Why Morey should aggressively pursue a 3rd star: Because Harden/Howard aren't Lebron or Durant

you do realise Rodman is a HoF player.

 

This is kind is a moot point. Of course Morey is going to try and get a 3d star - and a 4th and a 5th if possible. Morey will still try to make this team as good as possible.

Something else has changed: he doesn't have to gamble to much any more. Before Harden and definetly before Howard he was gambling on players with big upside that haven't produced so far (T-Will, Thabeet, T-Rob), all for the off chance, that one of them turns into a star. He also gambled with Asik and
Lin. I believe we will see fewer high risk high reward moves by Morey and more safe and great value moves. Of course he will keep on collecting assets and of course he will be ready when the right opportunity arises.

Right now I guess he is trying to see, if he can get Aldridge or Love somehow and what he needs to do to make the right offer. But as long as nothing like that presents itself, he will just take all the little steps to improve the team and get more picks.

 

So Dream/Clyde/Barkley not reaching the Finals = success, but Dwight carrying a team to the Finals = failure?

Ok, meh.

The fact is that when three stars play together only two continue to play like stars and the third becomes a role player (hello - Bosh in Miami). Why bring in a max guy to be a role player when Parsons is already a super role player on the verge of being an All Star?

 

And if LMA wants to play in Houston, it further gives us leverage as Portland won't find a trading partner. LMA has a lot of power here if he chooses to exercise it.

 

let the third star come to us.

just like the second one did. by the upcoming trade deadline, agents will be clamoring to get their clients to houston.

 

I think people underestimate how young this team is and how much room it had to grow last season. The team defense would have improved by leaps and bounds even if we didn't sign Dwight, just by guys getting older and better at the game. Add in the fact that Harden was only 23 and hasn't yet reached his peak... Harden and Dwight could both be top 5 players in the NBA, with a STRONG supporting cast (when has Morey struggled with finding good roleplayers?). That's enough to win a title IMO.

Yeah we could improve our chances with a third star, but we need to be very careful about what we give up to get it. Parsons is untouchable for anything short of a top 10 player, IMO. So unless we're getting LeBron or Melo in a sign-and-trade, or Kevin Love comes back really strong and demands a trade to Houston...

 

Bosh is a glorified Udonis Haslem now in Miami. Paying him the max is the main reason they will have to break that team up.

This is why it is important to team 3 stars that fit well synergistically, rather than just three high usage scorers. There are only so many basketballs.

This is also why I was okay with the idea of Josh Smith as that 3rd star. While his lack of range might seem like a bad fit next to Harden and Howard, his main strength as a star player- defense - do not overlap with the other two, therefore he would still retain his value as a star instead of regulated as a roleplayer like Bosh. I think the Rockets liked that idea too hence the rumors, unfortunately they couldn't get it done.

Aldridge fits into that Bosh mold, where his primary value of creating a shot for himself(like most stars) would be wasted next to 2 superior players. I'm not sure why people even talk about Horford, who isn't even a star level player playing by himself.

Love is the one guy who fits way too well on this team. He is a true top 10 player, while his value isn't shot creation. It's rebounding and spreading the floor. Both of which this team needs desperately especially if we get rid of Asik. You give up anyone outside of Harden/Howard for him.

 

The third star has to come from the combined play of Lin, Parsons, and the bench. Our third star is in fact how well we shoot the 3 ball. Our offense is geared to take too many 3pt shots. I dont think there is enough touches to get a 3rd star involved unless we could find a modern day Glen Rice, however he never really was a "big star".

 

100% correct and great post.

He isn't in a position to give away a VALUABLE asset like Asik, so why do it unless its REALLY worth it?

Driver seat now....no need to roll the dice anymore.

Any additional moves will be well thought out and the trigger will only be pulled if it significantly helps the team.

Otherwise....buy and hold.

If you want him (Asik, Lin, Jones, Motie, Bev, Canaan) its gonna cost you.

Oh...we want too much, huh? Cool. Ill jut keep him.

Peas.

 

The top 4 teams in the east that year were as good. I'd have taken Cleveland, Orlando and Boston (even with hobbled KG) over the other 3 wc semi finalists (our hobbled unit, Denver or Dallas)

 

Look at your wording. Those centers were the best of their generation. Dwight is the best of his generation as well

 

Saved me keystrokes. When howard is focused,we watched his mediocre team beat lebrons mediocre team in cleveland. I mean rafer alston was the pg cuz nelson was out with an injury. I really think people on this board and nationally are underselling this guy. None of his supporting cast guys made any all nba teams. As much as we praise durant,look what hapen after westbrook went down.He shot like 20% in the 4th qt and they struggled with an 8th seed rockets team.

 

when OP talks about third star, I assume it is a max contract player or close to Max,
which I am 100% vote against.

Here are few reasons why I don't like the 3 stars system:

1: It create holes for the team. Look at Heat, they have a huge hole at center because they signed 3 max, then have no space to sign a decent center. Which made they almost lost to Pacer and Spurs.

2, Chemistry. Basketball is a team game. Its success is depending on 7 or 8 players,not depend on 1 or 2 stars. Seems fans value stars way too heavy since Jordon. But the truth is it is still a team game, not a solo show. It is about combine strengthes and hide weekness. It is not 1+1=2 .

3, History. When look at back, it is about every team which winned a title is because they have those undervalued players. "undervalued" I mean those worthy 10 mils but signed as 5 mils, or those future stars in their rookie contracts. These players are the main reason boost the team to title.(which team must already has star foundation.)

4, system. every coach has his own system. In the rebuilding process, you have to check with what you need, then the depth. For the current Rocket, obviously it's the PF.
However, they didnt looking forward to trade Asik,that means they want to try the Twin Tower. I doubt that can works though, but worthy a try since Asik really is a keeper, so there is no rush to sign or trade for a allstar PF now.

 

And by the way, the statement of 2 stars can't win title is totally BS, meh.

Jordan's bull is the 2 star team. The Hakeem's Rocket is also 2 star team.

 

And on the cover of the current sports illustrated a million years after he retired. And a HOFer. 5 time champion. And has a record of 7 straight years leading the league in rebounding.

Sounds like a role player to me

 

This. we need some veterans instead