For all the folks saying we need to trade picks or consolidate players, any move we make indicates we firmly value whatever core is left. Okc got bit by moving harden. 76ers got bit by moving off of butler. Clippers got bit by moving off SGA. We need to pause the button on trying to figure out who our next trade target is and try and firm up our core. Hence, stone is likely delaying and delaying. There’s no sense in pushing a move before because the odds are we lose long term. Any deal made at the end is still likely to be a net positive assuming we made the right calculations. That’s even if we technically could’ve gotten more for said player by moving them early. The savings of properly identifying a core outweighs the cost of losing some trade value.
Your examples make no sense. OKC moved Harden to save money, not because they traded him for a superstar in order to win-now. Sixers moved off of Butler also to save money, because they wouldn't give him the 5-year max and gave it to Tobias Harris instead. Clippers moved off of SGA in order to sign Kawhi. That is the only trade that one can argue may have some similarity to the Rockets current situation. But even then that doesn't make sense because the only player connected to the Rockets that has been traded, DeAaron Fox, only netted the Kings 3 non-lottery 1st rounders. So the Rockets in a hypothetical Fox trade would not have needed to give up any of their young core.
The OP is talking about in a general sense since lots of posters are saying they should've done something at the deadline. I agree I dont think there's any target that makes sense RN better to wait.
If so he could've at least made some examples of deadline moves. Harden, Butler, and SGA were all moved in the offseason. And Stone has said he may make moves this offseason. So the Rockets may actually make their version of the Harden/Butler/SGA move just yet.
Counter Argument The FRP values are spread out way in the future over many years. I'm pretty sure Amen and Sengun are going to be really good players in the next 2-5 years likely on salaries depressed by rookie scale and rookie extension rules. Amen is not likely to be 4 times as good as he is right now in 3 years even though his salary will be about 4 times as large. There is no guarantee we can get as good of players to put around Amen and Sengun with less money than they can right now even factoring in Amen and Sengun being better. We don't know what the next CBA looks like. We don't know when the NBA expands. I would try hard to get more value into the 25-26 through 29-30 seasons. I would not be going crazy trading young players, but the 2029 and later picks especially look prime for trades for win now through the next 5 season pieces.
Such a smart point. People think if you don't make a move, you're doing nothing. But choosing to wait is also a decision. And in this case, for the reasons you've given, it's wise. Just for illustration: Think about moves we might have made a year or two ago, based on what we knew then about Sengun. Or even Thompson, more recently. We're learning what they can be. Hell, I was ready to dump Green this offseason based on his defense alone. And whatever you think of his offense, it's pretty clear that his defense has drastically improved.
I’d also like to see this core grow together and I absolutely believe the rockets should not give up any of their young stars for anyone over 32. As great as KD is, last night’s game was one of his best this season. Anyone who follows the suns will say that is not the KD they have seen this season. I’d be happy to see KD with the rockets but not if it costs us a chance to contend for the next decade. We have a great group of young players who are winning now and have the potential to be great, let’s build them up.
I don't see not making a move as bad and agree with this. If there isn't a good trade available, standing pat is the best thing. I just wouldn't default to no trades on a player who's a Top 30 player because he doesn't move the needle. It really depends on the cost.
For the past few years the only move most Rockets fans agreed up on was wanting to fire Silas. No one was thinking about player trades. Not even Jalen Green since there was no point back when he was on his rookie deal. So if we are trusting the front office to always make right decisions, there should be a Silas apology form somewhere for him being able to drive the tank and kept all the youngsters on track to be future stars.
Agreed, I know it's tempting to make splashy win-now plays when we're having a great season, but we should avoid trading members of the young core or trading away too many draft picks unless we're getting back a really special player. Small bench upgrades are all we really need for now.
Thunder with 3 of the All-Time top dozen scorers in League history, by retirement. One Finals. Ring? One. KD. Ws. Hmm…
To me, keeping the core isn’t philosophical. Rather, it’s how I enjoy watching basketball the most. think about your HS and College days of being a fan, for football or basketball. Back in the day, there really was no such thing as trades at that level … so we could only cheer for our homegrown kids. There’s nothing like that feeling watching the kids grow together … so, it would take *a lot* for me to give that up, for at least one more year or two. Make no mistake, this is a very rare occurrence to cheer for a drafted core As OP said, what you potentially miss out on in the next yr or two, can still *very much* be made up for again, later…
The focus should be on enhancing Ime system + culture towards building championship team, not necessarily retaining or even developing the young core 7. Whether this is Rockets FO philosophy or not remains to be seen.
All I know is, it’s nice to see the team finally showing some patience and giving the young core time to develop. The Rockets of the past didn’t have this kind of approach. Maybe it’ll end up being a bad strategy if no one develops into a great player, but as a fan, it feels good to see them giving these guys a real chance. Hopefully, it pays off. NOW, do something this offseason! I'm tire of watching 25% 3PT shooting
If you can't slam with the best, then jam with the rest. This is the only philosophical thought I have regarding basketball.
I understand that some people want to do a consolidation trade because paying all of our prospects will be expensive, or to upgrade talent if possible. What I don't understand is people wanting to do such trades ASAP, this upcoming summer, when pretty much all of our draftees except for Al P and Jalen are on their rookie deals. What is the rush? We should wait and see how our draftees pan out before even considering trading them. I can't even remember the last time a talented player was traded while on their rookie contract and returned full value. Their games aren't fully developed and their contracts are small for salary matching purposes. For instance, Jabari makes $10M and Tari makes $3.5M. What the heck kind of return are we going to get for their $13.5M combined salary? You'd need to package them with 2 or 3 vets just to get enough salary. Extend first, then trade.
