If we don't draft a PG and don't land Harden, who do you want playing point guard next season?

I mentioned Murray about 3 posts prior to yours ....

I wonder what it would take to pry him away from the Hawks?

2 or 3 first round picks (Not this years early choice).?

Clippers pick plus the 2024 pick from Brooklyn ??

 

Dame is nice but that contract is massive and can hurt our team's ability to upgrade in other areas.

For Rockets to improve to the middle of the pack next two years, every position needs improvement. Be it from current guys or outside.

When evaluating guys like Dame/Harden, it works if they agree to serve as a bridge. Harden might agree, but motivation-wise, Dame doesn't fit. Why would he serve as a bridge here, when he can be ringless, but still loved in Portland. If he leaves, it'll be for a team who has core pieces further along.

 

I'd try to get these guys before keeping KPJ at PG next year.

FVV
Murray
Jones
Conley (as a mentor/coach on the floor for a year or two)

the options (aside from harden and rookies) are slim. I'm not all that high on KPJ as a PG but I still don't see a lot of realistic upgrades

 

Really as far as vets are concerned, it’s Harden or Conley for me. FVV and Murray are too expensive either in money or draft picks for what they are. Harden and another vet signing like Bridges or Brown put us in contention for the playoffs next year. In the case of Harden, it really comes down to length of contract. I’d be nervous about a 4 year max, but probably would pull the trigger.

 

as long as it doesn't impinge our ability to resign jalen, jabari, our '23 pick without going into the tax I'm fine with the full max too. maybe front loading it is the answer?

 

No. The last thing we want is another shoot first PG. Lillard is obviously an upgrade to KPJ. But he's not going to make the other guys better, which should be the highest priority if we are going to bring in an old hand.

 

Sign an undrafted Shead? Sell the farm for that NOP Avocado? Both would bring more defensive energy than we've got.

 

That Lillard fellow sure sounds a whole lot like that Harden fellow.

Just saying.

 

the options are definitely few, no doubt. Agree with FVV. He’s the only real top tier free agent PG available. But he’s 29, so I’m not sure he fits our window very well. Certainly he’d help our overall player development and competitiveness in the near-term. A 3-yr deal would be ideal but we’ll probably have to go 4 years.

not sure why Atlanta would trade Murray after giving up so much for him just a year ago. At 26, he’s be at the top of this list for me if he was available.

Tyus Jones would be up there as well. Another guy that fits our window, and he’s good enough to start for over half the teams in the league.

I liked the idea of getting Conley last year, but having seen him play this year, I think he’s really fallen off. Definitely a good backup but not a starter anymore.

 

With a new coach and holding players accountable, I believe KPJ would be fine.

DD

 

Would FVV really be a significant improvement? I mean, I guess it could be argued either way, but when the numbers are very similar across the baord don't you kind of choose to go with the 22 year old over the 29 year old?

Now factor in that the 22 year old currently has a better TS% and is a better 3 point shooter....I think it's kind of clear you don't waste the money on the older guy.

 

Agree on this. No way would I pay FVV near max, although his defense is an upgrade. To me it’s pretty much Harden or a journeyman like Conley or Caruso. If it’s not Harden, I think we will be lucky to get to 30 wins even if we get Wemby or Scoot.

 

Scoot Henderson is 2 years away from being a good NBA starting PG.

DD

 

If 29 is too old for our window, how does a 34-year-old Harden make sense? I think 29 is okay for a 4-year deal. That's the later part of a guy's prime. I just hope it's not a max amount. FVV is not worth that much.

 

Ah missed it.

I think it all depends… I think two late-ish FRP plus a few contracts (hopefully they like KPJ as a 6th man on a very team friendly contract) should do the trick if we just want Murray.

We also need a center… I’d ask about Capela (two years at $22 million/yr remains). I’d prefer a younger, cheaper center but we might have to give up less assets if we take Capela off their books.

 

Would love to see the team poll this question...

 

A new coach is going to bless KPJ with PG vision and on-court chess skills? Then I agree, we need this coach.

 

You got it! Here he is...

Spoiler

 

NO to FVV - Overpaid, overrated, and undersized.