Sure, if you only look at pick 16, but there have been plenty of All Stars selected after 16th in recent years: Nikola Jokic, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, and Pascal Siakim to name a few... Kawhi and Giannis also both went 15th
They will once they hire Clyde Drexler as coach! There's no master plan. Tanking and rookie contracts are cheap. So that's what we're doing. And now Patrick and the new MGMT get to play on Draft night too. It's win win!
The 16th pick has more value than the player who will be selected at it, unless he turns out to be a hidden gem. Will WB be packaged along with it? @ApacheWarrior @D-rock
This is why Morey left because Rockets likely told him they need to shrink payroll. Rockets plan was to trade Westbrook to lessen the payroll and keep Harden. Backup plan was pay a little more to Harden to keep him, but I don't think he wants higher pay to play without his brother. I blame Lebron for NBA's playing style of assembling dream teamers to win championships. If Harden leaves because of this, does he belong with Hakeem, Rudy T, Clyde, Calvin in the rafters. How ironic Rockets were catering to China now if he goes to the Nets, he'll be catering to an asian owner who invested in Hong Kong.
I'm with @treyk3 Waking up to this news, my overwhelming first impression of this deal is Harden wanted Ariza back on the team. But I also won't be shocked if WB is traded, and perhaps with one or both of these picks attached. Then again, I'm wrong about this **** virtually always.
I don’t know what to make of this trade. Perhaps Harden wanted Covington gone and wanted Ariza back and the opportunity presented itself. Ariza is extremely close with Harden and Westbrook.
Not buying that Harden would want our best defender gone just to get Ariza back, who's playing on one leg.
In the context of the shatshow going on I'd certainly do the trade. Getting an expiring and playable guy back with two firsts is great return. Now let's see what the 16th gon get us.
it was a reasonable return but trading a star role player is definitely suspect. Seems like a desperate play to win Harden’s trust through adding his friend. I have a very strong suspicion that at least one of these picks won’t stay here.
Isn’t only part of Ariza contract guaranteed? If Harden didn’t request him personally, I doubt he stays.
Is this real life? I can't believe they traded Covington man. That's bogus as hell unless Tillman comes out and says the way I can keep James and Russell here and happy is to have them build the best friends club and this time actually pay Ariza. Too bad it wasn't like 3 years ago. We finally got our Ariza replacement. And then we replaced him with Ariza.
Love this move. Get rid of small ball. I don't mind rebuilding this team through the draft. Getting a shell of Ariza sucks, but he won't affect our books going next year. Great job Stone! Continue getting quality players on this team.