Noah and Lee would be nice role players. Lot of fight and grit in their game. Something the Rockets sorely lacked.
these 3 guys would change the face of the franchise. You get two constant professionals in Horford and Gasol and a hard nose bulldog in Rondo. I would think Horford would demand the most money but all three would stretch us thin I would think. Rondo Harden Ariza (if not traded in a package deal with jones) Horford Gasol
I could see the rockets completely missing on all FA additions, but then using the cap space to help another team swing for a FA they couldn't sign on their own with. The Rockets will not lure Durant, but who is to say they couldn't help a team make room for Durant.
He seems like he's a great player that will deserve his max. Young. Plays the right way. He's on the right team. Acts the right way. Then you watch him play and you're like.... hmm.... something is missing. I've seen emerging wings like Middleton, Leonard, Batum and Hayward show me more than Barnes has so far. And now I'm seeing more that interests me from players like Rodney Hood & TJ Warren (who are not on Barnes' current level, yet). I look at Barnes and he feels like a Gary Neal tier guy to me. Worth some good money, moves the needle, great fit, but he's not your #2 on a contender.
to follow up on my previous post... Ekpe Udoh 28yrs old (matured, in his prime) 6-10 240 72%FT (no hacks) Has always been above average shot blocker..his defense shouldn't be an issue. Not a great rebounder, but at the 4, production should be solid at about 8 boards a game. Offensively, he can actually threaten to take a mid-range jumper. He's fluid, as a big, with the ball. His shot looks good enough, where he might be able to take some threes..maybe. Effort, in general, looks good. Good character. I think that's an improvement over most of our 4s....although he'd be a back up, but still the type of player we can actually get some use out of. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HnHv3yR4eIM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
It's very hard to say prior to knowing who our head coach will be. The system could be drastically different therefor the players needed will be drastically different. Good news for the next head coach is there should be extreme flexibility this offseason.
But can he play the 5? Because i'm not sure we're going to have problems in the 4 spot from the bench...Beasley and Harrell will probably be here, maybe even D.Mo...
I don't think DMo will be back..and Beasley is a bargain, but they'd have to decline him to open up all the cap space, i believe, which may be necessary. I don't see why he can't play the 5, when a team goes small. Regularly? Probably not...but then again, you never know with the small ball movement. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R9aFJTrbn5g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I almost feel like its a bit pointless to discuss... because I think everyone has pretty much the same list. Durant = option 1 Horford = option 2 Then the rest of the guys tiered. They either like the Rockets new pitches and offers or don't. Who knows. I think its helpful to look at trade potential, too. And that, frankly, is where Ariza comes in. I'd rather keep him, and move Brewer, but you have to trade value to get value. Since Ariza is our only real tradeable asset left, it makes sense then for the Rockets to be thinking a lot about a SF in free agency. Because it'd be great to get Durant and Horford, or Batum and Horford, and then have the option of moving Ariza for something else useful.
It may have been mentioned already, but I feel the Rockets really need to place an emphasis on high IQ players. Dudley is a great example of this, we have Dmo already and I think adding a player like Conley (I don't feel Durant is attainable) will help tremendously. The Warriors have great shooters, but that they have several high IQ players in Curry, Green, Bogut, Livingston and Iggy. Their ability to think on their feet is what separates them from the rest of the league.
I love Conley , not sure if he is the best fit with harden ( I don't know how good his dribble penetration is ) but he is my number 1 . KD ain't coming don't waste time . Aside from Conley , Batum is a great get . Would love and pushes Ariza to the bench . Time to bring Sergio over A few high upsideish warm bodies at center and pf would be nice . Beasley is our best trade asset and his value will never be higher , expect to see him flipped .
Ariza isnt our only tradeable asset. Except for harden and Ariza there is all our picks ,second rounders, capela, harrell, kj, dekker and beverly. Also dmos bird rights. (Not likely that those are worth anything). They may not all of them worth much but all of them have positive value and are fully tradeable.
Horford is only a year younger than Howard. It looks like we may return to the no 8 no 9 seed days until harden decides to leave.
