Next year’s pick is all we lost on the Westbrook trade, so not as bad as most of us thought at the time.
Yeah it's crazy when we look back in retrospect, I remember feeling super doom and gloom about it when it happened but it doesn't seem to have affected us outside of that anxiety leading up to the Jalen lottery, and that didn't even matter in the end anyway because he was the wrong pick lmao.
Other than the Westbrook trade completely destroying the team, leading to years of tanking and rebuilding that we are still in today, I guess it wasn't so bad
Nikola Topic & whatever 2026 pick —>Then traded Westbrook for Wall & 2023 WSH 1st —>Sent that WSH 1st & DET 1st to OKC for Sengun Spoiler —>Thunder traded those picks & another first to NY to draft Ousmane Dieng —>Knicks traded DET 1st as part of Towns/Randle/DiVincenzo swap •Knicks still have WSH 1st; top 10 protected in 2026, otherwise 2nd RP in ‘26/2nd RP in ‘27
I'm convinced!!! This is the person we should focus on trading for!!! Spoiler: Obligatory visual emphasis.... ;-) @J.R. @Os Trigonum Go Rockets!!! ....... ....... .......
FVV is okay to keep in a veteran leadership role on a reduced contract and GREATLY reduced minutes (around 15 but no more than 20 per game). If Ime can't be trusted not to play him 40+ minutes a game then Stone should trade him or not pick up the option.
The most intelligent post. FVV is getting older, and he can't start for 82 games. Houston can't have him back on a max contract.
Ime is unwilling to do that, if he's here and able to walk, Ime will do everything he can to play him 40 minutes
Fred had a down year. We have to figure out if this is his new standard or just a bad year. If Fred stays, then anyone who thinks he is playing less than 32 minutes a game needs a reality check. He will likely play 35 min again. He's only 31, it's not like he's old. He just had a bad year (hopefully). And yes, he's a huge reason we went to 50% wins and then 52 wins this year. I don't think we have a starting point guard on this team if Fred goes. I'm trying to decide if Amen can be a starting PG. I think Reed needs at least another year. So, we probably need to trade for a starting PG if Fred goes.
FVV was one half of the least efficient scoring backcourt in the NBA this season.... we don't have a starting caliber PG if he stays because Ime is dumb enough to try to play him 40 minutes a game no matter how bad he's doing.
I think that’s ill advised. The expiring contract has value and could be used to move up in the draft as high as 3 by taking bad money. I want Dylan Harper in Houston and the consistent buzz is spurs may want to trade #2 but I think there’s a non zero chance they take Bailey instead for fit as long as Giannis commits to The Bucks.
We don’t have a core. It’s just amen. Sengun is probably going to get traded. Jabari and Tari are role players. Jalen has been a disappointment. Sheppard is a rookie and udoka hates whitmore.
I am not sure if our young core is good enough to grow into a championship contender. I'd say possible but not highly probable. It really depends on BOTH Sengun and Amen turning into top 20 players and one of them top 5. That's a lot to ask. So it would be nice if we could trade some of our assets for a top 10 guy to jump start the process. On the other hand, I am very wary about trading a still-developing young player for a second or third tier star that will somewhat improve the team in the short term. Think of how teams regret that kind of trades: WAS traded Webber for Richmond; OKC traded Harden for KMart and picks; Clippers traded SGA for Paul George; Kings traded Haliburton for Sabonis. I don't want to see one of our young guys blossom into their lead dog on another team going deep in the playoffs.
Why do people always think there's only 1 answer to a question? Like those that believed we had to heave endless 3s to beat GSW... Superstar or not? Well, I'd imagine it has to do with who's available - and at what cost,,,, What position? For what package? If the only real option is an overpriced malcontent with a bad attitude - then you pass... If someone who's a positive asset becomes available at a reasonable price bc their team is deciding to rebuild - then u jump on it... If somebody wants to trade for a big name with no concern for cost and chemistry - well thats stupid... If somebody thinks we have a championship team and we shouldnt even entertain options to upscale our roster - well thats stupid too, imo. I hate it when people put the cart before the horse and make declarations without knowing the options... You gotta play the course.... Take what the defense gives you.... Exploit opportunities.... and for the record, i do not believe we have a championship roster as presently constructed - even with pie in sky beliefs that everybody is going to mature and become superstars... lol At minimum... we need a closer... someone whos not gonna get shook and can keep the score rolling... Idk but maybe KD... i dont think he's going to want to be the high usage centerpiece of the team (like a harden), but can still give a good solid 25-30 mins a night - esp down the stretch... but again, its about cost... and what other options are available.
