Not in on Lavine, but I'm pretty sure the Rockets are trying to puff up on salary (i.e., even though guys acquired over the cap aren't always the most efficient use of salary, those guys still add wins) and getting under the cap would set the Rockets back. So while possible, I think getting under the cap next season would mean something really went wrong.
@Mathloom Yeah, that deal was all about getting a missing piece at the 3. Anunoby was a huge difference maker when healthy. Whatever they decide to do...keep Randle, or move him for a target, NY should be a serious contender, if healthy next year. Like I said, I'm all about moving this pick in a deal for the right veteran stud. Dejounte Murray, Jalen Johnson... I'd like to see value in players, and filler attached with us getting back a pick in the 10-12 range also...targeting Devin Carter, Knecht, Salaun, or Buzelis in there. 3 & D - He'll shoot it at 38 - 40, and play stellar D without missing a beat. Can he stay healthy for a whole season. We'll see. I'm certainly not against it...for the right price. At the same time, I'm holding out hope that #3 et al secures more.
Oh amazing, didn’t know this. So it’s essentially a competition between Green and FVV. There’s also the complicating factor of restricted free agency. You can dump Fred immediately whereas Jalen’s contract situation might take all summer. His agent can just take his time, putting pressure on the Rockets to dump Fred if there’s an opportunity to acquire a star. I guess the perfect thing would be a two way PG or SF that’s an upgrade from FVV. If they both perform really well, we don’t really need the cap space anymore. Really if Jalen kills it next season, we have him, Sengun and just need one of the 5 other prospects to pop. Three players who at their minimum are average all stars is enough to win a championship. You just get the role players then. It would be silly to get someone else in free agency unless they’re significantly better than our best player. I think Jalen is going to make this is a very easy decision for us by having a killer season. I think Amen will also emerge by the final quarter of the season as a significant competitor for FVV’s minutes. I would love to keep FVV as starting or backup PG at a reducing salary starting at $35m. I wonder if we can afford that with all the rookie extensions incoming.
We are not going to screw with max cap space next summer unless Tatum Lauri butler LeBron George Mitchell Ingram Brunson and probably several others are signed or extended
I predict most of those names will not actually be free agents once next summer rolls around. USA Today currently has Sengun as their #8 free agent that summer (with FVV #23 and Jalen #27).
For one, I would guess most of those guys will be extended, and I'm not really interested in a couple of them. Second, and most importantly, I really don't understand the logistics of being able to use this cap space. What, we're suppose to sign a max guy next summer AND extend our guys? Green and Sengun can be extended this summer or next, then we have Jabari and Eason, then Amen and Whitmore. How can we keep our young core and sign a big FA? Using this cap space on any major move other than locking up our guys seem fanciful.
Not really. The only thing it would mean is that Jalen didn't earn a max extension which is pretty much what his cap hold equals next offseason. They only have ~$66m tied up in FVV & Brooks, the rest of the players under contract - aside from Landale ($8m) - are on rookie contracts and only add up to $31.14m (Jabari, Amen, Cam, Tari). So $97m in contracts and Sengun is your only cap hold of consequence at $16.27m accounts for $113.2m with a salary cap of $155m. The kicker is that they can still use Jalen in a S&T to bring back that star player and remain an over the cap team instead of a cap space team - retaining their NTMLE & BAE. Stone did a great job setting up his dominos, not only to keep any of his own players who have earned it but to add a bigtime player in FA or trade at the same time. Next offseason isn't the only opportunity either they are set up well for 26/27 too, If they somehow strike out next offseason. Stone deserves a lot of credit for having the vision to lay all this out from the beginning and stick to the plan. Kinda sad how the narrative on Stone so negative.
Agree completely. He has done a masterful job. Most of the critics point to trades that never happened as if anything said in the media is reliable.
Jalen Green being a bust would not make the Rockets want to get below the cap. The Rockets would have to not want to make the playoffs in 2025-2026 to be a team that jettisons all its depth/cap holds/bird rights for cap space (i.e., Sengun and Amen don't improve). I don't see $42M in cap space being enough to justify losing the production (by themselves or for players they are traded for) Landale, Green the Older, the 2024-2025 NT MLE, 2025-2026 NT MLE, Jalen Green completely, Steven Adams's Bird Rights, No. 3 pick in 2024, and likely lottery pick in 2025. $46.5M will be 30% of the cap. Losing all that and still needing to make an additional cut to sign a max free agent would be too much especially considering you could easily work a sign and trade as a worst case of what you would give up to create cap space. Though in all likelihood, cap space is unlikely to yield a player close to FVV's value as that rarely happens much less a guy worth the max (i.e., even if guys worth the max reach FA, they usually do a S&T). Creating cap space is a fallback option that likely is only implemented if there is not confidence in Jalen, Sengun, Amen, Jabari, Cam, and Tari being good enough as a group even if one or more fail.
