Harden, Howard, Ariza, D-Mo, and Capela will be back for sure. I'd like to keep Brewer and Smith, but only if the price is reasonable. Yes, Smith has had his ups and downs, but far more ups. We're not Southwest Division champs or in the WCF without him. And the most important reason to keep him is that he makes T-Jones expendable. As for T-Jones, he and that 18th pick are our most valuable assets and need to be used in a trade for a PG. I'm ok with bringing Bev back in a backup role if it won't cost too much(4-5 mil/yr at most). But we have to have a legit PG who can be that 2nd playmaker to take the pressure off of James. Finally, add a reliable 3-point shooter. Basically someone like Jason Terry, only 5-10 years younger. Honestly, there's no reason to panic. We don't need to gut the team just because we're getting destroyed by a 67-win team. Other than the Warriors, the Rockets are capable of beating anyone else in the league. But we also do have some holes that need to be filled and those should help close the gap between being in the WCF and winning the whole thing.
It comes back down to: Dwight and James. We go as far as they carry us. And since James has to create for Dwight for his success, I think the Rockets must truly consider going very hard at offense generating point guards this offseason. The weight Harden has carried for the past 3 years is just difficult. He needs relief, or we wont see a more thriving career. Harden has a lot to offer, but we cant have him as the Point everything. The burden James' carries is taxing mentally and emotionally... Maybe Goran, but for the right price. And yes to Lawson...the dude is clutch!!! Also have to say, Morey is a lucky dude...sometimes its the moves he doesnt make that turn around to work for him.
I'll also remind everyone that though TJ was a disappointment in this year's playoffs, there's no game 7 against the Clippers without Jones keying that comeback. Go back and look at the game. He didn't have many moments in the playoffs but he had one when it mattered most. All of the interviewers after game 6 were asked when it was that the game started to turn around and no one could quite remember. The next day there were small stories about how it was Jones that got us going, with strong plays on defense and offense at a critical moment, and that is accurate. When he is good, he is really good. For his age especially. I would hate to give up on him now, especially while his trade value is probably at an all-time low.
Terrible post. Morey assembled a team that, missing two starters, was second in the West. I guess there are 29 stupid GM's every year and one smart one.
I wouldn't be opposed to keeping Jones as a backup to D-Mo, but his lapses can be brutal. I would much rather go after a stretch 4, or a defensive ace. Jones for whatever reason is one of those players that just doesn't seem to grasp the many nuances of playing successful NBA basketball. Some say you can learn that, but I'm not sure if you can.
Why bring Harden in here? do not care about him that much but one thing is for sure. Harden as flawed as he is, he is the jackpot and the best trade Morey is responsible and known for. No way he is leaving. Not under Morey. Fair enough about the other points. I am surprised that GSW is the top team this year. They were good under Mark Jackson but wasn't Top 3 in the West. I am not sure what moves they could make to counter Klay, Curry and Greene.
I was merely pointing out that one game is not an indicator of what's best for the team. Harden is a beast, I don't have any problems with him.
I agree to a point. If you have a collection of players that are ineffective together, you don't keep them together just for the sake of consistency. I've been a stuck record on this but I'll say it again - the combination of Harden and Howard don't seem good enough to me to justify the huge salary cap that they (Howard in particular) eat up. They are both great players on their own but there is just so little chemistry between them on offense. And to answer your point to made in another thread, I think it goes beyond coaching. Dwight is so offensively limited (alley oops and put backs) that a legit two man game with Harden is pretty much impossible. If he sets a high pick for Harden, Dwight can only roll to the basket for an alley oops pass - if Harden gives him a pass anywhere beyond 5 ft, the offense stops as Dwight can't shoot a jumper or dribble drive to the basket. Meanwhile, Harden is a willing and capable passer but not necessarily a creative or accurate one. Most of his assists are kick outs to three point shooters on the perimeter. He's often less successful with his passes to the interior - we give TJones crap for having butterfingers (which he often does) , but there are plenty of times where James throws the ball at his (and Howard's) feet. Maybe Harden can improve the accuracy of his passes, or maybe we have to accept that he isn't Jason Kidd or Steve Nash and that it would be better to surround him with big men who can hit an open jumper when he gets into the paint and kicks it out. So I wouldn't make Howard untouchable if the right trade came along. If, for example, Atlanta feels they need to change things up and offered us a package of Teague and Horford for Dwight (adding other players on both sides to make it work from a cap perspective), I'd think about it pretty hard if I were a GM. Yes we'd lose the rebounding and super athletic finishes, but it might just give us 2 players who would fit with Harden better and build an offense where Harden doesn't have to work so hard and do so much by himself. Now, that being said, I don't see the above scenario as being very likely, and given that, I'd say Harden and Howard should be kept unquestionably. Everyone else - even Ariza - should be considered expendable (although it would have to be a whale of a trade to make it worth losing Ariza).
Am I the only one that wants to keep Terry here? He had one bad game but overall he's had a pretty good year, but even more than that he's been a great locker room guy especially for our younger guys like Harden. For the bench I'd keep the 3 Band of Bros. and Capela. We need a consistent shooter and a playmaker though. Keep Bev and Dmo, trade Jones for a play maker or a great outside shooter.
