lol Concerns about him being a locker room cancer pretty much says that Rondo ain't coming here unless he gets a team friendly contract and Rondo is getting the max from a team. Max PG is not team friendly either.
I really hope we don't trade jones in some deal that nets us a Brandon Bass type as his replacement. Jones even if he develops little next year is still a fringe starter(likely he can be a solid starter with the development we all expect)but Bass is definitely nothing more than a serviceable backup. Problem is I can't see a way we net a difference maker player through trade without losing one of our starters because the bench makes nothing....that is unless we get some help by a 3rd team. Seems like Boston and Phoenix would be willing participants but even so this whole thing seems really remote. I'll say it again - Screw Chris Bosh!
Everyone forget about Marcus Smart. Rondo will be traded, and wont be surprised to see him there, in Houston....atleast 2 times a season
My understanding is he's a hyper competitive player who hates losing stuck on a franchise trying to tank - that would make any competitive player unhappy. The locker room cancer thing wasn't an issue when Boston was in the finals. ...that being said I do wonder if him and Harden/Howard would get along. He seems more intense and fiery which could be a good thing but it could also be risky but that's the price of winning a title - you take some risks and hope they pan out.
I'm clearly biased, but that seems like a big haul for a PG coming off injury that can walk next summer.
ok Too much outgoing assets. If Harden and Rondo clash then which one goes? Harden is franchise so does anyone expect Morey to gamble with his bonafide superstar? No way. Any max player coming here has to mesh with Harden and Howard. Rondo come here Harden and Howard would have to make changes to mesh with him. Better to get someone that should be able to mesh well.
...but if not Rondo then who? There are few game changers out there who we could feasibly get in the short term. Harden & Howard will be a little bit lesser of a duo next year and the year after - they are both in that window now. Maybe Harden gets a little better, but Howard will likely start declining slowly soon as he loses that athletic advantage with age. When they signed Howard they started a ticking clock for window to win a title and I don't think they are going to be able to finalize the core later by the same methods they used to net Harden/Howard(patience, luck, careful salary management). They don't have much time for patience and luck is just that.
http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/234849/Zoran-Dragic-In-Talks-With-Heat-Spurs-Mavericks-Magic <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Joe Jackson, undrafted point guard out of Memphis, is finalizing a free-agent deal with the Phoenix Suns, league source tells RealGM.</p>— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/509096453202280449">September 8, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
lol I don't know. I am a fan. When they signed Howard the only ticking is the clock till Howard retires. He ain't going anywhere nor is Harden. They can afford to wait till Morey gets the pieces. Howard will re sign at max for life and retire a Rocket. He has no need to go anywhere. I am sure that Morey will go after a big man to go with Howard. Could be a defensive specialist a the 4 and upgrade the 1.
TIFWIW <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>Sources from Slovenian national team claim that there is a good possibility for Goran Dragić to leave Phoenix Suns after the next season.</p>— Yugobasket (@yugobasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/yugobasket/status/509661958115971072">September 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Dragic told me Rox undervalued him and part of him doesn't mind sticking it to the Rox. Talk about some fire!
Right, offering him the exact same contract sans PO is undervaluing a player. He got the contract he did (which is now well below market value) because of the role McHale/the Rockets gave him, and he's always come off as very appreciative of the organization.
