I'm with you. I would rather see what we could get trading KD while he still has value before we trade someone like Sengun or Amen. But the Rockets are not trading KD. They have him for 3 seasons, so now they're in the position of having to explore every option to give KD help to make a championship run.
I disagree with this. KD is signed to a very reasonable cap number ($43M), is healthy as can be (knock on wood), and is trade eligible the day after our season ends. If there’s one all-time great player you can trade, it’s KD. He’s been passed around more than any of them. And if the Rockets end this year knowing this group does not work, trading the 38yo is the obvious next step. You don’t build a new group around a 38yo lol. I think some fans are too attached to KD, just bc he’s said some nice things about Houston. Guess what, he said nice things about OKC, the Bay, Brooklyn, and Phoenix… and it ended poorly all those places. It’s probably gonna end poorly here too. He’s a journeyman for a reason.
I don’t think coach contracts have options in them normally. So it’s guaranteed. It doesn’t make sense to fire Ime this year and doubtful Tito would even eat that contract next year. I wish we could just unload Durant for a younger player and a vet that is expiring, but that’s not practical. Durant made such a big deal of coming here, the franchise would have to be willing to take a huge reputational hit with players and agents and I don’t see that happening. It’s sad, but I think we would have to include our draft picks to get rid of him. I think our best bet is to go ahead and trade Reed and Tari for a defensive minded vet for the rest of Durant’s tenure and just take the hit to our championship aspirations for this year and next and then start fresh with a new coach and young players. By then, Amen and Sengun should be in their mid-twenties when superstars often blossom.
I don't think they'll trade KD because they'll say things could've been different with a healthy FVV. I think it's a stronger possibility they'll trade additional picks + players to bring in more vets for KD. If next year's roster fails again, then I think everyone's looking at possibly replacing Ime for Durant's 3rd and final contract yr.
I would hope they would unload FVV next year as an expiring and Durant as an expiring the year after. I can’t take this year and two more of Ime. Please Lord. I do think you are right about the probable direction. Sucks because the focus should really be on re-building the team around Sengun and Amen two years out. Who knows maybe Jabari will turn it around and be a third member of the core. Trying to build around a 37 year old is a mistake. It’s a shame, but you don’t correct mistakes by doubling down on them.
On the guarantees, think it varies, I do recall with the Pistons, Monty's was guaranteed. Think the Suns was also paying multiple HCs. Chauncy since fired for cause, that payment is likely voided. I recall one of the reports saying his upcoming paycheck was withheld (and put into some sort of escrow) after he got arrested.
I remember we used to get all the JVG players, old "tough guy" Knicks with very limited offensive skills.
It does seem he has taken this team as far as he is capable of. I really think the team is in need of a more sophisticated offensive approach.
This is 100% the same situation, Ime loves players that played like him back in the day, but a team of Ime's is a last place team. We need SKILL....SHOOTING FIRST players - and we need Bball IQ......which IME lacks. If you want to start winning we need to balance the team on the floor. Reed needs to start at PG and yep, he will give up some easy baskets at times - let him work through it, who cares? We need his shooting and playmaking more than his D. Amen need to slide to the SF spot KD needs to play SG Bari needs to play PF Sengun is obviously the center. We need to have PnR at the top between Reed and everyone else we need a roller if the play is not there to go screen for a guy in the corner to cut to the basket...we need body movement on and off the ball. KD can't be clogging up the top of the circle by standing there wanting to go 1v3 to score his middie...he needs to be just another option, and not THE option, guys need to touch the ball they need to feel involved.... NEVER NEVER have 3 non-shooters on the floor........If Reed sits, JD has to be in......we need at least 1 ball handler on the court at all times....a guard. This is just crazy easy to see - I can't believe Ime can't make these simple tweaks - it is shocking how dumb we look and how poorly coached. These players need to be resigned to BIT players or matchups only and out of the main rotation. Adams DFS Okogie They need to be situational - but not main pieces.... DD
This is coaching. Ime should be dictating who brings the ball up and initiates the offense. If it's his idea that Bari should be doing this that is a problem. Also, in recent games Bari has taken a technical free throw twice when Durant was in the game. That's also a coach's decision.
I really don't think they make a change this season but if they did I would like to see what Royal Ivey can do with this team. If he does well the remainder of the season retain him if not search for someone else in the off season.
No offense but Ivey didn't play much offense either....we need a coach that can outcoach the other team with Xs and Os....now maybe that is Ivey but maybe not. DD
Ime relied on a stacked team in a weak East to get to the finals. It's pretty clear the Stone did not construct a stacked team like the Celtics were. In the end, coaching matters a lot less than the talent and roster construction. Any terrible coach can get a team to the finals if it's stacked enough.
