[Spanish Radio] Sergio Llull close to deciding to join the Rockets?

I wouldnt say franchise. More like second or third banana.

 

Another thing signing Llull or rumoring to sign him does is completely hide our intentions in the draft and give us flexibility in free agency/July trades.

In the draft, nobody will have any idea what we are going to do. Our two biggest "holes" aren't really holes, since we have Llull, Beverley as a RFA, DMo/TJones under contract, and Smith potentially coming back. There's any number of things we could do, which gives us an edge in negotiations.

The same is true in free agency. There's several directions we can go. Most of all, I expect patience. Try to resign the guys we have, hunt the minimum pile, and look for a guy on an expiring contract that can help us out. If Gasol leaves Memphis, I'd make a hard run at Courtney Lee.

Lance Stephenson is another guy I would take a look at. He has a team option for 2016-2017, and if he costs us no more than Papanikolaou/Prigioni/Dorsey, I think he's worth the risk. We may even be able to get a 2nd rounder out of the Hornets, and even if he doesn't work out, we can use his $9 million expiring at the trade deadline. High upside and very little downside.

 

He has been closely looked over the past three years, he will be ready if the rockets decide to bring him over.

 

If we do land him I really hope we can bring by Bev for a reasonable deal.

Bev?-Lull-NJ
Harden-Terry ( SG where he belongs )
Ariza-Brew
Dmo-Smith-Jones-Scola?
Dwight-Capella

Plus the 2 draft picks?

That's a very strong team if they can stay healthy.

 

No, he doesn't know anything about him and labels every Euro player a bust.

 

https://youtu.be/2h1Tl6KPlTM

Cool little video with some narrative. He also wears the same type as Harden

 

I'll admit to not having seen a lot of Llull...and what I've seen has been so, so.

He's a capable guy on both sides of the ball...but doesn't seem to be a game changer by himself. Add him to our roster and perhaps he will shine. It's worth taking the risk...plus he gives us a lot of flexibility.

 

Would be the best we can do if we can add him for most of the MLE (leave enough to guarantee for #32), resign Brewer, and agree to use rights on Smith. Then maybe we can still trade Papa, Prig, and #18 for another G

 

I don't understand why people are so concerned whether is a game-changer or not(He is obviously not). You are not getting a game-changer for approximately 5 mil/year. Who is the better player we can target with our MLE ?Also, Everyone knew Pap is a streaky shooter, he hustles hard at defense and has decent handles but his formers teams had never given him playmaking duties. Now everyone criticize him ... what did you expect ?

 

I'm just here for the Llullz

 

It seems like some of the Llull critics are under the impression that he is being brought in to be one of the Rockets' "top-line" players.

Most rational posters happy with (or at least cautiously optimistic about) this rumored signing view Llull as a third rotation guard to back up both starting guard spots. Maybe play 22-28 mpg. A backup ball handler to push tempo with the second unit, hits some shots and perhaps finish games in which he has a good rhythm. Not much more than that.

And in today's NBA, to get a top foreign player IN HIS PRIME (as opposed to a 21- or 22-year-old who still is learning the pro game) takes most/all of the MLE. (FYI, the Papanikolaou "nearly full MLE" signing was deceptive. The amount of the contract was just as much -- if not moreso -- about creating a sizable NON-GUARANTEED contract this summer than it was about Kostas's talent. Kostas is not nearly as good a player as Llull. As another poster pointed out, Papanikolaou was a terrific role player in Europe; Llull is a top-line European player. Big difference.)

Agreed on this bolded part, too. I think if the Rockets hold onto that #32 pick (and if it's not used on a foreign stash pick), they will try to keep at least a "rookie minimum-sized" portion (or a little more) reserved for that pick. Just like they did for Nick Johnson last summer.

 

And that would be an upgrade/imo. defense/assists. 2 headed enough.

 

What about the other #32, KJ McDaniels? If we spend the MLE on Llull, will we have any way to keep him?

 

So glad we have morey making the decisions instead of all the internet gms in here. He's no steph curry, but I see a better Dellevedova/barrea. Keep the roster and bring in a competitor that can create offense. Sign me up. We can't get lawson for Jones/pick/whatever scrub you try and throw in. This is the most practical solution to our pg problem.

 

If the Rockets spend (nearly) all of the MLE on Llull, then the Rockets will need to hope McDaniels accepts their qualifying offer of $1.05 million. That'd be the most they could offer in that instance. More likely, though, K.J. will bolt for "greener" pastures.

 

That's what I was thinking too. Doesn't KJ McDaniels have more potential than Llull, or am I under valuing the Spaniard in your opinion?

Even if he comes in day one as a solid backup PG with no transition time (which IMO is unlikely), he's already going to be 28 in November. That's gotta be pretty close to his absolute peak. Are we going to lose a kid with more potential to get a few years of solid backup PG play?

I know we are in "win now" mode, but it just doesn't seem like a really good trade off.

 

Probably bolts anyway. Would you play on a team with Ariza and Brew where your butt is stapled to the bench?

 

The stuff I've watched Llull do...the ridiculous shots, the clutch moments...it reminds me of
the basketball scene from the movie What The &#%@ Do We Know?!?!

Quantum Physics Principle of Superposition. Visualizing the ball going in the bucket in your mind, and not your eyes......that's real deal superhero stuff. "In the zone"..."Feeling it"...some guys can break into that higher level plane (Curry eyes closed clutch shot, Paul Pierce "Game", McGrady 13 in 33, Harden, Lilliard, Llull)
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That's why I don't pretend to know what Morey should do. They've got a team of smart guys, so I trust they will make the best decision possible... whatever that decision is.

Bima seems to know better than anyone here because he understands the CBA. He knows what the situation is and what would be the smart things to do given the situation, or at least the plausible options.

So if y'all pay attention to anyone here, pay attention to BimaThug.