[CLUTCH] Kyrie Irving injury could impact Rockets, both in draft and offseason

Feels good…….not being a Mavs fan.

 

Don't ever count out the Worriers and the Heat in pursuit of Durant....... I can even see Sixers and the Bucks after him.

 

The problem is, to make the salaries work, we have to give up significant pieces. It’s not like the past two years where we had lots of decently paid dead weight on our roster that could be used for matching. The players we give up now are going to sting a little more. And it’s why when you make that move, an announcement that you expect to win a championship goes along with it. It’s very hard for me to see a scenario where that is the Rockets’ move.

 

I remember looking at the Rockets cap sheet for this offseason and the only way a Durant trade works is if everything is worked out beforehand (wink wink) and the Rockets pick up FVV's option. This would also give Phoenix a "win now" player that they can use alongside Booker, since they don't to tear down. Otherwise, stacking up salaries can get ugly since Jalen is almost a must-include in the trade. And at this point it's clearly not worth giving him up for 1yr of KD.

 

Thanks for this article @Clutch . I am perfectly happy to sit back and watch those Phoenix and Dallas picks come home to roost in Houston. Phoenix holding KD and Dallas dumping Luka continues to be music to my ears!

 

Yep, you probably have to pick up FVV's option and send him out to match salaries, which is kind of a problem because (despite a lot of people being unhappy with him lately) he's a really important part of the team. I agree that I don't think this will actually happen. The only one I've seen reporting it (correct me if I'm wrong) is Amick, and it just doesn't fit Stone's MO.

 

Having the threat to move to Dallas can be powerful... just like how the NFL left LA vacant for a decade.

 

Or poor Oakland. No A’s, no Worriers, no Raiders, no tax income, no sales, no nothing.

 

It’s the only explanation that makes a lick of sense. I feel bad for Dallas fans.

 

Booker isn't out of the picture. Au contraire, he is the MAIN target. The plan would be to play Booker with Green. You drastically underrate Booker, as he's a top 13- 17 player. His ball handling skills, along with his passing abilities shouldn't be discounted. The Rockets aren't in need of a conventional PG. As to DB's shooting, it's being criminally discounted here. I think you'll find his %'s/efficiency rise here big time with the sweet looks..the presence of Sengun ( inside) , Amen, and Jalen, and his usage drop. Tons of spot up 3's.

 

I don't think Stone and Udoka will want him for that price (nor do I), with or without Jalen. It's really not a Jalen Green thing. It's a $70m 30-year old Booker for 4-5 picks thing. It's just an awkward fit.

Do I really want my backcourt to be Booker and Green defensively? Heck no even if both have improved. Amen has a higher ceiling than Booker, I don't want him chasing the best defender all the time next season. Whatever calibre of defender Booker is, we need a better defender than that next to Amen and Green. Can't allow slippage there, remember we're protecting the paint for Alpi also. The Suns are the perfect example of what happens if you don't care about protecting the rim or POA. They put up a pretty good offense, but still sitting in 11th overall.

Another aspect is I'm not taking the ball out of Jalen, Alpi and Amen's hands. Durant functions purely as a sniper whether he's playing with Steph Curry or Tyus Jones.

We'll see what happens, but I'll bet anything he's out of the picture for Ime at least. A guy who's HC told him to stop leading? That's not a multiple picks and $70m player for Udoka. Whereas I was resigned to the possibility earlier, things have changed a lot. It's a hard no for me now. I'd even rather go into next season with nothing but minor tweaks than to bet that much on Booker.

 

Ime Udoka internal politics needs to stop, Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks need to be traded for Star Talent.

Rafael Stone and Eli Witus maybe can trade for LaMelo Ball for Draft Picks.

 

Looks like ownership wanted it to happen.

 

Not when the Dallas lease runs until 2031. All the good expansion cities, mainly Vegas, will be gone by then.

 

OKC I understand, but Minny? It’s freaking cold. He has no relationship with that city or coach. They’re not great as a team.

i would think Houston is more attractive than Minny. He’d make more money here too.

 

Yeah KD can come over, but not for more than 1 rotational player and their pick back if it’s not 1-3 or something.

Booker I am happy is not really in play.

I like the idea of facilitating a trade of KD to Minnesota and we pick up Naz Reid.

 

Personally willing to bet on it. He's not Kyrie who puts a lot of pressure on his legs. I understand it's a bet, but I give them one of their picks and one of ours - plus we have to give them starters to match salary anyway. Throwing in our pick is no big deal to me, it's likely to be a very bad pick even after KD retires. It's that one good pick they'll definitely want.

FVV, Holiday, Nate Williams and picks for KD works salary wise so I'm not sure why people think we'd have to include major pieces. FVV is great, but we just need a PG it doesn't have to be a $40m floor general. We should be less reliant on FVV next season just by virtue of having more experienced young playmakers.

Definitely a risk involved, but one I'm willing to take since it's just about a jump shooter getting injured. Defensively I'm not worried, no one plays defense on that team and you can't be a good defender when there's no defense (unless you're a rim protector).

That's my absolute maximum I'd be willing to offer though.

 

I'm hoping the Mavs fans all rally together and boycott all the games and season tickets next year. What Nico did was borderline collusion and it shouldn't go unpunished.

 

Playing with Ant + 4× DPOY Gobert for a season or 2? MIN was also most recently in western conference finals with similar but lesser player in KAT. Weather should not be main reason to discount fit.

 

Mavs became a poverty franchise overnight lol.