This is why the Rockets almost have no choice but to rebuild through the draft. No player that is elite is going to sign with the Rockets as a free agent and the likelihood of trading for a player that turns into a franchise player is very very slim. So the Rockets can try and sign/trade for the Zach LeVine's of the world and win 40 games a year or they can go into the lottery and try to change their team culture.
If that's your philosophy, why would we sell low now? We saw like 10 games with him.... and he's now injured. Why don't we let him play out and trade him like Harden? We get most of his good years and flip him for improved future draft positions? Let him think he's franchise and let the league think he is franchise then trade him at the right time. Plus, you keep him happy so he plays hard every night obviously.
OP you do realize you can still have players on a team even when you are tanking for a pick right. Also who the hell will give up a haul of picks and young talent for wood. When did Wood become Harden
Wood is a good player and is still relatively young. The problem is that he was signed to a contract to gel with the length of the prime of Harden and Westbrook. By the time the Rockets are good again, Wood will be almost a free agent or will in fact be a free agent. Which means the Rockets will likely have to play the going rate for his production AFTER signing the contract he has, so any excess value will be largely gone. That is the case with Tate and Porter as well. Either gamble on their future and extend them as soon as possible or accept that you are not going to lose the benefit of their lower salaries when you are ready to compete and your (presumptive) young lottery players are ready to win and compete.
If Wood continues his ascension into top 10-20 players wouldnt you pay him? Its a no brainer for me unless he wants to chase the biggest bag or has soured on Houston as a destination. I dont think his game has reached its peak so it should make a big contract easy to justify.
Why wouldn't you? It limits your ability to add additional salary or sign the younger players you added through the draft that are entering free agency in roughly the same period. Also, the value of Christian Wood at hid current salary is a lot different than Christian Wood at the maximum. So, it would be smart of the Rockets to decide if they want to extend some of these players now at less money per year than down the line it will cost.
This team will be flush with cash at that time though. It really shouldn't be an issue if this team was able to support TWO max level guys the last few years. I agree IF these young guys want to sign long term deals now do it, but I'd expect that they too would want to strike when the iron is hot. Again if Christian Wood at the time of a new deal is near a top 10 player that wouldnt justify a max deal? Everyone else growing with him would have to start showing some of the same output if they would get near a similar deal and if that happens then we have a GOOD problem on our hands.
Having cap space is one of the ways that a team maximizes it's chances to win. Spending a good portion of that cap space to resign your own players doesn't really help you. Potentially losing players down the line in your organization because your owner won't go into the tax is a real problem. If the Rockets really believe that Wood, Porter and Tate are going to be very good, they are better extending them NOW for less money, that paying more money is a couple of years. So the point being the strong value/contracts of Porter, Wood and Tate will not be such a surplus down the line.
Absolutely - IF these young guys want to sign a commensurate contract equal to CURRENT production Im all for it. I doubt they would though, but Stone should do his due diligence. I dont see max level player from anybody on this roster other than Wood right now, and thats only if his trajectory remains constant. I love KPJ but he's not the one who has an NBA 20/10 going for him TODAY. If this team is pushed into a corner because some of the young guys are reaching max level type deals then we are in dynasty territory and should be competing for rings. That is the plan right?
I agree, I don't know if they would or not either. In the case or Wood, we may be able to tack an extra season on as it gives him security.... as for Tate and Porter, there is more volatility there.
Playoff push with him? You might want to look at the records of the teams we beat and who were out when we played them.
Minny has that type of player as well and how are they doing? All 20 and 10's are not the same, I would rather see how a player does when games really matter than just be happy with stats. I am not saying we can't win with him but all of this ascension to top 20 player is a bit much IMO.
Playoff push? LMAO people can’t help themselves from gassing up and overhyping a 6 game win streak against trash and/or decimated teams
