Hopefully we are past the great CF civil war over 2021: the year of the armored vehicle. Let's just assume for the purposes of this thread that the Rockets are rebuilding for the future. 2021 has been a nightmare and beyond is going to be up to the Gods as to how quickly the Rockets turn things around. What we do know is that most impact draft picks are going to be around 19 or 20 years old. Google tells me that most NBA players prime is from about age 26 to age 31 (the thinking is that at that age they have learned the game and developed their skill while retaining much of the athleticism from their youth). I certainly would argue that that figure does not take into account a lot of variables (such as position, injury or dependence on athleticism). Big guys tend to peak a little later than that and go a little longer it seems. We all watched what injuries did to Yao's career (and Roy's and Sampson's and Walton's before that). Some guys, like Harden, predicate their game on skill and can maintain a "prime: for longer as thes they slow down a bit. Anyway, the questions here are laid out below: 1) By the time Wood and Tate hit 31 and, if they are like average players, they begin to slow down KPJ will be 26 and the Rocket's 2021 draft picks will be 25. Does this cause concern for anyone? Does this provide a rationale to try and move those guys (Wood and Tate) for draft capital or younger players? 2) If so, when do you make that decision? If not, why? Do you think that there is something amiss with the line of thinking laid out above? 3) Do player's primes even serve as a consideration in team building for you?
No concern whatsoever. It's more likely than not that neither player is on the Rockets in 6 years. That's the way the league works.
I see you are not in the camp that views a quick rebuild on the horizon? That being the case do you look to trade them now? Is either Wood or Tate's value every going to be higher given their contract length and amount?
