I am only suggesting that the Rockets could be progressing from tanking to competing pretty quickly. If they hit on a top 4 pick this offseason as well as a mid first from Portland then that is two young rotation pieces. If they have acquired another piece or two by trading Oladipo/Tucker/House then that makes 3 or 4 players to add to Wood, Tate and Jones (if Jones and Tate arent fool's gold). That is 6 or 7 players you expect to keep around and build off of by next season. You can build off of that pretty quickly when you consider most teams only go 8 or 9 deep.
What can we say. Tilman is pretty good at destroying things. Was handed an elite team. Managed to destroy it top to bottom in about 3 years.
Although Top 4 picks obviously present the best opportunity to find cornerstone pieces for a future contender, they are hardly the only valuable draft slots Every year hidden gems slide, ranging from critical role players to core stars to All-NBA cornerstones: 2010 9 Hayward 10 PG13 18 Bledsoe 2011 9 Kemba 11 Klay 15 Kawhi 16 Vucevic 19 Tobias 30 Butler 2012 6 Lillard 35 Draymond 39 Middleton 2013 10 McCollum 12 Adams 15 Giannis 17 Schroder 27 Gobert 2014 6 Smart 13 Lavine 25 Capela 41 Jokic 2015 11 Myles 13 Booker 15 Oubre 32 Montrezl 2016 6 Heild 7 Murray 11 Sabonis 27 Siakam 36 Brogdon 2017 13 Donovan 14 Bam 19 John Collins 23 Anunoby 2018 11 Shai 14 Porter 2019 10 Reddish 13 Herro 20 Thybulle
We are less than 15 games in to a 72 game season. Still plenty of basketball to be played. Every year 2-3 teams start well and then by mid season you forget they were ever in playoff contention. Oladip, Wall, Wood, Gordon and our feisty bench is better than 4th worst in the league — and with the lottery system, it’s a toss up. Not having Wall hurt us in the first game w Dipo, the second was just all around trash in terms of shot selection by much of the team. Completely new team essentially, new coach, new system. We’ve played zero games with our full lineup and we had an uninterested Harden to start the season. Assuming we get our lineup back next week, we can start to build something. bottom line, I think it’s unfair to judge this team on its record and even the on court product, given the circumstances to start the season. Two weeks. Then START to judge.
We can only trade our players for draft picks and guys coming off of major injuries... otherwise it's just not worth it
1. We do not have Jimmy Butler nor anyone even close to approaching his mentality. 2. We do not have Bam Adebayo nor anyone even close to approaching his mentality. 3. We are not loaded with shooters to support the guys we do have. McLemore alone isn't good enough. 4. We are in the West. 5. They weren't going to lose their pick for nothing if they placed higher than a bottom 4 record. 6. They did not begin the season 4-9. Tank or GTFO!
You should really think about buying or starting a team on your own because, with your predictions and know-it-all attitude, your team will win a championship every year. I mean there is no point in flexing your prophecy muscle after the fact so might as well walk the talk. I promise I'll be your team's No. 1 fan.
I'm kind of numb to it, because it was abundantly clear Tilman was going to nosedive this franchise. And we're seeing it front and centre. This organisation is one of the laughingstocks of the league. It's almost unthinkable to think they're at that point, considering just how short a time it was ago that they were a 65 win team and battling in Game 7 of the WCF. Some people acknowledged this team was due nothing but rubbish for the immediate future once that Westbrook trade was made. Others pretended it was a good move and they're acknowledging recently just how dire the situation is for this team. Then there's a small few who still think the sun shines out of the Rockets and no matter what decision is made it's the right one. What's that Pirates of the Caribbean quote? "You best start believing in the New York Knicks, Miss Turner. Because you are them"
The Question is to start evaluating the members of the team. Wood is a Keeper IF HE WANTS TO STAY - I am good with Victor Oladipo being in this group So the next stage are - Who can be solid rotational players? Tate - Yes NWaba - Potential Sterling Brown - Potential M. Jones - Potential --- this time should be able development and building consistency Rocket River
imho you have a good eye for talent btw I liked what i saw from martin jr not sure if hes a keeper tho... need more pt
lol so much post the facto backward rationalizations and literalness hindsight is 20/20 bro point 4 is the only good point you made
For me everybody is nothing more than an asset to find your next franchise alpha If Oladipo can fetch another future 1st, move him now Same for Wood, though less urgent as he may improve his trade value in a year or 2 I don't see either as more than 3rd/4th best player on championship caliber team anyway Gordon and Tucker better not be here after the trade deadline either Wall will probably be impossible to move, and we would probably have to give up picks just to find a taker Cap space and future picks are the only valuable assets until you've got your centerpiece in place Impossible to know how complementary stars, role players will fit until you know what style of player you're building around While I applauded Les' conviction and Morey's execution, the 8th seed purgatory between Tmac & Harden is the worst place to be in the NBA Kevin Martin's greatest value was as salary filler for Harden, not starting SG for the 8 seed Lowry was more valuable as a future 1st, not starting PG
I think Wall would have to bound to Wood to be traded or something. I think Wood will out perform his contract. I think we need to find someone in the 22-26 range as that ALPHA Wood COULD BE it but he will need to bulk up and strengthen his defense His Prime years could be from 26-31 (he is 25 now) -- He could benefit from a full offseason and practice If Victor did not have the previous injury . . I would be ok with him growing with Wood Even now I am ok with it to an extent But Wall, Boogie, Ego and PJ are all on a different time line and should be moved. Some for a reward. . . Ego and PJ should be shipped or released to contenders Rocket River
