Trades The Rockets Should Consider Before The Playoffs

The Rockets as currently constructed, may not be strong enough to get past the Warriors and Spurs let alone, challenge the Cavs in the Playoffs. However, this year' trade deadline is better than any with a crop of players available for trades.

Based on players' names floated around the league to be had, I couldn't help but play around with guys I think can strengthen our starting 5 unit and the 2nd unit. And the big fish among them is, of course, Serge Ibaka.

Morey should consider trading for Ibaka without giving up Montrezl Harrelle. Instead, I would like to see Morey nudge Rob Hennigan (Magic GM) toward a package for R. Anderson/1st rd. pick and our oversea stash. And Rockets acquire Serge Ibaka and and one expiring contract.

Magic get:

- R. Anderson
- 1st rd. pick
- Rights to oversea stash (including Zhou Qi/Gentile/Llul)

Rockets get:

- Serge Ibaka
- Expiring contract from the Magic



Next, Chandler Wilson.

Nuggets get:

- Sam Dekker
- Cory Brewer (filler/expiring contract)
- 2nd rd. pick


Rockets get:

- Chandler Wilson



Next, Jarret Jack or Ben McLemore

Brooklyn Nets get:

-Tyler Ennis
- Bobby Brown


Rockets get:

- Jarret Jack

Or

Kings get:

- Kyle Witjer
- 2nd rd. pick


Rockets get:

- Ben McLemore






Starting 5 unit:

C. Capela - Center
S. Ibaka - PF
T. Ariza - S.F.
P. Bev - S.G.
J. Harden - P.G.


Bench Unit:

N. Hilario/M. Harrelle - C
W. Chandler - P.F.
K.J. McDaniels/ Ben McLemore - S.F. --- (let them compete for the spot!)
E. Gordon - S.G.
J. Jack - P.G.


That, Rox fans, is a BEAST SQUAD! The 2nd Unit would be so much better than what we have with S.Dekker and C. Brewer off the bench. Ugh.

 

Aww...my bad! I see what you did there. Lol.

I'm a newbie, man. I didn't know there is a category to post trade ideas until I read between the line what you was saying there. Haha.

I wish I knew how to put this post in that category but going forward, Id keep that in mind. Thanks for the indirect advice, though.

 

Thank you, but I beg differ. Those are upgrades that definitely get us over the hump. The one thing I did looking at those pieces is understanding in the Playoffs, the game slows down.

Half-court offense becomes the norm than transition/fastbreak baskets during the regular season. And the one thing of paramount is the ability to 1.) score, 2.) play defense and 3.) make free-throws. And do this consistently, emphasis on consistency!

With that, Ibaka is a better all-around player than Anderson. If both guys have flat-scoring night, Ibaka will have the edge with his defense alone while Anderson would be more of a one-trick pony and foul-prone.

Between Wilson and Dekker, Wilson give us more experience and less of that rookie/1st and 2nd years mistakes. Dekker is a fine player but remove Harden off the floor, Dekker is a below-average player, offensively and defensively. He feeds off the attention Harden gets when paired with him on the floor.

Whereas, Wilson can carry his own, create on his own and consistent enough to be a solid piece off the bench. Not to mention his defense is very good. You got a veteran at that spot off the bench. Or do you want to see more Brewer or Dekker mistakes; sloppiness, missed passes, silly fouls, botched shot attempts and turnover at critical moments of the game?

Jarret Jack as the PG with the 2nd unit will help give spacing for Eric Gordon...and his 7.4 ast a game is enough to feed our boys to feast in other teams' 2nd unit.

 

....I really thought it was Harelle.

 

McLemore makes 5 millions a season. How else would we match the salary without giving away our core assets? Unless we give Witjer/Chinanuka and a 2nd.....??

 

Yes sir! Anderson is NOT our 3rd best player. It's

1. Harden
2. Gordon
3. Ariza
4. Capela
5. Bev
6. Montrezl
7. Nene
8. Anderson


You don't look at scoring average. You look at their all-around contribution and impact to the team. In that regard, Anderson is really just a one-trick pony in that he can shoot. But when his shots don't fall (which happens alot with him this season), he got absolutely nothing to fall back on.

No defense, no reliable post-game, can't facilitate....pretty bare, man. But when his shots do fall, he's as good as advertised but that's hardly the case with him this season.

Most of his better scorings has come when the game was already decided, and he's padding his stats. I save his one best game was against the Warriors where he was dropping the 3-bombs right when we needed it in our race to take the lead from the Warriors.