Anything over $20-$25 Million and the Rockets offseason is basically done. I think they will try to stay below the luxury tax this season to not start the repeat payer tax too soon. If they sign Fred to $30 Million+, then the rest of the offseason will be filling out the roster with Vet minimum types and Rookie free agents.
I know the Rockets front office is not nearly as knowledgeable as you...just wonder why the Rockets steadfastly refused to include Jabari in the trade. By all accounts, Jabari was the key piece that Phoenix wanted. I was totally convinced that he WAS being traded. I don't know if he will end up being an All Star...more probably not at least to this point. But, don't you kid yourself about Jabari and his desirability to other teams. I believe he has more upside...will he ever have handles and be a complete All Star player ? Right now you'd have to say no. The easy route would have been to trade Jabari. I don't think we have used him properly. I stated that it may have been better for he and the Rockets to be traded. So, why do you think the Rockets steadfastly chose not to trade him and to keep him ? I believe he probably would have a better chance to be his best in another offense. BUT, he wouldn't have as a good a chance to win a championship. I'm more interested in the Championship...I think the Rockets are too.
They will decline his team option and see what options available. Maybe a new deal or who is available.
I mean - they aren't. I wouldn't have given Kevin Porter Junior that "negotiate against ourselves" extension - would you have? Anyway I don't need to argue with you about Jabari Smith Junior - wish he was as good as you kept telling us he was going to be instead of "just fine" but those are the breaks. Like I said last week the Sam Vecenie mea culpa was all that really needs to be said. Solid player, but given the pre draft hype, one you wish you could've gotten a do over on.
Yeah...not wanting to argue as well. Here is what the statistics say as regards drat picks being All Stars: #1 pick-63.3 % #2 pick -40 % #3 pick -55% This is over the last 30 drafts-starting in 1989 when the draft went to 2 rounds...#3 is basically a coin flip. There is a chart here ..very interesting. Second Round picks have a 2.5 % chance. The next to last paragraph says this : Being an All Star is not the most optimum way to assess a draft selection or player in general.Depending on the context, teams can pick whoever they seem fit for their existing lineup lineup and he may help them to challenge for the NBA title for several years without being selected as All Star. Note:Steven Adams has never been an All Star (12th pick in 2013). From that same year, the #1 pick that year...Anthony Bennett flamed out quickly and became one of the worst #1 draft picks ever.Only #2 Oladipo, #15 Giannis and #27 Rudy Gobert were All Stars. #4 that year? Cody Zeller. 9 of the 60 players drafted NEVER played in a regular season or playoff game. The NBA is a fickle game. I'd take a boat load of the hard nosed Steven Adams type players who can help you win a championship.Our B2B Championship teams had Hakeem, Clyde and OT (91-92) as All Stars.You certainly would like to have your players make All Star teams but not making one doesn't mean you have no value. Hopefully he has a lot of basketball left and he gets there. If he is part of an NBA Championship or any of our other players who are not All Stars as well, I'd be happy. I sure hope KD stays at his current level.
That could still happen...i would be delirious to get Giannis as well. As I mentioned a change might be good for Jabari as well.
I think the price for Giannis would be too high, the Rockets have signaled for 3 off seasons now that they want to develop young talent, add vets, and would swing for the fences if a star is young enough for their timeline. I don't think Giannis would fit because the amount it would cost, and the relatively short window that would remain. I think the probability of a James Harden return to Houston is definitely >0%.
