Happens man, you don't realize how a bad start can affect a whole season as well. It can mess up with standings and the Number 1 seed.
$32,000,000. Someone explain to me how the Rockets come up with that much matching salary without giving up Amen, Sengun, Durant, Jabari, or Adams. Fred isn't accepting a trade costing him his bird rights. That $25m is dead money.
I don't know about that man. If you rank the top 10 and bottom 10 there's still insanely erratic results. I know since that new app has come out it's very commonplace to say "in 4 out of 5 advanced stats, xyz" because of that silly app but this doesn't work for defense no matter how many of the calculations agree unfortunately. Defensive stuff is just archaic compared to offensive. On offense we have things we're 99% certain about, there's absolutely nothing like that. It's also obviously just the nature of it, defense is far more dependent on the other 4 people on the floor with you than offense. On the Donovan thing, I think do a little more digging because I don't think you're familiar. He already called him out as a poor defender the previous season - and it was discussed a couple of times in between as well. So that was noteworthy across the Bulls community. Very much how we were shocked Jalen went from being a terrible defender to a passable one, he's done the exact same journey. It's fun to research about, worth it.
I think you're being very cynical on Fred thing. If they convinced him to do his rehab in Miami tomorrow, no one would be surprised and we'd have a good laugh about it. What on earth does he need bird rights for? He's never making more than the MLE again with or without bird rights. That's an old, short player who's stats declined suspiciously last season exactly when old players decline fast. I think he will prefer to start somewhere than come off the bench here. That guy is not going to be good enough to start on the kind of team we're going to have next season, the bar is just going to be too high. Question: why can't we trade Adams before the deadline?
If FVV wants to go to a place, he could accept his option which I think would cause his Bird rights to convey, but I appreciate that you are placing value on Bird rights. For him to want to go to a place, I expect they would likely need to be projected to be good next year. I just don't know if any team would be willing to give up someone Rockets would want if they are going to be good next season.
Just to summarize based on all the poster suggestions, I will rank potential PGs trade candidates in Tiers. Note: I am not putting in anyone who are clearly not for sale. A Tier: Jrue Holiday- Yes he is old but he fits Kevin Durant timeline. He has two championships and has already helped Portland transform to a playoff team. He is a table setter which is exactly what we need. Portland can trade him at deadline because Scoot will be back and Damian next year. DeAron Fox-Perfect speed and pace for Rockets young players and solid on defense. Spurs has glut at the combo guards, Harper and Castle but need a Tari Eason type of player. B Tier: Ayo Donsumu- always solid defensively and has improved offensively last two years. More of a Combo guard with good court vision. C Tier: Jose Alvarado and Craig Porter. These guys are cheap, productive and can be traded without FVV in the deal. D Tier: CJ McCollum, Trae Young Expensive, ball dominant and liability on defense. No thank you, we have Reed for 1/4th the price. F Tier: Ja Morant Max contract, always unavailable for some reason, loves guns more than basketball. Has never went deep in the playoffs despite strong surrounding cast but carries himself like some kind of basketball god. I would rather just stay with Josh Okogie than bring in this cancer.
The Rockets head coach likes Quentin Grimes. Thinks he is tough and a winner. He isn’t a real point guard but does a lot of things well. Houston is also one of only a few teams Grimes wouldn’t veto a trade to.
Who would we need to give up to get him? And is it true that we would basically have no chance to resign him next year?
From my understanding, both teams are currently hard-capped...we couldn't do anything until December when our recently signed free agents becomes trade eligible. Grimes is making $8.7M...probably would have to give up Tari/salary filler to make it work. Tari will become a restricted free agent next summer so I dont see Morey making that type of trade...he'll probably be seeking some type of draft compensation for Grimes.
The problem with Grimes is he would be a rental. He would cost too much in assets for a 1/2 year rental. We couldn’t pay him what he is worth, because of the rules that limit how much of an increase you can give a player in Grimes’ situation. We would have to give up way too much for Jrue. If we are trading for a rental it should be just for the backup guard role or someone a little bit better than Okogie as Reed insurance. We only need depth, we already have a big 3 and some great picks to replenish the bench in 27 when we will have some hard contract decisions to make. If Reed plays anything like last night, we have two 6th man of the year candidates between him and Tari, so no need to make a big splash just get a reasonable money guy like Conley or Alvarado in case Reed or Okogie get hurt.
The way things are going we might get two top 10 picks in 2027 drafts which is great time to restock on our talent pool for post KD. With new CBA draft classes are becoming very important and talent you can get from it is much more important than over priced veterans. I rather see Amen and Reed figuring it out and keep our assets. KD is going no where and he’ll be still spot up shooter for us in 39yrs old and at that time hopefully Sengun and Amen are top 20 players in the league while Reed becoming scoring threat.
I really like QG and would give up a lot to get him IF we were certain we could keep him. But I really don't see how that's possible. If Grimes waives his no trade clause to come here, he'd be forfeiting his bird rights. With his non-bird rights, we'd only be able to offer him like 10m a year, and he'd be a FA - I guarantee another team will throw a lot of money at him. I'm not giving up anything of value for a rental. Maybe I'm missing something?
The Clippers are 3-6 and James Harden is on an expiring contract ($39M - player option next year) - bring Harden home Stone!!
On his pod last week Bill Simmons floated Fred, Tari, and the Suns 2027 pick for Derrick White. That was immediately shot down by his guest, Joe House, and rightfully so. But maybe Fred, Tari, and our pick in 2028? Still seems like a lot, but consider that Tari is going to want a big contract and we have a lot of depth at his position, especially since the double-big isn't going away anytime soon. PG: White / Shepherd / Holiday SG: Thompson / Okogie / Tate SF: Durant / Green PF: Smith, Jr. / Finney-Smith C: Sengun / Adams / Capela You can even get Fred back next year by offering him the full MLE instead of bringing Okogie back.
I really liked how Scottie Pippen Jr. performed in last year's playoffs...wonder if Memphis would make him available.
Derrick White and Holiday are the only suggestion that feel like real "upgrades", and I don't think either team would be looking to trade them, Portland is looking for leadership to get their young guys into winning ways, and Boston hopes to win another title next season and White is extremely valuable in a supporting role. I imagine Holiday can be had, but Portland will want an overpay. No f**king way am I taking on Fox's contract. If the season really goes south on the Clippers, there could be a very interesting discussion possible.
Jose Alvarado could be had for probably cheap. Would love a TJ McConnell. Sadly I think we end up with a Dennis Schröder.
