You would assume that he would pick up the player option. Over the next few months you have an open competition at shooting guard between Jalen and Lavine. At next season's trade deadline you deal one of them away (whomever nets you the bigger return).
I’d still gamble with expirings and a 1st rounder. So would most of the league. I don’t want him, but that’s a reasonable asking price.
PG might request a trade if Philly keeps this up. I wouldn't mind PG if we don't have to give up our youngins. Brooks, Adams and Tate plus next years FRP (just one pick). Morey would ask for a lot more though.
We lose a lot of leverage with Phoenix once we use one of their picks in the draft next summer. I think we need to be aggressive and offer FVV+ All of their picks back + 1 HOU FRP for Booker before the deadline. This would give Phoenix more flexibility in the draft and with their roster going forward. They would have the opportunity not to pick up FVV's option or re-negotiate with him for a lower salary that gives them even more flexibility where they could at least maneuver a little through trades, which they can hardly do now as a second apron team. Even if they decide to pick up FVV's option, it could save them $40-50 million in luxury tax penalties they would owe if they stand pat (they could save even more with a re-negotiation). I don't think these numbers should be taken lightly. This move would put The Rockets about $8M into the luxury tax next year. The Rockets could get under the tax by trading Jalen for a player making in the $25M range. Tobias Harris is someone I would look at. I think they need to be proactive while they have the most leverage against Phoenix, and I don't think they should go into the offseason without having a plan for FVV. This would address both issues.
Just spit ballin here.... HOU - PHO - MIA PHO: Butler (MIA) + 2025 PHX FRP via HOU + 2027 PHX FRP via HOU MIA: FVV (HOU) + Cam (HOU) + HOU 2025 FRP HOU: Booker (PHX)
I worry. Houston is such a good food city; maybe even more so than New Orleans. Dude needs to be sent to like Bismarck North Dakota where the biggest thing in town is the new red lobster.
The trouble is, even at a low asking price, there's the opportunity cost of dealing with him; meaning, he's a player where you have to build around his strengths and weaknesses, not a plug-and-play guy like a versatile wing. And then he's disrupting chemistry every time he comes back from or goes out with injury. For a team entrenched in years and years of misery like Washington, Charlotte, or Detroit, perhaps it's worth the gamble. For a team that already has a successful young core like ours, I wouldn't throw a wrench into the mix.
