REALISTICALLY....What can be done to catch SA and OKC?

Kevin Durant is definitely a top 20 player.

I like the NBA player rankings that bleacher report does, according to that, KD is #13, Sengun #28, Amen #37, Reed #97

Rockets definitely have talent and they can make moves to get there but really like I mentioned in the last thread, all the Knicks did was change their coach out really and it made all the difference in the world. I don't think roster changes are going to do much unless you are getting some bonafide MVP type player somehow, otherwise everything will always look clunky because our coach/GM combo thinks we could go a whole season without a PG and that KD can play that role.

 

Clean house. Completely

 

in OP’s post KD is no longer on the roster, so I’m not including him

 

Who was saying you couldn’t win a championship with Towns? You can’t if he’s your best player, but I don’t recall anyone saying you can’t win with him as a piece of your team.

Who is going to be making that Brunson-like leap on that Rockets roster? Brunson was OKC 6MOY Harden level his final year on the Mavs which basically means he was All-Star caliber but had to play a reduced role. He averaged 22, 5, and 4 during the Mavs run to the WCF including scoring 24, 41, and 31 points in the 1st round vs Utah while Luka was out with injury. Ain’t nobody doing that on the Rockets. We see how Sengun and Amen looked when they had the opportunity to step up vs the Lakers with no KD. They folded like a paper towel. NY just gave Brunson the opportunity to be a full-time starter and have the ball in his hands way more.

6th or 7th seed is a borderline or straight up play-in team. Unless that draft capital is bringing in a legit superstar while also not gutting depth, that team is collection of role players headed nowhere in the West.

 

I agree Jabari could average around 20 & 10 on 40% from 3 but where did the idea that that’s winning basketball come from..

John Collins did it his age 21 season. They were ass. He didn’t put on the extra 20 pounds or magically become a faster more coordinated athlete.

Christian Wood did it his 1st 2 seasons with the Rockets. It was awful.

There’s more to it than make a 3 and block a shot equals good 2 way player. That’s just not a finals level athlete anymore, he’d be fine in the Harrison Barnes minutes.

Who does he guard?

How often is he getting wide open, stand still, catch and shoot 3s with all those Josh Hart, Devin Vassel, and Cason Wallace speed guys running around?

 

Not until we have a coaching staff that can generate a good offensive AND defensive system not like what we have now. It starts with that then you build around that

 

1) Clear out the front office (including Patrick(
2) Blow the team up, sell high on Sengun and Amen
3) Try again in the lottery.

 

Plans of the Spurs from the POV of a fan, can tackle that.

 

Better coaching.

 

And they did it after a winning season and playoff run. They had a good coach, but the wrong coach. The found the right coach, and now look where they are.

Same thing for the Golden State dynasty. I don't think they ascend if Mark Jackson stayed their coach. I don't think Curry (drafted 7th) would have become the legend he is, or for that matter Klay Thompson (drafted 11th) becoming an all-star or Donkey (drafted 35th) becoming anything other than a thug.

 

I don't see how trading away one of the most efficient scorers in the league and replace him with <insert random 2 guard> makes one an instant contender.

Rather, I think you keep the most efficient scorer and add not just that random 2 guard but a quality point guard to the equation - you know, what was really missing last year, a point guard.

If winning games is the goal here, they need to upgrade around the best shooter in the game, not trade him for a bag of peanuts.

If you want to take 2 steps backwards and restart the rebuild, by all means trade KD, but if you are trying to beat OKC and SA he's your best shot.

 

Some miraculous internal growth would do it

 

I prefaced it with Sengun becoming tremendously more efficient and Amen getting a shot. KD is a bad fit with this team. An athletic shooting guard with consistent 3 pt shooting and good defense is an upgrade to Durant who now is nothing more than a good shooter and is on his last legs. Durant also spams 2 pt shots. This is not what the Rockets need. I know we will never agree on this, so I’ll leave it at that. We just feel different about our young players and how effective our vets are. FVV and Durant will never lead us to the promised land, even if they survive the year (doubtful).

 

Realistically you have to make a sacrifice. My vote is Sengun for Myles Turner and 1 or 2 picks. Now you're a 4-out team with a real rim protector.

Amen's lack of shooting becomes a non-factor as he gets more downhill drives for finishes and kick outs. Durant and Reed's defensive issues are dramatically lessened. The team can still easily win 50+ games.

Turner/Adams
Bari
Durant/Tari
Amen
FVV/Sheppard

Then you use our pick haul to upgrade FVV or Jabari. You're all set. That's the shortest path to building a well constructed contender. Emphasis on well constructed.

 

I’d be satisfied with Turner and their 26 pick and another pick, but you will need a 3rd team or for the Giannis trade to somebody for picks to happen first. If the Bucks keep Giannis they aren’t trading a stretch 5 for Sengun. I think the thought process is ok, just don’t think it’s very plausible this off-season. I’d much rather they just rip off the band-aid and trade KD and FVV if they can find a taker. Shop Sengun, but don’t give him up for peanuts. I think it’s all moot. Unless Stone actually is playing coy, they are just going to add another journeyman guard and run it back. I hate to say it, but Minnesota might be the only buyer on KD and I doubt they offer more than Randall, Shannon and the 26th pick, which I would do if all other KD trades fall through. I’m afraid Ime and Stone are only interested in not losing less regular season games in an attempt to save their jobs.

 

Realistically? Fire Ime Udoka, get a top 25 in the league quality head coach.

Overnight that makes the current Rockets significantly better.

 

I just think it's a foregone conclusion that Giannis is going to be traded.

I also think there's no chance they trade KD and I'm not sure I blame them. I'm optimistic about Amen being a second scorer in a 4-out offense but nowhere near a top scorer yet. We have to give him time.