I get the point, Russ didn't want to be here and russ is a flow raiser, we wouldn't be talking abotu the 52 percent change of a top 4 pick right now. It makes sense. Harden had let it be known since the summer, the dude had a lot to think about, watched everyone he trust leave the organization, then saw 3 years of cost cutting while the owner lied to the public. IF we had respected him like texans did JJ watt, there would be no story, there would be no backs against the wall. It wouldn't be ideal, but we maybe wouldn't looked down upon all the league agents, let alone players who respect harden for the future. More so we said 'were willing to get uncomfortable' in maybe the dumbest PR moves we have seen for a while. But to somehow think that a guy who hasn't played in 2 years in washington, was known to be a worse off version of westbrook, heavily dependent on his athleticism, shaky shooter who likes to shoot, maybe a better defender, but all in all that is somehow a better fit and would convince harden to stay after we cut our depth, ignored MLE, Bird rights and traded away talent, cut staff while harden was dogging it out and playing major in the time of load management was supposed to be STone's grand plan? Sounds more like Tillmanism too. In the end, there are many dominos form this ownership that led to that guy leaving. The only reason I'm fine with the WB trade is as you mentioned, like CEO, Gm, Assistant GM, Coach, ASsociate coach he wanted out of Tilmanism. And we got a heavily protected pick at least for a similar contract. The way WB is playing, a team may be able to gamble on him this summer and maybe we get more. Its hard to say, but we also wouldn't be this bad(being able to tank) if we had him. It will all come down if that 52 percent at a top 4 converts for us, we're the worst in the league, it'll be fine and we move on. time will tell. Its also hard to put this on stone, when the owner's hands were all over a more storied Gm like morey who actually had clout, as did brown, MDA. WE now have a rookie GM/Coach, cheapest in the league, there first jobs in the limelight with an owner who meddled with much more seasoned people and has a habit and bragged about it unless it made him look bad, then he was quick to point out he is innocent. I don't put this on the rookie gm/coach at all. Its more tilmanism if the pattern seems right
Given where we are yes, If you look at Westbrooks last 2 seasons, he started slow as hell and then turned it upto all star level. He carried the rockets from December till the end of the season. Then he lost every fan i houston in the playoffs, the fact is Russ has one gear. At 80 percent he has shown to be almost useless, but when hes rolling like this there are very few that can raise the floor like him and he plays each game lik his damn life is on the line. Once again, he started out badly, and then now he is willing them into the playoffs and even a few close shots or two like the bucks/spurs game he is sniffing the 8th seed after a very, very unlikely comeback when he was at one point brushing the surface of top 4 pick. He's volatile, tons of flaws, but he does a few things taht only a handful people in this league, maybe history can do in that level. But yea, for houston, that would've been of no use. If we don't get our top 4. Itll be a tough offseason, but with Harden, Morey, Brown, MDA, so many people leaving. it didn't make much sense to keep Russ, not that he wanted to stay. His boy is harden, anyone playing with Tillman had lost trust in him.
Agreed, he has throw your remote at the tv level decision making at times. Hes one of those love hate relationships probably in every since with all the fanbases he's played for. He is special, thats why he can do that, but chris sometimes you wish you can get to his head. In any case, I think he is psychotic and a maniac, could probably get diagnosed. So could MJ, Kobe. It isn't a bad thing in competitive sports. To do what he does over a marathon of seasons should not be understated on what type of maniacal mental energy, physical energy it takes. ITs a skill in itself, effort, and he is a psycho at it. As you mentioned, it takes a lot more to win a ball game, but hes got pieces that very few have ever seen, and you take the bad with the good. The bad, like last playoffs is good enough to have the fanbase not like him despite a great season. The good, like the 2nd half of last, and this season is enough to gain stardom again.
It does seem that way. The Rockets went into desperate mode as soon as the rumors poured out that both Russ and James wanted to leave Houston. This drove their trade value down, especially Russ's. Tucker's desire for a contract extension compounded the problems. I would have gone after Simmons and Thybulle, if they were really on the trade block for Harden. The Wood trade helped us, but it was obvious Harden wouldn't stay at any cost.
I don’t believe it will happen but a wall buyout might be the best(and my favorite) move of the offseason if it happens. Houston better not ever offer another supermax deal In The next ten years
John Wall has been taking Cancun trips in April since he first got in the league. He doesn't know what winning looks like...
I am not throwing shade at Wall here. But in my opinion, he is arrogant enough to take a buyout if it's offered. You have to be arrogant to make it to the NBA and be an All-Star. He is going to have to take a haircut on that final year though. In the open market, He is a 10 mil a year player at worst. If he is willing to give back 30 mil on the remainder of his deal in return for free agency that is a win for all sides. He can make that money back. On the other side, the rockets get more financial and development flexibility.
This mother f*cker here You've made like 200 million dollars by 30 years old, multi time NBA all star, and yet he's out here making public votes on Twitter like he's in middle school or something, voting he won't be on the team paying him 45 mill a year to be the worst contract in the league by far That's so disrespectful on a number of levels. Looks like he's going to be a headcase for us next year for sure.
he maybe, granted in any case it takes some delusion just to compete in this league. That’s why the media snickers when they ask if player a is better and very few will ever say they can’t hang with them bc just making it to the final 300-400 players of an elite league means the “can-do” mentality and self talk and reinforcement to the point where the outside sees them as crazy. Arguably westbrook, mj, Kobe all had some maniacal mental compulsive issues, maybe some high earners elsewhere too... .that said Walk might be arrogant and delusional, his agent won’t be.
