Spoiler 2024-25 TS% starting backcourts (and some others) 63.7 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 57.3 Jalen Williams | (58.6 Lu Dort | 56.2 Cason Wallace | 59.6 Aaron Wiggins | 61.7 Isaiah Joe | 56.8 Alex Caruso) Playoffs: 54.9 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 56.7 Jalen Williams | (46.4 Lu Dort | 50.2 Cason Wallace | 61.1 Aaron Wiggins | 71.7 Isaiah Joe | 57.5 Alex Caruso) 60.5 Jalen Brunson | 61.1 Josh Hart | (58.5 Mikal Bridges)” Playoffs: 53.5 Jalen Brunson | 63.2 Josh Hart | (50.4 Mikal Bridges) 58.7 Luka Doncic | 61.6 Austin Reaves Playoffs: 60.8 Luka Doncic | 53.2 Austin Reaves 58.2 James Harden | 61.5 Norm Powell | (53.1 Kris Dunn | 55.9 Bogdan Bogdanovic) Playoffs: 56.7 James Harden | 57.8 Norm Powell | (50.0 Kris Dunn | 47.8 Bogdan Bogdanovic) 60.0 Darius Garland | 57.5 Donovan Mitchell Playoffs: 61.3 Darius Garland | 59.1 Donovan Mitchell 58.5 Tyus Jones | 58.9 Devin Booker | (59.8 Bradley Beal) 61.8 Stephen Curry | 55.7 Brandin Podziemski | (56.0 Buddy Hield | 57.8 Moses Moody | 63.5 Gary Payton II) Playoffs: 63.6 Stephen Curry | 48.5 Brandin Podziemski | (59.5 Buddy Hield | 45.9 Moses Moody | 60.5 Gary Payton II) 58.4 Jamal Murray | 66.5 Christian Braun Playoffs: 58.4 Jamal Murray | 53.1 Christian Braun 57.3 Davion Mitchell | 60.5 Tyler Herro | (49.7 Terry Rozier) Playoffs: 68.1 Davion Mitchell | 51.2 Tyler Herro 57.3 Mike Conley | 59.5 Anthony Edwards Playoffs: 42.8 Mike Conley | 53.2 Anthony Edwards 59.4 Kyrie Irving | 57.0 Max Christie | (55.2 Klay Thompson) 62.1 Damian Lillard | 55.4 Andre Jackson Jr. | (59.1 Gary Trent Jr.) Playoffs: 34.9 Damian Lillard | 0.0 Andre Jackson Jr. | (70.8 Gary Trent Jr.) 57.0 Josh Giddey | 60.1 Coby White 56.5 Jrue Holiday | 60.6 Derrick White | (63.3 Payton Pritchard) Playoffs: 61.1 Jrue Holiday | 59.5 Derrick White | (65.7 Payton Pritchard) 56.3 Ja Morant | 60.0 Desmond Bane | (56.0 Jaylen Wells | 58.2 Scotty Pippen Jr.) Playoffs: 47.5 Ja Morant | 43.8 Desmond Bane | (55.0 Scotty Pippen Jr.) 56.2 Tyrese Maxey | 59.5 Quentin Grimes | (58.9 Jared McCain) 56.5 Cade Cunningham | 56.7 Tim Hardaway Jr. | (59.0 Malik Beasley) Playoffs: 50.9 Cade Cunningham | 47.7 Tim Hardaway Jr. | (53.5 Malik Beasley) 56.0 De’Aaron Fox | 55.3 Devin Vassell | (52.2 Stephon Castle | 58.0 Chris Paul) 56.7 Trae Young | 54.5 Dyson Daniels 54.9 Malik Monk | 63.9 Zach LaVine 59.9 Tyrese Haliburton | 54.5 Andrew Nembhard | (57.9 Benedict Mathurin) Playoffs: 55.4 Tyrese Haliburton | 62.0 Andrew Nembhard | (63.9 Benedict Mathurin) 57.0 Immanuel Quickley | 54.3 Gradey Dick 55.7 Anfernee Simons | 55.1 Shaedon Sharpe | (54.0 Scoot Henderson) 53.6 Jalen Suggs | 57.4 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Playoffs: 39.4 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 53.6 LaMelo Ball | 55.9 Josh Green | (50.2 Nick Smith Jr.) 51.4 Bub Carrington | 59.1 Jordan Poole 51.5 Fred VanVleet | 54.4 Jalen Green Playoffs: 63.2 Fred VanVleet | 48.2 Jalen Green 52.2 D’Angelo Russell | 49.9 Keon Johnson | (57.5 Cam Thomas) 49.4 Isaiah Collier | 59.3 Collin Sexton | (53.9 Keyonte George) 49.4 Dejounte Murray | 55.0 CJ McCollum | (52.3 Jose Alvarado)
Because that won’t work with our team. If he gets 30 but he can’t set anyone else up to get even 15, then we are still not scoring enough points to win games. Unless you totally retool the roster, and then you’re doing so for a MUCH smaller window, as Giannis is over 30. As opposed to finding a player who can dribble and shoot, which would fit with guys like Amen, Sengun, Jabari, Tari, and even Green.
