Ben DuBose AKA @TheCat: Opportunity isn’t a lengthy visitor

This is more where I stand.

We should certainly be predatory, but our identity/the reason for our record is clearly elite defense right now.

 

I have Rockets near future set up as:
Amen - [ backcourt ]
Jalen Green - [ backcourt ]
Cam Whitmore [ backcourt ]

Sengun - [ Center ]


Many individuals ask me why am I looking for Power Forward and/or Small Forward
in trade or upcoming free agency?

Because to me, my team is going to be (see future roster above).....leaving Jabari, Tari, and
new additions to fight for Power Forward position. Or SF as Cam Whitmore could also
probably fill in that Power Forward position.

________

At least two 3-point shooters in that starter group (Cam Whitmore & new addition)
with
Amen, JG4 and *Sengun needing to build improvement and consistency (with the 3).

Backups are 3&D players or even Tari and Jabari if they accept the role until they
get better (quantity )at shooting 3's.

Including Small Ball lineups that can also have Centers that can shoot three's.

*Sengun needs to accept the understanding that Centers also need to shoot
3's in the near future.

Edey is 42.9% from three on 1.1 (3PA).......just needs to increase quantity
Vucevic is 44.0% from three on 4.8 (3PA)...continue increasing quantity.
Sabonis is 42.3% from three on 2.3 (3PA)...increase quantity.

**These young players are not going to wait for slow poke scheduling rebuild.
They are going to want their money.....soon or jump ship asap

 

Sure, but two seasons ago it was clear Shai was a superstar. We don't have that guy right now. And not only will OKC still be there next year with Shai, maybe a healthy Chet, Jalen Williams, etc. They'll add another draft pick or two or consolidate some picks and players to strengthen their roster.

Meanwhile, we have the Spurs on our heels with Wenbanyama, Sochan, Castle and a whole lot of picks. They are very much in the mix if a guy like Fox is made available. And while I worry about whether we should trade for Fox because I don't see him as that clear 1A option, he could be a pretty damned solid 1B to Wenbanyama. And I'm not sure there is anybody in the league who can clean up for Fox's defensive deficiencies better in the coming years.

It's a tough spot to be in. One thing is for sure, they can't make a move just to make one. They have to be confident it's the right move. It sure would be nice if Ant Edwards or LaMelo Ball demanded a trade out of nowhere. That's the kind of move we need. I think I can live with Booker too.

 

I don’t believe in Lamelo at all.

 

I don't see Jalen Green as part of our future and would rather keep Jabari at this point. I also don't think the Rockets see Jalen as part of our future. I think that if they did he would have gotten the same deal Sengun got.

 

Best pathway to significantly upgrade is trading Fred and/or Green. Fred is more feasible and probably has a slightly bigger impact.

They could also add a guy like Brogdon without giving up a whole lot and hed add a third option to the guard rotation and you just go with the hot hand for that night.

I do think they should do something though to maximize their potential this year but not hurt them in the future.

 

Typical loser mentality…..go watch whatever team Silas is coaching!

 

I don't think our guys have enough playoff experience yet to actually contend this season. However, I think if you can get Fox or Booker for a not-insane price it's probably worth doing. This team, it's glaringly obvious, needs a go-to perimeter scorer to take pressure off of Sengun. Somebody you simply cannot leave alone and who can carry the load when Sengun is having an off night.

Just make sure it's a guy where you're opening a 5+ year window of contention. Anything less than that and it's better to wait because it's probably going to take a couple of bounces out of the playoffs before this young group is seasoned enough to make winning a ring possible.

 

You are correct. Alpi is much better than either of those two.

 

Alpi is better now.

 

Brogdon can likely be had for 2nd rounders. That’s the kind of high upside, low risk play I’d like us to do since I don’t think it’s gonna be viable to move Fred or Jalen until the offseason. Really want to see us consolidate Tate, Jeff Green, and Landale into some sort of asset value. Hell, given that Landale has team options the next several years maybe the Wiz would do Brogdon for Landale almost straight up.

 

More like AgentCat

 

Agreed and Voldemort (Adam Silver) doesn't want OKC vs Cavs in the finals. Would be a ratings disaster so we could be very "lucky."

