I don’t completely disagree with you, but I think that they figured out what they had in Whitmore. And the best case that there is a maturation a few years down the road. I don’t think they want to sit around and wait for a Kevin Porter Junior like maturation and even then it doesn’t necessarily mean the player is fully on the road to righteousness. I definitely would’ve preferred That they got a first round pick for him though. I do think they sold a little bit low, but for all we know the league had a little bit of insight into him by then. Durant And the subsequent maturation of our core definitely opens a window. For the most part, I have been fine with the moves. We can’t always be so liberal in applying hindsight on the board.
No you keep rebuilding until you get a superstar the Rockets bought one who is way too old. Its gonna hurt the team in the long run no matter what pretty shooting percentages KD has. Listen if they got booker or KD was 30 years old I would say great trade but what they did is essentially hit a button that means we have to rebuild on the fly when KD leaves in a year or two and we'll have nothing to show for it. Our guys are too young to compete and KD is too old to be here when they hit their primes. In the meantime instead of starting Reed every game and developing him we have to do this win now thing because we arent developing players because we have unreal expectations because KD is here.
What younger players? Jalen and Cam, right? If you like them, you'd be mad they got rid of them. We still have five young players on the roster. That's still a lot of young guys to develop. Every one of them needs minutes. We knew we would need to consolidate sooner or later and mix in some vets that would fit.
I can see his point, though I don't necessarily agree with it. These young cats we have just aren't ready quite yet and I think Reed would get more time if we weren't in a situation where development takes a back seat to winning. Without KD, the expectations are lowered .... and maybe they are able to parlay Jalen & Brooks into a younger star with a wider window. I kinda look at it as trial by fire for the young guys with KD showing them the way .... There's no better teacher than experience. When KD is gone, that cap space is opened up for a new acquisition. I really don't believe the Rockets window is now, this year or next .... it's really beyond that when these young players are in their prime - and hopefully OKC has had to make some tough decisions salary wise & that clown Wemby is on a supermax killing the Spurs cap. They do have a punchers chance in the short term, but their window is still in the distance.
I think the window discussion is the only hindsight worth considering. The Rockets FO and most fans thought we were ready and, thus, Durant happened. The Durant move was pre-mature. He was really the only difference maker available so the FO made a move. It was a solid move that didn’t totally destroy our future for a win now pivot. Now the decision is do we spend some of our draft capital for another moderate win now move or stand pat. I think the FO stands pat or gets Alvarado for a pick. I’m sure Ime has long coveted him for his dawg personality. He is pretty much a younger Pat Beverly with a little better shot. Career backup with another year left on his contract. Is he worth one of the better FRP’s?
Rockets. 2-6 against the western conference top 4. 11 losses to lottery teams. OKC 3-3 against the west top 4 3 losses against Lottery teams SAS 5-2 against west top 4 3 losses to lottery teams Denver 2-2 against the west top 4 8 losses against lottery teams You gotta get out of the West to get to the Finals.
This years lottery teams are no push over. Honestly even the worst teams can put up a fight if they front office are giving them okay, most of lottery teams are only tanking against other tanking teams and go all out on contenders to get some experience.
We badly need a point guard and a better Center off the bench. We need to get rid of DFS. I feel like the Lakers are laughing their ass off that we signed DFS who is a lemon at this point. I feel like this trade deadline would make or break what happens to the team heading to the playoffs. If we are still going with the gameplan of hoping KD can score in the 4th towards victory, teams will just keep using the same strategy of doubling him since no one else can make shots anyways.
What the hell is Stone waiting for to make a change on this team? If he bet on Durant, he can't just stand there paralyzed by fear when it's obvious this team needs a few more pieces to compete in the West.
Well, this is actually a smart move to wait until the deadline. Given the current environment with the Giannis saga unfolding, we could potentially jump in as a trade partner if that becomes like a 5 team trade and get something out of it even if we're not gunning for Giannis. Now, if he stands pat then we have a major problem
Full strength teams in the West vs Rockets- without Adams - are simply better because their top end talent is simply better and more dynamic. KD is amazing at KD things, teams take it , everyone else can be countered, the double big cheat code is gone Honestly maybe start playing KD less - going nowhere this year Maybe take a look at some INKNOWN COMMODITIES
Yea no, look at Detroit, Okc, Spurs (outta young teams). The first two might actually meet in the finals. Detroit is younger than us. The Rockets are not that level
