Fischer: Rockets interested in reaching long term deal with Fred VanVleet

The short answer is that I do not know.

I don't know how much of the games missed are games that he could have played but didn't - how many are freak injuries and how much of it is chronic.

The absolute best way to get a true "horse" guy like Olajuwon, Jordan, Shaq, Duncan, LBJ and Magic is to draft them.... because once teams get these guys they seldom give them up..... so the Rockets are going to be left picking from players that have warts or limitations.

With Ball - I know some of the games he missed, they just choose not to bring him back towards the end of the season.

Having said that - injuries and availability are a genuine concern. He is only 23 but has missed about half the games the last 3 years.

 

“Not an Ime player.” “Doesn’t fit.” “Do not want.”

LOL Good. We have enough “Ime players”.

Do not want! Not an Ime player! Yeah, then we’ll have more guys like Fred VanVleet, Marcus Smart, Ben Simmons, Bob Williams. More Ime players.

The same reason you pass on James Harden for Fred VanVleet (because James isn’t an “Ime player”).

Ime player: @DaDakota and others have said. The guy who was a role player and had to bust his ass to get minutes now wants his players to be a mirror image of him.

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I agree! But at what price?

My question is, since we are not going to win the chip this yr, do you let Amen take over and learn or do you continue to run Fred out there and win maybe 3 - 4 more games and bring him back at $25M - $30M next yr?

I think we need to let Amen settle in at the PG position, take our lumps and find a good backup PG in the off season or see how much Reed develops.

 

I've been saying it for a long time. The Rockets should have no interest in trading for an aging superstar like Durant/Harden or even a guy like Brooks who is 30. We need a young star point guard and we should wait till the oportunity comes. At some point, one of Ball, Maxey or Hali will be available, and we have the assets to go get em.

Ball/Maxey/Hali
Green
Amen
Jabari
Sengun

Thats a contending young core for years to come. Do not waste any assets trying to win now, it aint gonna happen anyway. Be patient, the oportunity will be there. For now, keep developing our young players.

 

Another option is to pick up FVV team option and trade him/Suns 25FRP/Reed for Trae Young/Hawks 26FRP swap...it will address our 3pt shooting problem and Trae averages more assists than FVV...the Hawks get an expiring contract with a young prospect in Reed.

 

The Rockets are 7-9 without FVV. The Rockets for the next 2 seasons should be focused on keeping FVV, and trying to add to the team. Unless, the Rockets are getting a star or a younger near star, the Rockets should try to extend him for 2-3 years.

 

Agreed.
Ben Simmons has all the tools too . .. but . . .well you know

Availability is key
I think as the injuries mounted up the Rockets started to Falter

Rocket River

 

FVV is good but let's not hitch our project to him and him only especially over paying. Look more at what FVV DOES for this team. There are other players who could DO what FVV does. He's not unique and we shouldn't overpay him. If he wants to retire here, then a nice lower aav extension works for me.

Back to what does he provide, vet leadership from the PG position. Vocal leader who gets a sometimes frantic team organized. Solid D from PG. 15, 4 and 6 with below average shooting %s.

 

Is FVV the best PG ON THIS TEAM? Yes
Is FVV A Top 10 PG in this league? I dunno

Can we get what FVV Brings at a smaller cost? I think so

Rocket River

 

If health is not a concern, Lamelo's big brother Lonzo might fit better for us.

 

How?

The Rockets don't have cap space. The Rockets have Early Bird rights to FVV.

Getting a PG better than FVV will cost a lot of money, players with matching salary, and trade assets. FVV costs Tilman some money, but likely does not adversely impact the Rockets books in any meaningful way (maybe a slight overlap with Amen's 1st year of an extension). The assets used to get a PG better than FVV could be used to get a player at a position that does not have a player as good as FVV.

FVV is not unique, but the Rockets only way to get someone better is to either get lucky in the draft or make a trade.

 

I think we should try to keep FVV at a reasonable cost. He's worth the value from cultural and developmental perspective. Our young guys are still ways away and FVV, despite his horrible shooting and injury history, provides good leadership. I still think young guys development is everything - we're not ready to contend.

 

so if this article is true I’d be all for going after LaMelo. I guess I’m skeptical on if Ime likes him, but I agree we actually need some guys who can shoot, score and handle the ball. I’d be willing to gamble on health as long as the medical checks out (we don’t want to get Mark Williamed “

wonder what it would take. Probably Sengun or Jalen and more. I’d prefer to give them player assets over picks.

I’ll just say I have no problem paying Fred $20ish mil per to come off the bench. Actually think he’d be a good fit with LaMelo in the back court, especially in a 6th man role.

 

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba...rds-2024-25-starters/d9ed40ffa5e46c54e63a2eb5

FROM THE ARTICLE
1. Luka 2. Shai 3. Brunson 4. Curry -5. Haliburton 6. Lillard 7. Ja 8. De'Aaron 9. Tyrese 10 Murray -- All of these are ungetable
and honestly IMO not the TRUE POINTS we need (except Brunson and HAliburton)

11. Jrue Holiday - Old
12: Trae Young - Expensive
13. Harden
14. LaMelo - Expensive
15. Cade - Expensive
16. Fred
17. Garland
18. DeJounte Murray
19. Jalen Suggs
20. Immanuel Quicklry
21. Conley - old
22. Rozier
23. D'Angelo Russell
24. CP3
25. Josh Giddy
26. Tyus Jones
27. Malcolm Brogdon
28. Dennis Schroder
29. Scoot Henderson
30. Keyonte George.

EDIT: Article is from Oct but doesnt list Ball

Rocket River

 

From the list, #26 sounds promising. Can shoot lights out and a great team defender back in Memphis. He won't mind playing 27 minutes which is perfect for Reed so that he can develop at the PG spot.

 

I feel like Fred over Garland is laughable considering how the two have played this year. I don’t think Garland is available. Cade is untouchable and should be on that top 10 list. I don’t see a starter worthy PG on the list after Garland except Suggs and Murray; neither are great fits for Houston. If the top 10 are untouchable our best bet is Young, Harden or LaMelo. Getting Harden without having to give up premium assets seems like the best value. Young and LaMelo would cost a lot, but they fit the timeline and have more long-term upside. Trae has grown on me because he actually now tries on D, and I may prefer him to LaMelo because of the injury risk.

Really scarce position of need for us.

 

Lamelo is injury prone. Disturbingly so. Has played 51,75,36,22 and 39 games in 5 seasons. Basically another Tari Eason.

 

My Point Exactly. Harden IMO can probably be had for a 2 yr 70 Million dollar deal
Trae will cost alot to get him out of ATL
Same with LaMelo

That concerns me too

Are more players injury prone these days?

Rocket River