Rockets Offseason Primer: Can they afford everyone?

I don't think the team should really rely on Jalen to improve much, other than a slight defensive improvement under Ime, has there ever been anything noticeable about Jalen's game that he improved in the off season or added something to his bag? It feels like he is essentially the same player from a year ago, maybe worse. You kind of have to force Ime's hand if you are Stone and move Jalen regardless to see if any of the other top picks can develop. Primarily Reed and Jabari, both of these guys could develop into reliable scorers, but as long as Jalen is on the team they may never get that chance. You can also try to find some sort of veteran SG as a stop gap until you find a true star. There are some guys that have flaws in their game that may be available, like Herro or Austin Reeves. They would both be upgrades.

As far as stars, Haliburton's team is very competitive and he is still young, so I don't see why he would be available. Of the younger guards that are stars, I would look at the teams that are significantly under performing like 76ers (Maxey) and Hornets (LaMelo).

 

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Fix'd it for ya...

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Look at Brunson & Haliburton - if you can put intense pressure on defenses simply by crossing half court with the ball, that's a pretty good formula for the playoffs and seemingly worth the defensive shortcomings. I think Young would be great on the Rockets.

 

Thats how I see it. KD and Brooks would be coming off their contracts over the next 2-3 years

Need to figure out if we plan on keeping Jabari or Tari. Could package FVV & Tari for KD. That would help us avoid Tari extension and have KD and Brooks coming off the Books in time to pay Amen, Sengun, Jabari, Green...... and other supporting cast like Reed & Cam

 

Long term? No. Not unless a bunch of our young players flame out, in which case still no because they'd have to sign outside veterans to fill those holes. Short term, the Rockets can add a big salary to help win now.

This is why I never got the folks who are so patient about the rebuild. The NBA isn't like the MLB. In the NBA, players start to become expensive after year 4. Whereas in baseball you can keep them in the minors and then you get 6 years afterwards.

 

Makes a lot of sense. The Rockets window is open now and they cannot afford all the young core on their current trajectories - each of the young core is going to get paid like an NBA rotation player (15-20MM+ minimum).

This is why I am in favor of trading Dillon Brooks this off season or at the latest by the trade deadline next season. He is taking minutes from younger - and now better players (I think Jabari and Tari are both better) and blocking Cam's minutes. I want the Rockets to fill in their holes by bringing in good shooters - but not in an all in trade, but by nibbling around the corners. The only all-in trade I would make is for a top 5 player not named Giannis. Booker/Durant/Trae Young types I would bring in if the cost is reasonable - and players like VanVleet & Dillon need to go out in the trade, not a younger player.

 

There are a lot of ways they can do this, but mostly Stone just needs to make the correct decision. So far his job has been fairly simple. Tank and gather assets. But now if makes the wrong decision the Rockets can mess up their contention window.

 

He ate the table

 

No, they can't afford everyone, which is why many of us have been saying flip some players please.

DD

 

I think they can afford everyone at the moment. The problems will start to arise if they re-sign FVV and then have to pay Amen and Cam (if Cam merits keeping). I personally think they need to find a way to move off of Brooks and use that money, in part, to pay Bari and Tari. I think Smith, Eason and Thompson can hold down the forward minutes most nights especially if you replace Brooks with a rookie like Flemming playing 10 or 15 minutes.

 

Ask the Nets and Suns about how well things worked out with KD.

 

Basically, I think the Rockets have 2 years to shape the roster. I'm not for replacing FVV and Brooks in the rotation unless it is for a star, they just get flat-outplayed, or for a player will be a Rocket for a long time. I think Green is on thin ice. I wouldn't get rid of him out of spite, but he's the top choice as big matching salary.

Regarding trades, I'm looking for 1 offensive engine and 1 dead-eye shooter (preferably SF). If can't get the trades, look to try to keep as many of the young guys as one can and just bank on draft picks.

 

Consolidation

 

We are already a team with the 4th best record in the league and would be picking 27th. Our picks going forward will not provide help. So we either need to be trading players for future picks or consolidating some players for a true star. We could keep running it back with this team with minor tweaks, but hoping for improvement from this current crop does not look promising. Out of Jalen, Sengun, Jabari, Tari, Amen and Cam, only Amen appears to have shown real improvement over the course of his development. Consolidate while some of them still have positive value.

 

It will be interesting to see how the team handles Fred. The smart thing would be to use his money to pay Bari and Tari, especially since you've got Reed just sitting there. If Fred gets an extension paying him $25M per year or more, I bet you those guys get their agents on the phone.

 

If they get Steven Adams to re-sign for around $12M a year and negotiate a 4/$100M deal for Fred, they could offer Jabari a deal at $20M a year and Tari a deal at $15M a year and still be under the luxury tax in 26-27 by about $7M. That's not a bad roster, but it's not getting you to the promised land. It does have a lot of moveable contracts. For that reason, I would be for extending Fred now and seeing who shakes loose a little later rather than picking up his option and moving him for whoever is available this summer, as those players look like they will all be old.

 

Reed needs to be the given more mins to be effective. I probably trade Fvv to matches salary for better player, and also get back a relief pg.

 

Yea if you look at when Reed got starter mins he flourished. It's obvious they want to compete probably going to hurt his development, a long with other players, so it could be best to consolidate on star trade, why should they draft another lottery pick?

 

Crazy.....but I'm not denying it