We have plenty of data. We have a bunch of young players that are inconsistent shooters that play with a high amount of effort and energy and will continue to grow. We have movable depleting assets and the means to acquire known assets that buttress, fortify, augment, and exceed our current assets. Jettisoning Brooks, FVV and our bench expirings for Butler and Durant is a known outcome and is about MAXIMIZING our assets. Its possible to get those now. 10 out of 10 times you do that if you don't have to mortgage the future or lose the core. Both can possibly be done now. I don't believe what we have can win it all as currently constructed but I could be wrong. Why chance it? When the Bulls had Jordan and Pippen did they stop there? No, they went and got Rodman. I'm not talking about touching our core young guys. If you make these moves, you are telling these guys we love you, we got you, you are worth it.
We will probably see what it would cost to get Fox. Someone will pull the trigger on that deal. I don’t think it’s Stone. This Rockets team does need something, just one more difference maker in the backcourt. It’s noble to think Tate or Holiday are that piece to the puzzle or that everything is better when Jabari’s playing, but that’s very aspirational. If the Fox cost is FVV, a forward, Cam, and a pick, you have to at least think it through. If someone is giving up more than that, fantastic: the front office will have done its job to make a trade more expensive. The way to beat OKC and SGA is to matchup well against the other guard (Wallace, Joe, Caruso). FVV is ok here but he’s not keeping up from the 3-point line or the layup line. Fox would give you another player who can create a shot and shoot over 66% in the restricted area.
Maybe I'm missing something here. What's the argument against trading Reed, Cam, Tate, Landale, and a pick for Fox? Those are 4 guys who have no role on this team when Jabari comes back. And who else are we saving picks for? Right now we are winning slug fests against the top teams by a few points. We need another shot creator - in fact it's the only thing we seem to be missing. Why not get that guy if it doesn't cost you any rotation pieces? And why let that guy go to someone else in your division? This isn't rocket science.
We don't need to do anything. We're second in the West and the team has amazing chemistry. We also have players who are still developing. No need to rock the boat especially for someone who can't shoot. Jabari, Amen, Reed and Cam all still need to develop more. Fox would just come in here and take away shots from players who are frankly much more talented than him.
Good points... except kings aren't accepting a poo poo platter like the one you proposed for Fox. Also...fox is wanting a supermax deal while being a second tier star. furthermore, he is going to SA. its widely known. Also his wife is from SA with their entire family there.
I agree with your premise that we should take the opportunity to improve this season as I think the last 12 games have proven we are a contender. I think we should aim for an ideal role player though rather than a star. I think Amen is emerging as a superstar and Sengun and Jalen Green both look like eventual strong top-2 offensive options. I think Cam Johnson is an elite role player who would fill our team's greatest needs- an elite shooting wing with good size and some additional veteran leadership. He would be far more affordable that the superstars you mention. Durant isn't available and Jimmy Butler doesn't fit our culture even though he's still pretty great when he plays.
I would definitely make this deal if it were available. The offensive fit though with Jalen, Amen and Sengun though would be difficult because they all need some space to get to the rim. That's a lot of guys who don't shoot well from the outside. I'd still take that deal if it were available. Reed Shephard no longer fits here as contenders can't provide developmental minutes to a guy who's been really terrible thus far.
I think what you’re missing is Fox has his new destination set, most likely SA. Any other team trades for him will most likely just get a one year rental. Now a poo poo platter for a one year rental still doesn’t sound bad from our end. But why would Kings settle for a poo poo platter if they can get a better return from SA?
I'll make the argument that FVV has been a better player than Fox this season. FVV is a vastly superior defensive player and turns the ball over significantly less. Fred is also shooting better from three this season despite a somewhat down year. I think Fred's 3-point percentage is artificially low due to our frequent offensive slumps during games. There are several possessions per game where our offense stalls out and Fred is forced to jack up a low-percentage 28-foot shot. He is also generally the guy throwing up a 65-foot heave in the last few seconds of a quarter. Those low-percentage shots affect the box score and his percentages. Fox would be a better option at the end of games due to his ability to create a good shot in almost any situation. Overall though, I think FVV is the better player this season. I think we would be worse this year if we swapped point guards. If we're going to trade for Fox it would make sense to trade Jalen. However, I think Jalen is progressing and might be a better player than Fox in a couple of years.
I don't know if Fox fits the Udoka mindset. Gritty defense first and everything else second. Fox doesn't strike me as having the right temperament. Chris Paul would have been the perfect PG for Udoka.
Probably not .... the idea would be to par them together, not trade one for the other. Fox & FVV is just too small.
I like Fred, and I say no to going back to guard ball. (Dribble, dribble) Too much usage in the backcourt.
How is it aspirational when the Rox already beat everyone but OKC? lol Remember this is a group of 23 yr olds they will only get better, not worse in the next 2 yrs then all hell will be unleashed in the NBA. My issue with Fox is not Fox but rather his max contract. We have a lot of mouths to feed and Amen is projecting to be a max extension. I dont want us to be Minny 2.0 and give up on good players cuz we overpaid for Gobert. Remember Minny had Kessler at the time if they believed in Kessler and didnt trade for Gober they would still be a top seed today with both Kessler and Kat instead of Gobert and Randle. What if Reed Sheppard is the answer at 1? What if Cam Whitmore breaks out next year? I'd hate to trade them and have them break out away from the team. And I'm not exactly the biggest fan of Reed Sheppard but even I acknowledge he can be our future pg.
This is the right move, and if we somehow get lucky with the suns pick and it's in the top 5 hell if it's the #1 pick in this draft you take Cooper flagg and we finally have our Superstar.
Butler and Durant cost more and are aging/depreciating faster than our current assets. KD and Butler have a shelf life of 3 yrs. Thats not maximizing assets and how does trading away their teammates make them feel Rockets believe in them? It tells them the opposite, you dont believe they will be stars so you get stars outside.
If Rockets make small moves I hope it's to better their future chances at lottery picks. So much talent on this team right now.
