Despite my complaints about Jalen's inconsistent shooting, I've always said he had the potential to make a GM look like an idiot for trading him - and then he blows up. Luckily for the Rockets, he's started to fulfill some of that potential while he's here. I've also said many times that I wouldn't trade him for Booker, its arguable, despite the counting stats that Jalen has outplayed Booker this season - it's absolutely certain that his team has had more success with a lot less raw talent. The team records speak for themselves. And then there's the contract ..... $50m+ for the next two seasons and upwards of $70m per on an extension. I don't want that contract on my books. Those contracts have to be reserved for truly special players .... I really hate the parameters on handing out those deals - made an all NBA team. There's 15 of those every year and maybe 2-3 really deserve the $$$ - Booker most definitely isn't one of those. PHX record proves that. If this is the Jalen we'll get next season, I'm content to keep him and look to upgrade elsewhere - particularly the PG spot (and a decent backup combo guard type). As for the PHX assets, I'm not giving them back. They are going to be a lottery team for the next few years - they have no real avenue of getting better - no cap space, no picks worth a damn and they have absolutely nothing on their roster that compares in value that we'd want on ours. Upgrade FVV - that's where the money and or assets should go, as good as he is defensively, he limits the effectiveness of this team offensively.
And that's why GM's get fired every yr. Im not a Jalen fan or whatever a supporter of of his is being called these days. I'm a Rocket's fan! Anyone who knows basketball knows that numbers can appear the same or even be the same but there can also be DIFFERENCES. If you think he is the same player now, that he was then, you're wrong. His rookie season, he was playing in a FREEFLOWING Offense, now he's playing in a structured style of an offense. You may not see it but he's had to sacrifice his game because Amen and FVV has been out numerous times this yr. I still think his best days are ahead, when Amen is the starting PG.
I’ve come around to using the picks instead of trading them unless something unexpected comes up like Ant or Giannis. 2nd apron rules are really changing the fabric of the league. Building from within is going to be much more important. I expect more NBA teams to take an Astro like approach.
I do not think it is necessarily a bad thing if he has a better path to success with another team. He already improved under Udoka, maybe someone like Atkinson can get the optimum of Offense out of him. We see a lot of examples of this 'change of scenery' type of success.
I didn't say he was the same. The results offensively are not better though. That's disappointing. He's improved a lot defensively though and that matters. I think we should have added some shooting at the trade deadline. I think that would have made Jalen, Alpi and Amen all look better offensively. What is amazing though is how many posters think Jalen is on track to be better than Devin Booker. The only way Jalen is better than Booker next season is if Booker has a leg amputated. There was actually some arguing as well about Anthony Edwards vs Jalen Green. Even Draya Michelle would choose Ant Edwards if she had the choice...
Jalen Brunson is a Notorious Flop Artist. Flops everywhere on the court. Never compare that cheater to Jalen Green.
Pretty much everyone in the NBA plays better against teams with bad defenses. Why? BECAUSE THEY HAVE BAD DEFENSES.
