Mike Scotto: Rockets will shop the No. 3 overall pick ahead of the draft in hopes of landing a star

This isn't true, not on rocketswatch at least.
He - and no one - ever discusses Amen as trade bait, lol.
Jalen gets discussed at times but its kinda like a whatever.

Sengun dominates about half of the conversation

 

For what purpose? We don't have anyone else on our roster as good as Tyrese Maxey and look where that got them.

I'm not entirely opposed to moving Sengun if the deal makes sense, but I don't think trading him for a guy over 30 who has had a significant history of injuries and hasn't been able to get the job done with players far superior to the ones on our roster makes a whole lot of sense.

 

No deal makes sense in which you move Sengun.

He will be a top 10 player in the NBA within the next two years.

 

I want to pair a complimentary big man with Sengun.
3rd pick, Brooks, Eason, and 1 or 2 more 1sts for Anthony Davis would be nice.
Jabari is a top defender, he can be an oversized 3 playing a super Ariza role.

 

I would only trade Sengun for a handful of players.

Sengun
Smith
Cam/Eason
Sheppard
Amen

Is the likely core going into 2025-2026 and daddy likey.

 

Joel Embiid is almost out of the League Due to Injuries.

 

We are trying to win. Got plenty of young players need to develop. Not good idea to add more. Especially when it's a weak draft.

 

Anthony Davis? You mean the guy who's nickname is street clothes. Availability is important and I'm not ready to give up on Tari Eason. There hasn't been a role player I love on the Rockets as much as I love Eason since Carl Landry

 

Sad how we all rallied around Green after Harden and he looks to be the odd man out.

I'm ready to watch Sheppard. I hope he is the pick

 

He is the odd man out among message board keyboard vigilantes. Nothing the Rockets have said or done suggests that other than unsubstantiated rumors leaked by NJ. In fact they have repeatedly said no one on the team can replicate his skill set, and no one they will draft this year can either.

whether he maximizes that skill set is an open issue, but there is no reason to think he is going anywhere, much to the chagrin of unjustifiably arrogant simpletons like @Bobbythegreat .

 

It’s one thing to be skeptical, but if you only show skepticism but never give credit when due, it’s natural for people to believe you are biased.

 

Have to reiterate how sh#tty this draft is. It really is garbage. Trading out makes so much sense. This is the year to aggregate a high pick with other assets to get a star. I just don’t know if there’s a true star available. I doubt there is.

 

Trading out makes sense theoretically, since the draft is so weak.

 

I think him being the biggest fan and owner of this forum and him being a media member are at odds here.

As a media member he cannot let his own feelings shine through, it is that simple.

I do not have a problem with it though.

 

I get that there’s no big name prospect who is an obvious future star like Wemby or Lebron. Other than that though what actual evidence is there that these prospects are that bad?

And if that evidence exists then why are we anticipating that teams don’t see the evidence you see (if there is evidence and data), and our trade return value isn’t also garbage?

If there is evidence these prospects are garbage, and that means no real value is available in return (at a higher contract cost) isn’t there a case to be made that a better gamble is the taking the unknown higher upswing player that is younger on a better contract??

Just wanting folks to think about this from the angle of a GM making these decisions. It’s easy for fans to just say “oh yeah trade the pick for a star” but when you actually look at the real names of players and understand the position that their front office and ownership is in, I just don’t think it’s as easy as it sounds.

 

I think in reality we are looking at a situation where if there is evidence that suggests this #3 pick is more than likely a bad NBA player, the best type of situation you’ll find yourself in trade wise is trading for a long term larger salaried veteran player on a team that is disappointed with them and wants to unload the salary while reloading with some shots at upside talent in the top 5 of the draft with prospects who are unlikely to be good but are at least a shot in the dark.

Im thinking of a player like Wiggins and Golden State. Is that a trade that excites anyone here? The theory of trading a #3 pick for a “star” is one in which it’s counterintuitive to the notion that the draft prospects in the top 5 are bad prospects. If they are bad prospects, the type of “star” you are going to get is going to also be very poor quality in reality.

 

Extremely stupid trade idea. Embiid is hurt half the time, hasn't led the 76er's anywhere, and is 30 years old.

 

Bad trade for hardcore NBA fans. Great trade for getting the Rockets on a dozen national tv games the next season, great for the marketing department, and great for selling tickets to Houston sports fans who are Texans 1, Astro’s 2, college sports 3, Rockets 4… which sad to say is a good chunk of the Houston Sports fan base. Especially those with money to actually afford going to sporting events.

So yeah I think it’s a bad trade but I 100% think the Rockets would do it and probably give up more than Sengun, FVV, and the #3 pick.

 

If they did it they would not be selling any tickets to me. I would still watch them on TV but I would not spend any money on them for tickets, merchandise, or eating at a Landry's based restaurant for a VERY long time.

 

Jalen Green's skillet is being a mindless chucker with a low BBIQ, a weak handle, that plays no defense.... it's a good thing that's not duplicated and I'd hope they wouldn't draft that again, the hope is that they've learned their lesson.