Choose your own adventure: Which star should the Rockets acquire, or none of them?

Yeah I just dont view that as something Id place a priority on. I just dont think adding a player thats going to be here for 5+ years really matters. Especially when im not even convinced theres anyone on this team that will be here 5+ years from now. Pretty much everyone besides Amen has been in trade rumors. We dont even know wholl be here in 3 months, let alone 5+ years.

 

I am not saying that it would be growing with the current crop of guys. What I am saying is everyday trade, especially big trades, should be made with the future in mind. If you are not convinced that anyone on this team would be worth keeping for the long-term then why would you want trade for a KD rental? I would think you would need to believe in this group. I don't. Great regular season team. Should not be taken seriously in the playoffs until the holes on offense are addressed. KD is not enough. Additional moves would need to be made.

 

The same reason they maxed Fred and paid Dillon a lot of money...to take the young guys to the next level. We knew fred and brooks werent long term solutions but we understood that they were here to stabilize the team.
But again, I do think they can win big with KD and other moves...like something ive proposed which is adding kd and cam johnson.

BUT even if they dont, Im looking at what adding KD does for the team moving forward even if he isnt here.

Do you think the Rockets would be looked at around the league as a team that would be a good fit for for Giannis, KD, Trae young, ect if they hadnt taken the leap they did?

When we just had a bunch of snot noses kids on the court all we could get was Fred and Dillon and had to pay a bunch of money for them. Well now we've reached a new tier. Now we are being discussed about adding an MVP in his prime and champ in Giannis. One of the best scorers ever KD. Thats a big step up.

If we add KD and this makes life easier on Amen, Sengun, Jabari, Reed, or whatever young guys are still here.....They look much better and we go deeper in the playoffs...now we've gotten them even more experience and we've made ourself more attractive to stars who shake loose in the future....kind of like how Fred and Dillon helped this team reach the level we're at now.

Let me back up. I believe Amen can be a superstar. I think other players we have are very good and could be championship pieces. Im very high on a few of the youngsters. I want to keep most of them. Only guy in really not attached to is Jalen. Id rather move on from a guy im pretty sure isnt someone i want longterm and let these other guys keep growing.

Also, No one player added to this group is enough. Anyone you add additional moves would need to be made.

 

I honestly lean towards the Durant / Lavine/ Run it back options.

 

Run it back or small moves.

The core is 22 and made the second seed, then went to 7 games against three HOF players with multiple years of championship experience.

They haven't even touched their prime and peak years, how good will they be at 25 plus years old?

 

Fair point about Freddy and Dillion. We did sign them in FA and did not have to shell out assets. Also, Rockets are an entirely different phase (as you mentioned) so trading for a new pair of training wheels is not that attractive to me. Adams and vets like him can be added to accomplish the same thing.

I think we disagree on the philosophy of building a team, but I get where you are coming from. Without an established star to build around, Amen could be it, I think it is not going to be very easy to navigate the way forward. What I do know is we should only trade for assets that will retain or increase their value and that is not KD.

 

KD would fix majority of issues on this team at a lot cost. I agree he’s the next step. He is the superstar and next bridge for the teams development until Amen or someone proves themselves in the next couple years

 

Do the Summons trade for Brown then package Green, Brooks and PHX picks for Booker.

Holliday/Reed
Booker/Cam
Brown
Amen
Sengun/Adams

 

No it’s not. KD is the easiest to slide in and slide out out of anyone to trade for. Giannis is a pure win now mood like Suns or Nets

I think we are the most attractive destination for KD. We were the 2nd seed. He can chill his old ass on the 3 as a 2nd-4th option. I bet he is 100% ready for guys like Amen, Green, and Sengun to do the heavy lifting

We could also probably get away with a trade of FVV, Brooks, and picks. Maybe Tari or Cam. This would allow Reed and Cam to develop

KD is always a really good path to elevate this team in short term while still developing for the long term. The opposite of a Giannis trade

 

Ausar

 

Technically Brooks was a sign and trade. 5 team deal where we gave up Garuba, Christopher, ty ty, and kj Martin... Not much in hindsight, but they were all still really young at the time and 3 of them were first round picks.

