Rockets open to trading John Wall for Russell Westbrook if incentivized

Trading a Harden coming off of an MVP win would have netted us a TON.

 

And the wrong response.

The better and correct response was PATIENCE. Improve around the 2 instead.

Like Morey and D'Antoni both preached.

Both strongly believed a Harden-CP3 pairing would win a ring.

But Tilly got cold feet and rest was history.

 

The problem I have with that is why on earth would we want Horton-Tucker? He's a shooting guard who has underperformed. Heck, he was a 2nd round pick in his draft who's currently hitting about 25% of his 3's. We'd be doing LA a favor by simply taking the guy off their hands, and for Eric freakin' Gordon? I have to laugh!

 

I need picks.
Lakers will have to come off some to improve.

Rocket River

 

Believe it or not, THT or Horton is one of the only young assets they have left next to draft picks.

 

Westbrook, 2027 & 2028 first round picks, 2023 or 2024 second round pick for Wall and EG.

 

I just listened to bit of this Lakers fan meetup thing on Twitter, and boy that’s some kind of fan base. One things for sure though… I don’t know if the positives that Lebron brings a team are worth the drama.

That’s besides the point though because they seem to have more hope in Wayne Ellington making a difference than they are potentially John Wall and as pathetic as that sounds, it’s hard to disagree with them when you think about it.

I don’t think we are getting anything better than a second round pick for trading Wall for Russ. I mean I would prefer that over just buying Wall out but Tillman probably thinks differently.

Most likely scenario seems to be that they keep him till July and but him out before preseason if there’s no takers in a draft night or free agency trade.

 

The trade is ridiculous. Scratch the 1st rounder bc that is the price for taking Westbrook. It would make no sense for the Rockets to trade Wall straight up. The drama and bad press the Rockets would have for sitting Westbrook would make Jimmy Butler's end in Minnesota look cordial. So, basically THT straight up for EG would be the trade. It makes no sense, I'd rather have a future 2nd rounder.

 

Yes, that did not make any sense. The only way the Rockets do Wall for Westbrook is to get that 2027 FRP. They should expect an even better FRP for Gordon alone, so there is no way they combine two separate deals that should each net a FRP for a single pick and an underperforming player whose only value is that he's not on a minimum contract (which becomes a negative value in this situation).

Now, because Wall and Westbrook's contracts are pretty much identical, I would certainly look into the trade of those two for the 2027 pick. I don't value the pick itself very much, but I do like having that additional asset to sweeten any other deal that Stone might be working on. While I don't see Westbrook playing the part of a good soldier and riding the pine the way Wall does, I think Westbrook might actually opt out of the final year in order to latch on somewhere else. I would be surprised if he didn't feel like he's got enough years left that he could recoup it on a team that suits him a little better.

 

The FRP is for taking Russ off their hands. Paperwork for that large contract swap is extra work. Front Office don't need it unless compensated. It's not a charity here.

Taking THT (overpaid) for Gordon is highway robbery. Only angle I can muster is the rumor can make other GMs more serious at their offers for Eric. Send those FRP offers.

Stone should remember there's only so many "Vets" we have that people actually want. Once you trade that chip, it's gone.

 

and what did Harden do? He took his ball and ran out of town once the $hit hit the fan, but can’t blame him if there are dummies at the top who ok’d it and what did one of them do? He bailed also.

 

I’d do the move to do right by Gordon and get that 2027 first. I really think it will be a top 5 pick. Lakers are screwed in 5 years.

 

I actually think the deal has a good chance to happen and I think if the Rockets buyout Brodie completely for the rest of the season he will waive his player option to go to Clippers immediately. He NEEDS to stay in LA. He probably thinks he can get the mid level exception there or some clever step up Bird deal down the line.

I think all of the wanting Brodie to be a good boy is about Pelinka trying to buy time to make a better deal but there are no deals. They shot their load at Jerami Grant and Pistons laughed at them. Their pieces just are worthless. Bron has been in Paul's ear who has told Pelinka to get Wall just like what happened with Davis. It's so blatantly obvious. If this goes down I will LMAO. If we also jettison Gordon it will be a whole new future. We can then churn bad deals for assets or have two max slots.

 

I know. Ain't it weird? We're seeing the decline and fall, at least for a few seasons, of one of the storied franchises of the NBA. They have to know it, and they have to be desperate. Right now, the Lakers have absolutely no chance in seriously competing for a title. Heck, getting into or past the 1st round. They aren't fooling anyone, and LeBron's time is running out.

I can't think of any other way for them to toss Westbrook aside and get a player who can actually fit pretty well, providing much of what they thought they might have received in their delusional fantasy from Russ, than the Rockets and John Wall. It would be nice to get Gordon to the Lakers along with Wall, taking Westbrook (god help us) in the process. I have to admit that doing a solid for Eric like that would be a feel good thing.

So what do we get for Gordon? Come up with not only that Lakers 1st in '27, with minimal or no protection, but also something else of value to compensate us for Eric, perhaps from a team that needs a player like Wood to make a playoff run. I'm not sure what that might be, preferably another pick/pick swap, maybe a talented young point guard, or both. If we keep KPJ, I'm still not convinced that he's the answer at the one. I think he might be at the 3. We don't need another shooting guard, that's for sure, not with Green and Christopher, in my opinion. Not sure who might like to get involved in something like that. Just spit balling.

 

There is no way Brodie gives up $47M, no freaking way. He isn't exactly convincing other GMs that he is the last piece to the puzzle to even pay him mid level money. This is Brodie's likely last big deal in the NBA. He has looked that freaking bad this season. Who knows, maybe money doesn't matter to him and he really gives up $47M to play on a minimum contract next season, but I sure as hell don't see that happening.

 

Screw Stein and his hypothetical. No way I would give Gordon to the Fakers. I want them to burn to the ground.

 

He will not play for the min next season but he would take min to play for Clips rest of this season.

 

The Fakers may not even make the playoffs no matter what they do lol.