Instead of pursuing Max Players, should the Rockets focus in on bring proven shooters/scorers?

The model for success.


Billups? #3 overall pick like Harden but Bounced around from Boston to Toronto to Minnesota.

Rip? Had 2 big scoring seasons before going to Detroit of 18 and 20ppg with Washington though he was injury prone and not so efficient before going to Detroit.

Tayshaun? #23 pick. Super skinny but super long athlete that dropped in the draft.

Sheed? Vet player with attitude problems. Former #4 draft pick that played for Washington, Portland and then traded to ATL before being the final piece of the Pistons. He was 29 years old.

Ben Wallace? 6'9 if that. Undrafted. Averaged 5 and 8 with a steal and over a block and a half with his last seasons in Washington and Orlando before signing with Detroit.


Comparable players in this free agency?
Lets say Rip is Harden

Ben Wallace. Could Bismak Biyombo be a good comparison? Nearly identical stats to Ben Wallace before Ben went to DET. Though Ben was great at stealing and Biyombo isn't.

Sheed: A vet stretch 4 that can be a game changer when on fire? Don't really see it out there. Staying with DMO might be best option. Or combining Sheed's attributes into a starter and backup. Hardest player to find. We have been searching for our stretch 4 since forever.

Tayshaun: Batum? Can handle the ball, can defend, can rebound and actually blocks as good as Tayshaun used to. + Batum is the better assist man. Almost = in shooting.

Billups: Easy. Mike Conley. Nearly identical career numbers so far. Ask Conley to pick up the scoring a bit more.

Bench guy?

Lindsey Hunter? Bev fills the role perfectly.

Corliss Williamson? 9ppg 3rpg. Pretty easy to find. Ariza is a great backup 3 to have if we can afford to keep him. Duddley would be a great backup 3 as well.

Memo Okur. Tough to find. Another stretch big.

Elden Campbell. Clint Capela.


Coah: Larry Brown - Jeff Van Gundy seems logical

 

^^^^dont complicate things...you need as many players as possible, with multiple basketball skills...shooting, dribbling, passing, defense. We hardly have any...get more, plain and simple.

 

OK so target Conley, Batum and Biyombo. Simple enough.

 

Morey and Les both want a big 3 in Houston so it's likely, we'll be giving another max contract this off-season. Plus, I think Harden is sick of carrying the offense by himself every night, he would want another all-star caliber player on this team that can carry the offense.

 

Is it even possible to build a team around Harden that can be a ligitimate contender before Harden leaves? It seems like it would take several elite players deciding to come to Houston to play with Harden. Some of those players may have to sacrifice some money in order for it to work. Is Harden the type of player that other players will want to play with?

It seems unlikely that the Rockets could pull this off. Not impossible, but unlikely. If it turns out that Morey can't assemble a "super team", then the Rockets need to move forward to build a team the old fashioned way. Trade Harden before his value is gone, and gather as many young players and draft picks as possible.

It's important to recognize that the Warriors are possibly one of the great teams in NBA history, and that they are unlikely to slip much in the next few years. This may be a good time to start rebuilding a team with young players. By the time the team has matured and is ready to compete, then maybe the Warriors will start their decline.

 

This is mostly on Leslie, which is why it will never happen. We will continue to chase stars and once that fails, we pick up some scraps and leftovers. Leslie will never learn.

 

I agree with this. We should bring in borderline all star guys who are 3 and D players

 

Thought that was the reason for bringing in Thornton =/

 

Agree with all of this. Try to build a legit surrounding cast around Harden in free agency, which should be difficult considering the whole league has cap space. If we strike out and have to settle for players like that Kirk Hinrich guy suggested, trade the Beard and rebuild.

And if we do rebuild (hell, even if we don't), get a legitimate coach that will build a winning, team-oriented culture.

 

first, there's only 2 max players you know who. with good team management u can add whiteside and drummond. but kd's the only one that might leave, the others aren't going anywhere.

whoever gives a max to anyone else will screw themselves and lucky if their team makes it to the conf finals.

if rockets cant get drummond or whiteside, they should go after role players and fringe all stars. i think conley is gonna get the max or near max but i'd still go for it. as i said with good team management u can get away with one bad max in this new crazy cba.

trade big and pay big should be the rockets offseason. busy as hell. only keepers are harden, kj, montrezl, beaslye and capela. all 4 of those guys are on cheap contracts and will give us a huge cap space boost if they're used right.

 

You want the best team, then go get the best players.

 

Kenneth Bazemore is the player I want

 

Bazemore fournier Barnes Durant conley horford.

 

Might as well. Hasn't done that in two seasons.

 

Yes they should have been doing this long ago. You get the best coaches and players you can. You don't keep risking everything like this then you end up with nothing.

 

Iggy carried a team in Philly - he is a 6th man

They have alot of talent

Rocket River

 

If this were those Detroit days, you guys would shun at getting Rasheed Wallace. "We don't need thugs, DMo's better anyway" smh

 

The Rockets starting lineup for next season should be

Harden
Fournier
Beasley
Dmo
Whiteside

Ryan Anderson as 6th man.

 

If we fail on Durant, I would not touch Horford, he's past 30 and his #s suggest a steady decline. Would love him with Durant and Harden as that's a championship window, but otherwise, no. If we fail at Durant, our focus should be guys like Whiteside / Batum / Fournier etc, guys who are still young.

 

I was a Harrison Barnes fan.. Thinking he doesnt get enough shots to show his superstardom.. But hell , he not hitting the shots he's getting... If we do go after him, i damn sure wouldnt offer the max