I know you are being sarcastic but FVV being replaced should be a priority. The second is not a given. It is possible to get defensive guys that can shoot. If your coach is the defensive guru that everyone says he is (I agree), it's ok to trade some defense for better offense. It's called balance.
Fred isn't the devil but between him and Jalen, you need to upgrade one or the other - They were both awful at different parts of the season. Running that back is just asking for a repeat of the results. At the very least, you need a competent backup to Fred - as we saw last season when he was injured, Holiday isn't that guy. As for Jalen, he can't be the only 2 guard on the roster aside from Jeenathan Williams again. The team needs more options at the 1 & 2 and less forwards who don't play much (Jeff Green, Tate, N'Faly Dante, Jack McVeigh, David Roddy ....)
Replacing Jalen and keeping a slow pg that cannot create his own shot and continually dribbles out most of the shot clock, does not improve our offense substantially. It also limits Amen being the on-ball initiator which is critical to his development. Keeping FVV is a bad idea in any other capacity than backup PG (Ime will never do it). Unfortunately, I believe they are going to extend him and give Ime the crutch he will always use 35-40m a game. I don’t care if they trade Jalen for an upgrade at any position, but Fred needs to be replaced in order for the offense to improve. People are always talking about an offensive assistant, but Ime sees FVV as his offensive coordinator on the court.
I just feel like Ime has earned at least one more season of rope after the turnaround we've had. I think I will be singing the same tune as you are if we hit the ASB next season and it's just same old, same old. I think Ime loves Amen's game and attitude, and I'm sure they talk about Amen's desire to become a lead guard. It's very possible we'll see a big transition toward Fred playing reduced minutes and a reduced role. I don't think it's a bad thing if Fred and Amen start together--I actually think they fit better than Amen and Jalen. Fred is harder to trap out on the perimeter, he generally makes the right pass. He's also, IMO, a better off-ball catch-and-shoot guy than Jalen is. The key is really just coaching. Ime has to get Fred onboard with deferring to Amen's rising stardom. It's a transition every aging player has to make at some point, even LeBron is doing it. I'm by no means certain Ime is able or willing to do that, but I'm also not certain he's as shortsighted and stubborn as you believe he is. Jury is out, next season will really determine for me whether I think he's the coach of the future or just another stepping stone that we need to move on from to get to the promised land.
Very reasonable. I think Ime is a narcissist and is unwilling to recognize his own weaknesses. Maybe Stone has the balls to insist on Amen’s development. There is absolutely no way the Rockets won’t give Ime another year. I could be wrong and I hope that Ime can adjust and pull FVV in deference to Amen and it’s even ok if takes a month or two. I don’t hate FVV as a backup PG, he might even be the best backup PG in the league, but as long as they are playing him at PG for 30m or more a game, we are screwed.
Houston In: Trae Young and Giannis Milwaukee In: Sengun, FVV, #10, 2027 HOU swap, 2027 PHX, and 2028 HOU Swap Atlanta In: Jalen Green, Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore 2027 DAL pick, 2029 HOU Swap, 2029 PHX Swap Rockets pair with Trae and Giannis with Amen, Tari and Bari. Sign Capela, Brook Lopez or resign Adams. Milwaukee retools with Sengun and FVV and picks up valuable picks/swaps Atlanta picks up young players to start their rebuild plus two picks.
The Rockets need an offensive star. I get needing better play at backup PG play, and better play at the SG whether through internal development or external acquisition. If the Rockets get the star at PG, I'm fine with that. For the most part, I expect if the Rockets "upgrade" FVV with anyone other than a star, the Rockets will likely have similar or worse results (probably better offense at the cost of defense) unless they get an offensive engine elsewhere or develop one. I think upgrading SG wouldn't make the Rockets better than the Thunder, but probably makes a much bigger impact than upgrading FVV. Basically, I see FVV as the starter until a younger Rocket takes it from him whether that Rocket is already on roster or to be drafted.
