I tend to agree with this cashing in on Jones and the NOP pick would be the all in win now move. But Morey is walking that fine line of flexibility and contending. Harden is still very young and his game does not seem to be based on athleticism. Thus we can continue to try and build around him. I'm concerned with losing Brewer and Smith this year. I can easily see McDaniels replacing Brewer and Smith being let go and Jones and DMo remaining on their cheaper contracts. IOW we are back where we started with no bench come this summer.
Fans saying they do not trust Morey and the FO b/c we didnt land who they wanted at the deadline need a reality check. Morey brought in Brewer and J. Smith this year. I am pleased by that. It has been widely known that he is one of the most active GM's in the game and has helped bring us from mediocre year in year out to a contender. What else do you want people? We cannot have it all. If he brings in Durant in 2016, you will all be sucking him off again.
Harden is clearly our PG/SG hybrid man. We wanted Dragic or Knight or Lawson or Jackson, but they score first PG's... Hardens success and his path to MVP this year is because he is the PG of this team because he needs the ball at all times. I think we are in win now mode, but just hoping Dwight is healthy and strong in the playoffs...
Being "active" doesn't equate to anything bro. It's a false compliment. Just because you make a million moves doesn't mean you're closer to a championship. EVERY team in the west has been "active". It's about filling needs to counter your competition. Last time I checked, Joey Dorsey is still our backup center and we traded one of best shooters Canaan, for a 40yr old washed up journeyman. Morey can stockpile all these so called "assets" and cheap contracts, but if we're not a true contender then we're running in circles every year.
Here is where we are at: fans are in meltdown mode over the strength of our 3rd string PG and the 15th man on the roster.
Since the start of the season we got Josh Smith and Corey Brewer - today we got KJ McDaniels and Prigoni. It's not as if we stood pat and didn't do anything. I agree, we didn't go all out - and I would've liked us to do so. I am sure we could've gotten one of Dragic or Knight, if we were willing to get rid of the NOP pick and DMo. Would that have been the best move? We can't say. Dmo has lots of potential, that pick could be real valuable - and Dragic could be known as a horrible contract next year. We are all waiting for that Bosh like guy to come here... we've got burned then and a lot of People feel burned now. But the truth is, our roster is still one of the best in the NBA. And we may be able to get someone like Perkins as a backup C for Peanuts. Who wins it all this year? That's a wide open race. It all depends on who gets hot at the right time and matchups. If I were an opposing Team, I wouldn't want to matchup with Houston...
Based on who was available, why would this tradeline have been the point in going all in. Clearly Morey was ready to go all in Bev, Harden, Parson, Bsoh, and Dwight and commit to their salaries.
I'll take your Okafor and raise you two 2nd rounders, a D-League journeyman, a 6"9 goat herder from Albania who's looks great at PF/C, and wait for it... ...a 5.5 million dollar trade exception
Lol, I don't give a damn about the trade moves (that supposedly fell through today), but other than 09 I'm just not seeing it yet, I think Morey makes some great moves but it's concerning when your coach is thought about as being your anchor/stability/tenure for the team, because the turnover rate for players is so high on the team. It's like sometimes he makes moves and hasn't figured out an analytic for team chemistry. I'm not convinced houston is worthy of being called a contender yet, and it's not all Morey's fault or something. Hopefully if this season doesn't work out they can try one more time with Smith (since he'll still be paid by the pistons), and get some legit help for Harden. It's like once Harden is off or resting the team quits.