There are more options besides trading for Bridges or keeping the picks. I don't think the Rockets need more young players but I do think they need to keep their flexibility. Giving up cap space and your best picks for Bridges ain't it to me.
If the Rockets are contending with Bridges. They won’t re-sign Jalen. Tari will get a nice contract, but it won’t be a max. Sengun will get a max (won’t be eligible for super max), Jabari if he continues to develop will probably get a near max. Bridges will get a near max. They can also trade Bridges if they have to. If he plays well he is a much better asset than mid-round draft picks.
There is no money for Amen and Cam the next year in that scenario and the Nets picks are trending much more towards lottery picks the next two years and possibly even the years after. The Rockets currently have the assets and cap flexibility to make a big move for a star if one becomes available. Bridges isn't worth giving that up imo.
Bridges would be more important than Fred and Jalen. He makes 22 million dollars a year and is locked up through 2025-2026. Fred is coming off the books next year and should have his contract re-negotiated. As a babysitter and table setter he's been great but he makes almost twice what Bridges makes. What are we going to do with that draft capital? Save it for a rainy day? With Bridges in the fold this team could be a WCSF team *this year*. I don't care who you are in the West, no one is steamrolling FVV/Bridges/Dillon/Bari/Sengun and then have to deal with Green/Claxton/Tari/Jeff Green/Amen in the second unit. It also gives Green a chance to develop correctly for the next year or two to see if he's worth the money. If he wants to explore RFA and a team wants to offer him 35 mill a year that's fine. He's not worth that right now. Green isn't getting big money here unless he goes supernova the rest of this year and next. Getting Bridges is a smart hedge against Cam/Jalen never developing into anything more than one dimensional streaky shooters. At worst it's a rental until 2025-26 on a guy that is an All NBA defender. There are no better players out there that will be available unless DeeAron Fox or SGA want out of their spots. Which they wont. Who else is out there that we could target? Mitchell? Trae Young? Dejounte Murray? Zach Lavine? The only other one is Jalen Brunson but we have a logjam at PG right now with FVV and Amen. Also as long as the Nets know they don't control their picks they will never bottom out. So no they will never be lottery picks. They'll be in the 8-12 range outside of insane lottery luck. They'll beat up on the teams bottoming out and split with teams on their level. They'll lose to good teams and eek out cheeky victories against them at times. Good enough for 30+ wins.
What about Nic Claxton? I don’t see the Nets letting go of Bridges, who is essentially their franchise player now and u see a great contract. But I believe Claxton will be a free agent. He would make Jeff Green (who I love) and Landale expendable. We need defense and rim protection behind AlP
Having the Nets picks and cap flexibility is already a hedge against Jalen/Cam not developing and we also have Amen that could turn into a good perimeter player. The Rockets right now have a promising player at every position on the team, cap space, and Nets picks that are looking like lottery picks for the next 2 years. They don't need to cash that in for a third option level player. They can just let the season play at and see who becomes available. Jalen Brown might want out of Boston if they flame out in the playoffs. Ingram might ask out of NO. The Rockets have the luxury of waiting and seeing.
I'm mostly joking about it, but I do think its funny how the coaches and front office just continually see something in him that just boggles the mind of fans. He tries hard, runs the court, and doesn't screw up assignments. But other than that, he's just not really good at anything in particular, and makes some real bone headed plays. In the end it really doesn't bother me that much, but I just think it's funny how teams just fall in love with some guys randomly. Not the first, and won't be the last one of these type of players that for whatever reason beat everyone else out for minutes at that level when they really aren't good.
Just don't see how it's a hedge. I don't see anyone in the league (outside of Jalen Brown) that would be worth unloading those picks for. Brown isn't going anywhere man and he's one of the highest paid players in the league. He'll be a second or third banana here. I don't think the drop from Bridges to Brown is that much. Defensively Mikal is better. It fits the timeline and covers a lot of bases. Also gets us out of the Landale contract. I don't think it happens and the team is going to ride Green until he makes them make a move but we'll see.
Well that's certainly a bold prediction. Star 2 for a contender last year were AD, Bam, Jamal Murray, and Jalen Brown. And you're also assuming Sengun is going to be on the level of a LeBron, Jokic, Playoff Jimmy, or Jason Tatum in a couple of years. Otherwise a Bridges trade would not make sense.
I am about of the opinion that the only trade we make this year is for a better backup big. I am hesitant to ship off Tari, Cam or Amen, even for a star. Alpi and Bari have no-trade clauses as far as I am concerned. If we can get a star without the above players (unlikely), then I remain open to the idea. Any combination of shipping out Tate, Landale, Holiday or Bullock I am ok with. Green I would ship, but I would have to be completely sold on who we were getting in return.
It also shows us we are gonna have fun twitter wars.....in the meantime.... Bc Rocket fans are always coming with Landale, Oladipo and Tate for Bridges and Dinwiddie hahahahaha Our garbage is more golden garbage....sort of thing....
Bridges is still averaging 21 pts on 45/36/83, so nothing to sneeze at. Separate note, I just realized we own their second round pick too. I really hope they implode this year
