Draymond, Durant, Lebron, Podcast P, Kawhi, Russ, Harden, Klay, Beal, Butler and CP3 are all players that just don't really have a place on any team anymore. Too old, too volatile. Teams like the Rockets, Spurs and Thunder have no need for them. They could also poison the well. Tempted to also put Giannis and Embiid on that list soon enough.
The more I think about the players and picks needed to get KD, and THEN almost being required to extend him at the max (because otherwise he'd be a one-year rental...and you know he's going to want the max...) I can't see much sense in it. He'll be 37 years old by the time the season starts and, if we extend him for, say, two years then we're handcuffing ourselves to a player in his late 30's who'll take up around 35% of our entire cap space (depending on how much the cap goes up but you get the idea...). I like KD, but I love our young players and picks too much to go 'all-in' for Durant -- especially at the price he'll want on an extension. We're living in a "1st apron/2nd apron" world and we lose a ton of flexibility if we consolidate players/picks for a star that we're committing to for the foreseeable future. The more I think about it the more I'm hesitant to let the Suns fleece us and get their picks back, plus players 15 years younger than Durant. I know we can't pay everybody but still...Durant's not the guy. Needs to be somebody younger whoever that may be. If there's someone out there at all that fits the bill.
Embiid is already on that list. #1 rule of having a franchise player- make sure that dude can be trusted to play and not ride the bench half the season.
Durant is the only realistic option who makes the Rockets better without having to mortgage their future. The only other move which wouldn't hurt the franchise is a Jalen Green-centered trade for Devin Booker where the Rockets dont bleed too many future assets either (unlikely given disparity in talent between Green and Booker).
Most of those guys have a place on a team, just not at their current contract if it were to extended at the same amount. Without Draymond The Rockets beat the Warriors in the first round, so he has use. He was first team all defense this season. Kawhi and Hardens Clippers were trending as potential finals participants early in the playoffs, there is value there just depends on next contract amount. Russ is essentially an end of bench guy / insurance at this point. PG and Embiid are pretty much bad contracts and I'd agree w you that the really have no place on any team unless assets are attached to them because they cant really stay on the court. CP3 has a place on just about any team in the NBA for what he will get paid ($3-$8M). He is an end of bench insurance and an on court and locker room guy, he can fit on a vet squad or young team. He did a lot for the development of OKC. He was signed by some off the best front offices in the league recently (GSW, OKC, SAS) so they had to have seen something. Beal and Klay are almost useless, Butler is solid but will be overpaid. If Kawhi could be had for cheap, I would risk taking him on over Embiid or PG any day.
Durant and Booker for 2027 and 2029 picks back a future Houston first. Add in Jalen, FVV and Jock. Sengun/Adams Smith/Tari Durant/Cam Booker Amen/Reed Leaves us #10 to add someone.
PHX would literally laugh at you and then send a recording of the conversation to America's Funniest Home Videos
If we are out on Giannis, I think FVV, #10 will get you Durant, who you extend 1 extra year if he’ll take it. Then run with Amen, Jalen, Durant, Jabari, and Sengun for a year. If Ime can’t run a better offense with that group it’s time to go. You would still have a lot of assets next year to re-make the team. You also have a bench of Tari, Dillon, Reed, Cam and a backup center (Adams if affordable). You can also get a bench shooter (maybe Jalen insurance) with the MLE of 14.1M. Makes us more competitive the next two years and hopefully gets more development than you would have for Amen, Jabari, Reed, Cam and Sengun. We probably aren’t competitive for the championship, but will be a very tough out if Durant is healthy and gets our real core the experience they need.
You would not need Kevin for the regular season of course but is he willing to step back while the young guys get reps and focus on the Postseason....? Questions over questions.
yep. This team and this team’s off-season is full of question marks. It would have been nice if we had used this past season to answer some of the questions with our young team, but we decided playoffs was more important. I personally think we could have competed for the playoffs and still concentrated on developing Amen, Cam, and Reed more, but that is now water under the bridge. I expect we just kick the can down the road another year.
It all depends on cost and the extension he wants. You guys are presuming the cost to be high and for the extension to be multiple years. Phoenix and Durant are not in any kind of position to demand anything. Acquiring Durant for 1 FRP and either FVV or a bunch of filler is a distinct possibility. You can also make it clear to Durant that we will give him only a one year extension. It is take it or leave it to both Phoenix and Durant, because the market for more is just not there. If they refuse, move on to another target. One thing I do know, is that running it back will not get us any closer to a championship and other teams will become even more competitive next year.
Draymond, Lebron, and Butler are still playing at a high level and have places on a team. GSW had the best record in the league after they acquired Butler. The point being is that they do have injury concerns, but they can also be valuable rentals if the cost is not prohibitively high.
“Solving the center position”…….sounds like Phoenix would be asking for Sengun which would probably be a non-starter unless there’s a center in this year’s draft they might be targeting at #10
interesting. We have no center to offer. Pretty confident Sengun is off the table in any KD trade discussions.
