Stone likes the players we have, not like last season. Not interested in just any trade, must be the right deal. May as well close thread.
Sure it is .... but I wonder if Cleveland would really give up a #1 pick. I keep thinking it's too soon for them to be buyers.
Cavs are all in. Their fanbase and organization think they can beat anyone if they execute their game.
Trade 1 Houston gets: Rubio, lotto protected '22 1st, Hou 2nd Cleveland gets: Gordon Cleveland outlook: gets better for playoff run and valuable vet. Likely best available wing on market. Houston outlook: gets true PG to set up green off ball and expiring cap relief. Edit: Forgot Rubio is done for year. Trade 2 Charlotte gets: Wood Houston gets: plumlee, nop '22 1st(likely to be converted to 2nds, Cha '24 1st (top 10 protected) Charlotte outlook: get a borderline all-star that fits their timeline while improving the 5 position to make a run in playoffs. Houston outlook: cashes in on Woods value and gains some assets. Cuts salary some more. Trade 3 Brooklyn gets: Theis into Dinwiddie TPE Houston gets: . Mia '25 2nd Brooklyn outlook: gets a decent 5 with size to help shore up interior defense. Houston outlook: clears salary and opens up more playing time for Sengun.
Rockets will lose by 30 PLUS every game if this happens. The franchise historic losses record will be broken every season under Silas and Stone while they draft bad fits AND fail to develop all these young players. Having a mix of overachieving youth AND proven vets are the stuff of contending teams. Rookie Banchero, slumping Green, sengun, Garuba, KJ and 10,000 FRP will not be the answer, get ready to enjoy horror movie like losses for YEARS. How long do you want this rebuild to last?????
I'm fine with losing a **** ton this year as that's the pace we have currently. Freeing up all the cap space and bringing flexiblity is a good thing. Adding all the assets you can is great, even if they are minor assets. As for how long I want the rebuild to last? I'm not sure, but I'm smart enough to know it's longer than a year and a half. I would say 3 drafts is my target. We got green, a top 4 pick this next draft. Then a top 7-8ish pick the following year with enough assets to possible move up a couple spots. I don't really understand what your arguing. Theiss is blocking a rookie and doesn't add a ton, Gordon deserves to contend, is only wood who I know you like but didn't fit the timeline and likely hurts development more than helps.
last trade wouldn’t make sense, because Theis is your backup center or with Silas probably your starter
that’s good because I wasn’t being serious. Just making the other impossible AD trade more realistic, but neither would ever happen. AD isn’t going anywhere
Trade 1: Wood + Garuba + 2 SRPs for Myles Turner Trade 2: Jerami Grant to HOU, EG to CLE, Rubio + 3 FRPs to DET (HOU 2023 top-6 protected, HOU via BKN 2024 top-6 protected, CLE 2022) Draft: Jabari Smith 2022 Starters: Wall, Green, Grant, Smith, Turner We surround two young scorers with elite defensive vets and a solid playmaker in Wall. In 2023 we can afford to pay big money to Turner and Grant while Green/Smith are still in rookie contracts. We replace Wall either via trade (using remaining BKN picks) or free agency, or alternatively extend KPJ depending on his fit/performance.
HOU in: John Collins + 2022 FRP (from CLE) CLE in: Eric Gordon ATL in: Theis, Augustin, Nwaba + best FRP from HOU owed picks (BKN, MIA or CLE) Atlanta apparently wants a starting caliber player and a FRP for Collins, and they get that from Theis, who can help fill the void left by Collins. This would get Atlanta what they want while saving a little money next year and adding that FRP. Cleveland gets to continue their push for the postseason. Houston gets a legit starting PF and opens up a little more PT for the younger players without gutting their assets.
Something like this appears to be the most viable route forward though. Gordon and Wood are both on the clock for free agency after next season. Neither of them are long for the Rockets either way, why not cash them in for draft pick currency? Its a win-win for the Rockets as it forces Silas' hand to play the young guys which improves them long term at the cost of losses which improves the Rockets draft pick odds. Personally, I am fine with a ton of Ls this season and next with the idea of a free agency splash in the summer of 2023 a la the Suns. Put together a young squad on the upswing and then make a run at a disgruntled vet using the draft picks we have or will have acquired by trading vets. Of course this strategy relies on the correct picks being made which is no cakewalk. But if you have a squad full of 20-25 years olds that summer might you be able to make a play for KAT? What about Kawhi given how things have gone in LA? Having those picks along with young prospects and cap space makes you a player for guys who want out of their current situation or whose team sees re-signing them as unlikely.
I know it was kind of a stretch, but I figure he might be more capable on a different team. Maybe throw a sweetener in.