CBS 75 trade candidates Spoiler Category 12: Team options that could be dealt — The following players have team options that may simply be declined, but may be held onto simply to serve as tradable salary. 75. Luke Kennard, Grizzlies 74. Evan Fournier, Pistons Category 11: The cost of doing business — The following players will not be actively shopped, but would likely be needed if their teams try to make a major trade this offseason. 73. Jose Alvarado, Pelicans 72. Deuce McBride, Knicks 71. Nikola Jovic, Heat 70. Brandin Podziemski, Warriors 69. Jaime Jaquez Jr., Heat 68. Jonathan Kuminga, Warriors 67. Austin Reaves, Lakers 66. Julius Randle, Knicks Category 10: Second draft candidates — The following players are former first-round picks with four or fewer years of experience that could use a change of scenery. 65. Jalen Hood-Schifino, Lakers 64. Moses Moody, Warriors 63. Ziaire Williams, Grizzlies 62. Jaden Ivey, Pistons 61. Josh Giddey, Thunder 60. Jalen Green, Rockets: Green's name was floated around at the trade deadline. His great end to the season may have been enough to put a stop to those rumors, but he is eligible for a rookie extension this offseason, and Houston has several young ball-handlers waiting in the wings. If he gets too pricey, or if the Rockets need to include a high-upside young player in a star trade, Green probably isn't untouchable. 59. Onyeka Okongwu, Hawks Category 9: Necessary cap filler — The following players are mostly the cap figures their incumbent teams will try to use to add other players on this list. 58. Jock Landale, Rockets: Landale has one of the most uniquely tradable contracts in the NBA. It's non-guaranteed for each of the next three seasons, making him very valuable matching salary in a possible bigger trade. 57. Jeff Green, Rockets: Rocket No. 2 is Green, who was a valuable mentor to the younger Rockets last season, but that's a less important role next season with Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason and Ja'Sean Tate in need of every available forward minute. 56. Steven Adams, Rockets: The Rockets just got Adams at the trade deadline, and they'd like to keep him as a backup center, but they are reportedly big-game hunting, and unless they want to trade Dillon Brooks, they're going to have to aggregate several salaries to do anything notable. Like the Lakers, we have three Rockets to cover. Adams is the priciest at $12.6 million. 55. Jarred Vanderbilt, Lakers 54. Gabe Vincent, Lakers 53. Rui Hachimura, Lakers 52. Kevin Huerter, Kings 51. Jusuf Nurkic, Suns 50. Harrison Barnes, Kings 49. Bojan Bogdanovic, Knicks 48. Andrew Wiggins, Warriors 47. Chris Paul, Warriors 46. Ben Simmons, Nets Category 8: Possibly gettable for the right price — The following players would likely only be available for more than conventional wisdom suggests they are worth. 45. Naz Reid, Timberwolves 44. Collin Sexton, Jazz 43. Anfernee Simons, Trail Blazers Category 7: Reasonably priced role players — The following role players could fit into most teams' cap sheets. 42. John Konchar, Grizzlies 41. Jevon Carter, Bulls 40. Alex Caruso, Bulls 39. Dennis Schroder, Nets 38. Robert Williams III, Trail Blazers 37. Bobby Portis, Bucks 36. Jordan Clarkson, Jazz 35. Dorian Finney-Smith, Nets Category 6: Expensive role players — The following role players could help winning teams, but have large salaries that make them complicated trade candidates. 34. De'Andre Hunter, Hawks 33. Bogdan Bogdanovic, Hawks 32. Jakob Poeltl, Raptors 31. Clint Capela, Hawks 30. Malcolm Brogdon, Trail Blazers 29. Bruce Brown, Raptors 28. Cam Johnson, Nets 27. Kyle Kuzma, Wizards 26. Jerami Grant, Trail Blazers 25. C.J. McCollum, Pelicans Category 5: Cap dumps — The following players have contracts that their incumbent teams would either actively like to dump or may need to dump for some specific purpose. 24. Paul Reed, 76ers 23. Zeke Nnaji, Nuggets 22. Maxi Kleber, Mavericks 21. P.J. Tucker, Clippers 20. Tim Hardaway Jr., Mavericks 19. Nikola Vucevic, Bulls 18. John Collins, Jazz 17. Zach LaVine, Bulls Category 4: Free agents and player options — The following can choose to move through free agency, but are also possible trade candidates. 16. D'Angelo Russell, Lakers 15. DeMar DeRozan, Bulls 14. LeBron James, Lakers Category 3: Stars that probably won't move (but are worth a call) — The following stars are not known to be available and haven't actively been featured in rumors, but are still worth a phone call. 13. Lauri Markkanen, Jazz: The Jazz have feigned interest in winning early in the past two seasons before operating as sellers at the trade deadline. They have no clear direction, and in a loaded Western Conference, it's hard to imagine them doing much more than contending for a Play-In spot. They could use their extra draft capital to trade for a star and move up, but how many stars want to move to Utah? Trading Markkanen would load them up even further with draft ammo and allow them to wait out the current, older contenders in the West. To Danny Ainge especially, anyone is available for the right price. 