There are still holes that exists and players available that could contribute significantly. I would like to see the Rockets add a solid spot up shooter and a defensive minded rebounding big man. The team is also lacking the prototypical “3&D” wing unless you consider that to be PJ, who typically spends more time as a big man. Some of the names I would like to see the Rockets look into are Kyle Korver, Andre Iguoudala, Jonas Jerebko, and Jamal Crawford.
Every team will have holes because of a salary cap It's where those holes are that make a difference. On paper, for us, it's OK to be thinner on big men because our coach has a philosophy that prioritizes small ball and in his perfect world we would have 5 guards on the court at the same time. It'd be nice to get a tall lanky 3 and D guy though. But yeah. every team will have a hole somewhere.
2019 Rockets C: Clint Capela PF: Pj Tucker SF: Danuel House SG: James Harden PG: Russell Westbrook 6th: Eric Gordon 7th: 8th: Austin Rivers 9th: Tyson Chandler 10th: Gerald Green 11th: Anthony Bennett 12th: Gary Clark 13th: Isaiah Hartenstein 14th: Chris Chiozza 15th: Micheal Frazier Look like only a spot for a traded spot. No room for Min guys.
Yes he has. He was working on his perimeter defense, 3point shooting and beating people off the dribble from the perimeter.
As it sits, we've got the following as a depth chart: Capela / Chandler / Harty PJ / ??? / Clark Harden / House Gordon / G. Green Westbrook / Rivers Plus guys like D. Davis, Michael Frazier, Trevon Duval, etc. Anthony Bennett. The Rockets have two material ways to improve the team at this point (short of the buyout market midseason) - 1.) using the trade rules to add another ~$6+ M player into the Westbrook deal and 2.) Somehow getting an asset out of Shumpert (and heck, maybe even keeping him). I'd like to see them add a legit 3/4, and then maybe one more 4 who can slide up to 5. If Bennett or Clark emerges (and or House takes another step), it would do wonders for our team. On the trade front, a Covington or Crowder would be a very nice fit for this roster. Of the remaining free agents - I would go after Justin Holiday the most. He's a plus defender, but a streak shooter. It's worth kicking the tires on Korver (more shooting?), Livingston, Jonas Jererbko and Sefolosha if you think there's anything left in the tank. Even Lance Stephenson could actually fill a roll as a wing with experience. If you want to take a flier on a guy, Dragan Bender is an interesting fit as a reclamation project - he made 118 3s on 37% shooting in 2017-2018, then took a step back.
He shot like ass against total rookies lol. Clemens the only one worth keeping in that group imo the Rox would be better of getting guys from other teams like Chris Boucher or Mfiondu Kengebele. With Hartenstein sidelined and Benett already on the roster Rox should sign one or both these guys to fill out the roster.
IMO the Rox are already complete, a guy like Covington is over qualified and wouldnt be happy competing with House as the 4rth wing in the rotation. WB/Rivers/Clemens Harden/Rivers/House EG/House/Rivers Tucker/Benett/Hartenstein Capela/Chandler/Hartenstein/DD The only hole I see is in case of injuries and if Benett turns out to be a bust as a vet min signing. In this case we should sign some more standouts in GLeague and SL for backups. The more you sign the more chances of winning, if we sign like 3-4 dudes maybe one of them turns into another Danuel House for us.
Thabo Sefolosha SF/PF 6'7'' 220 3&D http://saltcityhoops.com/thabo-factor-sefolosha-elevate-teammates/
That bench thou man. Why alot of people have the rockets as still 4th in west. I just do not know about that bench, that why you would almost let Westbrook come off the bench while harden sits, just to be safe lol. Bennett is not going to go far in the nba again, once he gets around some real competition .. Well will see.
Gary is not a summer league pick-up kind of player. His intangible skill set is best with HOF playmaking. We saw it last year as a rookie.
I’d say keep Hartenstein, Clark, Chiozza, then sign Clemons to a 3 year deal with the remaining TP MLE. Harden Westbrook Capela Gordon Tucker House Chandler Rivers Green Hartenstein Clark Chiozza Clemons Waive Davis and Frazier Leaves us with two roster spots, and two 2-way contracts available.
Spoiler Give me one or two more depth guys, probably wouldn't play guys. Jerryd Bayless Trey Burke Jerian Grant Shaun Livingston Shelvin Mack Frank Mason III Reggie Bullock Ian Clark Jamal Crawford Devin Harris Justin Holiday Jodie Meeks Jonathon Simmons Vince Carter Kyle Korver Quincy Pondexter Thabo Sefolosha Iman Shumpert Lance Stephenson Dante Cunningham Cheick Diallo Jonas Jerebko Lance Thomas Kenneth Faried Amir Johnson Kosta Koufos Greg Monroe Joakim Noah Jason Smith Tyler Zeller
The guys I think we’d want as fits on this offense would have to have great catch and shoot numbers and decent dws. If you use cut offs of 1.5 catch and shoot 3s made at 36% it leaves a list of pretty decent wing options. Of note there aren’t like any guys in the league who hit more than 3 catch and shoots a game let alone 4s who do it on a consistent basis. Wings that are potentially gettable include Roco crabbe Miles Darius Miller Crowder Holiday Opj 4s included in last 4 years Love Mirotic Anderson Martian The only guys on that list with near elite d or a dws nearing .1 is roco. Rico is definitively elite and vastly underpaid. There is no doubt in my mind he is one of the best assets in the league and if minny doesn’t keep him they’re using him for dlo. If we offer the farm and a bunch of picks I would do it in a heartbeat. The kid is the most elite 3 and d prospect out there. If he is not gettable. I think the next targets have to be crabbe(this kid is one of the most elite shooting threats. Check out his stats) crowder/miller(bring them in with Westbrook’s trade but I doubt nop let him walk. He’s got the makings of a stud 3 and d guy) and Martian Holiday should be brought in with the rest of the mle. He’s shown enough to at least be a bench option with his shooting. If you cannot get Roco the team should be Wb/rivers Harden/Gordon Crabbe/crowder or Miller/House Tucker/Martian Carpal/chandler The benefit to going after expirings like crabbe/Martian/crowder is they are cheap. Cost less draft capital and we can retain them with birds rights while using mles next year on 4/5 position. Also Gordon is damn elite at catch and shoot. There’s no difference between him and klay. We severely underrate him on this board.
What are you talking about Rivers and House are better than the starters on some other teams. Just look at other teams' rosters before you complain Lakers for example never mind the bench they don't even have a starting 5 just 3 forwards and a center. Clippers have a great starting 5 but after Lou Will and Harrell their bench is just rookies and unknown guys like Sindarius Thornwell. You don't have a team that is great top to bottom it's not possible with the salary cap in place everybody will have a hole somewhere.
