And we are a contender with Big Ben on $45M this season?!?! (Also Nets are trying to gain assets, not cash them in for FVV) Think man... we just made the cup final with FVV on $45M, and he can be gone next year. No need to make the move at all. FVV assists Sengun a LOT. So roll with them into the playoffs this year and re-assess for next year.
It's a knee-jerk, I'll admit. I haven't entirely sold myself on the idea. The hope would be that the offense runs smoother without him, mostly Jalen. This is the worst shooting backcourt I've ever seen in my life, and the worst offense I've seen from a non-tanking team. No starter is shooting above 48% and the backcourt is under 40%. FVV uses so much clock just to start a play. I think FVV deserves a lot of the blame as the general of the offense, despite his teammates shooting poorly. Big Ben is not the answer, I'd expect he gets 0 minutes. The goal is to let FVV walk and invest in the team's development. Same reason Sheppard has gotten minutes he didn't deserve all year over Holiday until tonight. Rockets are letting FVV walk at season's end, why not accelerate the plan by a half a season? Maybe the Net's value a playoff run over the 13th or 14th pick, I think most franchises would. I would have expected the Nets to be a bottom 3 team right now to cash in on having their pick, but they are on pace to make the playoffs. I'll concede, FVV does help Alperen on the pick and roll and Alperen could potentially suffer with a shakeup.
I'm so conflicted on making the move or not. It seems crazy to think about with such a young team, but windows open and windows close. Even young players get hurt or flash their piece in the club. The window is shockingly open right now. I feel like bringing the right perimeter creator takes this team to the next level. That said, I'd hate to give up on any of these guys too early. Even Jalen is still only freaking 22 years old. However, I'm doubtful he puts it together to become that reliable head honcho guy. We've seen him for so many minutes. If a Fred and Jalen deal nets a guy like that, I'd be so tempted. It'd be akin to the Raptors Kawhi deal. They gave up the heart of their franchise, and won a chip for it.
Our best staring five is FVV, Amen, Brooks, Jabari, Sengun. We should give that a try and see if Jalen can cook off the bench in a more wide open offense. Both against the Clips and GSW, Green played best when FVV wasn't on the floor. It won't happen unless FVV goes down, but the keys should be handed over to Amen/Green/Sengun to run the offense.
The Raptors gave up basically nothing for a top 5 player in his prime, if we could do a trade like that, sign me up.
FVV and our 25 pick swap and 28 own pick for Brandom Ingram and Herb Jones. Move Amen to PG, Ingram to SG and Jalen to 6th man. Amen, Ingram, Brooks, Jabari, Sengun. Bench Holiday/Reed, Tari, Jalen, Jones, Adams/Landale Either sign and trade Ingram in the off-season or let hiim walk (kind of the same if you kept FVV) Mins distribution: Amen 35 INgram 30 Jalen 30 Jabari 30 Sengun 30 Brooks 22 Jones 22 Tari 25 Landale/Adams/Holiday 16
I like Herb a lot, but that's a pretty steep price to also downgrade from FVV to Ingram and you run the risk of Stone resigning Ingram which would be BRUTAL.
Yes if I could do it for 1 pick it would be better. I'm not an Ingram fan, but I really think somehow we have to get away from FVV's slow pace.
We need some sort of paint penetrator off (pause) off the bench on this team. We need someone fast enough to get to the paint and start the “churn” so to speak. Get defenses off balance and get the ball moving instead of high PNR with bench players that can’t get their own shot. we need to look at trading for Dennis Schroder. I don’t think I will cost much. Maybe just Cam or a late first/ multiple seconds. He fills the need for back up PG that can create for himself or others and is a good spot up shooter
I don't think we would have to give up Cam for Schroder. A FRP is a pretty hefty price by itself and throw in filler for salary matching.
I think ingram is basically the worst type of player to get, if we do get him i'd rather cut him then risk him resigning. That risk alone makes it not something i would personally do. FVV is still at worst out 2nd most important player though, idk that i'd wanna run a no pg system.
You're probably right. It's probably knee jerk with how bad FVV played last night. For a while, he was really hustling up the court, but last night he walked it up everytime leading to all kinds of bad shots in the half court. We need to get into the offense much more quickly. Jalen also plays much better in a high octane offense. People are complaining about Jalen's shooting. FVV is shooting 38% and 31% from 3 pt at 35m. He has to turn it around or he should get benched or traded.
Scenario: If the Rockets go with keeping more of their core intact with a more defensive minded roster, I really like Anfernee Simons to balance things out. If he's available this offseason then I think the Rockets should go for him. Would probably involve making a 3 team trade headlining with Green on the Rocket's end. I doubt Blazers would be interested in Green when they have Sharpe and Scoot, but maybe? Simons Amen Dillon Jabari Sengun Reed Cam Eason FVV is a wildcard. In this scenario, feels like Sengun and Amen have taken a step forward in playmaking which excludes FVV. Simons is more of a scorer than playmaker.
We'd be giving up one of our wings presumably. He's on a good contract, just having a pretty down year on 3pt shooting... which would fit right in.
Fair, but it will be difficult to keep both Eason and Jabari. Maybe it's Dillon Brooks in a Herbert Jones trade? I don't think Jones is a priority for the Rockets but he's on a great contract until the 2027 season. I think another team will want him way more than us.
The identity of this team is defense, it's near impossible to play the same kinda defense they have to this point when you team dare running and gunning up and down the court. FVV's pace also limits turnovers and young teams tend to be very turnover prone, as it stands today, the Rockets are top 3-5 in the league for fewest turnovers (Boston & OKC at ~11.6 and 4 teams ~13,2-13.3). They just need to make a higher percentage of shots, that's the only real issue with this team.
