I think if the Rockets are serious about getting KD to sign here they have to secure all the pieces first that would make a compelling enough environment for him to sign. Sign a quality head coach that KD could play under.... Sign a max complimentary player like Horford.... Basically solve as many of the outstanding questions or concerns about the team. You can't ask a FA like KD to sign on faith with our teams history. You'd have to minimize as much of his risk as possible on the front end, which means the Rockets have to front the risk for him IMO (i.e. signing people, making trades, and committing to contracts without assurances of him signing with us).
Leaving it all up to him. You choose the coach. You choose the 3rd star. You choose the uniforms. Just kidding. Those are off limits. And now everyone wants the 6th seed to upset OKC to make Houston more attractive. And if they don't?
I think the Rockets have as good as a chance as everyone else, except the Thunder, to sign Durant. I don't think Warriors would be a team Durant would want to join given the questions and statement surrounding Duran's ability to win without a team like the Warriors. Despite the usual cry baby, pee pants around here that have such a dystopian view of the Rockets, we still are in a good spot.
Say Durant leaves OKC. Who do you think the top 5 or 6 possibilities are that he might choose? A place he can win. A place with a future. An organization he likes. Players he wants to play with. A coach and GM he likes. The money will be the same everywhere. Will he prefer East or West, or will that not factor in?
That would be the high risk. Signing a coach he wants, signing other players he wants, trading players he doesn't want, firing coaches he doesn't want.....all in advance of him even signing. The risk would be to give assurances of all those things being done before he'd sign. Huge risk without KD being signed and making moves like that. But I think that's what you'd have to do if your the rockets to have a shot at signing him.
I think that's what he was getting at. Sign KD then give him a big say in who comes to Coach and what 3rd star him and harden want. I think the rockets have a great shot at KD ppl around here are really underselling harden and also his friendship with KD. Harden and durant from a basketball standpoint fit perfectly together a lot better than Westbrook and KD. Add the fact they can get a coach like thibs who both know and respect as well as keep ariza and bev as well as sign another max contract and it doesn't take a genius to see Houston is a really good option for KD. A closing linup of bev/harden/ariza/durant/FA is as good as any in the NBA and better than him/russ/ibaka/waiters/Roberson. U get better defensive players and a lot better shooting.
I think it's the following (and for those that disagree, you know as little as I do so maybe you're right maybe you're wrong): 1) Warriors (only if they don't win the championship; also known as lose to the Spurs). Otherwise, if they win, I say no way he goes there and be labeled a ring chaser 2) OKC (short contract) 3) Rockets (yay) 4) Lakers (only if they can bring in someone else too. It's the lakers.)
There are a hell of a lot of better teams than the rockets. And don't cite the "but but Harden excuse." Durant is going to go where he has the best shot of winning, not grab booty glazed with A1 on the weekends.
No no no...we have done the YOU CHOSE route, players SUCK at chosing, CHOSE a good coach, and the players will come here. DD
Yeah, my feeling all along is that they have to get someone like Horford to be part of the deal. Sort of like what the Suns tried to do with Tyson Chandler to woo in Aldridge. Like I said in my initial post, if the word on the down low is that Horford is a player KD would like to play with, then Morey needs to try to make it a package deal. I also agree that it would be best to have the new coach in hand. Someone that can be part of the recruiting. Hopefully someone that commands respect. The Rockets have to be bold and strong here. They need a solid foundation considering the mess they are in now.
Yeah but that's not what I'm saying. You'd have to sign players and coaches without any direct say on KD's part. You just go after the best pieces that fit him and Harden and pieces that make us a more attractive destination for him without any assurances of him signing here. I can't believe I'm actually going to say this but I tend to agree with DD on this one. You go out and sign players and coaches that make this a better team and hope a player like KD signs. Not the other way around. This is what I'm saying....
Can help but think it would be conflicts on whose team it is with two ball dominant guards lol. But Westbrook is a better distributor than Harden. He just isn't a better scorer. But I guess u take it chances with 3 of the top 5 players in the world on ur team.
Where does that actually work in the NBA aside from the Spurs? You should listen to Jared Dudley when he's on the Lowe Post podcast as he gives actually insight into player's thought process. Coach isn't a top priority over location and money.
If it's not a priority to players (like KD) then shouldn't we go after one that we think is good for the team and organization as a whole? I mean if that's the case who we get as a HC shouldn't matter to KD one way or the other then right?
Meh, whatever..... everything I have heard is that the Rockets are going to offer a maximum contract to Mike Conley very early in free agency anyway.
Really, very interesting. Wish they were that aggressive when they were pursuing Lowry. Everything I have read says Conley is coming back to Memphis. Seems really close with that group and Gasol.
If Durant wants to win not sure why he would come here anymore. just a year ago, we looked like a very attractive place. Western Conf finals. Young, strong core in Dwight + Harden, with harden arguably being a top 3 player ahead of Westbrook. One year later Westbrook is clearly the better player right now and Dwight looks like he's on his way out. Thunder also have a much more promising supporting cast. Why would durant choose us over the thunder?
