Rockets acquire Suns picks, return Nets picks to Brooklyn

It's not that difficult.

PHX is about to fall apart.

And, we have the inside track/ option on Booker.

 

The Nets goal isn't to hurt the Rockets. I don't think the Nets rebuild if they thought they could get a star. I doubt the Nets trade picks for a play in team at best (i.e., no star). I think the Nets still trade Bridges as I think when it became clear Mitchell was extending, their delusions of grandeur got shattered. The Nets still try to win games, but not at the cost of future assets and likely use cap space to absorb bad contracts. My guess would be that they would probably be in the same situation as this past season except the Bulls probably drop below them while the Raptors pass them.

I'm coming around on this trade. I'd have the Rockets as 20% winning a Top 4 pick in 2025 (I'd guess 9th pick is the average pick), and about the same in 2026 with the Nets picks. I think the acquired picks in total will probably be better picks if all drafts were equal.

 

And even if he missed games, they would still have around 40% of their own conference intentionally tanking.

What we know is the Nets wouldn't trade the Suns/Mavs picks for a 4% chance to get a top 3 pick, which is what the odds would be with them intentionally avoiding tanking when 40% of their own conference is actively trying.

 

I was really hoping the Okogie deal was guaranteed both years instead of just one. Spotrac has the 2025-2026 total payroll with penalties at
$515,511,600 with Okogie's salary, and that doesn't include a full roster (i.e., just the offseason requirements).

 

Agreed, the Nets don’t go full rebuild if they can’t get back their picks.

The Nets maximize their future with one player. They got back a hefty return for Bridges, a lot more than I thought they could get. And since the Nets need talent sooner rather than later, they flipped the future Phoenix picks for their own picks which the Rockets owned. The Nets are entering a tank season with aspirations of getting Cooper Flagg or another highly coveted 2025 NBA prospect. I think they did well for themselves.

Tanking a season well in advance, is a bold move. A move that is better made when the fan base is invested in it. Without fan approval, it could financially decimate a team. Fans pay top dollar for NBA games and they need something to root for, if it’s not for a title aspiration, at least for a chance at a top pick in the NBA draft lottery (in a draft that has a superstar talen in Cooper Flagg).

I was subscribed to “Locked on Nets” since we owned their picks. Before these trades the Nets fans were in despair. But after the trades, their fan base are now very engaged, they have hope. And let’s all remember that in sports, hope equal revenue for teams; after all franchises are in the business of profit where their product sells championship aspirations.

 

So, almost half a billion gets you a first round exit?

 

Might not get them in the play in.

 

The second apron is the leagues way of making teams operate more within a hard cap system without actually having a hard cap.

...by the way, there is some nuance here - you have to be in the 2nd apron I think 2 out of 4 years to qualify so I imagine there will be some creative bookkeeping moving forward with max player contracts but it certainly makes it very difficult for teams to jenga contracts into that matrix easily to duck above/below the cap.

 

100% this - the end game was in some order to
- diversify draft assets
- have potentially the best future draft capital in the league if it falls apart
- have an insight track for the best assets to trade Booker for OR to be brought in for a 3rd team if Booker wants to go elsewhere

...personally I wouldn't be shocked if Booker ultimately ends up here inside the next 2 years and becomes the player we had hoped Jalen would turn into....and if Jalen DOES end up having a breakout year this year, then those future picks will be how we bring in depth with young talent on rookie deals since we will certainly be operating at the luxury tax if we have both Jalen and Alpi earning at close the max along with potentially long term deals for Amen, Jabari, Cam, etc...

 

Hollinger was pretty high on the trade for the Rockets, referred to it as one of the five best underrated moves of the offseason. Said the Rockets were very strategic and we may end up the true winners of the Mikal Bridges trade.

“What makes this so cool for Houston is that the Suns, despite their own underrated move this summer (more on that below), are rapidly hurtling toward Armageddon. Maybe not this year, maybe not even next … but it’s just around the corner. Owning late-decade Suns draft capital is a great business to be in.”

 

But lots of TV games.

 

The entire Warriors organization was purchased for $450M in 2010 (now worth $8B), and this is what teams are now spending on one year's team payroll (add in all other 1500+ employees and executives) Insanity.

 

I really wonder if this is sustainable.

 

inflation is infinite.

 

But value isnt.

 

I remember a time when you could get 2 lower bowl tickets at the Summit for $6 with a Wonder Bread coupon.

Now they are $175 each.

Inflation hasn't risen 60 times (6000%) since then.

 

And the Rockets already have a full roster of talent. With a year or two to see if they chemistry is right. Statistically speaking even if everything falls right for them a few of the core 7 will not work out for the team.

So right about the time their Suns prized obligations are owed, the Rockets should be able to add top 10 talent to a team that’s already been champion caliber, with realistic aspirations for a few years.

 

i think moving to streaming in favor of networks like TNT will allow them to continue to grow revenue, which is why TNT was not given a new deal. It is easier to increase the cost of a streaming service (take a look at the price increases and new household rules Netflix is getting away with). Historically NBA teams had been operating at close to break even if they were lucky, and a few franchises like the Lakers would make maybe $100M net income because they were making a lot from merchandise and TV deals. Teams use to be trophy assets for their owners, and they would cash out when the team is sold as the value of the team keeps rising. I think they will get to a point where more teams are actually profitable and it becomes a more sustainable investment vs. just a trophy asset.

I think integration of sports betting, more leniency on what sponsors are allowed, move to streaming, expansion of VR and other tech will open up more advertising opportunities as well. The NFL is in the process of allowing private equity ownership, and I think the thought is they have the ability to grow a franchise with new revenue opportunities.

 

I will be eagerly watching the Suns this year. Their crazy payroll, mediocre finish last year, and 35 year old Durant with just one more year left on his deal scream blow it up. I would give them all of their picks back plus Fred and Amen for Booker:

PG: Booker / Sheppard / Holiday
SG: Green / Whitmore
SF: Brooks / Tate / McVeigh
PF: Smith, Jr. / Eason / Uncle Jeff
C: Sengun / Adams / Landale

Booker is younger, bigger, and much better than Fred, and I have zero faith in Amen's shot - sell high on him.