I don't even want us to tank this year (although I do want us to trade Gordon ASAP). Why the hell are you trying to get us to tank next year?
I’m not sure he’s enough of an upgrade for my liking. His production is almost identical to KPJ’s. While I think the team would benefit overall from having that kind of player head up the second unit over Nix, the insertion of Tyty into the rotation means that they will probably be giving him a look for the remainder of the year. This means a trade for Russell seems unlikely. And if the Rockets are drafting top 4, they are more likely than not to get a PG, so it probably won’t make much sense to pursue him in free agency. I would really have no problem if they decided to give something like Ego+Tate+MIL pick for him, though.
I also think “win now, don’t give OKC a lotto pick” is more about Fertitta’s patience for a rebuild than anything…but I can’t say I blame Fertitta - your team SHOULD be on the road to somewhere after a clean cap sheet, potentially 3 consecutive top 5 lotto picks AND potentially several max contracts to throw around in FA not to mention several future BKN picks. If we can’t find a direction for the organization with those in place then we have the wrong people running this org. I don’t have a problem with Stone’s moves so far - where I think we are going wrong is in having Silas continue to fall short at coaching this team through development. I think he can be a good coach for a different team but he isn’t a rebuild/player development first dude - otherwise EGO and lost cause Nix wouldn’t be getting minutes…but here we are.
I’ve asked about this… and the smoke is legit. TF isn’t going to tolerate losing going into next season. That means over paying for players like John Collins or Zach LaVine in trade and/or over paying for free agents like Myles Turner, Kyrie Irving, Fred VanFleet or James Harden. The Rockets ownership should be more patient, but what I am told is the same that McMahon, Lowe, Stein and others have said. This IS it for high draft picks. Let’s hope we get a franchise player in this draft. I like Green, Smith and Alp but I don’t think we have a future top 5 player on our team yet.
Where do you see Green / Smith / Sengun ranking as players at their apex/prime? You see any of them making one of the three All-NBA teams?
The youth excuse doesn't hold up next season. Sengun/Jabari/Green should be able to make the playoffs next season if they are worth what we think they're worth. I'm sure drafting 7 players in the first 2 years of the tank is an indication that the organization wants to be done with it as quickly as possible. I'm sure Silas would not have been up for that many years of tanking, he's sticking around to get a shot at the playoffs. The more likely scenario if you ask me is that we won't spend the cap space in 2023. We'll sign 2 experienced vets at positions where we need depth and we'll add a lottery pick. We'll go to war with that, and we will surpass expectations. With the volume of youngsters we've drafted, the sheer momentum of in-house improvement is going to give us an unusual boost. There's no one really worth signing to a big number in 2023 and even if there were it would be a super tough sell to get them to come to Houston. Most likely we rent out or roll over that cap space to 2024 when this core has shown it can make the playoffs without big FA's. It's also useful to have $30m+ in flexibility because most big name players don't sign outright with someone else. You can wait for someone to become available in trade and offer a far better package than anyone else (swallowing a huge chunk of their salaries plus picks plus second tier young players).
lulz what.... If that is your expectation, you are in for a HUGE disappointment. Next year is going to probably be the hardest year to stomach. Unless we get Harden or some huge impact player, we will likely be fighting for the play in, ultimately missing out and likely giving up a lottery pick to OKC. It is going to be a very difficult season, as a fan. Usually takes players about three full seasons to become who they are and be consistent positive contributors. - Green and Sengun will only be entering year 3. - Bari and Tari will only have one season under their belt. - And our first rounder will likely be almost unplayable for the first qtr to half of the season, but has to get playing time in spite of that. You probably have two more years of "youth" issues after this year, and could linger even longer for our upcoming draftee, depending on how important they end up being for the team.
Totally disagree, but you're entitled to your opinion. You're right that on average that's how it plays out but I see the team's trajectory being similar to those teams who pop early and make noise earlier than expected. I think you're in for a HUGE surprise that will make us both very happy.
Yup, which is why Stone said something like judging the Harden trade in 10 yrs, which is in accordance with the rebuild phase because as you said those picks usually take 3 yrs to see who is who So since they are trying to get 3 consecutive lotto picks then the organic process could be a 5-6 yrs or longer as Stone has already thrown it out there to be, plus adding on to how you just broke it down as well
Draft the best possible player (I’m assuming pick 4-8), sign Harden and Turner, trade some combo of JC/KPJ/Sengun/KMJ to shore up the needs (those four are NOT all equal, but all should be available for various classes of return). Then the lineup of Harden Green KPJ/KMJ/Tate/Tari (whoever is left after trades) Jabari/Tate Turner/Sengun + lotto pick and return on trades is a very good team with lots of development runway. Of course if we get Wemby or Scoot the plan changes. Then get either Harden (for Wemby) or Turner (for Scoot) and trade the remainder as above. Either way, there is a fairly clear path to both competitiveness next year and lots of runway with many high draft picks on the roster.
Stone is going shopping after the season that's for sure. Free agent market is such a downer though so trying to find 'stars' that could be available via trade may get the best return. Looks like this team probably finishes between 25-30 wins ... I would say that a 10 game jump with the proper roster additions and modifications is not out of the question for next year - creep up on .500 and with a few lucky breaks find themselves fighting for the play in. Having to give up a top 10 pick is not ideal so the 1-4 protection shouldnt be a security blanket. These guys had a plan to restock via draft and they've done about as well as can be expected in that department. Whether the players develop and pan out is anyones guess. I think Stone has done as well as anyone could in his position.
Only degenerate gamblers think, “Well, I won a coin toss once… I bet I can do it again!” No. You have to cash in eventually or you’ll just be at the tables until you’re broke.
People are looking for a pass first, good defensive, okay shooting pg considering the talent we have at other positions in Green, Sengun and Jabari. Think of a Lonzo Ball or a slightly younger Lowry type player.
Sort of goes with my point... which is who exactly does the hivemind think is out there, available and a clear upgrade? Probably want him to make less too right? Probably don't want to give up a Sengun, Martin or Tate for him too right? We're not looking for a description. Put a name to it. D'angelo Russell is available and probably an upgrade to Porter (and definitely to Tyty). Harden is available (probably). These guys don't do it for the hivemind... who does? The young, inconsistent talent doesn't do it. The prime of his career talent doesn't do it. The veteran surefire HOFer doesn't do it. KPJ compares favorably to a young Lowry who I'm sure isn't the player the hivemind wants. KPJ also has clear advantages and some disadvantages comparing to Lonzo, who also isn't available. https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm...yrfrom=2023&player_id2=balllo01&p2yrfrom=2022 Lonzo is also mid-injury. That's who the hivemind demands??? I'm not here to claim Porter is perfect and on his way. I am here to say he's a lot closer than 90% of you think he is and the "clear upgrade" isn't just waiting on some call from the Stonephone.
You want a high pick, not because you need it, but to keep another team from getting it. Do you really want Wemby or Scoot playing in SA?
The Bulls traded for Lonzo to play with the current iteration of their roster. He hasn’t been available much and the team is a failure because of it. If they start trading players, they might be of the mind that they may as well trade him, too. Start completely fresh. Because of the lack of upgrades available at the PG position, I think he would be a gamble worth taking. The good thing is, he’s unlikely to play this year, so the trade does nothing to help our record this year. We can continue on the tank path and possibly have him ready to go at the start of next season along with our top 5 pick and maybe a new free agent or two.
i did not remember that there were protections on the pick. Which makes me feel a bit better about the situation.
Im not really sure what you see with this team to suggest we are going to pop earlier or who those teams are?
