Mostly agree, but he has gotten the chance to show he's a better 3pt shooter. He shouldn't have left the starting lineup though.
Murphy has a lot of value - he is 25 years old, has good size, is a budding offensive player, solid defender and under a good contract for years. He is basically what we hoped Jabari Smith would be. I personally wouldn't empty the asset cubby for him - the Rockets lack a franchise player, but there are teams out there that will pay a lot for him.
No - at least some of this is on Jabari. Other players found a way to score and improve their role and situation on the Rockets. So far Jabari hasn't. The biggest thing holding him back is a lack of handle and a lack of quickness - not Udoka or FVV.
I would seriously use all the assets we're about to send to Phoenix and use it to try and acquire this guy.
even if he had a handle, he still has to get the ball and in our offense he’s pegged as the 4th-5th option usually Alpi. JG FVV DB Bari or you can say Alpi, JG, Amen, FVV, DB, Bari So many times you see him wide open and a player looks him off…you put him on GS and he’s killing it .. he really doesn’t get enough touches to develop during the season, everything has to happen in the summer - same issue I have with resigning FVV while having Reed and Amen in the wings needing PG experience
Agree - I like all three, but with Daniels you know you are getting a top 5 defender, someone that in a playoff series can lock someone down. I would feel great knowing that Thompson and Dyson were on the court in the playoffs.
Agree with everything you said here except I would argue the "franchise player or bust" plan is going to be hard to pull off right now unless we are willing to pay too much for over the hill franchise players(Durant, Giannis). I get the sentiment - we are leaving the "Big 3" Era of NBA title building teams after all but I think the new CBA is going to reshape the landscape a bit and collecting supermax players isn't sustainable. This opens the door for other ways of building teams - maybe even teams without a traditional franchise player. Indy seems like a similar situation - in a vacuum I wouldn't necessarily say Siakam or Halliburton are Batmans...yet here they are 2 wins(and an unfortunate hamstring injury) away from an NBA title. All I'm saying is - there isn't really a James Harden or SGA on the horizon to position yourself to trade for and I wonder what value asset hoarding does today - almost feels like we either need to cash these assets in for a dude or trade current assets for future assets if you want to keep the ball rolling for that type of acquisition.
I largely agree with this - but players move up the pecking order by taking advantage of the opportunities provided. While Smith hasn't been bad, he also hasn't exactly crushed it in the opportunities he has had. He shot 35% last year from 3 - if he is shooting 40% from 3's at the mid point next season, he is going to get more looks. I think all of this could be mute - if Kevin Durant comes to the Rockets, and Jabari Smith remains on the Rockets, I expect him to be someone that benefits the most from KD and the improved spacing.
The game does change - slowly, bit by bit until you look back 5 years and realize how different everything really isn't the same. As far as stars go - I still think that this is largely a superstar driven league. SGA is a superstar and if not for him, Jokic would likely be in the Finals and likely winning the title. As for Indiana, I think that Haliburton as an engine is underrated but I agree with you that he isn't a real superstar.... but also look at the seeding in the East, and the injuries to Boston .... NY not having a star, and Giannis wasted in Milwaukee. I don't know that Indiana will be back in the Finals next year. I still think that you hoard assets, and you move them for future assets sometimes like Stone has done... because eventually someone will be available in trade. You also look in the draft and trade as well. I don't think you need 3-4 stars like was the model in the past, but I do think you really still need at least one top 10 player. There have been a handful of teams in the last 40 years without one that won a title, but really not very many.
also remember he hurt his hand last season and his % dropped badly for a bit when came back… I almost feel like us not having a pecking order plays a part in Alpi and JG game…the whole it’s not you, it’s not me, it’s US (pukes) lol
I do think we should always keep our eyes and ears open and try to keep a stocked war chest if a guy becomes available just in case, but I see it in Amen that I think he can be a top 10 player. And I think Sengun will be a top 25 player.
We would have to hold every team to under 80 points. It would be a horrible half court offense and half court rules in the playoffs.
I’m ok with this as long as you spent enough assets to clear space for our young guys to develop. Running it back will just stifle the development of Amen, Jalen, Reed, and Jabari. I understand we need vets, but they could be younger and better than FVV and Dillon and be better fits.
I’ve been spamming the KD threads lately, but glad I stopped in here to watch @BigMaloe cook. I see u fam. Good ideas and alternative takes.
Man, just 7 days away from the draft. Anything can happen between now and then. I'm just really hoping for a new home for Jalen and some young fresh talent in here with more height, length and grit. Want to keep that 10th pick too. Lots of interesting prospect in that range.
I like Murphy. One of my best friends is a pelicans fan and actually has a podcast on New Orleans sports. we talked a little bit about this the last few days and came up with Cam/Brooks/#10/2027 pick top 6 protected. Conveys to worst pick we have in 2029 if it doesn’t convey in 2026.
