Amen's situation is not unlike Haliburton's. Both players naturally set their teammates in motion, seeing the floor and probing for scoring opportunities. But both Haliburton and Amen are at their best when they are scoring. They are both a little too unselfish. It's better when they take over the game. Amen's just not quite confident in all the moves he wants to make. It is a little scary that his body is still maturing.
I have posted this trade several times but wanted to flesh it out a bit finally. Houston out: Jalen Green, Jock Landale and pick #10 Houston in: Cam Johnson, Kevin Huerter, and pick #12 Chicago out: Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins and pick #12 Chicago in: Jalen Green, Jock Landale and pick #19 Brooklyn out: Cam Johnson and pick #19 Brooklyn in: Zach Collins and pick #10 FVV/Reed Huerter/Whitmore/Coward Amen/Brooks Smith/Eason/Johnson Sengun/Adams FVV, Huerter, Brooks, Johnson and Adams are all guys who can be crutches for our young guys for the next season (Huerter) or 2 (the rest). Spacing issues should be fixed with 2 additional 40% 3 pt shooters (Johnson and Huerter) that can surround Amen and Sengun. As for identity, this team can play fast Reed/Whitmore/Amen/Eason/Smith or slug it out FVV/Huerter/Brooks/Sengun/Adams. The hope is that Reed, Whitmore (or Coward who I believe more and more in as a potentially elite 3 and D wing), Eason and Smith continue to mature and earn promotions over FVV, Huerter, Brooks, and Johnson over the course of the season. Then the Rockets flip those vets to stockpile more picks down the line.
I like this quite a bit except for the keeping of FVV, Amen needs to be in the starting backcourt and you be able to play another shooter at SF (Jabari, Dillon, or Johnson).
I agree that is where Amen ends up ultimately* but I do not see Ime going that direction next season. We might get stretches in games where Amen is running point but I think for the most part he's going to be at the 3 for at least another season. *: I think Amen ends up being Russell Westbrook 2.0. I think he'll be a bigger Russ with a better bball IQ.
I think you are right as long as FVV is back. I don’t agree with the approach, but I get it and why people are advocating for it. When you identify a superstar you don’t wait for the sake of winning a few more games. You should be all in on said superstar so that he reaches his potential as soon as possible. As has been said so many times in this forum, teams don’t win championships without superstars, so why kick his development down the road unless you are satisfied with just making the playoffs. We finally got our superstar, now build around him.
FVV serves a purpose in A men's development but he shouldn't be getting 30+ high usage minutes. I'm hoping that Reed gets about 20 minutes a night with Amen running as the de facto pg during those minutes.
Fred only serves the purpose of keeping Amen at the dunker’s spot. Amen obviously has tremendous bbiq. I don’t think I’ve ever seen FVV talking to him. It is always Ime. Amen actually can school FVV on defense. FVV has been an asset to help set a culture, his time should be up on this team and frankly should not be a starting pg for any contending team in the league. Please list the starting pg’s in the league that are worse than FVV. I’ll bet you can’t find 10, maybe not 5. Let’s put it another way. Not taking salary or availability how many of these guys would you not trade FVV for straight up. Boston Holiday Ny Brunson Orlando Suggs Miami Mitchell Atlanta Trey New Jersey Cam Thomas Philadelphia Maxey Indy Haliburton Detroit Cade Washington Carrington Charlotte Lamelo Ball Chicago Josh Giddey Toronto Quickley Cleveland Mitchell Minnesota Conley Denver Murray Oklahoma SGA Portland Simones/Scoot Utah Collier Sacramento Keon Ellis San Antonio Fox Los Angeles Doncic Clippers Harden Phoenix Booker Memphis Morant Bucks Lilliard Dallas Irving New Orleans Alvarado The point is why not take a chance on Amen or Reed over FVV given that almost every team in the league has a better pg. How on earth are we going to compete for a championship with one of the worst at such an important position?
