It's time to start thinking about moving Jalen before the deadline

Zion level bulky is borderline fat.

 

green needs some time with the vipers to learn from @Kam.

 

Cam is not ready to crack the rotation much less be the starting 2. Amen is still working his way in.

Rockets are already way ahead of schedule. Move Jalen and sure, you win a couple more games. But the risk is there as well. I say, let him complete the season then decide.

 

Explain how moving Jalen wins the Rockets a couple more games.

 

Well it's more likely than people calling for Donovan Mitchell. The guys never been and all star and is coming off the bench...

 

Alright let's do this.....someone has to throw it in to this thread now that Woj is talking about it..

I know we could put a package together that does not include Bari and Sengun, Suns would get to rebuild and get a rebuilding piece. Durant is older for sure but that guy does not need much around him to win, just a consistently healthy team...

Save Jabari and Sengun, what would it take to get Durant if the Rockets could sell him on playing here? Would yall do Jalen and Tari? Jalen - Amen? Jalen - Cam? I think the Suns would happily deal with us, they have no assets and we could give them two top 5 prospects under 23 years of age and a draft pick or two...

I just think the hurdle to clear would be convincing Durant that he could win here vs...I don't know what other team would be in that discussion. Heat for sure, Knicks too, lol maybe the Thunder as they have assets and an attractive team and the story of him returning there...

Just something to keep an eye on I guess.

 

The Rockets are dedicated to their plan. Durant is not part of them. He is way too old and fragile for them to give up what it would take to get him.

 

Well that is the question, what is the price for a 35 year old Durant that is still a top player in the NBA? The price for aging superstars is usually what we have, a few prospects and draft picks.

I don't care that much about the timeline in this scenario. If you believe the core is Bari and Sengun then getting them deep playoff experience is more valuable IMHO than hoping some of those guys turn into all-stars. If it took two of our prospects and a future draft pick I'd do it. I think Durant still has 3 seasons of elite play left thanks to the protoype of his game and I also think he would easily slot into what we are doing here. I dunno, FVV, Brooks, Durant, Bari, Sengun, is a very formidable lineup that you can add to next offseason to fill out that team.

I just think all time great players make your team better, their experience invaluable, and young players tend to grow around them. I really don't think it's a coincidence that guys get better playing with Harden and crediting him. I do think Bari would benefit from Durant, he's already said working out with Durant helped him improve, now imagine that kind of work all year long?

Again, I don't think its likely at all as Durant would have to see championship material to play here unless he really believes in Jabari or has some Houston fetish or something (he doesn't) but what is the chance we find that player in the offseason or hoping Cam, Amen, or Green reach even a fraction of that level?

I dunno, I'd strongly consider it. I love Amen and Cam and even have some (faint) hope in Jalen but it's being extremely optimistic to hope those guys could ever be what Durant is even this year.

 

if Phoenix is blowing it up, Devin Booker is the guy you go all-in for. Durant and Beal don’t make sense for this team’s timeline.

Trade Jalen, Cam, salary matching and every pick and swap available for next 5 years. I don’t think Phoenix will change course until 2025 at the earliest though…but that’s why you stay patient.

 

I guess what of Durant's POV. Suns has its issues, but is Durant + Booker + Beal that much worse than Durant + Jabari + Sengun in the next two years. Durant's window is closing, he would want a contention ready team now. Not sure if Rockets is there yet.

 

knowing Durant he’d want Denver lol. MPJ and a bunch of 1sts.

 

I think Booker would cost a lot more though. He's a 27 year old perennial all-star, I'm a little scared at what that might demand unless you create a situation where he specifically demands to be only in Houston and nowhere else and the Rockets can do a "Look either you take this or you get nothing." kind of deal.

It would definitely be preferable to Durant at this age. I just think if Booker goes on the market it becomes a big bidding war. One we do have the assets to win buuuuut I don't know. I'd have to see the price. I'm honestly cool with trading anyone but Bari and Sengun and Tari would be a hard one to part with as well....would I trade Jalen Cam and Amen for Booker and draft picks...yeah, I would.

A core of Booker, Bari, and Sengun sounds like something I'd be ready to roll with and build around. Just not sure if the Suns are ready for that but if they are trading Durant then you have to ask what would they even be doing with Booker because 35 old Durant is not getting a star back.

I do think Rockets have the assets for a situation of a team looking to blow up and rebuild but too time ticks on that because Jalen is still a 'prospect' but each year that passes that he doesn't show improvement he loses that value. Amen would be gone though definitely. He's the actual top 5 pick that might intrigue a team looking to blow up and rebuild if the Suns do go that route.

 

It would be comical and hysterical if Mat Ishibia the owner blew it up after he spent that much in that team.......

I also think Booker should be pursued and Durant is likely joining the Sixers or another ready made team.....he is a Beta.

 

They really traded too much to build that team.

It's pretty much Durant and Booker...

Beal isn't what he was in his prime and Beal even in his prime wasn't like a...superstar. They might turn it around still but...the supporting cast of that team is pretty weak.

But yeah if Suns go full blow up every team is going to go after Booker. That's going to be a hard fight to win unless someone on the team gets in his ear about only wanting to play here.

 

You know I've been a pretty harsh critic of Green .... particularly the shooting numbers.

Sullivan has a great reputation as a shooting coach, he's got Amen looking decent from the disaster that he was during the offseason ....


I'm not so sure that mid-season is when you want to start changing shooting mechanics, any improvement in this aspect likely comes in the offseason when they have much more time to dedicate to proper mechanics and muscle memory.

IF Sullivan can fix Green's shooting, it changes the entire narrative surrounding Green.

If they don't move him between now and the trade deadline, I'm content with seeing What Sullivan can do with an entire offseason to dedicate to fixing Jalen's shot .....

 

Whitmore+Green+2027 First+Brooklyn picks for Booker I think I would do.

 

Any trade for Booker will cost you Amen, Green, expirings and probably two first rounders

 

They'd hang up

 

Would need to include Amen/Tari and/or HOU 2025, 2028-2029 (picks or swaps) too…all unprotected

 

It’s the same rationale we use with the Nets. If Phoenix is blowing it up they will trade with the Nets to get their own picks back and then tank.