Rockets have up to 12/13 mill to work with for an additional player

If EGO is traded it won’t be until the offseason. Since he signed his extension later we won’t be able to trade him.

 

No D despite high energy. It’s not enough unfortunately.

 

Don’t worry. We’ll have plenty when we flame out of the playoffs again and start our rebuild.

 

All that plus quickness.

 

People keep mentioning Baynes. He would be a great addition.

But why would Phoenix deal him? And how could we acquire him? And why wouldn't some other team have a better offer than us, since we have literally nothing to offer???

 

I agree, but I have no hope that MDA would even play a big like Baynes. I seriously worry about the amount of milage we put on PJ and Harden defending the paint night after night. BimaThug made a great point on the pod yesterday with the comparison to Thibs and that Bulls team where he really did damage to the back end of the career of guys like Deng.

 

I think they are trying to get Dedmon and a pick out of it. Dedmon is @ 13.3 for the next 2 years...oh wait a minute. The luxury tax.

 

It’s unbelievable that such a skilled player with a high IQ is on a 5.4 M expiring contract.
He plays like a 28 year old instead of 33.
Will the Suns trade him because of his sore left hip? Is there something more to it? He hasn’t played since January 18th. He would be a great fit for Houston.

 

Start to rebuild with what exactly? You can only rebuild if you HAVE DRAFT PICKS. Even if they start a rebuild and Harden & Westbrook have value in trades, do we really think they'll have the value needed to recoup anything close to what we've sent out for the next 6 years worth of picks? The Rockets gave up FOUR picks for Westbrook. I honestly think they'd have to GIVE UP picks to move him a year or so from now.

I don't even want to think about having to trade Harden but it's a reality that might happen sooner than people think. If he asks out this Summer maybe we get 2 firsts. 3 if we are lucky. I think people will see him as a MVP player but one where fit alongside other superstars being a tricky one. The teams that would be vying for him would be contenders who most don't have valuable picks to trade to the Rockets.

Anyways... depressing to even think that we would even need to discuss Harden's trade value in a rebuild. Thanks Tillman.

 

You summed it up nicely, I can only hope they see the light at the end of the tunnel soon.

 

A first plus BMac maybe? I’m not sure if that
works cap wise. I admit other teams can beat that offer.

 

From a balance of contract, fit, production and health, in that order: Noel, Baynes, Holmes, Looney, Dedmon

 

I don't think they will. Again the theme is arrogance. Arrogance that they are king makers at finding free bees at hugely important positions like STARTING SF,PF, and Center. Arrogance on the need to have draft picks to get young talent. And certainly arrogance that Harden won't ask for a trade on a dime if he wakes up and sees what we all see & he realizes he has a very limited window to win a title & KD calls him this Spring to put it in his head that he can win a title with him and Kyrie in Brooklyn or Curry/Klay call and say he should ask for a trade to GS to win a title there next year. Golden State made the Russell sign & trade exactly for this type of opportunity in the Summer of 2020.

They know that other stars will again want to play & win with Steph/Klay in 2021 & the Russell contract gives them the ability to make that kind of move. The thought of Harden with Golden State should make us all sick, but right now our owner, and front office are making that nightmare a realistic nightmare to lose sleep over.

 

I think Harden is extremely invested in his brand and this city, and stubborn enough to stay till he is at least 32-33 if he must.

He has to adapt to another team's play? That is going to be hard.

KD has tons to prove coming back from injury, won't hold my breath there.

But everything changes in a jiff, right?

 

He rebounds

 

Pause.

 

he also probably still hates MDA for nuking his PT last year when he was actually producing in the floor

 

Yeah I agree but its the NBA, and how many stars have we seen NOT at some point ask for a trade request when their team isn't winning titles? Even Lebron left teams that were consistently going to the NBA Finals. KD left GS after winning a title. AD was treated like god in NOLA. Paul George was only a year in at OKC.

And then there's Kawhi who left even AFTER winning a title.

Harden is invested in Houston of course... but it's the NBA. I think we are fools if we think he won't request a trade as early as this Summer if we putter out again in the playoffs, and everyone in the media is talking about how Tillman is broke. I think it's a given that KD or Steph will call Harden this Spring/Summer and things could move fast.

 

upgrade the center position ?