A backup point guard/combo guard is the team's biggest trade deadline need

@Mathloom as well

 

I've pretty much been operating under the assumption that if FVV goes down, the Rockets are screwed. I've more been focused on covering the 6-7 minutes a half he'll need for rest and getting guys that help while he's on the court.

If he goes down, throw out the rookie to see what happens.

 

i don't really disagree, but we have to play/develop our 7 franchise players, we ain't winning it all this year.

 

Aaron and Reed were both out of the rotation last night. Intradasting

 

Sure, but far off picks with lottery upside are pretty useful in blockbuster trades. If you split these up you can get 2 good but not great players like White and Sexton. But the Rockets don't need more depth. They ideally should be looking to majorly upgrade one of their positions. I think Alvarado would be a good get, but if another team is offering a low-1st rounder would the Rockets offer the 2027 Brooklyn pick? Or the 2028/2029 Phoenix picks? It's not like Alvarado makes enough of a difference where you want to use one of those premium assets.

 

I'm all for Ayo Dosunmu

 

A rim protecting big that can run an alley oop is their biggest need.


DD

 

Sad we're even having this conversation.

Stephon Castle was right there. 6'6" defensive beast at PG would've made these defense even more nasty. Udoka would've loved him.

 

Not interested in adding someone that takes away minutes from Whitmore or Thompson unless they are a star.

The Rockets really need to find out what they have with their young players.... there has been some improvement from Amen and Green and Tari and Alpi ... but they need minutes to see HOW good they will be and Whitmore at this point needs to get 25 minutes a night consistently and needs to have a very defined role with defined rewards and consequences.

 

Castle is sitting at 40/25/71 from the floor with a less than 2:1 assist ratio - while starting and having a green light.

I like Castle long term as a prospect, but if he were on the Rockets right now, people would still want another back up combo guard.

 

Act like a man - and I will feed you like a man.

It is an old Assyrian saying mostly said by grandma's ... but it fits how Udoka runs his team.

 

Russell Westbrook

 

Teams don't trade future FRP's for players that won't be in their closing lineup. And a team like the Rockets has especially strong reason not to.

Agree though that the glaring issue in the rotation is someone who can have the ball and create something purposeful and competent in the halfcourt when Fred isn't on the floor, while also being a floor spacer and preferably not a terrible switch defender.

IMO, Dosunmu and Alvarado aren't that - they're solid NBA rotation players sure, but in the halfcourt they are are rich men's Aaron Holiday. They defend PG's, bring the ball up and move it along, avoid mistakes, and take spot up 3's. Neither guy can create minimum viable offense in limited halfcourt lineups. Just not their skillset.

Brogdon has been mentioned, who is a better fit except for the health questions. Lonzo Ball via buyout maybe (I've discussed that elsewhere), although he's not exactly the archetype either. Maybe Lonnie Walker would be a consideration too.

 

I think his value is more in the ability to take care of the ball, to hit quick shots when the play breaks down, or the fact he is an engaged defender than his playmaking per se. When Fred was out a few games back(I think Sac game), you saw some careless turnovers from Amen, Jalen, and Brooks that I would chalk up as what happens when the ball is in their hands more than Fred's. No denying that Fred has also saved our ass more than once this season hitting timely buckets to stop a run or managing to get the ball on the rim late in the shot clock when the play breaks down. We are such a good offensive rebounding team that just that simple act of missing creates a window of opportunity that we are uniquely positioned to take advantage of.

Honestly Tyus Jones would probably a great pickup for this team(a classic floor general, better shooter but less capable defender)- I also like the Ayo Dosumu suggestion(better defender, shaky shooter)...Lonzo could be great too but availability is always his question mark. I suppose the hope was Fred could hand the baton off to Reed but it feels like Reed is nowhere close to taking those rains and Jones is a solid but not amazing player(ie. relatively cheap).

I do ask the question - do we REALLY need Fred. At this point you are looking for how to approximate Fred's production without spending $42mil because we want to use as much of that salary as possible in the coming years paying Amen, Jabari, Cam, etc. And that's not to say we should keep all those guys but I think you have to give those guys their first contracts before you can trade them if you are looking to use them to upgrade at another spot. I think a big part of the "Fred is killing us" argument is that for $42mil we should have a guy who IS a perennial all star - not a guy who otherwise produces like a $17-25mil guy. Maybe my opinion of Fred changes if we can get him for $20mil but I think there is more value in doing something else with what we currently spend on Fred.

 

Lol

 

Doc had Ubuntu - we have Assyrian grandma-isms!

 

They could just decide to play Reed Sheppard and then it wouldn't be a need anymore.

 

once he's on the rockets, he will forget how to shoot.

 

I feel like the front office is going to trade for some backup on some lottery team for cheap. Among the more premium guys available, the only one I'm curious about is Coby White. He does have size, shooting, youth, and lottery pedigree. If the Rockets project him to have another level in him, I can see them swing a trade to the Bulls.