I’m scared they gonna bounce to the first team with cap space to play with each other I wouldn’t sell the farm but I’d try to make something happen to get both here
I wouldn’t worry too much about that. They’d both have to leave a ton of money on the table to do that.
I’ll get roasted for this but: Pistons: Devin Booker Rockets: Ivey, Stewart, Thompson, Tyus Jones Suns: 25 swap, 27 swap, 28 Rockets pick, 29 Rockets pick, FVV, Cam
I know but I’m worried if we try to put another guard or ball handler in front of him next year he’s gonna start getting annoyed. I know he wants to be the pg and wants that ball in his hands and could easily see him going to a team the promises him PG spot with his brother. I could see the twins, and the league, push for it
I don't like how much the Rockets give up in this scenario - and for what? All the players are decent players, but they are redundant - Ivey/Jalen Green. Thompson/Amen&Tari. Tyus/FVV. Stewart/Amen&Tari or JSJr. If I am giving up 4 picks and 2 players, I want a perineal all-star. Also, we could just sign Tyus Jones to the mid-level exception. I see this trade as a massive overpay which probably doesn't improve the Rockets and hampers their flexibility to bring in a player that really moves the needle - like Ant.
The problem is that Jalen has not improved his overall efficiency. His three-point shooting is minimally improved above his career average. That's gone from 34.1% to 35.3%. That's cool but his efficiency elsewhere has actually decreased. His FG % from 10-16 feet is 28.2%! That's really terrible. He was at 35.2% last season. His FG% from 16feet to the 3-point line is 38.4%. That was 42.4% last season. Those are really awful numbers. For comparison, Booker hits 51.7% from 10-16 feet and 49% from 16 feet to the 3-point line. Those are drastic differences. Unfortunately, Jalen is also attacking the rim less often than he has in previous years. This season he takes 19.6% of his shots at the rim. That's the lowest of his career. That's resulting him in him also shooting the lowest free throw rate in his career. I like Jalen Green and I think he has improved a lot defensively. I think his ability to create his own shot is really valuable. I think it's a really lame position though to say that we shouldn't trade him for Booker. Devin Booker in a down season is a vastly better player than Jalen Green. Every argument against that is based on emotion and feelings. It's not impossible that Jalen eventually surpasses him. It's just really, really unlikely.
For me it's because the few times he's stepped on the court he's the most undersized, under-athletic, and inexperienced player on it, and yet, there have been times he has managed to make a meaningful impact despite the fact. Kinda like FVV but I'm not saying he's gonna grow into a FVV level talent. But I think he has the potential to do that and more. That's why I think he's got such a high BBIQ. Despite the fact that physically he should be an assistant manager at Chase Bank he can manage to look like he belongs in the NBA (in flashes).
I’m done waiting on Ant. Just don’t think he will be available. The only superstar I think is remotely gettable is Giannis. I’m thinking if Phoenix doesn’t trade Booker, then Phoenix will target players more than draft picks for Durant and will build a team that is a perennial 6-8 seed. Under those circumstances our Phoenix picks won’t be worth a sh*t. I think finding role players that fit our culture and compliment Amen, Jalen, and Sengun is the way to go. I just threw this one out, because of the Ausur angle. I think guys like Naz Reid, John Collins, and Coby White are better fits. We can’t pay them all. The core to me is Amen, Sengun, Jalen, and Jabari. I love Tari but I am concerned about his ability to stay on the court. This particular trade gives you a plus backup PG in Ivey, Plus Center backup in Stewart, Tari insurance in Ausur (plus an incentive for Amen to re-sign), and a sharp shooter in Tyus although I just put him in to make the Fanspo trade machine work. He is FA after this year. In reality we should go for a backup PF/C that can shoot 3’s and either another 3&D swing player or backup combo guard. FVV and Dillon are expendable.
