Obviously we can all have pipe dream of Derrick White or Austin Reaves but reality is the following: 1) Jrue Holiday- Portland already has a PG for the future in Scoot and veteran in Damian. We have to trade FVV to make salary work but Jrue is an upgrade 2) DeAaron Fox- Good news, San Antonio willing to trade him. Bad news, the reason being Dylan Harper is already better. We have two years before Harper/Wemby tandem become an unstoppable force. Again FVV needs to be in this deal 3) Craig Porter Jr- Yes wtf is Craig Porter should be your question. Cleveland let Ty Jerome walk because this guy is already better. He is like undersized Cade but Cleveland already has Garland and rookie Procter. We can trade him for Aaron or Tate and a first round. So this trade allows us to keep FVV. I personally prefer Jrue or CPJ.
The was a lengthier point in time that Reaves and White were clearly below the likes of Jrue and Fox.
The problem with Jrue and Fox is you’d have to include FVV, and he has an implied no-trade clause. Porter is definitely an intriguing prospect. The larger issue is minutes. When DFS gets back, whose minutes will this trade candidate take? Adams is looking great, Okogie fits well so far, etc. With DFS, we’re basically at a 10 man lineup. Of course, this isn’t a problem if you’re including one of our rotational guys, but we better get solid return. Therein lies the problem - the only person who sort of maybe makes sense to trade is Tari for a ball handler, and the options are pretty limited when looking at guys who will match his impact, especially since you can’t really add FVV’s contract in a trade.
If Okogie can shoot a decent percentage at 3 like he did last year, we don’t need a trade. He and Amen make a really good backcourt and Reed can come off the bench in relief of either one. Pretty much Okogie just takes the role that was intended for FVV this year (off ball) and Sheppard his intended role as a backup guard. If Okogie can’t hit a decent clip at 3, then Reed has to grow up fast or we have to make a trade for another guard that can (and play defense).
I honestly like this idea. At least, I think we should roll with it for a while. There is a lot of optionality, too - if Reed develops well, he can replace Okogie next season with FVV as a great sixth man. Or perhaps Reed will thrive in his sixth man role, and FVV can step back into the starting lineup. And there’s always the option of extending Okogie and trade FVV next offseason.
So you’re saying that Cleveland has this talented youngster, Porter Jr., that the Rockets should get? Hmmmm… Has anything like this ever happened before?
Maybe let's wait a few weeks before proclaiming Dylan Harper better than Deearon Fox and needing to address the PG spot with a journeyman FVV wannabe.
Remember when we could have signed reeves or harden but stone and ime epstein decided to give fred vanvleet $40 million instead
Eh lets wait till mid December and see where we are at since we have no choice but to wait for a trade. Landscape could change by then and more players could become available.
Okogie can't be a secondary ball handler like FVV or shoot as well as FVV if doing the same type of shooting. Okogie is really nice defensively (understatement). I'm skeptical of the 3-ball being reliable at anything but wide-open threes. I'd add Alvarado as a PG target. I'd also add Ellis as a target as I'm more comfortable with his three-point shooting than I am with Okogie's, though Okogie is the better defender.
While I’m concerned about the lack of ball handling on the roster, I’d rather give Amen, Reed, Okogie, Davidson, and Holiday a shot at managing the backcourt before I made any trades. That said, we’ll see what things look like at the deadline. Beyond the obvious issues Fred’s loss creates, if one more of our backcourt guys had to miss time, we’d be in serious trouble. Jru Holiday’s contract is bad and woukd impair us going forward. He’s also a declining player. Fox is one of those guys who is making the max but isn’t a max player. He can’t provide the spacing we need; not a good fit.
See how it goes this year. If Amen and Reed don't make a leap as the PG then next summer trade for Booker. But give Amen and Reed their opportunity first, not just 3 games. We might have something special if we are patient.
