No stars on the market for a trade and both Jalen and Sengun locked up, what is the next major transactional question for the Rockets? Referencing Yozzi’s tweet from above about us being “right at the luxury tax line” and us wanting to set our cap up for the future, I think all signs point to Houston SERIOUSLY contemplating moving Dillon Brooks in the ‘24-‘25 season. What would we prioritize in a Dillon Brooks trade? Considering the stability of the future depth chart, our desire to trade for a star in the future and Tillman’s cheapness, I think Houston will heavily prioritize draft capital for Brooks. I expect us to move off of Brooks this season if we can land a 1st Round Pick that’s not in 2025. Is next something smaller like moving Tate, Jeff or Landale? Or is it something more down the line like figuring out what FVV and Adams futures are?
After extending Alpi and Jalen, I agree with you about DB. His contract makes him VERY tradeable. If Tari and Amen step up this year, DB won't make it past the trade deadline. Othewise, Rockets will probably keep him the entire season. I think it's possible the Rockets consider moving Cam and/or Jabari if they don't level up this year and DB remains on the team. Tate and Landale don't amount to a hill of beans. Couldn't care less what the Rockets do with them.
good point about Amen and Tari here, their development along with Cam and Jabari to a lesser extent, will determine if we can even afford to trade Dillon
Centers are more useful to any team. Tate is mostly useful on a contender, he would wither away on a mediocre or bad team.
I'll make one correction: I definitely care about Landale if Steven Adams doesn't hold up. If a "contender" actually needs Tate as a rotation player, they probably aren't a contender. He's not worth a dime in Russian rubles as a player.
Well, yeah, he is a PJ Tucker light with more playmaking and slightly more Offense. He doesn't make any sense on the Rockets, that is all. Just as Eric Gordon was not making sense for 2 years Rafael kept him. If you want to tell me, he is a marginal NBA player, I am definitely agreeing but he is still a decent player in Europe..... We are all just acknowledging NBA is the true league but what goes beyond the NBA still has value.
I actually think Tate would be a b*stard in a 10 minute role on a playoff team. Guy has a nose for the ball and can defend his ass off.
We are in prime position to trade for the next disgruntled superstar. So I'd keep an eye out this entire to see which is the next superteam to implode. More likely - Suns (Booker) Pelicans (Zion) Bucks (Giannis) More unlikely -
Booker is not yet a superstar and Zion is an inconsistent star player at best. Inconsistent is that he is not going to play a lot of games. Giannis is the only one, and GSW, Mavericks, Lakers etc are after him.....
Celtics and Nuggets were both interested in acquiring him last season. The calibre of player you're describing is available for the minimum on any day of the regular season. He's obviously better than that if the last two NBA champions were interested in trading for him.
I think the contracts Alpi especially and Jalen signed means Jabari has little leverage. He seems like a smart kid and knows there is no way he can demand any thing close to a max unless he wins MIP this year. I think Bari will accept a team friendly extension suited for a high end role player.
