Eric Gordon for Josh Richardson Shake Milton and Furkan Korkmaz. You love him so much Morey? take him. https://tradenba.com/trades/eXTvZ6VjM Clears 2 million and adds extra bodies. Helps the team operate under a hard cap. Russ / Shake Milton Harden/ Korkmaz / Ben Mc Richardson/ House RoCo/ PJ / Clark Wood / Bruno/ Hart If we cannot afford to take on Richardson due to the hardcap then we send him to Minnesota in the deal and take on Culver and Milton with Furkan ( Rosas loves him) and Richardson going to Minnesota. https://tradenba.com/trades/eMYPmFCZ6 Sign Wood to full MLE (everything depends on hard cap). Resign Bruno. Add Hartenstein and Gary Clark back to the team. Russ/ Shake Harden/ Culver House/ Ben MC RoCo/ PJ / Clark Wood/ Bruno / Hart Another option is trade House for Bamba, avoid the hard cap issues all together. Russ/Shake Harden/Kork Richardson/ Ben Mc RoCo / Bruno / Clark PJ / Bamba / Hart
Trade House for Bamba. SnT: EGo plus FRP for Christian Wood MLE: Josh Jackson Vet min signings: 6'8 Jeff Green, 6'9 Bruno Caboclo, 6'9 Jonah Bolden, 6'7 sniper Ryan Broekhoff Russ/Nwaba Harden/Josh Jackson RoCo/PJ/Broekhoff Wood/Green/Bruno Bamba/Bolden
More form the Hawks dude: " I got some minor updates ATL Min and ATL have engaged in talks for #1 overall but they are ways apart. MIN wants a major haul while Atlanta wants to do a deal where it's a pick swap, a heavily protected 2021 1st and that's it. MIN has been trying to see if they can get Kevin (he's talking about Huerter) added to the deal to no avail. My guess is MIN wants a protected 2021 1st, Kevin, and a pick swap and we want 1st and to keep Kevin at all cost. I don't believe #17 will be enough to entice Atlanta to add Kevin. This one might or might not happen. As stated previously, MIN wanted a lot for that pick. Based on the previous information, they wanted a lightly protected future 1st and a pick swap. Golden State is a lot more realistic with their value for trades and I wouldn't be surprised if Atlanta and GS made a deal at the end of the day. MIN needs to become realistic before it's too late. PHI AND HOU As of right now, Harden, Simmons, Embiid, and Westbrook are not available for trade. This doesn't mean they aren't available for the right price but they aren't right now. There has been some interest of late in moving up from Portland. They have engaged in talks with Cleveland and Atlanta but I was told both teams was less than interested. Still, look to them to make a move. ATLANTA Hawks have been low key but they have been looking at Hayes, Haliburton, Toppin, and doing more information on Ball. The idea is we will trade down or out is popular but he thinks we will trade up. I forgot to add that the Rockets are targeting Myles Turner the Hawks are targeting some vets as well for trade. "
Another poster asks: "Houston doesn't have any picks to trade. Who are they offering for Miles? Only Covington has good trade value. Eric Gordon? I don't see why Indy would be interested." And he answers: "Robert Covington is the player I heard Indy as well as MOST teams have interest in. Even we have interest in Convington."
If Eric Gordon has such negligible value, I'm okay with holding onto him for now. Don't let RoCo go. Sign him and Harden to their respective max extensions now. Let's say Christian Wood is not gettable with the MLE. Obviously I'd prefer him to these but what do you like more of these next two options? I think House for Bamba is a great option or just running it back while adding a rim runner like Noel is a solid option. Who would we prefer if both were possible? House and Noel or just Bamba? Russ Harden / EGo RoCo / Nwaba PJ Bamba Russ Harden/ EGo House / Nwaba RoCo/ PJ/ Noel What is the better starting point? I lean towards Bamba because it opens up the court with a big man a lot more. He has a severely underrated jumper. He could be a cornerstone going forward. I don't really see Russ and Noel playable at the same time in the playoffs having a ton of success unless Noel takes a leap. Losing House is tough but maybe Ariza could be brought back to fill that void in. Russ Harden/EGo Ariza / Nwaba RoCo/PJ Bamba
Yeah, Gordon's value is probably low overall, but i think if there's a team that might be willing to get him in the right trade, it might be Indiana since he's kinda similar to Oladipo as a player (although not as good obviously) and according to the rumors the Pacers might be looking to trade Dipo. If i think about them, as a team that is definitely trying to compete, i can see why they might have interest in Gordon (he's from Indianapolis too fwiw) as a replacement for Dipo after they move multiple pieces for an impactful player ot a top pick. Again, the right deal/s would have to come up, i wouldn't expect them to target Gordon in the first place. And at the same time yeah, Covington makes more sense for them, they would pair him with Sabonis which would be a good duo on paper. As for the center spot i don't know, Noel is a much better defender then Bamba, but as you said he can't shoot so, with Westbrook it would be hard to make it work, probably even harder then it was with Capela since Clint still had perfect chemistry with James, they could pretty much find each other with closed eyes. The same isn't guaranted with Noel, in fact that's unlikely to happen (just think about how well CP3 pick & roll was with DeAndre and how average it was with Capela). Bamba on the other hand can already shoot but is defense and defensive instincts overall are still those of a raw rookie so, i don't know, considering how important (not very much) the center spot is and imo still will be for the Rockets, i'd say they would probably be better by getting a solid veteran that fits as much as possible on both ends, someone like Baynes for example might be the best realistic option (i didn't follow Wood last season so, i don't really have an opinion on him, i know he made some solid numbers, but the context in Detroit was well, not exactly great so, i don't know).
