He was a lotto pick and they declined his third year rookie option. Happens like once a decade. No sh*t he can be had.
Y would the suns decline a 3rd year option? Oh I forgot, the suns unfortunately also has a cheap ass. Dont trade for him, literal no point. We can purse in free agency for a cheaper amount than paying max for Chris wood. Trade wood for assets, get a younger center for cheap = win
I was going to say just send them a "vet for their championship run" like Theis but I remember he's making $8+ million. If they're declining this kid's 3rd year then they sure as hell won't pay for Daniel.
We don't need another project. We have too many already. I'd rather the Rockets go for a slightly older veteran that's a more proven commodity on defense.
But Smith, right now, is "slightly older" than: KJ Sengun JC Green KPJ Garuba at 21 years old. Unless there's a sweet spot you're looking for that's between Smith's age and Wood's age?
I'm not outright opposed to Jalen Smith. I'm just concerned that he hasn't seen that much playing time with the Suns. I'd rather go for another player with a larger sample size of playing time to make a more certain decision rather than taking a bigger risk on an unproven commodity. For example, I'd target a Myles Turner or Mo Bamba over Jalen because they've put up good defensive numbers and have had more playing time to demonstrate their capabilities.
I mean everyone wants a proven commodity over an unproven one but this team, right now, can afford to take risks on players like Smith because we are trying to acquire as much talent as possible at the lowest cost possible. I'd like to see Turner or Bamba in a Rockets uniform but the cost of acquiring either one of those players is higher than what it would take to get Smith, which is what the OP was trying to convey when he made this thread. It wasn't long ago that we had Dwight Howard on the team along with a project big from Switzerland that eventually took away Howard's starting spot. The point is you if you can acquire a high risk high reward talent for cheap you have to do it.
Declined his option because he had shown jack-&-****. Ayton goes out, this kid (who has done nothing) steps in like nothing. Spoiler Ayton Smith Bismack Biyombo(!) is producing too. 0-fer last night DeAndre Ayton (HSP) JaVale McGee (HSP) Dario Saric (torn ACL NBA Finals) Frank Kaminsky (Stress reaction; out indefinitely) Jalen Smith Bismack Biyombo Meanwhile, we got Danny Theis for $9M.
How much money will we have to offer him this off-season? I thought Wall's deal had us up against the cap. Also, will he be our new Marquese Chriss?