12. Kawhi Leonard, Clippers: So... what do the Clippers even do if Paul George walks as a free agent? Sure, you could just run it back with Leonard and James Harden, but to what end? Do you really want to open the Intuit Dome with a 40-win team? The Clippers won't trade Leonard for the sake of trading him, but if anyone offers a way to help repair their desolate, draft pick-less future, they'd have to at least consider it. 11. Kevin Durant, Suns: The Suns were knocked out in the first round, changed coaches and have next to no roster maneuverability this offseason thanks to the second apron. Durant has sought new teams for far less in the past. The Suns seem determined to keep trying with this group, but if someone throws enough their way for Durant, they'd have to at least consider breaking up a team that did not meaningfully contend last season. Category 2: Stars that may or may not be available — The following stars are possible offseason trade candidates depending on what direction they or their teams choose to go in. 10. Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers 9. Mikal Bridges, Nets 8. Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers 7. Michael Porter Jr., Nuggets 6. Karl-Anthony Towns, Timberwolves Category 1: Stars that seem very available — The following stars have actively featured in trade rumors so far this offseason. 5. Dejounte Murray, Hawks 4. Brandon Ingram, Pelicans 3. Darius Garland, Cavaliers 2. Trae Young. Hawks 1. Jimmy Butler, Heat
My new ideal off-season 3 team trade: CHI - HOU - MIA CHI: Brooks (HOU) + Adams (HOU) + Tate (HOU) + #15 (via MIA) (trade NBA says it works without Adams, but the math ain't mathin) MIA: #3 pick (via HOU) + Levine (CHI) HOU: Himmy / Jimmy Buckets (MIA) + Caruso (CHI) + #11 (via CHI) Sign Hartenstein with NT-MLE (4 years, ~$50M) Draft Kel'El Ware F/C (Indiana) with pick 11 #44 + 2025 2nd to TOR for pick 31 - draft AJ Johnson G 2024 - 2025 Rockets CHAMPIONSHIP Roster FVV - Caruso - AJJ Thrilla - Amen - Hinton Himmy - Cam - T. Young (or Samuel) Bari - Tari - Uncle Jeff Sengawd - Harty - Ware
I personally would LOVE for us to add Isaac. Would be willing to give up one of our own 1st round picks for him (plus salary), if we could somehow get him with an extension.
He makes Zion seem like an iron man. Trading expiring contracts and a pick for another expiring contract doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, either. I’d save them for a bigger fish or move them for someone with an extra year on their contract.
Houston Rockets Trade Breakdown Change in Team Outlook: -4.4 ppg, -1.8 rpg, and -0.5 apg. Incoming Players Bruce Brown, Jr. 27 year old, 6-4, 202 lb SG from Miami (FL) 10.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.9 apg in 27.8 minutes in 2023-2024 Gradey Dick 20 year old, 6-6, 200 lb GF from Kansas 8.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.1 apg in 21.1 minutes in 2023-2024 Outgoing Players Steven Adams 30 year old, 6-11, 265 lb C from Pittsburgh No games yet played in 2023-2024 Jalen Green 22 year old, 6-4, 186 lb SG from NBA G League Ignite 19.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.5 apg in 31.7 minutes in 2023-2024 Jae'sean Tate 28 year old, 6-4, 230 lb F from Ohio State 4.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.0 apg in 15.9 minutes in 2023-2024
Would you? (Chicago is at #11 FYI). My targets at #11 would personally be like, Cody Williams, maybe Kyle Filipowski. Just whatever value I could get. Ayo is a real dude. I'd give around 50/50 odds he has a better career than Reed Sheppard.
If Memphis really wants Clingan at #3 I'll make them a deal. Rockets Trade: - Jalen Green - Dillon Brooks (Salary purposes) - #3 Pick (Donovan Clingan) Memphis Trades: - Desmond Bane - #9 Pick (Whoever you want there, could be: Castle, Sheppard, Knecht, Edey, a number of possibilities. ) 2024 - 2025 Roster P.G. - Fred VanVleet / Amen Thompson S.G. - Desmond Bane / S.F. - Tari Eason / Cam Whitmore P.F. - Jabari Smith Jr. / Jeff Green ...C - Alperen Sengun / Steven Adams / Jock Landale
4-way To CLE: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks To BKN: Donovan Mitchell To MEM: M. Bridges, #3 To HOU: Desmond Bane, #9, Luke Kennard, Dennis Schroeder, Y. Watanabe
If Green and Brooks is enough for Cleveland, why wouldn't the Rockets just take Mitchell? It seems like the Rockets and Cleveland are bending over backwards to help the Nets out. This severely hurts the value of the Nets picks over the next 3 years. If the Nets are going to get Mitchell, make them do it with their own talent.