 

What does that mean really?

They are on pace to win 55 games without a star - in the Western Conference and are competing and beating good teams. They are clearly better than last year.

Seems to me - outside of having a franchise player, they are exceeding all reasonable expectations.

 

I’m all for getting Fox (or Booker) for a draft pick or two and Smith or Cam or Reed… having said that, even if they deal Smith and two draft picks for Fox - I don’t think the Rockets are getting past OKC… I do think a playoff series win is possible though.

 

Props to @The Cat for sneaking in a Daryl Morey quote!

 

There is that possiblity, I believe Jalen also realizes he needs more time to get stronger
and further development. Thus he crosses that bridge, for extension again, after two years.
At the age of 25 negotiate again, taking him to age 30-31.

All the flaws of:
Poor handles
Poor 3-pt shooters
Not a point guard
Poor court vision
Poor passer
Doesn't maneuver PnR as ball handler well
Poor perimeter defender
Poor interior defender
Poor transition defender
Poor clock management
(according to Jaters)

[ *If these flaws still existed, we would hear about them every day by the Jaters ]

Imo, Jalen just needs to work on 3P% consistency and do a better job of selling drive
one way while intending to rub defender against screener better. The rest is just
touching up until next season when his extension actually begins.

Jaylen Brown is getting paid $49 M this year while Jalen Green gets paid $12 M......both
are shooting about 32% from 3. Jalen is 22 going on 23 in Feb while Jaylen Brown is 28 y/o.
The average of Jaylen Browns 5-year deal is $57 M. Most NBA players peak around age 27.

Players who sign an extension can be traded that same year. 1) a trade kicker is added
2) the salary is converted to a poison pill format. So Jalen Greens contract would go
from
$34 M (25/26), $36 M (26/27), $36 M (27/28 player option)
to
$35.3 M (25/26), $35.3 M ($26/27), $35.3 M (27/28 player option)

So the salary structure is not much different from its current design.
The trade kicker would need to be waived, I seem to remember a
Rocket doing that before. ?Harden?

Going back to Jaylen Brown, from his rookie year Brown has always had
big men that could shoot 3's and spread the floor. Horford and Olynyk
were there day one. I'm of the opinion, if Jalen Green had the same, he
would carve up this league with his speed and leaping ability. Rockets
GM and management fear that if Jalen Green is traded to a team with
3-point shooters around him.....that Green will excel and match SGA
and beyond. Much like what happened in March last season.

I welcome a trade of Jalen Green, because I know 80% of the teams in the
league understand Jalen Green would destroy this league if surrounded
by 3-point shooters and paired him with a 2nd and 3rd offensive option
which would allow JG4 to take a play off while the other facilitators
operate. Unlike the situation in last March.

Rockets currently
Tari is 32% from 3 on 3 attempts per game
Jabari 35% from 3 on 4.8 attempts per game
Dillon 39% from 3 on 6.1 attempts per game

So not a lot of attempts per game. I would like them to be comfortable around 8 or more.
I believe it was the Thunder game where they let Dillon be wide open (as most teams do)
and Dillon hit about 4 three's in the first half.....but couldn't make any in the second half.

Teams in the playoffs are going to try to take away first and second options. Which is
Sengun and JG4. Teams will welcome the Rockets depending on VanVleet and Dillon
Brooks offensively. Bringing a knife to a gun fight......Cavs have about 6 or 7 players shooting
over 40% from 3. They can get away with everyone only shooting
4 attempts per game.

 

If, according to you, 80% of teams think Jalen would destroy the league with a few 3-point shooters around him, you must think his trade value is very high? Who do you think would be the best player we could get for him?

 

I'd agree that a trade still doesn't push us past OKC, but if we pass on a trade because of that mentality and then OKC loses Shai for the season, we will be kicking ourselves for not making a move to improve.

 

This sounds a little desperate. Boston, Milwaukee, GSW, Denver, and even younger teams like OKC all improved from the internal growth of thier core over the years. They didn't make cornerstone moves, but smaller ones. If we're this good now with a 20-23-year-old core, how good can we become as they get better and hit thier primes?