No disagreement here. I'm open to bringing in other options to run the offense. I'm not sure who that would be though.
You can look at it like that in the short term. I look at it more like the Astros pre 2015. Sure we could have made some quick moves to make the playoffs but 6 straight ALCS berths was due to the core we built during those 100 loss seasons and the moves that were made AFTER they were ready to take the next step.
2 epic performances and 5 wet farts...... so essentially you can count on your max player, league leading assists dude for 28% epic performances (excluding game 7s). Can't wait for Harden to teach the kids how to do that.....
So basically all the naysayers have is "playoff reasons" to not do it, which is an incredibly weak argument. This remains the most practical path forward. Fans all to eager to just throw away the next two years. I am sure they won't be the same ones complaining after every loss in the forums though.
It also really depends on what you think about OKC and the sort of loss of the 2024 FRP you think is acceptable...... nothing below 10.... below 14.... below 8..... I view the OKC trade as more of a sunk cost (so far we managed to keep 1 out 4 picks) and I am of the belief "nothing below 8".
No disagreement here. I'm open to bringing in other options to run the offense. I'm not sure who that would be though. The Rockets are realistically 3-4 years away from competing. I'm not sure why people are even factoring in competing and playoff performance.
Tanking works much differently in the MLB. The existence of a farm alone already makes it incomparable. Plus Astros had their top pics every year.
"waiter this filet mignon was insufficiently marbled and is 1 degree above my specific temperature... I will take my **** sandwich of being the worst team in the league three years running lest my palate be ruined" These losers have only watched a playoff game on TV and you're worried about them not having enough 40 point games because of some Harden Osmosis Lol, speaks for itself, i have no further comments.
I think caring about what pick you give OKC is a waste of time and I put no below evaluation on it. What does matter is that the incentive for being bad is gone. The Rockets only choice at this point is to maximize development because they get nothing out of being bad. If Harden helps the most with development compared to other options I think they should sign him.
His playoff ills are all of his problems condensed in a 7 game series, what can I say. At any rate: 1) Injuries. Harden is down to 75% of regular season games played since being traded from the Rockets. He is no longer that Rockets Iron Man version of himself and is getting a lot of soft tissue injuries. 2) Contract. He is going to want the max and who are the bidders? Will it be an albatross contract considering point 1? There are some real downsides to being tied up in this contract, mainly we may want to use that cap space on someone(s) else or go in a different direction. 3) Play style. It's Harden ball and everyone else will have to fall in line (unless you are CP3, Durant, Kyrie, or Embiid). Yes Harden has made his non star teammates better but there are still role players 4) Winning Culture/Attitude. I just don't see it. I believe he can be both be the 2nd greatest Rocket and also be more concerned with individual greatness. There is that false dichotomy again...... "But but but show me your plan....." There are countless combinations of trades, UFA, FA to elevate this team away from the bottom. I'd much rather the Rockets put in the effort to try and lure Dejounte Murray away from the Hawks via trade, among many other routes. Trust me, I won't be complaining if we don't panic.
The Hawks just gave up a ton for Murray. I'd prefer him over Harden but it's probably going to cost a lot of assets and I'm not sure that's worth it.
I've watched Harden have a lack of accountability for a long time now and it shows itself in the playoffs. He got everything he wanted in Houston and it shows in the playoff. Nets would have won except for health. He got everything he wanted in Philly and it shows in the playoff. Bottom-line, I don't see the type of mentorship that a lot of y'all see. I want more out of Green, Jabari, Sengun, and the future 2023 FRP than what become the myriad of role players that had a career due to Harden. I want our blue chip rookies to develop a different mindset than Harden. I don't think this is a Harden roster.
1.) No issue with that - Gives other guys a chance to step in and see what they can do in his absence. 2.) Don't know what he will get. What I do know is I highly doubt any good free agent will come to a bottom feeder. Passing on a good player for the possibility of maybe signing another guy doesn't work for me. If someone wants to be here, you can find a way to make it happen. "Someone else" is the free agents available this year, and its not good. All of those not good players would prevent different directions without providing the upside Harden does. 3.) Harden makes everyone better. Udoka is the coach and he can run whatever he wants too with whomever he wants too. If he wants to try something different, he can put Harden on the bench. This projection that Harden is some cancer that will force everyone around him to conform to his style is fantasy. No, he probably isn't going to become some off ball cutter, but who cares. That is a very small downside. 4.) Harden is one of the winningest players of all time. He has won everywhere he has been. MAJOR props to you for actually putting up an alternative....but....Having Harden does not prevent you from trading for DJM.
Which ultimately will depend if Murray will want to resign with the Hawks and play with Trae. The best fits will more than likely require an overpay since the best players rarely hit FA anymore. I feel comfortable enough in Ime's competence that we could make some minor moves and still end up around 10th worst.
If you are confident in Udoka doesn't it make sense that if he signed on being ok with Harden that signing Harden might not be the worst idea?
