I clearly don't want them to. But they got better. They were the worst team in the whole playoffs last year. They shouldn't have made it past the first round but some creampuff team just let them. They are actually screwed long term though. No more tradable picks and their core is Luka, Reeves, and Kessler. Hopefully Luka realizes it and just leaves in 2028
The Rockets were 7th in wins against 0.500 teams or better last season. I think the Rockets have an issue with the playoffs. I still expect a Top 6 seed in the West as I think the Rockets are more capable of playing the 82-game grind than some other teams. The myth that the Rockets feasted on weak teams in the regular season is incorrect. That said, if the wheels come off, I expect the Rockets to tank. Granted, I am fine with having options and think picking a direction before you have to is stupid. Though if picking the rebuild direction, I think you gotta do more than trade KD as I don't think he's enough to guarantee the Rockets aren't in the playoffs.
I don’t understand it with Grimes? Were they’re not sign and trade options? surely had to be able to get more money than that. knowing our roster built out I probably would’ve signed Tari to 20 million a year and just flipped him for Grimes. seems like Philadelphia would’ve been interested in that although I guess their cap situation is a mess.
It's a 4-year guaranteed contract with a PLAYER option on the 4th year. DFS's contract is NON-GUARANTEED for the last 2 years (and for a lower annual value). So no, they are completely different.
The Lakers will never come out of FA without anyone......but another year.....another set of new players.
Not in 27-28, 28-29, and 29-30. Well, unless DFS turns it around or the Rockets want to keep his salary as an expiring contract for trade purposes.
And they gave Grimes a Player Option. Basically they are turning the Lakers into the Mavs 2.0......another ex Maverick.
That's not what you said. You said "they basically paid for Grimes what we paid for DFS". That's simply not true. If I have a 24-month payment plan and a $800 monthly payment for a car and you have a 48-month plan and a $900 monthly payment, we didn't pay remotely the same price...
For sure..... Not my type. But they aren't stupid and ugly enough to think we were trading KD to be our franchise player. That's just something someone would say who can't follow simple cause and effect.
Kessler is a good player but he's been having injury issues outside of his first year he's played like 50% of the games. I mean there is a reason why a young rebuilding team gets off a 24 year old player like that.
let me rephrase. The annual salary is pretty close to what we are paying DFS. I think the Lakers got a really great deal. At least it’s a positive comp for our negotiations with Tari.
Wish Tari would go and sign an offersheet so we can match it already. Let's of value still out there for minimums.
I also watched the Rockets get embarrassed in the playoffs but I don't see them as some doomed team because of a very bad playoff series. Fortunately I am knowledgeable about the Rocket's cap situation and know we have different directions we can go. There are still known big fish and potentially unknown big fish. I think the smartest thing to do is wait a few weeks before starting the pity party. But some folks just are drawn to the pity party.
Kessler is a good player, much more influential player than Sengun. Lakers gave up draft picks but they got a good one. Screw draft picks, draft picks don’t win you games, players do. With Wemby in the West, you need to have a good defensive big man and Sengun won’t cut it. Stone has no idea what direction he wants to go. Are Smart and Bogdanovic solid moves? Yes. But do they move needle? NO!
My target would be Rui Hachimura. Decent defense, great 3 pt shooter. Unfortunately he’s probably too young for the new Ime timeline. We’d also have to make cap space for him. I think he’ll command about 25m a year. I’d rather do that than have to give up a player and draft assets for Trey Murphy III.