There are more reasons to trade Jones than to keep him(assuming we hang onto Smith and D-Mo can regain his 2014-15 form next season). First of all, he's a free agent next summer. Are the Rockets really gonna hand out extensions to him AND D-Mo? Doubtful. They'll likely commit to only one of the two players, and D-Mo is better. Secondly....well, as I just said, D-Mo is better. And Smith obviously won't resign here if he's getting traded someplace else. So that leaves Jones as our only tradeable asset outside of the 18th pick. If we wanna get a quality PG in here, it'll likely have to come via a trade.
Want to see Smith , Jones , KPap & Dorsey gone. But its going to be really difficult to fill those roster spots with good players as the team is really up against it cap wise. They have $58.3m in salary on the books with Howard , Harden , Ariza , DMo , Capela & Nick Johnson and the cap is expected to be ~$66m. That does not include the cap holds for PatBev & KJ which would put their cap figure just over $60m leaving very little to spend tho you would have the MLE and some salary matching options. I didn't mention Brewer above because of the teams ability to exceed the cap to retain him with early bird rights - After any other moves are made. I'd be fine with him staying under those circumstances. Morey will have to get real creative in retooling this roster for next season and will likely have to start the process from above the salary cap. I could see resigning Terry to a one year deal with the idea of trading him between the 90 day mark & the trade deadline. Obviously they have to improve at PF & PG even if you keep PatBev. I have no idea who I would target or how I would afford them at this point as the cap situation really makes that difficult. Smith , Dorsey & Jones have to go tho .... cant have so many poor FT shooters on one team. Having Dwert is bad enough.
Trade #18+#32 for a lottery pick to get Myles Turner (give me a big who can rebound and SHOOT the freaking FREE THROW!!) Trade TJones+Papa+Llull+2016 1st pk for George Hill Trade Johnson+Prigioni for Dunlavy(S&T) Re-sign: JSmith (MLE), Terry (Vet. Min.), Beverley (restricted), Brewer (Bird) Vet. Min.: Scola, Turkoglu Howard, Capela, Turner Motiejunas, Smith, Scola Ariza, Dunlavy, Turkoglu Harden, Brewer, McDaniel G. Hill, Beverley, Terry
If Terry wants to come back for the vet minimum, I'd like to have him here. Otherwise, I don't see much of a role for him next season. Presumably, the Rockets will finally deal with the PG problem which means other than maybe 5-10 minutes a game, there's no need to have Terry out there.
I'm ready for anything different at head coach. I see a guy who has no clue how to adjust or even anticipate his counterpart's adjustments. McHale's philosophy is to roll the ball out on the court and play pick up ball. Joke of a coach.
I would make Capela available if it meant a true star coming to the team. The Rockets need firepower.
Guys you try to trade on draft night as contracts, but ultimately cut before the season- -Papanikolaou (I like him, but gotta move or cut that contract) -Dorsey (try to include in trade. Might be to move back a couple spots w/ 2nd round pick in order to move his salary) -Prigioni (I think he's retiring anyways, and has only partial guarantee) Guy's I'll only re-sign and Minimum- -Terry -Papanikolaou (if its possible) -Smith (or the 2.5 mil amount I believe the Rockets could do) Offseason priority list- -KJ McDaniels (one of the best prospect from this year, gotta keep him) -Brewer (if deal is for less than MLE. I let him walk for pretty much anything substantial) -Beverley (Only keep him at a very low cost. He's best suited to be a backup honestly) -Smith (only at low cost, and honestly will be relieved if he goes elsewhere) Probable 2015/16 roster- PG: Some pickup (FA or trade), Johnson SG: Harden, McDaniels, Terry (vet min) SF: Ariza, Brewer(resign him to stay over cap to use MLE on KJ) PF: D-Mo, Jones C: Howard, Capela + other players signed at min (Jeff Adrien types) +2 rookies I think that's your probably 15 man lineup right there. I wouldn't be shocked if Smith and Beverley are on different teams next year. I think Morey will ultimately elect to keep Brewer in order to operate over the cap in order to use the MLE to keep KJ. The big question mark is the PG position. I think Morey has to do something with a trade or FA after other moves are made. If we have Bev, Terry, Johnson again as our PG rotation I'm going to be pretty shocked.
Capela's not going anywhere. He just turned 21. He takes care of the Rockets' need for a backup center which was an issue all season long(unless you enjoyed seeing Dorsey and D-Mo starting at the 5). Plus in a few years, he could be ready to take over for Dwight.
Every big time player needs another superstar next too him harden can absolutely be the best player on a championship team but he needs his klay thompson his kyrie Erving. I mean I love dwight but tye NBA is not a big man league anymore. I mean the Warriors get away sometime by playing a 6'6 guy in green at center. Unless Yao or Shaq are walking thru the door a star center just isn't needed, it's a luxury. We need that offensive superstar even if he is a no wins stat stuffer like Irving. Look what happened to his game as soon as lebron hit their? He's a looking slot better now and the same stats. Hardens young somebody good will force their way here soon. Maybe Paul George? Theu good friends. Maybe Kd I think it's a strong possibility.
Untouchable: James Harden, Dwight Howard Guys to keep around but could be moved for the right price: Ariza, Dmo, Capella Guys to resign at good contracts: Smith, Terry (vet min), Brewer (MLE), Bev, KJ Contracts we need to shed: K Pap (package his contract before July or cut him), Dorsey Trade pieces: Jones, 18# pick, NY 2nd rd pick, K Pap (team option) My Top 3 Trade Targets: 1. Dennis Schroder- Future stud. 2. Jeff Teague- above average PG on both sides of the ball 3. Ty Lawson- Great offensive player, but bad defensively.
