ball too much, and doesn't make as good decisions as Mike James did..

Personally, I'd take James over Alston any day. The guy is a team player and he's got the experience every team wants.


Alston has proven to be nothing less than a headcase.

[gospursgojas]

This will be Alston's 4 team in 6 years...he obviously has trouble fitting in to any type of team system. And I dont know how much D mr And1 can play especially for a JVG team.

[T Park]

Alston is a peanut head and James is a rising good to maybe top 10 PG.

Stupid trade by the Rockets.

Their season is now shot.

[FromWayDowntown]

Alston is a peanut head and James is a rising good to maybe top 10 PG.

I don't disagree with the statement about Alston, but James being a "good to maybe top 10 PG?" You really must be kidding with that.

(If not, have you signed up for our fantasy league?)

Put it this way -- the Rockets had no PG last season and James still couldn't start for them. He's a decent defender who can score and brings some energy.

But I'm thinking there's probably a reason that he can't stick with teams; my hunch is that its because he's not a "good to maybe top 10 PG."

Just a guess, though.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Bad move by the Rockets. Swift reportedly had some ego and work issues, but I think that was the right move to make for the team. I know they want to get their team younger, but I think they shipped out the wrong guy and got the wrong guy to do it. James really helped right the ship after they picked him up. Alston is a head case. JVG was able to keep a leash on a guy like Sprewell for a while, but Alston's talent isn't where Spree's was in NY.