Presuming KD goes some place else (SA? NYK?) (1) Rox opt-in to FVV's option (b/c FVV wants more than $25M AAV) Trade between HOU - BRK - LAC - BOS BRK: FVV (HOU) + Bogdanovic (LAC) + #10 (via HOU) + BOS 2026 FRP (lottery protected) BRK renounce Russell + Z. Williams + Melton FVV's expiring contract could be coupled with others later in the season for a star player (Giannis?) Gain a 2nd lottery pick in exchange for giving up #19 & Cam Johnson (plus taking on FVV's contract) BOS: Batum (LAC) + Eubanks (LAC) + #30 (via LAC) + 3 SRPs (via HOU) (2026, 2027 2030) Celtics get below aprons & pick up a late FRP (for Jrue) + 3 SRPs (for Hauser). Have to give up lottery protected FRP to avoid aprons. LAC: Jrue Holiday (BOS) Clips one of the few teams clamoring for Jrue to help them compete. Beard focuses on offense & Jrue focuses on defense. Give up late FRP for Jrue's services. HOU: Cam Johnson (BRK) + Hauser (BOS) + #19 Cam & Hauser bring 3&D energy to HOU - especially those outside shots. Renounces Tate to stay under aprons. Signs G Ty Jerome (CLE) to 3 year, $75M contract Re-sign C Steven Adams to 2 year, $28M contract (PO on Year 2) pick #19 traded for future FRP Amen - R33D - A. Holiday Thrilla - Jerome - Nate Brooks - Hauser - Cam W Cam J - Bari - Tari Alpi - Adams - Landale That's a deep team that is under the aprons. It has multiple contracts & picks to move in a trade. All at the cost of moving down 9 spots & 3 SRPs. I envision a 2nd deal: HOU - CLE - BRK BRK: rights to 2027 BRK FRP (via HOU) + Brooks (HOU) + Okoro (CLE) + 2 SRPs (via CLE) (2026, 2028) + Nate Williams (HOU) Nets get command of their own 2027 pick for 1 future FRP + taking on Brooks contract (into TPE) + Williams (into TPE). Nets get 2026 + 2028 SRPs from CLE for taking on Okoro's contract into NT-MLE. CLE: Cam Whitmore (HOU) + Dariq Whitehead (BRK) + #19 (via HOU via BRK) + Landale (HOU) + 2028 HOU FRP (lotter protected) Browns get under aprons and can get even lower by shedding Landale's K. Whitmore and Whitehead (sounds like a law firm) provide young energetic scoring boosts who still under team control for 2 more years. Cavs can use #19 to replace Garland (Jase Richardson? Walter Clayton?) With added cap room, can re-sign Ty Jerome + Sam Merrill. I asked CoPilot / AI about a trade for Garland & it said 1 mid-to-late FRP (check) + up & coming player (Cam. Dariq) + future FRP (check) would be FMV HOU: Garland (CLE) + #27 (via BRK) + 2027 PHI FRP (top 8 protected) Rox get scoring & playmaking PG who better fits the team "timeline". Future draft capital doesn't hurt in exchange for giving BRK back control over their own pick. Can use #27 for depth player. Sign several vets to minimum deals Garland - R33D - Holiday Thrilla - Hauser - Malcolm Brogdon (VM) Amen - Tari - Trey Lyles (VM) Cam J - Bari - Uncle Jeff Alpi - Adams- Bassey (VM)
A bigger Russ with better IQ (and All-NBA level defense) is a terrifying player TBH. And you might be right.
@MikeAScotto Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland had surgery today to repair his great toe injury. His status will be updated in approximately 4-5 months. Garland is expected to make a full recovery and resume basketball activities by the start of training camp, team says. Damaged goods. Time to buy low, Stone!
Garland makes a ton of sense as a target - an alpha scorer that fits your timeline. In addition, he has somewhat depressed value (poor playoffs, recovering from injury) and is on a team with upcoming salary issues. But Cleveland is looking to compete now, so they will want pieces that can immediately contribute. The deal - CLE gets FVV, Cam, #10, Nets pick HOU gets Garland and Okoro Cleveland gets off of the Okoro deal, future assets in the picks and Cam, and a steady vet in FVV that can play off of Mitchell Houston gets their alpha scorer and someone who can set the table for their finishers for many many years Houston Lineup: Garland/Reed Green/Okoro Amen/Brooks Jabari/Tari Sengun/Adams With enough in the chamber - Green, Brooks, Landale, Holiday, Tari/Jabari, PHX picks - to go after another impact player on a large contract (KD??)
I would j*zz myself. It is a good trade for both teams if we take the team option and make FVV an expiring contract. I’d try to substitute that Net’s pick, which is destined for high lottery even more so than the Phoenix picks.
I like the thought, but I think Cleveland is desperately trying to get below the aprons. So it almost seems like you have to reroute FVV & find Cavs another PG. That being said, I would be in favor of this move - provided we get some more answers about Garland's injury ASAP. RN it looks like Garland would miss 2 months-ish at the beginning of the season.
