Bill Simmons: “In the whisper circles, everybody seems to think he’s going back to Houston.”

VanVleet is fine if we don't land Scoot in the draft and Harden doesn't come back.

He doesn't bring anywhere near what Harden does in terms of making us better right away. This team plus like VanVleet and Khris Middleton or Draymond Green or whatever? Probably still not a playoff team unless one of the young guys has a really explosive breakout season. This team plus Harden and MLE/vet minimum guys? Just might sneak in.

 

VanVleet: 29yo 6'0 PG averaging 19/7/4 on 39/34/89
Would cost ~$140M/4.
Currently leading Toronto to a disappointing season and Raptors fans are ready to drive him to the airport rather than pay him.
Current top 75ish player in the NBA.

Harden: 33yo, 6'5 PG averaging 22/11/6 on 45/40/87
Would cost $200M/4
Currently running the offense of a top 4 team in the league and Sixers fans will be crying if he leaves.
Current top 15 player in the NBA, top 2 player in Rockets history, top 40 player in NBA history

And people are arguing for signing VanVleet?

 

one word: defense

three words: defense and $

nobody is arguing that VanVleet is a better player than Harden. It's what fits the Rockets' needs right here and right now

 

No sane individual wants a low efficient chucker like Fred over harden

 

Need a fvv rockets jersey after what he said about the refs

 

in my partial defense, since I was the one who brought up VanVleet, that was simply off the top of my head as I vaguely recalled him being up for free agency this year. More of a thinking-out-loud rather than wanting a "low efficiency chucker like Fred OVER Harden."

Again, my doubts about Harden are multiple and plural: I fear his age; I fear his cost; I fear his leadership; I fear his health; and . . . wait for it . . . I fear his Beard.
















I'll be here all week, try the veal

 

Both are a pipe dream tbh. Im happy with either

 

Name them.

 

Fred literally makes no one better. He is an average playmaker with limited court vision and is an inefficient chucker.

 

Folks on here were fine signing CP3 even with his advanced age, but for harden who we have been hearing for years has a a game that would age well is too much of a risk.

 

We have to be prepared in case Harden decides not to come back to Houston. We would still need vets at our guard positions if we don't land Scoot. Van Vleet is 37% from 3 for his career. He is having a down year. His Ast/TO Ratio is in the 7/2 range. If no Harden, I can accept Van Vleet due to lack of options. Dinwiddie is a free agent in 2024. I may trade for Dinwiddie because the cost (in terms of assets) would be low. Then sign Josh Hart.

These aren't the sexiest options. But in a year with very few options, this is best scenario that I can come up with. Unless there is some disgruntled PG out there that I'm not aware of.

 

what are examples of these? They make no difference if they don't impact winning of someone that's capable of doing it at a high level. There's not one player close to that of Harden this summer

We've already seen less expensive folks like EG, Theis the likes of who don't matter without an actual star.

 

never forget

 

I wonder why we don’t hear the “if Van Vleet signs here, it’s just for the money” rationale like we do with Harden

 

signing the likes of FVV or DLo to some huge money deal would just be disastrous and a typical Tilman move because he struck out on the real prize in Harden. That would make another F of an offseason

 

I just hope they have a plan B if Harden doesn't return.

 

dude doesn’t even stay healthy either

he’s missed 28, 20, and 17 games the past 3 years…he’s missed 12 games so far this season

a tiny, inefficient PG approaching 30 who usually misses 20 games a year…he’ll be washed before Harden while never being close to Harden’s current level to begin with

 

but he's not gonna cost us $200+ million either

 

he’ll cost 140-150 million and will likely age worse than Harden while currently being nowhere near his level right now

We should sign the oft-injured, much worse player so Tilman can save 50 or so million over the next 4 years?

Harden’s impact on the young players’ performance will be well worth the difference in cost

 

hey, if Harden decides to come here, great, I'm all in. But I still don't really see it happening