This reads like someone learned the phrase “small sample size” and stopped thinking. Ignoring repeated late-series drop-offs by calling everything “variance” isn’t analysis, it’s fanboi obsession dressed up as statistics.
It makes too much sense. It solves our biggest weakness, moves Amen off the ball where he thrives, gives Reed more time to develop, syncs with/maximizes/extends KD's window, and provides Harden with an opportunity for a storybook ending. It's such a unique circumstance - there's no other way to acquire a player of that caliber and at a position of desperate need without mortgaging our entire future. The obstacles are (i) the delusion that Fred will come back this year and be a difference maker, and (ii) the tendency to hoard future picks that, statistically speaking, are unlikely to yield greater value. But Harden is playing at an all-star level now. We have KD now. Waiting for Fred and shorting PHX/DAL are future bets and not particularly good ones. Why do we watch the Rockets anyway? If it's supposed to be fun and exciting, then bringing back Harden with this team will be the biggest thrill any of us have seen since Dream. Would you rather watch that or Fred on one good knee and PHX's win/loss record? What are we doing here?
Would the Rockets be better than the Wolves if Minnesota acquired Harden? that seems like a more likely destination for him
FVV + DFS + 2 second round picks = Harden Harden/Reed Amen/Okogi KD/Tari Bari Alpi/Adams Honestly, I think it’s more likely that they sign CP3 or a different buyout candidate.
So who gets bumped in the rotation here? You are replacing Harden with two guys that are not in the current lineups. Maybe not much minutes to go around knowing ime
So the Clippers are accepting a player that is out for the Season and another player that is out for 3 more weeks with a lingering issue? I mean they are stupid but are they that dumb......to help the Rockets and then hand a better pick to the Thunder.
Ime would run Harden for 43 minutes a night plus Overtime, great for his stamina in the Playoffs. The aloof Harden and the scowling and evil looking Udoka, great post game interview partners.
IF you trade for Harden this team will instantly become more stable and win most of these silly regular season games we keep losing. We probably jump up to #3 in the West when it’s all said and done….. …. but…. The offense becomes James Harden to the point where when the postseason comes and teams game plan for that like they’ve done with every other James Harden led team in the history of James Harden… we all know what happens. The Rockets cannot change their identity overnight, and the Rockets offense is terrible enough to get us bounced in the first round. I love Harden and think he should have his number retired here and hung in the rafters… but don’t fcking trade for Harden. Let the youngsters figure it out themselves and hire a new coach if Ime cannot coach a decent enough offense, and figure a way to scheme for Sengun to not be a deal killer liability on defense. As frustrating as it is, regular season wins aren’t as important as the growth process for Sengun, Amen, Bari, and Reed. Especially Amen who we need to take that next big step in a big way. Our regular season struggling more in a way that helps him figure it out is HUGE in the longrun.
