IMHO - We have our core - who should play and who could go

I agree with a lot you say, but….. there’s no way you can say Jabari is our best player when he hasn’t played 1 regular season game. Good assessment otherwise

 

Yep I agree I would say jabari is #1 but I would have tari 3 and kpj 4

 

Neither Jabari or Tari have played a single nba game. At the same time last year after preseason, Sengun looked like the best player on the entire team, now after 1 preseason game he’s no longer even a core player. Fickle fans.

 

Yes, that’s based on your projections and I respect that all the way. Right now, Jalen, KPJ, and EG are the best players on the team.

 

I think it's a core 3 right now, comprised of Jalen Green, Jabari Smith, and Tari Eason. KPJ is one mental mishap away from disaster... and I don't think he's the perfect playing-style fit for our team in the long run. Sengun could find himself moving up into the core if he can develop a 35% 3-point shot. Everyone else is an interchangeable asset and open to being moved.

 

Hey I like that term "ari brothers"

 

I want Sengun and JC gone in a couple of years. We all know who needs to bounce asap

 

I agree with the core, though I'd rank them more like:
Green
Smith
KPJ
Eason

Green's putting up all star numbers in his second season after struggling this time last year. It's like watching a brand new player he's evolved so quickly in such a short time. I think ultimately if both hit their peak, Smith's still the #2 star on the team after Jalen. Actually watch the way Jalen moves and the way he's putting things together and ask yourself what other players you've seen move like that in your life? If it's anything like the people who pop in to my head, that's a rarefied bunch in all honesty. I think Smith has by far the highest floor, but I'd say all 4 of KPJ, Eason, Sengun and Green have higher ceilings (with Sengun having the clear lowest floor.) I'd be interested to see if we could play Smith at the 5 tbh and slide Sengun back to the 4, I think you get better mismatches that way and 4's would struggle a lot more with Sengun's game which would allow him to draw more doubles and unlock his passing further. Essentially though, if Sengun develops a 3 and transforms his body over the next couple of years, that's something else as a player. He just has a lot further to go. Eason also has star potential, he just needs to develop an elite offensive skill in his bag and he's probably not got far to go. I think we're in good shape, loads of our role players have potential paths to either being starters or solid role players:

Tate - he's a 3 ball away from being a prototypical glue guy, the mid-point between Bev and PJ for me. I rank him a lot higher than many on CF, he's my type of player. I love a dog.
KJ - If he develops a handle and average D, how is he not a starting calibre 3? Even if he doesn't, he'd be a great off-the bench energy guy for any competitive roster I reckon.
Jaygup - He's shown flashes in the past, he just needs much better decision making. And he's not your ballhandler, he should be a defensive off-guard. But again, starter potential. Skill wise he probably has all-star potential but I don't think he has the IQ to get there.
TyTy - looks like Snoop from the wire, but he's a real PG. You can see it in the way he plays. Doubt he makes it to being a starter, but you still need bench players.
Bruno - Ok, I underrated him. Liking him in our system, could be a dark horse to take the starter job by the end of the year.

Trash/trade fodder
Gordon - get him somewhere they're winning, it's the right thing to do.
Favors - package with EG and see if we can get a decent player back who'd accept a 6th man role and give us some leadership.
Nix - in the garbage
Mathews - I loved that Gary Bird stretch last year, it's a Linsanity moment just lesser though, get him gone.
Stein - Is he even good enough for trade filler? Again, just let him go.

 

Two way play can mean a lot. It can mean a rich man's Ariza or Kawhi. Jabari seems to fit the former mainly because his shot creation ability isn't that of a "best player on a contender". Green is. The best self creation scorer is going to be the most important player. You do know Green would have been selected first overall in 2022 right?

 

The GM selected core are the 2 lottery picks and whatever lottery pick they may possibly add in next draft, the key important pieces with those 2 members are Sengun / Eason / KPJ in that order, Sengun is highly favored by the GM seeing they traded picks to acquire him

everybody else can be on the trade table if the right all-nba / star caliber player becomes avail., and possibly even a key important piece(s) if necessary depending on the targeted player if it ever came to that

the Rockets are probably seeking out the OKC route where they had I think the 2nd / 4th / 3rd overall picks on consecutive drafts which gave them their 3yr tank GM drafted core and had decent pieces around like J Green / Ibaka / N Collison etc., which was i think 2007 - 09, and by 2012 a Finals trip

Rockets are on track with the rinse and repeat NBA cycle

 

Has there ever been an elite offensive player that doesn't have above average self creation skills?

 

Starters
Smith and Green is the core.
Eason could b part of the the big three if his preseason performance translates over into the real games.
Kpj needs to up his game in general to even b Consider a part of the core.

Sengun needs to develop a 3 pt game or up his game at center. If not he will at best b a bench player when a better center displace him.

Bench folks
Christopher could end up as the sixth man.

Tate could b super glue man if he develops a 3pt.

Kmj gonna b honest I don't think he exactly wows me with his game. He shown flash but he needs to have a better defensive game if he wants to b called upon.

Everyone else is expendable. Still holding out on the hope garuba could b used as a defensive jugganut in a defensive lineup but man needs to have some sort of offense game.

Mathews and Gordon should b traded, kmj also if he wants out.

 

The CORE FOUR FIVE - these are must keeps that we will build around.

1. Jabari - best 2 way player, and leadership qualities
2. Green - Scoring off the chart, possible perennial all star.
3. KPJ - Has proven he can play the point, and score the ball
4. Eason - Yep, he is the steal of this year's draft, and fits perfectly
6. Sengun - Very crafty on the low block - smart player, needs to expand his game to completely fit and move into the core.

Developers - or pieces to move in a trade if it makes the top 4 5 better.

8. KMJ - Improving in every area - makes a great combo with Eason - where we have an advantage at SF almost all game long
9. Bruno - Surprisingly effective Big - fits better right now than any other, knows his role and does it well.
10. Christopher - needs star players to play with so he can shine, tries to be the man when he is playing with others and is not good at it.
11. Nix - We really need a backup PG - he really needs to play better
14. Garuba - sets a nice screen good role player, no time to develop him as we have better players still developing

Vipers

12. Ty Ty - See Nix - one of these two needs to step up.

Strictly Trade Bait - should not block playing of CORE or Developers

5. Tate - Our defensive identity, when Jabari is off the floor
7. EGO - Very good player, time to let him go to another team

Bottom 3 - or contracts that are there to be moved and no longer really fit.
13. Gary Mathews - his day is done here, we have better players that are still getting better
15. Favors - Contract only
16. Stein - Might fill in as backup big that rolls to the whole if we move Sengun....etc.

 

You don't know Bucks Sonics Ray Allen do you? Ray Allen is actually a good Jalen Green comparison.


You are really putting your hopes up to irrational levels if you think Habari will be the level of offensive player you just listed.