Durant is still such a smooth and offensive juggernaut on the court The NBA is a copy cat league. I think the one era that is over, is the era of players playing GM and requesting trades to go play with their buddies. But the star players are still going to command a lot of money, and have a lot of clout. Look at what Jimmy Butler did for the Warriors, they managed to beat the Rockets, a Rockets team that was more complete. If not for Steph Curry getting hurt in the very next round, there is no telling how far they would have advanced. There is value in Durant, but he’s not the best defender out there. Hence I personally do not want him on any sort of overpay. But I could easily see myself rooting for him if he was traded to Houston. I remember when Clyde Drexler was still with the Blazers, and all the rumors that he was going to be traded. I didn’t want Drexler, as I thought he was on the verge of over the hill. At the time Portland was no longer a force, solid and tough team; but years removed from title contenders. But whoa Nelly was I wrong, Drexler still had a lot left in the tank. If not for dufus Barkley, Drexler would not have retired so soon. Drexler hated that Barkley half-A$$ed in practice and for the Rockets. Even Jordan realized Barkley was all talk and not so serious about winning. I know Duran is still amazing. I just dread the cost in assets; because he is going to be due a lot of money on top of that. If the Rockets acquire him I would be happy, if they don’t, not a big deal.
They actually played the same amount of games this season, but yes the previous season Eason only played 22 games. Easons impact on defense is pretty extreme and unique, Jabari has a nice build in theory but has yet to be very impactful. Gun to my head I ago with Eason at this moment, but really I’m fine with keeping and paying both if the money is reasonable for what they provide.
What leverage do we have? Yes we have their picks but that’s in 2027 and 2029. A lot can change in 2-4 years. The longer you wait to trade those picks, they lose value. Any team with Devin Booker can be legitimate and they can sign free agents if someone wants to be in PHX. It’s why I wanted to keep the Nets picks. They’re so far behind from even contending for a playoff spot.
Why even worry or make a desperate move for a declining 37 year old star when there will be much younger stars available in coming years, or our own homegrown? I wouldn't even stress, just grow our #2 see of youth core and look for better opportunities in the future.
i wouldnt give em what was paid for Bane... not even close... gross overpay imo... but i dont think their picks r that much leverage... i mean having your own picks affords the opportunity to tank... but thatd only be if they decided to totally blow it up and trade Booker... If not for the allure of tanking and playing the lottery... i think teams can most often hover around .500 by aggressively playing the free agent market...
I don't know that I could even offer that - because for all his flaws, the Rockets were way worse without Fred last season. And I hope Reed or Amen emerge as a real option at the point guard position, but they haven't demonstrated the ability to do it yet, and so I'm not really ready to bank on it. And, in general, I don't like the idea of trading one of the toughest guys in the league for one of the softest guys in the league. Fred goes places and wins with about 1/1,000,000th the talent and gifts that Durant has, while Durant goes places and implodes them.
Ishbia strikes me as one of those annoying dudes that made money doing one thing, and therefore believes he's brilliant at all things. Those personality types are incredibly difficult to deal with because once they commit to a philosophy or train of thought, they are unwilling to pivot or adapt from that until things become untenable. I can see him holding demanding far too much for KD for too long, and holding onto Booker for 2-3 years past what he should have simply because he's hellbent on building a super team around him. I don't think Booker will ever become available for as long as it matters to the Rockets.
The Rockets org didn't spend the last 5+ seasons building their team from scratch only to throw it away for a one to two year window. Durant will not win us a ring in that time span and we'd be bottom feeders once again (or worse, #12 pick in the draft every year)
What if? The Suns are trying to get all of their picks back and players from us for KD and then change their mind and trade Booker for another haul of picks from someone else. The Booker helping pick the coach was cute, but if I'm running a franchise I have to be rational and a bit ruthless. Moves like this would set them up to tank and make moves with more cap space in the next few years. Just a thought and another reason, I wouldn't give them more than one pick and likely it would be 2027.
Or maybe it is because they already have 2 high priced SGs. Jalen has a $33 million salary slot after July 1st that makes matching salaries a lot easier. Otherwise, the Rockets are looking at having to include Reed and/or Jabari in a package, two players I would rather we keep.
FVV is signing a 2-3 year deal. It has little impact on what happens after those years, but gives the Rockets a chance if they make a trade or young guys take a big step during those 2-3 years. Not signing FVV basically gives up on the next 2 years with very little reason to give up other than protecting Tilman's wallet (unless one is overly fond of Landale). If Reed takes a big step forward, he becomes the starter, and FVV becomes the backup. I would really want FVV on this team if Reed makes that big a jump.
Saying that you don't want Jalen on your team because you already have Bradley Beal is low key even more disrespectful. The Suns seem resigned to the fact that they'll have to accept Jalen in trade and that's why they are talking to teams looking for one of them to dump him on.
Even if we get KD cheap, I'm not fist-pumping... I'll be nail-biting the entire time he's here, waiting for the injury shoe to drop and us being stuck with a mammoth contract. Hopefully we pass and something better/less risky becomes available at the trade deadline, and hopefully by then it will be obvious to PHX that what they got for KD isn't going to help them get to the playoffs.