Plus paying them. Cap space is an asset.

Regarding team building, I actually dont think theres one way to skin a cat. As I said earlier, Im not against adding Markannen. Its just not my first choice.

 

Oh yeah, may bad. Had high hopes for Christopher. Dark times those were. Lauri is not my first choice either; however, he fits the direction I hope the Rockets go. I am hoping for a trade for someone who has not been reported as available because the current group is not very attractive for this team. This offseason is going to test Stone a lot. He could really F it up it he chooses wrong (all in for Giannis). Going to be a stressful and possibly fun offseason.

 

KD is 55 million in salary next year, 37 and injury prone guys. He won't be had for a small pieces based on that sheer amount of cap space, what we might give up on defense as he arguably might become our worst defensive starter, injury risk and loss of flexibility for that timespan. If he was making 30 million in a reduced role that's one thing, this is another imo.

 

Lol all these trades are pipe dreams.

 

The honest truth is I don't think we can win a title with Amen and Sengun unable to shoot 3's and neither of them being a 25-30ppg scorer. None of them looked like they can put up 25+ ppg with double teams in the playoffs.

What further complicates matters is: I'm 100% sure we can't win the West with Giannis and Amen on the floor together. We're essentially going to make it the easiest it's ever been to guard Giannis, and Amen is not a good enough shooter to punish that. Amen is not a suitable sidekick to Giannis and I don't believe for one second Giannis will take us seriously if we position Amen as his offensive sidekick. He needs a guy who can average 25ppg while not being useless off ball. What complicates matters even more is that it's clear we have one of the least creative offensive coaches in the NBA, very rigid, only knows how to go double big, couldn't win with 2 superstar scorers in the past. Most likely he has Giannis drawing the double teams and asking Amen to do something unsustainable like get 10 cuts to the basket per game or 10 floaters or 10 midrange jumpers. Never gonna work. It's a dead end.

The future I believe in most is a Sengun and Giannis pairing - which sucks because Amen is our best two way player at present. Realistically though, Sengun and Giannis compliment each other's weaknesses a lot better and there's less duplication between then. Amen and Giannis worsen each other imo. Sengun is a 2nd scorer Giannis himself would approve, it's a realistic sidekick. If Draymond had to guard Giannis, Sengun would have feasted on the Warriors in a way that I don't think Amen is ready to do. That's a guy who's averaged 20+ points and 5+ assists, is close to developing a 3PT shot, there's a realistic chance it happens in the next 3 to 15 months. Then having Jalen as the 3rd scorer is an easy 20 points with way more catch and shoot (which he nailed at 40% this last season). Sengun's defense is even better hidden than ever.

Sengun/Jabari
Giannis/Jabari
Brooks/Tari
Green
FA signing/Sheppard

So in this trade you've lost Amen, FVV and probably 3 picks. If we're including Amen, no way we're offering 4 picks like other teams. Which means you still have some picks left over if you want to acquire a PG. You can easily acquire Jrue Holiday to mentor Sheppard (would cost nothing but our worst FRP).

That's a team I believe can win a title within 2 years and before Giannis declines. If I was the GM and it was my job to bring us as close to a guaranteed title as possible, this would be my proposal. My backup choice is acquiring KD for 2 picks and FVV. The backup backup choice is standing pat and having faith in Amen and Sengun developing their 3pt shot in less than 2 years, but I don't know if I can absorb the board's whining and finger-pointing during the waiting period nor Ime's throwing young players under the bus for his own mistakes.

 

Giving both Alpi and Amen? If that’s the case you must switch KD with Booker. This trade is giving away our future in return of a really short present, probably no more than a single season window for a chip. With Booker instead of KD we have like 3 seasons window. The question is - what other players remain after such trade? We’ll have Green, Reed, Jabari and.. that’s about it. Why would Giannis switch from teaming with Lillard+limited roster, to teaming up with Booker+another limited roster? That’s not such of an improvement from his perspective.

 

Let's groom Amen into the next Tatum and trade Shepherd and Whitmore for Sexton.

 

No. When Jalen Green is your primary offensive option you need to make a big move.