Fred VanVleet will be the worst FA acquisition in Rockets history

James Harden wasn't going to come here for 35m. All things are not equal. We were the second worst team in the league last year. The only way we were going to lure free agents here was to pay them a premium.

 

Harden opted in his old contract because we didn't sign him. You think he would agree to 35M for just one year? People keep talking about Harden better than FVV. But Harden was going to demand a full four-year max. That's a ton of money locked up more than we are paying VV.

 

Harden was a bad fit anyway. FVV gave us an out and that is why we were ok with the crazy contract

 

Harden even at 45+ would have been better for this team. Somehow James has been diminished around here and its understandable when winning rings is the ultimate goal. I do think he would get everyone more involved than FVV and offers you more in terms of defense and flexibility within an offense.

 

How so? FVV is practically useless inside of the arc.

 

He’s better than FVV this season, but this is a team that is built for speed and neither FVV or Harden is conducive to developing our youth. FVV provided an easy out. Harden did not. Plus our coach nixed it.

 

Harden would be stupid to pass up the opportunity to play with Kawhi, PG13 and his buddy Westbrook just to play with Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr....and Sengün. (And nothing against Sengün but he needs more seasons under his belt)

That is him passing up a massive stripper for a flat chested student.

 

Nobody (except maybe a few hardcore Harden haters) would deny that Harden is a far superior player than FVV. But this team is not a win-now team. We are not the Clippers or the Sixers who already have their superstars in place to contend. You have to think into the future. Do you want to lock up 45+M with a 37-year old Harden when you have to pay your young core guys entering their prime?

What matters is not how much you pay FVV or Harden now, but how LONG you will be paying him.

 

When at full health we were a lock for the playoffs. Still fighting for the play in. James' playoff history doesnt help my case, but I would rather go into series matchups with Harden rather than Van Vleet. Whatever money James would have gotten leaves the books when you are about to max out Sengun or whoever else.

 

True, but at least James can offer you SOMETHING outside of 3 point shooting and basic PNR passing. James can actually still get to the rim and finish. He can give you mismatches to exploit and would need to be accounted for on every play.

James + Sengun would have been special.

 

I thought you didn't think any of our young guys was good enough to be franchise player.

Honestly, I don't think we are a playoffs team, even when fully healthy. We are at best a .500 team, which will be at #9 or #10 spot in the West. That's an underdog play-in position. Even if you get lucky and win the play-in, you're gonna face the top see and bounced in the first round. With Harden instead of FVV, you might push it to 7 games. I just don't see Harden with a bunch of kids can do much damage in the western conference playoffs. Might as well concentrate on developing the young guys and sorting out who's in and who's out. Keep the options flexible 3 years or so from now.

 

Rockets would have a similar record to the Suns and Kings around 26-18 or 26-20 with Harden instead of Frederick

Harden is SIGNIFICANTLY better and would have helped so much more in developing the young guys

Sengun would be averaging 24 and 10 and be an All-Star lock

 

Don't want Harden. This horse has been beaten to death. The ship has sailed. The train has left the station. The dice have been rolled. The bird has flown. The concert has sold out. The Tilman has left the Galleria. The Burt Steele 5:45pm deadline has passed. The 2 yard line has been crossed. The stepback 3 has 0-27'd. The Morey has Philly'd. The Paul has Westbrook'd. The Harden has Brooklyn'd Houston and Philly'd Brooklyn and Clipper'd Philly. It's over. Done for. Come to an end. Finished. Concluded. Finalized. Ceased. Consummated.

 

I hope Harden gets his ring this year.

DD

 

ummm... maybe... i guess... lol

i mean this is the same dude that dribbled the air outta the ball for how many years here... everyone standing around looking lethargic? isos with the offensive genius MDA? lol

defense? i mean 'IF he offers it' i suppose... i mean if he doesnt just decide 'nahhhh, i'm just working on one end of the court tonight! and those that matter dont mind and those that mind dont matter...'

i mean this is the dude we're talkin bout right?

dudes a straight up narcissistic cancer... lol

if folks wanna play the 'if james feels like it' game... u do u...

 

You think he's going go from on a max contract to agreeing to come off the bench for a backup role? What you drinking?

 

man... do u just come on here to piss folks off?


lol

 

14 assists and 2 TOs. Not bad for the worst signing in history.

 

Double D Win.....

Harden gets his and Houston with a decent enough record.

It all hinges on Kawhi's performance and health......

 

stop the hate. Dude was easily the second greatest rocket of all time. He dribbled around by necessity because he was surround by a bunch of teammates who could do nothing but stand around and shoot threes. It was just how the team was built. The year we got CP3 he didn't dribble nearly as much and we were awesome. 1 injury away from a ring.


That being said it woulda been dumb to sign him this off seasons didn't fit our timeline.