James Harden and Russ will probably just jack shots up and not care anymore. I see this being a terrible experiment not trading them and keeping this team after letting your 3rd best player go for cap, and nothing really to show for. What if they shoot and miss this year with Potential Free Agents not moving the needle at ALL? If Houston do not pull something big around there 2 stars, expect them not even suiting up for games id expect this year til there traded. ALA Kawhi Leonard So you ask yourself What Next? What they doing?
I feel like they'll fill the roster with cheap contracts and then try to make the playoffs with what we have to eek out that revenue. There'll be lot's of leaks about how we did our best to pursue free agent x or trade y but they just didn't materialize despite our best efforts. When Harden and Russ get pissed off mid season and ask out publicly, the FO will start an emotional blackmail campaign on how they're betraying the fans and the city of Houston. It'll be disgusting.
We eventually trade Harden and Westbrook for much lower than their value. We go through a rebuilding/staying 'competitive' phase (think Kevin Martin era), never quite get good enough, finally land a real star again that makes us an attractive free agent/player destination, Tilman never spends to help the team get over the top. Star player/s request trade. Rinse and repeat until Patrick Fertitta takes over. Who knows, maybe he won't mind spending?
Fill the roster with cheap contracts. PJ will get dealt too. James and Russ coast thru the year. They hate Tilman and do not want to play for him. It’s going to be a horrible year for everyone.
The only way to be happy if you support the Rockets is if your primary concern is Tilman's financial well-being. So for the sake of our mental health, we need to stop worrying about silly things like "winning games" or "having a well-run basketball organization" and instead just try to come up with trades or CBA loopholes that save Tilman money.
Not sure who to believe anymore. Media, Tilman, everyone is telling the untruth these days to protect their interests. Just do whatever, till trade deadline and next year I guess.
I would like for Harden to be the first player to average 40 points per game since Wilt Chamberlain and to be very careful not to play through injuries due to his advancing years.
Whats next is we wait for an offer on WB that we can live with and take it when it comes, then Ditto for Harden. In the meantime, I expect little to happen unless we have additional opportunities to gather draft picks and yes, cut payroll.
If the Rocket are BLOWING IT UP! and the priority is saving money! One possibility is dumping E gordon and his salary to the Warriors for their 17 million TPE. Deal would have to be done soon however as that TPE expires on the 23rd.
Who says we are starting the season with Russ and James? Free agency not even open yet. Simmons current contract is PPP - as of tomorrow he will be set at 29mill. You can't really trade Harden for Simmons before FA without a mess of matching contracts. Much cleaner once FA starts. IF that is the route they are going.
Westbrook stays one more year. Harden is and should be traded before the season. We sitting Westbrook with players that make him look like the MVP he once was then we sell High. mid season to late season full rebuild mode. wrap this up fellas.
I think the Rockets are about to get Christian Wood. I think Harden gets moved before WB...we might actually end up keeping Russ. He would be good for a culture change here. Just hope with Harden we don’t just take whatever package. If we do keep Russ, not sure how they would take back Simmons. Can’t have two non shooters on the court at the same time. I think EG might be moved next. Golden State has a $17M trade exception and Gordon fits into that nicely.
