Respectfully, (1) and (2) and (3) won't happen because Granger is damaged goods until he proves otherwise and Millsap isn't worth that package and no way Morey goes for Gooden. But I agree that there will be plenty of options. It's finding a team that doesn't try to screw Morey over, knowing why he's trading any player not named Harden or Parsons (and probably Asik, but we'll see). Harden didn't play in a vacuum. Other teams knew: stop Harden or slow him down, and the Rockets are stuck with 3-point shooting and Asik for offense. Also, he played a lot of minutes, many of those on a bum foot/ankle. Oh, wait. Didn't see the "do not feed the troll" sign.
Which makes this news not news at all, or at least not very interesting. If they are pursuing an S&T for one or the other so we can have both, that's interesting. That they'll be courting both, hoping one or the other will sign, is no big deal. Paul is not likely to give us much consideration if he looks like a back-up plan. At the same time, if Howard says no, I don't expect Morey to just fold for the summer. So of course he'll be developing a relationship with Paul as a long-shot back-up plan. What I think he should do is try to get both by offering a S&T for one of them. Maybe Morey is, but he's not allowed to say at this point (though he could just leak it, like everything else). Pursuing both has the following benefits: * It might actually work, and then we have a Big-3. * It puts pressure on the incumbent teams to not demand too much in a S&T, because they're in a prisoner's dilemma (assuming the 2 FAs agree in principle). The first team to meet Morey's demands gets assets back and the other team gets nothing. Only if both teams hold firm on not doing an S&T or else demanding too much would Morey strike out. And then he can just sign one of them. * Even if it doesn't work, neither FA feels like he is the back-up plan, and you have a legitimate shot as either FA at the same time. * The danger I see is that Paul and Howard become too enamored with a Big-3 with Harden and when a S&T doesn't work out for whatever reason, neither wants to settle for a Big-2 by signing on as a free agent by himself. It is a sort of prisoner's dilemma for the players as well. But, I'd take that risk. I think it might actually be a good thing that Atlanta is also out there with enough cap space for both guys, because Atlanta could give Paul and Howard leverage on their teams to force one into a S&T. Of course, there's also the risk they both just go to Atlanta.
This is great to hear and all; but honestly, I think what's going on here is what The Cat alluded to in Page 2 of this thread. The Rockets want the entire nation to know how serious we are about winning and how aggressive Morey is prepared to be in order to produce a championship-level squad. Feasibly, I think getting both is a long shot. Why? We don't really have the pieces, IMO. Assuming Dwight is the guy that we sign outright, why would LAC have any interest in some sort of Lin/Asik S&T whenever they already have DeAndre Jordan up the middle? Furthermore, it raises the whole "Do you really want to help a conference rival become scary?" question. A subject that is surely going to be a headliner and area of scrutiny with the insane LA media and fan base. If it happen, great. I'll be ecstatic. I just have a hard time picturing this all coming together.
The more I think about it though, the more feasible it might be because...one VERY easy way we could get both Dwight and CP3 is if they both agree to take a 10% paycut. That is more than enough to keep the vast majority of our bench. We would only have to move TRob, Lin and Asik. Okay, I say 'only'...but at least it is in a realm of possibility (vs. imploding our whole bench or using jedi mind tricks on LAC to do a SnT). 10% paycut from each. LBJ and DWade and Bosh took paycuts -- why wouldn't CP3 and Dwight do it to form the next superteam? Even w/ ATL they would have to take paycuts almost nearly as big.
Again it just comes down to if they want to make this happen. These aren't fringe players trying to squeeze everything they can for a contract. These are premier players that get tons of endorsement dollars and 10% less shouldn't be a deal breaker. To me when you're already that rich and poised to get another big contract your individual happiness should be more important. Why suffer in misery for another million or two?
The Miami trio were all FA's when they signed. I feel like Howard and CP3 wont take paycuts because Harden didn't take a paycut. I know it seems petty, but some of these guys are that way.
