So when we strikeout on Horford and Anderson

You can't rebuild with Harden. You've got no choice but to go for it now unless someone's going to give you two top five picks in a stacked draft or something like that.

 

If they strike out on both, then its on trades to improve significantly. If there's no trades the rockets wont have much of a choice as they re currently a lottery team with the team as current

 

I don't get this question.

Anyone who has ever paid attention to the Rockets knows that Les Alexander won't go into rebuild mode.

Why ask something like this when you know what the only answer will be?

If you are stroking it to the thoughts of trading Harden for draft picks then I don't think that you're in for a happy ending.

You don't have to like it, but we all know the game here.

 

You surely don't blow it up! You hope one our young players turn into an allstar..Capela, Harrell, Dmo! You gamble on overseas/d league prospects and hope they turn into something.

 

Anderson will take their money.

But they gotta hold off the mighty Lakers, Nets, Wizards, & Kings.

 

They would have to try to reach the salary floor through trades.

 

Better hope This new offense is game changing

 

I doubt we "strike out" on Anderson. If we don't sign him after striking out on Anderson, it's likely because we don't like his price and don't wish to match whatever the hell the Kings throw at him.


If we sign neither, go for the next best available free agents, try to make trades to upgrade the roster as well. I still like Williams/Biyombo/Deng/Crabbe/Rondo if they come for fair prices.

 

Lol - guess what boys.

Older garbage players making 2x Harden's salary = Harden becomes *even more* valuable.

If the Rockets "rebuild", and under Leslie, they pretty much don't it's going to be with Harden as the cornerstone on his current deal, like it or not.

 

trade harden for the chance to find another harden several years later

 

anderson will take 25 per mill from houston.

 

You really think harden is going to be happy with the heap of garbage? He's going to demand a trade.

 

You don't trade him. You dare him to turn down the fifth year that no other team can give him. So you have a $30+ million advantage over everyone.

 

He'll be 29 at that point.

 

More like you have no choice but to rebuild because no one signs with you and you're second best player is an injured DMo.

We won't rebuild by choice, we will rebuild because we are not a good basketball team without any good basketball players

 

We would have wasted his best years and the team's time

Well, why not waste more time while they are at it.

 

If Les wants to sell tickets and not piss of season ticket holders, something significant must change. RyNoo isn't it.

 

Start over paying players that are 2nd and 3rd tier players.

 

If/when that happens it's time to do what DM does best: scan the market for underutilized players and/or young guys with upside on small contracts (rookie contracts, small contracts for Euro's making their debut, etc).

If Okafor or Noel are still available, that's a good place to start.

Look for under-the-radar free agents (i.e. Ian Clark, Seth Curry, Tyler Johnson, etc). See if you can get them locked in on a Teletovic type deal where their production is almost guaranteed to exceed the value of their contract.

Try to avoid major long-term commitments and retain cap flexibility for next summer when we can try this whole free agency thing all over again. If you know you're going to suck, there's no need to throw money at the Ryan Anderson types that don't move the needle.

Keep an eye on the Love types potentially available via trade.

Be patient.