Rockets acquire Suns picks, return Nets picks to Brooklyn

I mean thank god we didn't give up assets for Bridges. That would have been a shortsighted, win now move.

Also, he traded him elsewhere because Stone was willing to give BK their picks back, not to spite him. So, obviously they would have been willing to trade him to use for those picks.

 

Yeah I'd assume Adams + Tate is much more likely to be part of a star trade this season than Brooks since it's essentially the same number but expiring.

Seems pretty unlikely to happen regardless this year since Durant has another year on the books to give it one more try next season so probably a moot point, but as a hypothetical it would seem unlikely Dillon Brooks would be included in any trade unless the Rockets want to unload another 2 first rounders above the offer to move him in the deal.

At that point I don't really know if doing a deal like this is worth it since you'll have so few avenues after this trade to make another trade for your second star player. Booker alone obviously isn't winning you crap.

 

Green's extension is for $33M. Booker is making $53. I'd guess Landale and Cam would be in deal getting salaries up to the needed amount over Brooks. Cam would be viewed more positively than Brooks by the Suns.

 

I dunno I read into that deal differently. I read into it that obviously Marks wanted the picks back, but the Rockets had been pursuing Bridges for two seasons aggressively, and they resisted only until there was the option to get him to another team.

Maybe it was just a timing thing, but I read into the reports from IKO, etc. that the Rockets went pretty damn hard for Bridges for a long time. Maybe it was the Rockets who just so happened to change their mind on Bridges just when he came available finally. I dunno, but I just read into it as a little personal dynamics there, and I would assume that it'll be even more obvious that there would be a human element with a Phoenix deal. Nobody wants to help someone who is betting on you to lose so publicly.

In the end its a business and Phoenix will have to do what they have to do that is in their best interest but in business it also is true that people all the time make personal decisions that they need a business reason to justify.

 

I personally didn't really believe the reports that we were going so strongly after him. If anything, it may have been leaks from BKN's side to increase his value, because most of the mock trades had us sending a couple of their picks back, which I thought was absurd for a role player.

Regarding Phoenix, I could see them being bitter if things go south for them but, ultimately, since we control their picks, we have a lot of leverage here. Booker would be perfect for this team.

 

Rockets are already very good with Green instead of Booker.

On Suns, I just have a hard time seeing them fork over $435M dollars for a team that might not make the playoffs as well as nerfing the value of their 2032 FRP. If Durant struggles with injuries this season, which I think odds are about 50-50, they might not make the playoffs this season.

 

Yeah, Houston's "splash" moment is definitely going to have to come in the offseason. This year is probably the time to showcase the good things Green does....which these days isn't a lot.

I like the offensive production Hero gives but it's important to note he is still a really bad defender on a team that preaches good defense. Not sure if that is going to fly with Udoka. The way the team is winning with playing defense despite poor shooting leads me to believe we would get a lot better with at least a neutral defender with even slightly better shooting that Jalen(like maybe just a league average shooter). Desmond Bane cost you $10mil less than Booker and $10mil more than Hero but actually plays both sides of the ball and the Grizzlies are staring at a potential cost discussion in 2 years when they have to start thinking about how to juggle the 3 best defenders on their roster in Jaren Jackson Jr, Marcus Smart, and Zach Edey extensions PLUS the GG Jackson extension. In short they are going to have to make some concessions with how their roster is constructed. To me Bane is Eric Gordon 2.0. If you can keep Cam around, he is your Desmon Bane injury insurance.

 

Yeah you might be right, but there's no way to know for sure, and certainly no way to get inside the heads of these GM's. You do have to factor in the personal side of things in business of course, but its not the end all be all. Not saying theres no way the Rockets would get Booker in a trade because of the personal side, but I also wouldn't exclude it from the equation if there are likewise offers out there.

Booker would be fantastic in a vacuum. It's just the matter of what you are giving up. The Rockets have some nice pieces, depth, and youth on this team now. After a star trade or two though.... ehhh... you gotta be careful to not be another Brooklyn Nets and bet it all on 2 or 3 aging stars who could get injured and in 3 seasons you are tanking again. Good depth can go fast in this league.

 

As a followup, I think Phoenix is likely done after the 2025-2026 season regardless of what they do.

If they wait to 2026 to rebuild, they will get nothing for Durant except maybe a few wins if they keep him.

Their Draft Capital looks like the following
2026
25th pick
2028
25th pick
2030
25th pick
2031
Top 6 pick
2032
Top 6 pick if they rebuild after this season or 30th pick if they go for it next season.

The only way to guarantee good draft picks is to have your own and not get them nerfed by being over 2nd apron a lot. I flip flop on this sometimes, but I think Durant gets dealt this coming offseason followed by Booker as I don't think draft prospects from Booker alone will kick start the rebuild sooner than 2031 without dealing with the Rockets. If the Rockets trade for Giannis, the Suns are basically screwed.

 

I never bought into Phoenix's 9-2 start. That core simply cannot stay healthy all season. And what's scary is the West is even more loaded than last year, so the Suns could easily miss the play-in and not just the playoffs if they wind up with around 45 wins like they did a couple years ago.

Imagine the Rockets with this roster, finishing in the Top 6, AND adding a lottery pick in a deep draft(with even better picks still to come).

 

Phoenix says they and Durant are close to signing an extension so it appears they are committed to competing with this core. That's not great for our picks because that makes them less willing to completely rebuild if they aren't competitive. I was hoping they would be like OKC during the Westbrook/PG/Melo era, where they were talented on paper but blew it up after two seasons when they realized it was futile. But even with KD's extension their ability to win isn't guaranteed. If they're a first round exit for the next two years, or even miss the playoffs completely, I hope they'd have to consider changing course.

 

Still hard to find top 20 players. Booker has proven he can be the best player on a team going to the finals meanwhile Miami proved they could get to the finals without Herro. You pay top dollar for that.

Booker may not be the in the top tier of #1 options but you replace Green (plus picks) with Booker and we are a top 3 team in the West for the next few years with a shot at a ring and still ways to improve. Also probably easier to get another star with Booker on your team

That being said I'm also very happy with our direction

 

The owner is talking big about it.

That said, as long as Durant is there they can't :
1) add much beyond minimum contracts.
2) They can't trade draft picks as the 2032 pick will be frozen.
3) They probably can't even swap picks other than their 2031 FRP as all the other FRPs have either 3 or 4 teams already with swap rights so they get the worst of 4 or 5 FRPs each year they have a pick.
4) re-sign their own free agents without paying repeater tax. Okogie for instance will be a free agent at the same time as Durant. Without doing the math, I'd guess the Suns will be in $4M in tax for every dollar of salary or worse. Okogie signs say for $10M. Thats's $50M for Okogie. Do the Suns pay Okogie $50M to try to make the playin?
5) They can't sign and trade players or trade for sign and trade players.

I just don't expect Durant to be very healthy in 2 years, and that he's going to be worse than he is now. One bad injury, and the Rockets are scooping up a Top 5 pick in 2027 and 2029.

 

I'm not sure the Rockets aren't a Top 3 team in the West for the next few years with Green.

 

Udoka, Sengun, Amen and Tari can make the Rox a top 3 in the West.

 

If the Rockets are in the Top 3 in the West, Green is being carried by the rest of the team. He's the least important key piece on this team.

 

$18.5M a year on a back up center would be a lot of money. I think Landale has done well enough in backup minutes. Steven Adams may still be recovering from injury.

 

I believe Chris Paul was the best player on that team.

 

I’d be ok with flipping Green for Booker BUT I’m just generally interested in riding this group of players and see where it goes over the next two years.

 

Great pass Eason