K.J. McDaniels was performing very well for the Sixers and was widely considered the steal of the draft. After being traded to the Rockets he hasn't been getting lots of minutes. Do you guys think that McHale should give him more minutes? What are your thoughts on this? Let me know.
Heard a theory that the Rockets are avoiding playing him to keep his value low for their own purposes. Makes sense - in a twisted sort of way....
no. Brew & Ariza can handle the minutes at the 2/3 spots well enough. Plus, if we don't play him, other teams will be reluctant to give him a big offer as a RFA this offseason, so not playing him lowers his earning potential, which will allow us to resign him for longer at a lower price tag. Plus to top it off, it is probably too late to integrate a player into the rotation properly before the playoffs. Honestly, I think he could really help the team in terms of rebounding and defense. He is a very good rebounder and blocks a lot of shots for a wing player.
Yes. Because Rockets are running their regulars into the ground right before the playoffs. KJ is capable of providing some respite for the wings for 5-10 minutes a game as we enter the final stretch of the regular season. No one else can see that Harden is tired? Ariza and Harden have already played a crazy amount of minutes, Rockets will rely on them even more in the postseason.
I wish he got minutes, but over who? Not worth playing him over Brewer or Ariza. Not worth taking away Harden's minutes. Too small for power forward minutes.
only when rockets are struggling i think he should be in there. he cant shoot for **** but he can slash. give him a few shots. his defense assures he'll always be a positive in limited minutes
He's not a great shooter so I don't know how well he'd fit in. Until we clinch home court, I don't want to see him outside of garbage time.
Why would the Rockets sabatoge their own chances to contend this season in order to possibly save a few million in the offseason? If McDaniels is worthy of minutes on this team, he'd be getting time. He's not worthy of minutes because he's not as good as Brewer or Terry for backup time. Now, whether the Rockets traded for him knowing he's not good enough to get minutes, thereby allowing them to re-sign him in the offseason at a discount, that I'm sure is correct.
No....this isn't the development league. The Rockets are in the hunt for home court advantage in the playoffs....no reason to risk that on an unproven rookie.
I didn't read the other comments yet but he went from the worst team to one of the best of the best teams. He seems pretty chill about it.
They are and it is! ;-)- KJ needs to work hard in practice and be ready. You just never know when an opportunity will arrive to show what you can do. If he consistently kills it in practice, I think McHale will use him if he has to. Like you said, two really excellent veteran players are ahead of him. I'm all for Harden playing fewer minutes and have said so in the past, but tonight was one of those nights when he was feeling it. The Pacers made some second half runs and I don't doubt that James said, "Coach, leave me in." I really don't have a problem with his minutes tonight. We really need the wins. I am worried by the two back-to-backs coming up with only a day between them, though. I'll be watching how McHale uses him during that stretch. Our schedule for the last 8 games is brutal.
long term project if they keep him but he is on a deeper team than his last and will just have to wait until he gets his turn
