there is a validity to what you say, but i also believe there are certain players, when paired with others, are the perfect complement to one another. A Josh Smith, Asik front court would make for one of the best interior defending front courts in the NBA.
Don't make a move. I don't know whose available or who will be in the future but not for making a move just to make one. That's how teams get in trouble. Like the Warriors are possibly better off not signing Bogut. Now their team is locked into it's current form and can only improve from within. I have no idea who will be available in the future, but Josh Smith is not that guy that's going to help you get past the Thunder, Spurs, or Clippers. I'd just wait, see what we have in D-Mo and Robinson who both could be better than Smith even. The problem is if a big name shakes loose and you have signed Josh Smith then you can't go after that big name because you've signed Josh Smith. Also Josh Smith is not a star player.
Love is one of the best rebounders in basketball and capable of averaging 20/10 a season for the rest of career if he stays moderately healthy. From 2010-2012, Love averaged 20.2pts/15.2reb at 47% fg and 26pts/13.3reb at 45% fg. Currently, the number of players averaging 20/10 in any category? 0. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Rien. But you don't even consider Love to be a max player? The only argument against Love is his injury history, not actual performance. Love may be substandard defensively but add him to the current Rockets roster where Lin, Parsons and Asik are all plus-defenders (or at least capable of being plus-defenders), and defense won't be an issue especially considering how amazing this team could be on the boards.
I agree with the OP that Smith is a perfect fit for this team and in the short term (next 1-3 years) can help take this team from the bottom half of West playoff teams to the top half. Smith is a great player to pair with Asik down low. Asik would be the teams main low post defensive player allowing Smith to play off the ball and use his speed, athleticism and length to make plays from the weak side. Offensively he would be great in PnR for both Harden and Lin as he can hit a jumper, or roll to the basket and finish their. You would have to deal with the negatives of inefficient 3 point shooting coupled with his pension for falling in love with that shot, but those riskes are outweighed by his strengths. Now as for salary. I believe he already is making in the area of 13 million a year. I could not envision him making less than that on his next contract. However, I don't see a team giving him a max contract. I believe he could be had on a 4 year contract at an average salary between 13-14 million a year. Probably a little more than his worth, but like the OP said, when the fit is right, and your very confident that this player can help the team rise in the west than I would agree its a calculated risk worth taking.
I'm sure the Rockets would have given Robinson so much attention as well if they had taken him too. They just are so attentive of their prospects overall. I don't think they are going to give the spot to anyone. They will keep the better player and trade the other player away. They may not even keep the better player if the other one is going to bring them back a superstar. For example if trading away D-mo could get them a young star like Blake Griffin or something I doubt they'll keep him around. Morey's greatest asset is that he doesn't fall in love with his own players. I'm confident that the only player that he will not trade is Harden.
he is not worth the max, but he is the best fit. And that makes him worth a lot We already have high quality role players in Chandler Parsons and Amar Asik. We are banking on Lin becoming an all-star and we need one more all-star caliber level player.
Very interesting jtr! i didn't put two and two together on the possibility of those reported "rumors" being misinformation perpetrated by Morey.
The Truth is the Rockets play really hard and can score and run wit OkC and any other so called title contender right now. They just can't defend ! 100% DHo with a stretch 4 would be ideal, but if JSmove could give us consistent Defense And 17 pts a night. If u can get him in the 12-14m range,sure up the bench. Develope ur young players .I think we are right there with the top teams in the west and would stil be younger then all of them. Morey should pull the trigger
We need more than a superstar and a half star to win the championship... Harden is not Olajuwon but he's darn great I hope he could get to Jordan status but Josh Smith meh...
He is a productive player but definitely not the superstar that we need to pair with Harden. Like another poster said, Josh Smith is nice but he's not the end of all aquisitions. He'd be a nice third option, if he comes at a fair price and fits with our teams concepts offensively and defensively.
come on bro. you cannot really draw that analogy. Lebron is on another level. Josh Smith + Harden doesn't = Lebron + Bosh. Not even close. just being real.
Brotha your saying he a good fit only because of free agency..Dont forget trades are also done..and that a Lamarcus Aldridge is way better that Josh Smith..Consistancy is everything when your trying to win a championship..Rockets don't need to risk maybes'..They need a certainty..especially if you giving them Max..Many other players that are better all around players than Smith..Love and Aldridge are on the top of my PF list..
Exactly. Smith is a 3rd option. Won't have to rely on him every night but the nights he does bring it is a big bonus. Getting Josh Smith now means you can't get your 'Wade' later. Any ways, filling the 3rd of a trio is easier. In fact I think Lin would fit this role well, we just need that 2nd guy.
i just meant that in the vein of Harden being our quintessential best player. Josh has been more productive than Bosh, this season, at least.
