Do you want a win now piece or do you want to develop another rookie?

Draft generational unicorn franchise quality BPA. It's that simple.

 

Great idea on the poll! IMO, the win now options are not great righ now so draft a rookie and stay the course as I think the payoff will be higher but its always a gamble...

 

Win now, no guarantee that these kids will develop into winners.

DD

 

I voted for Trae Young trade, but I don't think there's any chance of it happening, just like I don't think there's a chance of a Mitchell or Bridges trade either. So in reality the Rockets are 99% likely to just pick someone in the draft. But from an upside/downside perspective, Young is the only one with enough upside to warrant taking a risk IMO. Also before someone talk about his defense, all metrics has it being improved to just normal-bad last year. So it's not as hopeless as one would believe.

 

Considering the fact that this is literally the worst draft class in YEARS…

Considering the fact that we have a plethora of young talent…

Considering the fact this city is anxious and eager for a playoff run…

Considering the fact that Udoka is a win now coach….

I don’t see how you take another young project. You have to explore a trade IMO.

 

I'm glad you added the poll with some options, because this answer is really dependent on the options. I'm open to any of those guys if the trade makes sense. I'm also open to keeping the pick if that makes the most sense. I'll say I don't love the idea of giving up more than two of the Brooklyn picks (including this years) because I think in the coming years we will need an influx of talent on rookie scale salaries. That said, if the right player becomes available you look at it.

I really don't think Donovan Mitchell or Trae Young are guys worth giving up all of those picks though, unless they're coming in to be a Robin. And we may have a Batman on this roster, but none of our guys have proven to be that just yet. Mikal Bridges and Marcus Smart don't hurt your cap so much that you can't still bring on another star, so I am less adverse to them, but also think they ought to command less of our draft capital.

 

I agree you have to explore it, but there is no pressure to do it if the right deal isn't out there. Our team will be substantially better next year just by bringing back Tari, adding Steven Adams to the rotation and the continued internal growth of our young guys. I don't see a world in which we aren't around 45-47 wins next season even if we stand pat and don't add a single player in free agency. I expect, however, that we will at the least add a quality free agent and a promising rookie on top of bringing back Tari and Steven Adams. So our team will be more talented and deeper next season no matter what.

 

They were right there last year and that's with Alp and Tari out. Amen and Cam you know are going to be improved. As i assume they all will. Adams will be here. Another off-season with Ime and the rest to build on what hes trying to do here. Chemistry should be better. And unlike some, I think JG will build off his post ASB breakout.

Stay the course.

No reason to give up assets at this time.

If they don't make a big jump they can make moves at the deadline and still have pcs to move if they want next summer.

Many people predicted they'd win around 30 this year, but if they'd had all their guys they'd blew that number out of the water.

 

I do not think there are clear answers and I give you 2 examples.... The Mavs last year and the Rockets this year.

The Rox this year had a slump and they were all the way down to 12th seed.....until they played Cam and Amen, and Jalen Green came alive.....we all know that story.

The Mavs last year, traded for Kyrie Irving, he got injured, and they were I believe 10th or 11th and then just decided to tank at the end of the season.

• If you are near the end of the season and you are out of the Playoff picture, of course you wished you had rookies to develop.
• If you are in the Playoff race, of course you wished you traded for a veteran at the deadline.....
• I know where Udoka stands but will the team be a guaranteed Top 6 team at the end? I am not so sure.

 

I don’t think Mitchell is available, and i only take Trae Young if it’s a sweetheart deal. Those are the tier 2 guys (potential #2 options on championship teams). I would give up #3 for Bridges (tier 3), but wouldn’t want to include much more; the Nets’ asking price is way way too high for 2yrs of Bridges. I want no part of Marcus Smart, but I do like the idea of moving back in the draft to pick up a good player while still taking a swing at a rookie.

if we are drafting, we should go BPA. If we are trading for someone, that person needs to be able to shoot really well.

 

The fans, more specifically CFers want to use the pick. But I feel the coaching / front office feel different. They wouldn't mind using the pick, but prefer a vet.

On paper, with Adams and Tari coming back: team should be better but West is stacked and many of them are all trying to get better. Grizz for example is done with their gap year. (Ja suspension and injuries).

.500 record was nice, but Tilman wanted playoffs, team didn't get to the play-in. Technically the team failed on that mandate. Next year play_in appearamce is expected at the very least.

It's easy for the fans to say use the pick. But the FO/coach are the ones stuck with the draftee. On the hook for doing most of the development, and know the payoff might not come until another few years.

 

It depends on your goal, if your ultimate goal is making the playoffs and maybe winning a playoff series or two over the next couple of seasons with no hope of being a real contender.... but all means cash it all in for a vet.


If you want a chance to actually become a contender one day, make the obvious pick and wait a few years till the good young players develop a bit more.

The team isn't currently ready for "win now" mode, so I'd view "win now" moves as short sighted and ultimately counter productive.

 

Then you are ready to trade Amen and Cam for someone say in the 25-28 year old range?

 

We traded Harden mostly for picks. (Instead of a young promising player). Back then Harden was still somewhat in his prime (and not injured).

It's ironic that with the same picks we can't even buy a Mikal with it. (nice player, borderline star). Even with a #3, Nets still don't seem to be interested.

Rockets might end up using the pick, but it's not from lack of trying to trade it form something else.

 

Trae Young is signed long-term, so he will cost you all those picks. Mitchell is only signed for one year, so he won’t. But you are gambling that you can keep him long term.

 

I'm not sure I'd want Mitchell if he was available.

Definitely don't want Trae .... unless it was dirt cheap and maybe not then. He wrecks your cap sheet.

Hate the idea of #3 for Bridges, he doesn't move the needle for us, we have too many options at his position that may eventually be better & Brooks is similar enough that it wouldn't really affect the bottom line and then there's the looming extension.

Smart - depends on the return.

 

yes.

 

Trade for top 5 projected talent. Draft until you hit on generational talent until said trade manifests. Until you have what it takes to win it all, trading for middling pieces is never the play over drafting.

 

I disagree on Bridges vs Brooks. I think Bridges is a huge upgrade. Brooks just had like his best shooting season of his career and it was just league average; we know as rockets fans that the shooting was great the first half and really poor the 2nd half. His defense was up and down too, but I’m willing to chalk some of that up to injury. He helped establish a toughness and culture and I love that. He also makes a lot of boneheaded passes and scares me when he puts the ball on the floor.

Bridges is a good defender and a huge shooting upgrade making the same money as Dillon. He has an all around better game. He’s much better than Dillon in my opinion. He’s just not a #1 option the way the Nets tried to use him. My problem with trading for Bridges is that it’s only for 2 yrs so I don’t want to overpay.