Agreed. Those extra FVV minutes take a toll on his body and hinder Sheppard/Amen's development. The same case can be made for playing Brooks too many minutes. That limits either Amen's chances or Tari/Bari. If you can play Amen at the point and Tari at the 3-spot (instead of Brooks), then there's room for Jabari at the PF. If you have Sheppard at the point, Amen can be quite disruptive at the 3-spot, leaving room for a Tari/Jabari combo at the PF. But if FVV and Brooks are eating minutes, everything comes to a standstill. I'm a realist who thinks Stone lacks the will to chase a star or package assets via a big move. He wants to play a slower, more cautious game with his roster, keeping the #10 for himself and holding onto the Phoenix picks that he worked so hard to acquire. Stone's next priorities appear to be securing a team-friendly FVV contract, avoiding a blunder with #10, and obtaining a favorable offer for Adams.
After watching the Pacers/Knicks game last night, the pace in which the Pacers played and ultimately beat the Knicks, it wouldn't be a bad idea to go after Lamelo Ball...he has Haliburton vibes in which he could push the pace for our team (that's our competitive advantage against majority of teams). FVV plays at a slower pace, and I'm not sold Amen can be an efficient point guard for us. I doubt the Hornets will move Lamelo especially if they draft VJ Edgecombe to pair with Lamelo. Trade proposal: FVV/Cam/Landale/2 FRP for Lamelo/Mark Williams
Can we give the Pacers GM whatever drugs they gave Nico and trade Jalen and FVV for Haliburton? Dude is the truth tbh
As great as Haliburton has been lately, Lamelo is younger and more talented but a risk taker. Hali is more safe with no flash. I believe Lamelo will thrive under a more controlled atmosphere with Ime due to Lamelos IQ and feel for the game
To make a big move, you have to believe that it's the right move. To this point, I don't see a big move that I'd have made if I were in Stones shoes. None of these current guys who may or may not be available put this roster over the top. None of them come without issues of their own be that age, limitations or cap crushing salary. Take Giannis for example - One of the leagues best players but you have to tailor your roster around his lack of outside shooting to maximize him. This team is terrible in that aspect. You'd be rebuilding the roster around him . Durant is old, you have to expect decline & then there's the one year on his contract - he'll want a max extension for 2 years (max because of the over 38 rule). PHX is going to expect all their picks & swaps back and that's a massive overpay for a dude at the end of his career. Booker's contract and looming extension that would pay him $70M+ is a cap wrecker. Ja - that's playing with fire. Zion - can't stay on the court. Brown / Holiday .... we tanked for 4 years so Boston didn't have to? We dig them out of their cap troubles and young talent. Trae Young .... inefficient chucker would fit nicely with the one we already have. Who cares about defense when you can hit .300 from the logo. Harden? That ship has sailed. He's not leaving $20m on the table to come back here as a FA and a S&T means a hard cap and a roster full of vet minimums. Lavine .... I don't disagree with any of that. He needs to preserve assets until the right player comes along.
We saw what happened when FVV was out with injury...we looked like the Silas era. Jalen Green sucked, Sengun was a one trick pony, and Amen is best suited to play a wing. FVV or in general the point guard position is probably the most important piece to our puzzle. Either sign FVV or upgrade that position - if we strike out on Giannis and KD
Agree with Durant, Ja, Zion, Brown/Holiday, Young, Harden, Lavine. I would reshape the roster around Giannis. Booker, 27-28 would be tricky. He's one of the few guys that offers a big upgrade at one of the guard spots. After 27-28, would make decision to extend him or trade him then.
Hell no. Just trade for the pick not Lamelo. Lamelo is never going to pan out for more than some outlayer year when he actually stays on the court.
We went five and five while FVV was out and a few of the games Jabari was also out. Asking a team to completely adjust immediately when a 40M a game PG sits is a bit much, especially with a coach that has no clue on how to coach an offense and that deferred to FVV to lead the offense.
Udoka has turned the franchise around. We were in the depths of NBA hell and now there is hope. He is a major part of that.