Insanity. Devin Booker is young and a playoff killer. Very competitive guy. It’s funny how Rockets fans threw Chris Paul overboard, as some washed up bum, and then believe his running mate he almost won a title with us also some washed up 27 year old bum. Booker is better than Jalen Green’s mythical best case scenario. Booker can actually play defense as well, despite his reputation as a mainly offensive player. He’s a super competitive guy, and very skilled. Winner at heart. He’s the kind of offensive player Houston needs to have a champ level team. Especially in a conference with SGA and Jokic. The Rockets need way more offensive firepower.
When Booker is forced to be playing Udoka Level defense and not have Kevin Durant as the first option, he will not sustain those levels. He is also 28/29 And he will make twice what Jalen Green makes. After what I’ve seen this year, I am still willing to bet on Jalen Green.
I’m mean, at this point, Booker is far and away the better player. I’m not sure how you can argue otherwise. Even when you compare Green to Booker’s 4th season…
I totally agree with the part in bold... I like Naz Reid or similar player. I like Tyus Jones as a discount replacement for FVV. As far as Ant goes... crazier things have happened (See Luka Doncic). I don't see the T-Wolves as a long term option for Ant. The market is too small and they have made some poor cap decisions. They may just hit the reset button. I think the key, as you say, will be finding players to fit around the core at reasonable salaries. The Rockets could easily be up against the 2nd apron in two years before starting a max extension for Amen. Personally, I am on the draft and develop bandwagon. Trade good, yet non-core players, for lotto picks in the hope that you can keep the in house talent pipeline full. If an Ant or Tatum becomes available, then you go all in and trade draft picks. I don't like Giannis at this stage of his career. His peak was 6 years ago (last MVP season). He is paid the super max for the next 3 seasons after this one and I expect he won't be all first team NBA going forward. I think he will probably try to extend in the 2026 offseason. (So if you get Giannis, you are going to pay supermax for next 5-6 seasons). I am fascinated by the team building part of the Rockets rebuild. They could become a perennial contender for the next 5-10 years with judicious asset management. Or they could become the T-Wolves/Knicks/Suns/Heat/Bulls/Pacers/Clippers/Sixers/etc.. teams that were psuedo-contenders for a couple of years before breaking it all up because they are capped out and just not good enough. I think the Rockets are contenders starting next year. The core is good enough. I see Amen as 1st or 2nd team all-NBA. Sengun is an all-star. Jalen is a fringe all-star. They have enough assets to develop, trade for, or sign good role players. I just fear that Tilman/Stone will go all in on a max contract player that is past their peak just to "Make a Splash" and sell tickets. I have been pleasantly surprised with the patience of the front office and would be happy with more patience going forward.
The Pistons feel the same way about Ausar Thompson that we feel about Amen. He's untouchable. They're the most improved team in the NBA and Ausar is already their 2nd-best player. I'm sure they'd love to have Devin Booker but they wouldn't trade Ausar for him.
Tyus Jones is not a replacement for FVV. Fred is an outstanding defensive player and Tyus is a terrible defensive player. The Suns awful season has a lot to do with Tyus Jones inadequacies.
It’s all about fit. I envision the Rockets as the most athletic team in the league. Booker does not play defense is slower than Jalen and not that much of a better outside shooter. Jalen is 23. Just not a big enough improvement to spend 4 picks on.
Booker may not fit in well with Ime's defensive intensity. It would be an interesting experiment. Ime might also hate Booker's general smugness. I think Booker would get a lot of good looks here though on offense. FVV, Amen and Sengun are all excellent passers. I think Booker would get more open looks here than in Phoenix. I think Booker is probably the best fit of all the stars that are likely to be available this coming summer. He's expensive and he's flawed but he's a really good player. Feel free to bet on Jalen Green over Devin Booker. Please just don't put any actual money on that bet.
The bet is Jalen, filler and 4 picks vs Booker. It is a over-simplification of Booker at 29 is better than Jalen at 23.
