Reed is best off the ball but he has shown signs of making good reads and passes. The playoffs are a long time from now. How about we see how he improves? Amen went from bench energy guy to actual difference maker in a year.
Who’s afraid? I’m all for giving him more time since I’ve lowered my expectations anyway. But it doesn’t mean I can’t comment on how he’s doing NOW.
I think most people, probably including myself, have pre-draft judgments on players. If a player they liked pre-draft is not good, they'll find excuses and keep optimistic and hopeful for him. The extreme ones will start making irrational attacks on whoever dare to criticize the player. If a player they didn't like before the draft is doing good, they'll still find negative things to say about the player and spend lots of time pointing out how people who praise the player are wrong. Confirmation bias is ingrained in human minds. We just don't want to be wrong about something we thought was right.
Tell you what - look at how many 21 year olds have shot .4+ from 3 on 5+ 3pa per game like Reed is at the moment. The last one to do it was Jason Tatum in 2020. Criticize other aspects of Reed’s game, but he is shooting really well when considering his age.
Agree with this. He obviously has a beautiful shooting stroke. It was why they drafted him which I supported at the time. It was a weak draft and people hating on him, because he hasn’t performed “like the 3rd pick in the draft” are daft. I did not watch him in college that much. My expectations from the start that he would be a sharpshooter off the bench, which is one thing the team desperately needed at the time. After actually watching him play in the NBA, I realized that his size and lack of athleticism is going to be a problem for the entirety of his career. I think he can still make millions of dollars as a marksman coming off the bench much like Korver. The cap may not allow that to happen for the Rockets, because we are trying to win a championship this year and his 10M salary is one of our only realistic player trade pieces. The others: Tari, Adams, Capella are either to valuable or have even smaller salary matching constraints.
Reed has until the Trade deadline to get better. If he doesn't, he will be traded for a vet point guard to be Amens backup.
Agreed, although I’m not sure it will be a pure pg just someone capable of handling the ball adequately and can play defense and shoot a decent %. More combo guards will be available than pg’s, although I guess it’s possible for a Schroeder or Conley type.
The other aspects of his game need big improvement for sure. But we drafted him for his shooting and it’s his calling card. From what I see, he’s not tall enough to shoot over defenders and not athletic enough to get good separation either. He can catch and shoot open 3s well. But that’s the definition of a role player. That’s my new expectation of him: a good role player / rotation piece.
He just needs to develop into a great catch and shoot player especially when he’s on the court with the big 3. If he makes those at a high clip, he should play and we should keep developing him. I’ve seen him and Holiday play in lineups together so I expect to see that at some point I believe in Reed’s shooting, I’ve noticed he’s become a better off player so far this year. He’s consistently moving around relocating for an open shot. I think he’ll figure it all out in a few weeks.
We need guard depth. If we can get it without trading Reed that would be fine, but who? Are you trading Adams or Tari so you can keep Reed? His 10m salary may be desperately needed for matching. I think this team is trying to win the championship this year and they shouldn’t let Reed’s potential stand in the way. If he is playing like an adequate backup guard by the deadline then we don’t need to make a trade at all. Backup guard is our only real depth issue. If Reed can solve that with his play then no trade is needed.
It is very unlikely Reed's 10M salary is needed for matching unless it is part of a big deal for a star or near-star. Coby White is probably the only PG worth bringing in that is more than Capela and Green's salaries unless the Rockets go big. Even then, DFS or Adams would work, and I'm not sure that is a big enough upgrade to give up on Reed. That said, I expect the Rockets to be looking for a starter, whether PG, SG, or SF, with enough playmaking that they can be the point with Sengun when Amen is off the court. Reed would still be the backup PG for the regular season, but would need to earn PT in the playoffs. Most likely, Rockets don't land a starter, and ship off Capela for a guard that probably is more competing with Reed than outright better.
There will be buyouts and low salary guys where Tate and a 2nd rounder or two get the job done. Low salary guys: Jamal Shead Jose Alvarado Cole Anthony Dante Exum Gary Payton II Marcus Sasser Russell Westbrook Chris Paul Kyle Lowry All under 4 million in salary on spotrac and labeled PG. Half those guys would likely be available if needed.
At some point, he is going to get good enough to add the mid range stopping and pop to his van. We’ve already seen a little bit in SL. And I still think he’s gonna be coming above average finisher relative to his height. Give him time. He needs it.
Would you say Sengun had the tools? During the draft he was noted as not having great length, foot speed, or height for his position. The first two seasons of his career he was a terrible defender. Under Ime he's now a very good defender, capable of anchoring the middle even when Jabari or Adams were injured last season. He's averaging a career high 1.7 steals and better than ever on switches. If FVV can become a good defender then so can Sheppard. He's shorter than Reed and slow. If Reed has good hands already that's like half the journey to becoming FVV defensively.
Not true! Everybody can not be taught FOOTWORK. There has been many players who we all thought could easliy be taught footwork but have failed and they are much more athletic than Reed; Dwight Howard, Giannas, and Javale McGee. Those are just a few off the top of my head that were being taught by Hakeem and never picked it up. The only two I know that picked it up successfully were Kobe and Wemby. Offensive and/or defensive footwork is difficult to develop. There have been several accounts of players developing their shot, because its about their form. Amen has gotten extremely better since he first came and another account is Kwahi Leonard. There are players on every team every yr, that has improved their shot but not their footwork.