I think he would get closer to 20 or 25 million in FA. He has to look at it like what he would get next off-season assuming he was paid 45 this year. Maybe 3 years 60 million next year. Probably not in Texas and probably not on a team where he has so much influence. They seem to all get along well. 4 years 96 million with a both parties having options after 2 years.
Only 2 teams have 25m in cap space and neither need FVV. Probably some teams could go through some gymnastics to get there, but would they for FVV? I do think the Rockets are going to give him his 25m or so, but they are idiots to do so.
This is sad. Especially. Spoiler 59.1 Jordan Poole 51.5 Fred VanVleet | 54.4 Jalen Green Playoffs: 63.2 Fred VanVleet | 48.2 Jalen Green
Is there any doubt that we need to make changes to our backcourt? The people who dismiss concerns about FVV and Jalen are just not looking at the numbers. I want to move off both players but I’ll settle for moving off one. Going into next season with the same backcourt would be professional malpractice.
honestly it depends on what kind of return we could get for each player, and what a Fred extension looks like money-wise. If Jalen’s trade value is shot, I’m not looking to deal him for nothing. Id hope he recoups his value by the trade deadline. If Fred wants to resign for Dillon money, I can probably live with that and hope that a better shooting guard will help him return to form. But if we could move either in a trade for a star or upgrade, thats what I want. For example, I have a feeling the Suns woukd prefer Fred to Jalen because they need a point guard, they need defense, and they need leadership. He’s also a fat expiring contract which helps their cap problems and provides them flexibility. I want to move off both, but gun to my head: u can’t have a $36 mil player coming off the bench and we probably get more of a return for Jalen. Fred will cost less and can come off the bench at either guard spot when that’s appropriate. But I honestly want to move off both. It’s an ineffective $80 mil backcourt. That money could be so much better spent.
I think the past two years have shown us that if we get a big game from Jalen, we win. We can get big games from other players, but no other position works as a lynchpin the way the SG does for this team. It shows that we can win with FVV if we have a more efficient and consistent player in the SG position. If we were going to change only one position, that would be it for me. Getting that star #1 at SG may be a little difficult, so I would also be open to retooling the entire backcourt and switch the high-usage player to PG in the form of Trae Young and get a steadier, more 3 & D player for the SG position in someone like Quentin Grimes.
its all about weighing options... how much is Fred gonna cost vs what better options are available - and at what cost...?
Jalen Green is a sunk cost. The Rockets have early Bird rights to FVV. The money can't be spent elsewhere. I do think the Rockets take into account trading FVV at some point as part of whatever salary he gets. Basically, FVV's salary needs to be enough that Green and his salary is enough to match any max contract, but small enough that it matches, but stays under the salaries of several players on teams with apron issues. I think Amen should be the SG (or PG). My thought would be to give Amen a lot of usage while having FVV helping out, This would basically be the flip of you want. Ultimately, I think either Reed or someone else will win a starting guard spot over FVV at some point over the next 2 years.
Houston is expected to bring guard Fred VanVleet back, according to both team and league sources, either by picking up his $44.9 million team option for the 2025-26 season or negotiating a new deal at a lower, team-friendly salary. The likelihood VanVleet plays for a different team next season is slim, those sources said. Source: New York Times
Good, not great basketball player, tough to trade this offseason (accepting team option gets Rockets close to 1st apron, sign and trades are difficult as teams that would want FVV are above 1st apron), no team with cap space that needs him, and Rockets have early Bird rights. Pretty simple conclusion that FVV was almost guaranteed to be a Rocket next season once he wasn't traded at the trade deadline.
I expect Fred will come back for something like 3-years, $70 million. He is our leader on the court and he and Ime seem like basketball soulmates. I think Ime would beat Stone's ass if he trades FVV. I think he'd be Ok with Jalen being traded for a more competent vet.
FVV was huge in helping get us where we are and on the big stage, he came through for us in the playoffs at a high level. Carried us. He has the heart of a champion. No, we don't want him elsewhere. We want him in a Rockets jersey!
It is very difficult to trade FVV. The Rockets would likely need to send a pick with FVV to move him. Stone isn't wasting a pick on moving FVV for someone that isn't going to make Ime very happy. Booker is probably the low end (and may even need a better player than Booker to send a pick to move FVV). Odds are if FVV is moved, Giannis is a Rocket whether FVV is moved in that deal or a supporting deal. I think time Ime wold be pleased if FVV is moved as Ime would love to have a star and not have to wait 5 years for players drafted to be playable.
