I keep reading posts about how we need to be patient and not give up too much for a guy like Dragic. Realistically Dwight has maybe 1 or 2 years of being an elite player and even that is no guarantee. How many super stars has Morey gone after and how many has he gotten? There is a finite amount of time to have any real chance at a ring. I think he needs to go for broke this year and next. Cap flexibility does not guarantee players will come. Without Howard this team is not a contender. The Yao Tmac era was very short.
We have a short window with current Howard contract. After that we'll see and reload with a still young Harden. Another thing is that the NBA is pretty wide open this year. Next year the Cavs may give LeBron more to work with.
1 potential Championship with Dragic, Harden and D12 or 2-3 Potential Championships with Harden, Dmo and an elite supporting cast once D12 comes off the books? Don't get me wrong, I would warmly welcome Dragic here as long as Dmo is not included in package because you fill one need but create another at PF if Dmo is traded (which he wont be because he has been taken of trade talks).
If nothing gets done in Houston I think Harden might switch to a team where he actually can win. DM better make the right moves and fast.
As soon as we paired Harden and Howard, we should have started shooting for the moon. We should be shooting for the moon now. Windows of opportunity are incredibly short - and more importantly not guaranteed. Rockets = injuries. I'm a big Morey fan, but I disagree with anything that short-changes the present for the future, given the roster we currently have.
Yes, as long as you have a player like Harden, you can just keep reloading. I think Morey is always thinking a few years out. I think Morey will do everything he can to make us a stronger contender this year, but at the same time not locking us into some bad long term contracts. If Howard was 100% healthy, I think he would be more willing to risk everything now.
However, not having cap flexibility guarantees players will not come. Yes, I want Dragic as a Rocket, but not at the expense of Dmo (unless we get Ersan [not Arsen] or the equilivant in return).
Re Spagnolo o__O McDaniels has the potential to be a well rounded player and then some in the NBA. Hopefully this new system, team, environment, coach, along with veteran and talented leadership will improve his game especially his offensive efficiency.
I don't want to hold my breath. If we keep getting rejected in the first round and if Harden balls out with no support I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up getting pursued by the Lakers. He's from LA. He loves the spotlight. The Lakers will attract him since they were his team growing up.
James Harden was the reason we didnt get past the first round. Don't misunderstand me, i love James. D12 though he's not been the player we have needed this year brought him game last year in the playoffs.
Still under contract for 3 more years after this but yeah, if they keep flaming out in the first round (even if they mix in a 2nd round exit), he'll test the waters. As for their [H&H] window, this year and maybe next. <PRE> Sala Player 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 Dwight Howard 21,436,271 22,359,364 23,282,457 James Harden 14,7288,44 15,756,438 16,784,031 17,811,625 Trevor Ariza 8,579,089 8,193,030 7,806,971 7,420,912 Jason Terry 5,850,313 Kostas Papanikolaou 4,800,000 4,600,000 Corey Brewer 4,702,500 4,905,000 Alexey Shved 3,282,056 4,102,570 Josh Smith 2,077,000 Terrence Jones 1,618,680 2,489,530 3,532,643 Donatas Motiejunas 1,483,920 2,288,205 3,278,997 Clint Capela 1,189,200 1,242,720 1,296,240 2,334,520 3,429,422 Joey Dorsey 948,163 1,015,421 Patrick Beverley 915,243 1,181,348 Isaiah Canaan 816,482 947,276 1,215,696 Nick Johnson 507,336 845,059 980,431 </PRE>
agree he needs to go for it now/next year. My ideal would be Dragic and then swing a last-minute basement deal to bring K-Mart back (esp if Terry has to go to match contracts in either deal)
The only way I see him "testing the waters" is if KD goes to a large market in need of a SG (LAL, NYK), and they have the cap room to add a guy like Harden in 3 years. Lakers scare me...Potential to add an Okafor (and with our pick maybe a Tyus Jones?), with Randle, then tons of cap room. Could be an intriguing location for future free agents on the wing.
Unfortunately, I think the window has passed with the current squad (or perhaps there isn't a window at all). First off, I don't think Dwight will ever be elite again - given the mileage he's incurred, his recent injury history and the statistics for big men with similar mileage, he will be at best a solid starter who can give you 10 pts, 10 boards and maybe a block a game while missing 20-25 games per season. That's simply not going to cut it as a 2nd option and it certainly isn't getting adequate value from the highest paid player on the roster. 2nd, the front office doesn't seem to have figured out the best team with which to surround James. From my perspective, we just don't have enough offensive talent that can punish teams from double teaming or aligning their defense to stop him. None of our big men have a consistent midrange or 3pt jumper, none of our wings have shown to be great at cutting to the basket and nobody big or small is able to create his own shot. The only need the FO has addressed is an improvement of the perimeter D via the signing of Ariza but his shot has been broken more often than not. Even a healthy Dwight never seemed to develop any real chemistry with James on the offensive end of court - his insistence on having post plays run for him didn't mesh at all with Harden's offensive talents. So I'm thinking that there is just too much improvement needed to the team before we can start thinking about a championship window. Even with an upgrade at PG, I don't think a Harden-Howard core with the current role players is the right mix.