@Vivi I completely agree with Indy being the logical spot. I was begging for House + Eric for Myles Turner for a long time but it just doesn't seem realistic. I wouldn't trade Covington for anything less than a superstar forward. I don't think there is a superstar forward that is realistic to add to this team. Covington is the perfect player next to Harden and Russ and I really hope he is here for the rest of this team's run. Noel and Russ did have some success together sharing the court in OKC and Noel does have a nice floater from about 8 feet but I'm just not sold on playing anything other than five out.
One player i would still consider if i'm the Rockets is Horford, he's going to make 28M for the next two season, and has another years on his contract but non guaranted (hi Tilman), and you know the Sixers aren't going to play with two bigs and Harris at the 3 so, while Gordon makes 10M less per season, his contract is one years longer so, overall i can still see a Horford for Gordon trade interesting for both sides, we need a big and the Sixers need to get rid of one and get smaller. Horford contract would run for two more years, and then you could let him go when Harden and Westbrook are expired, or use his final unguaranted year as an asset. The problem here is to make the salaries work, those 10M of difference are not impossible to clear, but it would likely cost us Covington (so no) or Tucker (eh, i'd still say no although i don't know at this point)...cause i mean, on paper adding that bum of House and McLemore should get us there, but it would also increase the team salary by around 5M i think, which might get us over the tax...? Not i don't know exactly but yeah...
Yeah, if i'm not a huge fan of Turner (i don't think he's bad, just somehow overrated) but i do think they'll be able to get a better deal than Gordon + House for him, i have to think at least one team between Sacramento, Boston, Cleveland, Golden State, San Antonio, Toronto and others should offer more then that, and Covington shouldn't be traded unless it's for a player like...i don't know, Paul George (the Hawks insider talked about how he's disliked in the lockeroom and how the Clippers might trade him in the right deal).
Even if the ONLY move is adding Noel with portion of MLE, it completely changes dynamics of the Rockets. For the better. Russ/McLemore Harden/EGo RoCo/Nwaba PJ/House Noel Vet min signings: Jeff Green, Bruno Caboclo, Ryan Broekhoff, Tyler Johnson Utilizing @Vivi idea (among others) of trading EGo/House/McLemore for Al Horford gives Rockets a stronger starting 5 with less vet proven depth. But one of Silas best abilities is developing young talent. Essentially got to develop 2-3 undrafted FA and/or G League guys to contribute THIS season. I would not mind this direction either. Russ Harden RoCo/Nwaba PJ Horford/Nerlens
I'm okay with adding Horford the player but I wouldn't take that contract on especially with the matching issues. I think Eric Gordon's contract is going to look A LOT better this time next year. Maybe it even works out where Harden shifts to the four for more of the game, which is kind of his best fit in this system and Eric, Harden, Russ Covington and a rim protecting stretch 5 like Wood or Bamba (theoretically) form an elite lineup.
I think Michael Frazier (still here, seconds away from breaking out), I-Hart and Gary Clark would be fun return additions as well. Ariza returning would be awesome too. I have weird faith in Bruno too and think he could actually be the missing stretch, rim protecting 5 we covet so much. He's working out with Harden's trainer. I really really hope he gets the trust of Silas in camp and plays like he did in Memphis for that tiny stretch. He needs to be on a long team friendly deal that allows us to resign him if he breaks out. Russ/ Frazier Ego/ Ben Mc Covington /Ariza/Nwaba Harden/ House/ Green or Clark Bruno/ PJ / Hart If Bruno actually could break out and fill that role that is 11 guys on the team who could get rotational minutes with Frazier and Hart as the guys ready and waiting. Maybe add Trey Burke or MKG to that team. I really don't see how Bruno doesn't take the next step if he's given a fair shot. MDA didn't really ever give him that. What about JaMychal Green at the full Tax Payer MLE ? Avoid the hard cap situation with Wood. No spacing issues like we see with Noel. Russ / Ben MC Harden / Eric House / Nwaba Covington / PJ Green / Bruno would be the starting point there after simply resigning Bruno to a 3 year deal with a fourth year team option with allowed pay raises from his current deal.
Eh i know, i mean, i've always been a big fan of Horford, complete player, smart...his contract is definitely bad, no question he's overpaid big time (only for two seasons though, he would expire with James and Russ), but he can still play and i have no doubt he would fit like a glove here, the thing i always liked more about him is that he's super versatile, you could play him in every system and he would fit, because he's smart, he's disciplined, he can create shots, he can post up, he can shoot, his ft% is good, he can pass, his defense is good...i mean, he can do everything other then catching lobs so, considering our situation (beggars can't be choosers), even if i still like EG, in our situation i would trade him with House and McLemore (i think they're easily replacable) for Horford, i think Al would fill a bigger need for us as today, even if that contract sucks. And i mean, CP3 contract sucked too from a point of view, but it was still the right thing to do at the time. Now i'm not comparing Horford to CP3, but you get what i'm saying, our window is super short, and Horford might be the best player/fit we can realistically get (at least in term of value).
Russell Westbrook James Harden Robert Covington Aaron Gordon Christian Wood Bench: Nwaba PJ Ben Mac Green Green Bruno Little bit of a pipe dream lineup but a man can hope
Yeah you are right, PG>Green. But the main reason I like this lineup is the youth. Silas has helped some young guys develop and having a fairly young Gordon, Bruno and Wood in the lineup could be good for our future. MDA usually never played young players so it will be nice to seem some development on that end. Wood might be the most difficult to get since I think the market for him will be pretty strong.
