The Rockets are not going anywhere if Morey continues to surround Harden with scrubs, trying to plug a few in here and there every year. If you were the GM what would you do to take the Rockets to the next level? I'd start by signing some FA's that can play. My targets would include Danny Green, Milsap, Tobias Harris, Wes Matthews, and Brandon Wright, and perhaps Louis Williams. Harris is young and shoots the 3 ball. He average 17 ppg and is only 23-years-old. Green is another guy that can hit the 3 ball at a high percentage... much better than Brewer, who has never shot the ball well. The Rockets also need another rebounder that can run the floor and hit the mid range shot. Milsap is that guy. He's tough and would bring an energy to the team that currently doesn't exist. Wright is an intimidating interior defender that has developed a nice mid range game. Obviously Louis Williams fills the need at the PG position but that's where I'd use the draft pick. Llul would obviously be another option although I have my doubts about him since he's not a particularly good 3 pt shooter.
Just because they took GSW to 5 games in the WCF missing 2 starters means nothing next year. Healthy OKC is lurking, GS will still be there, Clippers may be improved. Spurs are never an easy out. This is not even mentioning Memphis or Utah. Bottom line is Morey needs to once again make a splash acquisition, someone of Lawson/Lowry caliber.
Lowry is my dream targe, which I believe could be acquired with the right Trade. After that, it's easy to say "bring in" "sign this guy" but you have to take into account flexibility, with cap and depth. A Gm needs to be able to repair If needed. Look at the Nets or the Knicks. They signed players like crazy. Then they have to wait for them to come off the books. Morey is patient. That's ok. He knows how to do his job.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">RealGM Source: Eric Gordon's scoured NBA market for possible long-term deal out of NOLA despite opt-in expectation. <a href="http://t.co/ixAvI3oKZd">http://t.co/ixAvI3oKZd</a></p>— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/610980517329174528">June 17, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Yep, we need to improve the point and the four if we have any hope of making it to the Finals before Dwight's window is shut.
Royce White and Terrence Williams are still up for taking... Royce White got an invite but he will be waived and free to take
LMA, obviously. Other than him I'd probably let Brewer walk and go for Dunleavy/Barnes/Pierce. There aren't many affordable free agents out there.
The issue we had in the playoffs was we got exposed at the PF and PG positions. We need a legit starting PF, Jones just doesnt cut it. Due to Jones failure at starting PF, we had to use J smith more then we want him to play. Jones is too inconsistent at this point to start.
Interesting that the positions we "got exposed at" were the same positions we had starters out due to injury. Hrmm....
Last summer Morey made absolutely no splash acquisitions and despite all of the "The sky is falling" fan talk the Rockets did just fine. The current roster needs fine tuning, not another shake up. Resign everyone, draft wisely for future use, spend the MLE money well and pray to the basketball gods for many fewer injuries next season and the Rockets should be as good as any team in the league.
Yeah isn't it? No one talks about losing the third and fifth best defensive players on the roster, two starters mind you, and the ability to space the floor reliably with D-Mo, and a guard that can stay in the front pocket of the Curry's and Paul's of the league. It is just like it did not matter.
The only absolutely necessary upgrade is at PG. Patrick Beverly was starting on this team out of necessity. Morey's inability to upgrade that position at the deadline was a blunder in my eyes. Beverly getting hurt really accentuated that fact during the playoffs.