Right, you forget about pride. A lot of things that make sense to a rational person do not unfold in reality, esp. w/ nba players. Who would rationally blow millions so easily? If I gave you tens of millions, would you go broke? Maybe you would (on avg) based on the fate of lotto winners, I don't know... But we've seen plenty of nonsensical moves by GMs and players over the yrs. What makes the most sense does not always happen. Not by a longshot. There are a lot of conflicting interests as well, friends and family and agents, etc. A person who, from a young age has had others try to manipulate him AND appease him at the same time, even when they shouldn't. They're like money spigots. We'll see what happens...
I think it's more likely the Lakers end up being the one to S&T, if one actually does it. Clippers can easily play chicken with Paul and refuse to facilitate any deal and dare him to walk in free agency because they have a good roster and a good situation for Paul there. It's much harder to play chicken with Howard because the Lakers don't have a lot of tangible things (like recent success or a promising roster) to keep him around, and Howard's eyes are more obviously wandering. I think the Lakers will be quicker to see the writing on the wall and salvage what they can from a bad situation. Since the Lakers are old at every position, they can use any of the assets we give up, and it's just a matter of price. So, Morey can be pitching to Chris Paul, "we're going to have Harden and Howard and maybe Parsons. Do you want in?" I can easily see him saying no since he has Griffin and Jordan and an alright team over there, but that's an offer that needs considering at least. If he does say no, you scuttle the S&T and sign Howard outright.
I would be happy with CP3 and keeping Asik so we can upgrade or PF spot with a LMA/Smith/Love type..... I think Howard is coming but who really knows...but I would rather have CP3 (after some thought) CP3 Harden Parsons LMA/Smith------Love?? Asik I think this is a legit team from top to bottom....
Agreed that this course of action makes the most sense. I just get the vibe that Dwight is our primary target and the one much more likely to jump ship. Given how moody and finicky Dwight is, you could conceivably run the risk of signing CP3 outright and upsetting Dwight by making him a secondary target. It sounds petty, I know, but we aren't exactly dealing with the most level-headed player in the world when it comes to D12. Dwight is the bigger name and the headline of "Dwight spurns Kobe and the Lakers to sign with the Rockets" will be the dominating story for weeks if it happens. As a serious franchise and championship contender, that headline and story officially puts us on the map. Hard to pass that up when signing Dwight could happen so "easily" (whereas any CP3 acquisition would likely involve massive amounts of flirting and back-and-forths between GM and agent - plus any Mark Cuban media ploys/stunts when he realizes he could potentially miss out on both players).
790 is correct. We aren't getting both. People misinterpreted the article in thinking we are trying to have both on the roster at the same time. What they are really reporting is if we cant get Dwight, we are trying to get CP3, and vica versa. Too complicated to bring both in. We would damn near have to trade off the whole team in a sign and trade for one of the guys, and one of the LA teams would have to participate in a sign and trade. And why would either of those teams want to help create another super team. Anyone on this board who really thinks we are or have a good shot to acquire both guys at the same time, is just dreaming. Not happening.
The thing that makes Harden a really good player is his ability to get to the line....Just think if he shot 5 more shots a game he would have scored 2 more points and won the scoring title Hes overrated As far as comparing him to MELO? Melo is the most selfish player in the NBA>
Wasn't comparing him to Melo, my point was he hardly took a lot of shots in comparison to the other top scorers in the league. Doesn't really matter though, judging by your name you made your account just to put Harden down probably in hopes of propping up your point guard messiah.
If it takes trading Asik, Lin and Parsons to the Lakers for Howard so be it. This is what I see happening in order to sign Paul outright and getting Howard.
That's a deal you have to do if it means creating a Big Three. It would suck losing them (especially Parsons since I truly think he's on the brink of stardom), but a core of Paul, Howard, and Harden for the next 4 years would vault us straight to the top in the Western Conference. However, I'd be just as stoked with Dwight signing here outright, and us being able to keep Parsons, and Asik here for the long-term. I think that team, given some time to gel, has the potential to do some great things as well.
