Brooklyn (and our stash of gold) - Sellers at the deadline? What's their next move?

I guess I wouldn't say we don't need it. I am looking at possibilities. Bridges will be a sure good second option. We still have untapped potentials with Cam and Amen. So let's say we now have 3 guys who have the potential to be that "first option" shot creator. I'd say it's prudent to trade one of them for a proven high end second option.

 

Let's not totally discount the fact that Bridges averaged 26 PPG in 34 minutes on a .607 TS% for 27 games last year. Even with some drop off this year, he is averaging 21 PPG on .568 TS%.

He isn't a first option, but I have seen a few people on the Twitterverse label him as a 3&D guy. He is more than that.

 

And Bridges doesn't make enough money to hurt our flexibility down the line If Udoka can convince a star to jump ship.

 

2027 PHX 1RP
2029 PHX 1RP
2029 DAL 1RP
Dorian Finney Smith

for

2024 BKN 1RP
2025 BKN/HOU 1RP Swap Rights
2026 BKN 1RP
Victor Oladipo

BKN pays a premium, but regains control over their picks and takes them out of purgatory

 

I think Brooklyn is going to as for Jabari, Whitmore or Amen first before asking for Green if the trades were to be discussed.

 

And Brooklyn is definitely dangling Cameron Johnson and Dinwiddie first before Mikail....and Dinwiddie has already been traded beforehand.

It is hard to get better returns when offering Bridges, so might as well offering the 3 and D guy first and the Point guard.

 

Amen and Jabari are off the table.

I'd be curious to hear Udoka's thoughts on Green/Whitmore. The odds that either of them are ever as good as Mikal Bridges are ???

 

Brooklyn has never made a statement that they value their picks more than Bridges .....

 

A bird in the hand is better than two (or three) in the bush, right? The only problem is Bridges isn't in our hands, he's in Brooklyn's. They won't give him up for cheap if at all. It'll take more than just one of our prospects. If Brooklyn actually puts him on the market I expect a bidding war. And if we're talking bidding war I want the best deal, not just a good one. I'd pursue Donovan Mitchell or Markkanen before Bridges. They've been all stars and have proven themselves for longer than Bridges has. If he came cheaper I'd look at Dejounte Murray too. And it's not like those guys are older than Bridges, he's actually the oldest of the bunch.

The good news is we don't need to make a deal right now. Sengun is 21 years old. What's the rush? Amen and Cam will likely grow in value. We might win the lotto with Brooklyn's pick. Bridges is an extremely good player, but not worth immediately breaking the piggy bank over IMO.

 

Nor would they ever, even if true.

 

So what ?

Brooklyn's draft picks are more valuable to Brooklyn than to Houston or any other team because Brooklyn has the ability to nudge those picks upwards or downwards in value by being bad or good.

Has nothing to do with Bridges. All things being equal if I offered you a draft pick behind the Rawlsian veil of ignorance, you'd probably pick the one that you could influence rather than the one that was dependent on an unknown variable that you couldn't really impact

 

Brooklyn has always been at the whims of stars or superstars.

I just do not see the core objective changing very soon.....

Takes 2 to dancing tango and the Rockets are not letting themselves getting lowballed..... and Brooklyn does not scream to want their picks as urgently as you claim they would be.....

If you cannot even get into the head of Stone, how could you get into the head of Brooklyn's exec

Stone was never known to do massive trades unless someone like Harden wanted out or KPJ has done his thing in New York.......he is a passive GM.

 

I'm not trying to interpret their thinking, I'm saying controlling your own draft assets is better than not controlling it for a GM, especially when that team is on the edge of a tank - hardly a novel suggestion.

 

I'd guess if they decide to rebuild, they would trade both Bridges and Johnson.

 

I already explained that if you are a rebuilding team of course you want your pick but obviously they are not tanking and they are willing to give the Rockets their pick....I thought that was clear....

It is not pretty but I think they got used to it....otherwise they would not have parted with it in the first place....

It got them Harden and then got them Bridges, a tad worse than Harden but still a very good player.

 

That is the thing, they are not rebuilding, they are retooling......in their short history (not New Jersey) they rather retooled than rebuilt.....

Even the Knicks are very reluctant to rebuild.....

• I think the Top 2 markets are like this.....it takes a good drafting GM to be willing to rebuild......smaller markets are more willing to start from scratch
• There are enough fans in the stands that rather see their stars lining up than to escape mediocrity......
• That is exactly why we the fans of other teams deem them dumb and hanging in the air......but they have more money to burn.....
• Plowman the OP wants them to blow it up way more than their GM wants to......

 

Yes, since we're not contending for a championship this season (or probably next season either) anyway. People overrate Bridges on this forum anyway, he is a third option on a contender, or maybe a second option if you have an MVP-level superstar. He isn't the player to carry us over the top.

 

We need to keep picks for whoever Medicine & Music names in his next "case for trading up for <insert future Rockets legend>" thread tbh, so pass.

 

Bridges would cost Tari or Amen + Whitmore + Their 1st + 1 Swap back.

I'm tempted to just stay put. We have all the leverage here. Bridges doesn't move the needle enough to make it worth. We still don't know who of our young players is going to be here for the long-term.

Tari + Whitmore + BK 1st for Bridges + Claxton is a tempting trade I must say but it's one that will set our rebuild as officially over.