I think you are right in that the Rockets should do more of trying to “find” a skilled perimeter player out there, that they believe in and is undervalued right now. Stone has not really had success at that kind of thing. His success has been accumulating and using top half FRP’s, and acquiring veteran known commodities. Not diamonds in the rough. We don’t even really try. Once you’re a good, capped out team, making one or two of those “finds” is critical. Lowry and Derrick White are a high standard though.
I'm willing to give Stone more or less a pass on his history since he's been rebuilding for most of his time as GM. And yeah, it is hard to get a Lowry or Derrick White when they were still relatively unknowns. But unfortunately that is the level of player the Rockets probably need to match up against OKC, if not also the Spurs and the Nuggets, in the playoffs. It's clear this is a talented roster, but probably need a lead guard to make all the pieces fit. If they don't find someone, I don't like the chances that Reed can develop into that guy for this season.
He makes $14m this year, that's just out of reach for the Rockets - Unless Fred agrees to be traded and that's not happening.
I would give them a 1st and 2 2nds. If i had to I would I would give them 2 firsts but I wouldn’t tell them that upfront. Rockets need a star like point guard, not back up level pg
Not necessarily. Sacramento is going to blow it up either way. You easily add a third team...hi Pels and BK ( TM)
More I think about it the more I kinda want Westbrook for Holiday + 2nd. Schroeder would probably be better but I’m not trying to give up DFS or depth Westbrook wouldn’t be bad off the bench as a playmaker for our shooters. Help stabilize the offense when Reed gets shaky and still learning and also allow him a little more off ball. He’s avg. 7assist and 35% from 3 isn’t the end of the world. Hit a few on us. Could probably teach Amen a thing or two about having ungodly athleticism and playing point guard Reunite Westbrook / KD and I bet Harden forces his way here somehow for one last year of the trio and they retire together
How is Jrue a reasonable get with a $34m contract. Who you gonna trade to make that happen? Remember they are hard capped so it's basically dollar for dollar to match. Fred aint gonna approve a trade. Forget that $25m. Jabari is untradable on a poison pill contract.
Adding a 3rd team doesn't escape the problems of being hard capped at the apron. You don't have a single contract that works either, so you have to account for either bringing back a 2nd body in the trade or signing one to a minimum to satisfy roster limits. Tari and Capela don't make the math work for Schroder. It leaves the Rockets over the 1A and under the minimum roster of 14. Unless you are adding DFS and one of Tari or Capela, Or Fred (and that's not happening), the math is literally impossible. Alvarado is someone who they could get ....
Random thought: Maybe we could use a shooting big man to lower Steven's minutes and play on B2Bs more than we need a point guard? Clint looks washed AF and just doesn't bring much beyond rebounding and a dunk or two. TL;DR bring back Jock (41% from three on 2.8 3PA!)
I guess my “NBA trade machine” logic was dependant on FVV accepting the trade, but I wasn’t aware at the time of that caveat. Sounds like Jrue is off the table darn. I am not sure Marcus Smart is really in any way a more conventional PG than Amen. He is probably a lesser Amen with a marginally better 3pter. Is Mike Conley still healthy/un-retired lol.
Don’t expect any kind of ground breaking addition this year. Right now it’s sellers market and price they’re asking are ridiculous for the talent you can add (not terms of swapping players but asking draft picks)
i'm ok with getting steven kerrie in his last 2 years before retirement. especially since things aren't working out with green donkey.
You might be right in the end. I think the best option right now, today, is to wait till the buyout market and get a vet on the cheap then. I really like what I saw from the Amen, Tari, KD, Bari, Sengun starting lineup too and knowing that any trade for a starting PG will probably include Tari...I'm just not sure. Might just be the year we do the best we can do of course and really try to go for it when we get FVV back next season. Sucks to say that, especially with aging KD but...maybe the best thing long term for this team is just letting Amen and Reed get those reps at PG
If it's true Fred is running ahead of schedule and may even be able to come off the bench in the playoffs, he (depending on how well he's able to play following his recovery) may well be better than anybody we could realistically acquire anyway given our salary limitations.
Isaiah Collier has been averaging 9 assists per game the last 2 weeks and was barely playing for Utah early in the season. Maybe they'll let him go since they already have George and Clayton. Tyus Jones is a luxury injury replacement for Orlando right now since Black blew up but unfortunately they need him now since Suggs is out. Maybe eventually he'll be available. His brother Tre was very good for Chicago early in the season but is now the 4th PG in the rotation. The Bucks have prioritized KPJ over Rollins even after his explosion earlier in the season. If Giannis is otw out maybe he can be had for just 2nds. Ty Jerome hasn't played for the Grizzlies yet and they also need a Center badly since Edey is out. Maybe a swap for Capela would work? He'd still come back this season. I hate myself for saying this but Jordan Clarkson is a veteran playmaker who can still score and pass and is on a very cheap contract. Also the 4th PG since Kolek blew up. Dinwiddie is at home eating cheetos on his couch. Also don't mind rotating a 2 way spot on some random guys. Either of the Spencer brothers would've been a huge help and Ryan Nembhard was just an undrafted pickup. Cycle that spot quickly and promote anyone that sticks. JD is not only tiny but also more of a combo. No point wasting the slot. Ultimately, the best answer would still be Fred but barring a miracle I think a move would have to be made.
If or when Clint is dealt, Brook would be acquirable. He almost signed with us previously and he's unhappy with his role in a LAC. It doesn't solve our of issues, but the differences in what Stevo brings v. Brook would be awesome. It appears that the clips have a very tight window to see if they have a streak in them to get back on track before James and others (including my guy Nic) are dealt.
I'm hoping we can bring Damon Stoudemire out of retirement on a barely there minimum-minimum contract.
