Would rather just run it back like some others have said. Let the young core grow and get stronger next season after some exposure in these playoffs. Still a lot of room for internal improvement. Only change that I'd be hoping for is to have Reed take over more of FVV's role. I'm confident in a season or two he'll easily clear what FVV has given us the past two seasons.
Before the playoffs I would def be ok trading Sengun as part of a Giannis package, but Sengun has stepped up and balled out his mind the past two games I am ok running the kids back. Like why not give them 1 more year to see what they can do? We just need to replace FVV for an upgrade and we are good.
There are a few speaking on the athletic decline of Giannis, but the same was said about Westbrook and LeBron. The Rockets are one if the few teams that doesn't have to gut the squad to acquire Giannis. Green, FVV,Smith Jr and some picks. Bucks get a young all star caliber sg and a versatile 3/4 type and a expiring contract in Fred. Not only that,the Suns pick this year.
They are young just based on average cuz we have old men like FVV, Adams, Brooks and Jeff Green on the roster. The core guys are younger than OKC. OKC has three young guys Chet. JDub and Cason Wallace. The rest are either role players or 25+ like Dort and SGA. Rockets arent "standing pat" as guys like Sengun, Green, Amen are all getting better every year. Look at their record from last year to this year and all they added was Steven Adams. Did they "stand pat"? lol OKC actually has a big problem they have so many overpaid role players. They have 3 superstars, 1 elite roleplayer (CW) and then a bunch of overpaid role players like Hartenstein, Dort and Carusso. They have been lucky so far only Chet has dealt with major injuries but if SGA or JDub so get injured they dont have enough good players.
To get Giannis the price is Sengun and picks that it. After Sengun’s playoff performance, I’m not sure I’d do it. One thing is for sure, we have to jettison FVV. I’d really like to get another sharp shooting guard and either Naz or John Collins. I think Collins is gettable and would be a great addition to a frontcourt rotation of Jabari, Tari, and Sengun. I sure wouldn’t break the bank for Adam’s, even though he has been a great addition. Who are the gettable SG/Combo guards that can shoot and play decent defense?
FVV has to be replaced for us to be contenders next year. It would be a big gamble to assume Reed would be the guy. We need floor spacers. Maybe we get lucky and Cam gets his head screwed on straight.
There is no feasible move short of another idiot GM pulling a Nico Harrison for us that we can make that puts us above OKC anyways. OKC is on track to be an all-time team for the next few seasons regardless. They had the highest point differential in NBA history this season for a reason. Injuries, random misfortune, team chemistry issues... all those variables are up to chance and can happen during the regular season and in the playoffs. OKC is going to have to battle the second apron at some point in the next few years - let's see how their players react to who gets paid and who doesn't. And at some point, their depth is going to get sacrificed. Clay Bennett isn't some big spender. In the meantime, I'd rather the Rockets just stay the course for now - no one from our core group has hit their prime years yet and we still have premium draft assets via PHX and DAL coming up. Doesn't mean I'm against making moves if the right play comes up in the future. However, I'm in no rush to mortgage our future for a 2-3 year window when we can field a 50+ win team for the next decade and have multiple shots at seeing how things play out to compete for a championship.
Great post. I hope Stone and Patrick read this. Yeah I think one thing we have seen is in the playoffs luck plays a large factor like in the game tonight the injury to Butler might have significant ramifications. Having a team with a long window allows to take advantage of such lucky opportunities, this is also how Dallas won their ring.
Excellent post. All our young stars are barely of drinking age. Three more years of experience, and they will at the ripe age of....25. A couple of more additions could put this team over the top, but be careful what you sacrifice, short versus long term.
I want to keep the core together and just upgrade Fred. Giannis will be 31 next season. We’d have to make a ton of subsequent moves to create a roster that actually works. Assuming Amen is untouchable, a Giannis/Amen combo can only work if surrounded by elite shooting at the other positions. Obviously we have to kick the tires if Giannis is available but we have a good thing going and these guys are all 22-23. Our guys will continue to get better. If we just upgrade Fred with a really really good player we will be a lot better next yr.
Giannis has not won a single playoff game in 3 years. Do not want. 31 years old, will want super max extensions. Why pay guys $50M-$75M on extension and he can not will an Eastern Conference team to a single playoff win in 3 years? Pathetic. He is literally a taller slightly better version of what Blake Griffin was, a bull in a china shop that will decline quickly.
This has already been rehashed hundreds of times. The Giannis and Sengun combo would mean they don’t have a dynamic backcourt. If Green is gone who plays 2? Who plays 1 without Fred? The backcourt wouldn’t be 2 stars. It may be vet contracts or Amen and who? Can these guys dribble drive and shoot? Who are these players that would fit the cap while being dynamic enough to dribble drive and make plays? KCP type? Malik monk type? Not good enough. Now you have 3 guys starting that don’t shoot beyond 15 ft. You have guards thats not great with shooting or dribble drive. How do teams counter this? Stack the paint as we are even more compressed than ever. Besides how would you play Giannis and Sengun at the same time. With Sengun at the high post or posting up where will Giannis be lined up? Oh yeah short corner or short roll. High low? Doesn’t make sense when neither stretches the floor. It would be a disaster of an offense. Wouldn’t work.
Idk I’m not afraid of OKC, they have a bunch of 6’3 to 6’5 guards as well as Chet and Hartenstien Rockets got a bunch of 6’6 to 6’11 wings with Jalen, Sengun and Adams. we outsize them and are more physical. I think I’d go 7 games
No need to get Giannis. phenomenal player but not worth giving up young talent and valuable picks. A lot of teams will age out in the west, while this team enters its prime. that’s the true window. getting Giannis would mean you’d have to win now. If it fails you’d be left in mediocre purgatory like the bulls were
Yeah the advantage of OKC is SGA is in his prime already while our guys are only 23 and younger. I think we catch up with them in 2-3 years.
Exactly and I think SGA is overrated, amazing player but a complete foul merchant. If Jalen had the same whistle he’d be an all star this year. 2-3 years I’ll take our core over anybody
