hey I hope u are right. If Jalen isn’t moved as part of a KD trade I don’t think he’s getting moved this offseason. So as long as he’s a rocket I’ll be rooting for him (and probably even when he’s not a rocket cause he seems like a good kid).
Appreciate the perspective, Ben. Remember reading your posts on here many years ago then when you hosted LoR. Thanks for providing us Rocket fans with content. Still think you are wrong on Jalen and KD, but two reasonable people can agree to disagree. Salud!
Then put together that trade. You will have to include way too many contracts. At least do enough research on cap space to make a logical trade scenario.
KD is making Stone's job as easy as possible and still can't get it done. This is why I laugh at everyone rejoicing in having draft picks and assets. Those only matter if you're able to turn those into talent. Stone has wet dreams of having 15 players that were drafted by him. Celtics don't win a title without Derrick White. You think they rather have that draft pick that no one even remembers what the spurs did with it over White. Turn some of these picks into guys that can help us now. Find our Derrick White if you don't want to use them on KD.
The Rockets say absolutely no on Sengun or FVV being included, the Suns say absolutely no on having Jalen Green on their roster no matter what else happens. That's why the Dillon Brooks conversation is happening.
O man I hadn't realized there as an exchange in value involved. My point is that folks who are enthusiastic about this seem not to realize how valuable the Phoenix 2027 pick. RN that's odds-on a top 5 pick in the draft, given their trajectory.
@BimaThug Is a three teamer with a SNT of Tate at his current value with 2 NG years doable? Dillon, Tari, Holiday, Cam, Jock (Tate SNT starting at 8.1M annually) Seems that a trade would likely work easier with drafting a player for Phoenix @ #10 and trading him after signing and waiting the month. It really also feels like if that isn't the route the trade has to include FVV (repeatedly mentioned off the table) or Jalen. (obviously not Sengun)
Their 2026 pick is valuable which we don't have. A lot can change in a year and a half. If they intend on keeping Booker which seems to be like the plan and they trade KD for a decent package, they can surround Booker with decent enough talent. They might be in a position to sign someone in 2026 free agency if they show potential. It's why giving up the Nets picks is an ultimate failure. The only reason Stone did that trade was to trade for Booker or KD(that was announced as soon as the deal was made). If he's unable to do that then it's a loss. Nets are so far away from even competing for a playoff spot, thats a guaranteed top 6-7 pick every year.
Stone is "not getting it done" because he doesn't want to get it done. He is not a motivated buyer. If he wanted to, he would.
I hope this is the case. I don't want Stone to "bid" for Durant (i.e. upping the offer when someone else is offering something better). He should set a "take it or leave it" price and that's it. Let Phoenix panic and cave. We are not desperate for KD's service.
I think everyone knows here would be happy if we did a Derrick White type of trade. But 37 year old 54 million dollar KD is not a good trade. Maybe our Derrick white trade is just getting Derrick White.
I totally get where you're coming from. I'm sure the job feels thankless at times. I'd like to thank you and Paolo (and Jackson too) for your awesome work. Ya'll have kept me entertained for countless hours at this point. You all always have well reasoned takes, even if sometimes they don't align with my own. For an example, today you changed my thinking around Jabari. I love the value of Jabari on his rookie deal. Would I like him as much at 25mill+ per year, which is what he is likely due on his coming extension? That's not so clear. He has shown steady improvement, so I'd hope he takes another incremental step this coming season. We'll see what happens there. As for Jalen, I personally think I've seen enough. Like you've said, he needs to improve in some area offensively. It could be 3-point shooting, but I feel like his form will limit him from becoming a consistently good perimeter shooter. It could be the mid-range, but becoming an efficient mid-range shooter is even more rare than a three-point shooter due to the point differential. The Chris Pauls and Kevin Durants are incredibly rare in this regard. He could become a better playmaker, but I just don't think he has the processing. I don't see the game slowing down for him in the slightest. He could get to the bucket more, but it's unlikely he'll be able to put on the strength and size to become more effective at it.
Ding ding ding. Someone sees it. I'm not buying it all that Stone wants to get this deal done. It's all posturing, he's doing enough or just the bare minimum to make it seem like we're a possibility. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he's in cahoots with the Suns to let them use the Rockets as a leverage play. It was announced all year by Shams and all the other insiders that they had zero interest in KD because of his age and then all of a sudden the Rockets are showing heavy interest. Makes no sense. Stone has no idea how to do anything other than trade for draft picks by desperate teams.
