JON BARRY TO HOUSTON
The Houston Rockets acquired guard Jon Barry from the Atlanta Hawks for guard Tyronn Lue.
What does it give the Houston Rockets
A veteran specialist on the perimeter to take the heat off Yao Ming.
Barry is a solid journeyman with character who plays the game with a
professionalism the Rockets sorely need. With Lue around, Houston had a
glut at the point guard position. By trading him for Barry they shore up
their outside shooting while effectively handing the starting point
duties to Bobby Sura. The Rockets seem to be making some conscious
efforts to build with character and fundamentals around their core of
Yao and Tracy McGrady, and this is a good step in that direction.
What does it give the Atlanta Hawks
A potential starting point guard who's better than he's looked the past
year-and-a-half. Lue is a very sound playmaker and shooter who provides
good defense and doesn't turn the ball over. With Washington in 2002-03,
Lue looked on the verge of becoming a top NBA point guard. But playing
alongside McGrady he never really hit his stride, frequently stranded
without the ball as a floater on the perimeter. If Atlanta lets him
play, Lue might be a key stabilizing force for a team that generally
makes unwise decisions with the ball.
Fantasy impact
