I wish we could've kept Delfino and I think we're fine at Guard. We just need more PF/C type players to keep Howard and Asik (if he stays) fresh.
Kevin Love makes so much sense that it is practically a foregone conclusion. Disgruntled star stuck in a tough situation. Pre existing relationship with Kevin McHale. The guy that drafted and coached him. Perfect fit next to Dwight. Elite 3 point shooting PF who is also one of the best rebounders in the NBA. While maligned, a true allstar(superstar?). Much moreso than Aldridge. The ideal buy low Morey target. Already mentioned by the OP here, http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=241162 Any and all moves going forward must maintain the flexibility to at least threaten to sign Love when he is a FA. That means no to Anderson, or any other contracts that extend beyond 2015. Be patient. When the time comes, there will be no reason why Love would want to play anywhere else other than alongside Dwight, Harden and McHale.
Posted this in another thread.... Asik is worth more as a player and expiring contract in 2015 than he is as trade bait for a tier 2 or 3PF. VERY happy that Morey is holding onto Asik. It's possible that at the 2015 trade deadline (2014 seems unrealistic to me) Portland thinks to themselves, "LMA is going to leave us and is likely going to Houston, so why don't we get something in return?". Boom. Asik (expiring and Bird rights), one of TJones or DMo (one of which will likely develop into a quality starter by then), and a few picks gets us the best PF in the biz. The reason this works is because Houston can realistically sign LMA outright in the 2015 offseason, so the threat to Portland is real. If it were the playout like this, Houston would have the following situation in 2015: Under Contract Howard Harden Team Option DMo OR TJones Bird Rights LMA Parsons Lin Beverley Canaan What an amazing place to be in for the Rockets. Perfectly constructed roster both from a player and cap management perspective. If for some reason Portland refuses to trade LMA, then the Rockets simply waive their rights to Asik and Lin, while trading either DMo or TJones for a draft pick to clear up the necessary space to sign LMA outright. Only problem with this is we lose our Mid-Level Exception again, and have to find backups with the Room Exception and Vet Minimum contracts. So Scenario 1 (Trade in 2015) leaves us with a potential 2015-2016 roster of: Lin / Beverley / Canaan Harden / ? Parsons / ? Aldridge / DMo or TJones Dwight / Aldridge Under scenario 2 (Sign LMA in free agency)... Beverley / Canaan Harden / ? Parsons / ? Aldridge / ? Howard / Aldridge I'm confident Morey can find the right free agents at cheap contracts to surround Harden, Parsons, Aldridge, and Howard. My ONLY reservation is: how much is Les willing to spend? Morey has all of his "i"s dotted and "t"s crossed from a cap management perspective. But in 2015, the Rockets will likely have $64 million tied up in Dwight, Aldridge, Harden and Parsons (assuming Parsons signs a deal for $9-10 million per year). How much will Les pay to keep this group together?
If you were actually serious, it is because Rockets fans don't really care about him. He is signed for the vet min with the 2nd year being team option. Until he shows otherwise, he is just a roster filler.
Great post, OP! I do look forward to the improvement of jeremy Lin. I also think that TJ or DMo will emerge leading us to keep one of them or trading the successful PF, picks, Asik to POR for LMA
The more time passes, the more I think we should just stand pat until next offseason and get into the free agent hunt via SnT. LeBron, Melo, Bosh, Dirk, ZBo, Cousins, Granger... surely we can walk away with something using Lin + Asik + young guys + draft picks.
You do realize Kevin Love is under contract this season, next season, AND the season after that, right? He won't be a free agent until 2016. At which point Dwight could choose to opt out if we haven't been good enough. Setting our plans around a guy of questionable health who won't be a free agent for three years seems like a really poor idea.
Unless he gets hurt, he'll be a free agent after next season when he declines his player option. I don't think Rockets should put all eggs in the Love basket, but should try to be flexible like they have been in case Love or another star shakes free.
I'm all for keeping Asik to start the season. I haven't heard a realistic trade idea that I like. Top defensive center is a huge asset, and while I hate to think about it, D12 has has injuries that could continue to be a problem. Having d12 and Asik gives you incredible protection from one of them getting hurt. Asik will maintain his value and if the right opportunity presents itself, we can move him later. No way Parsons gets $10mil
I think he can easily get $8mil with his current stats, but you need to keep in mind the past season was only his 2nd season, typically players seeing such improvement has a big chance improving 3rd season. With Howard's presence, I think Parsons is one of players benefited the most. With some improvement this season, I don't think it is a far stretch he can get $10 mil.
Agree with OP to keep Asik. There are many raps on DH, some probably true and some probably false, and until he proves that the negative raps are not true then it is important for the Rockets to keep Asik for insurance. Just in case. Maybe folks need to keep the parade plans on hold until DH plays at least one season with the Rockets.
If he continues to improve, he'll make way more than 10 per. As a Rockets' fan, it's weird. I want Parsons to keep improving, but I also realize he could end up playing into a super sized contract which could put the Rockets over the cap.
