Fred was awful last year, and now he’s a short fat PG in his thirties coming off an injury that required him to miss a whole year look how washed DFS is looking, and he didn’t miss nearly as much time IB4 Fred comes back and gives us 12, 4, and 6 on 36/34/82 splits playing 36 mpg
Good lord, this board … there is nothing to ‘thank’ Stone or Ime for. It is a collectively bargained clause that a player cannot be traded in a way where he loses his bird rights. Anyone in that situation (including Fred) has an implied no trade clause. The Rockets didn’t grant anything special to FVV.
There is certainly alot of revisionist history on FVV's impact. Alot of it is wrong (that he was this great facilitator), but that doesn't mean that he isn't missed but for different reasons. I think the big issue really is the volume of 3's the Rockets are able to get off vs the rest of the NBA, and that leads to them never being able to really break through large leads which means closer games. More reliance on 2 point shots around the rim and difficult KD long 2's. FVV was never an amazing 3 point shooter, but he needed to be guarded where Amen does not. Amen with FVV on the court, is the in dunker spot. But the real thing they miss is Dillon Brooks. Mostly on defense where I think he was the heart and soul of that team, and quarterbacked the defense. I think he was really critical to that grit. However don't sleep on his impact to not be a liability from 3, and keep the other team from being able to suck in the paint like they do now to lay off of Amen, and Sengun from outside when they both play together, and just stay on top of Reed the little that he plays. Don't get me wrong... I'll be excited to have him back next year along with Adams, and hopefully a healthier DFS. However the piece here I really think we miss is Dillon Brooks. Oh and as much as we don't want to admit it.... Jalen Green did need to be guarded from 3 as well, and when he was on the Rockets BLEW OUT teams where now with Amen without a 3 point shot, when he's able to attack the basket like Jalen was at times, he doesn't have the counter of a 3 point shot to really extend out an lead like you could when Jalen was going off (every 1 out of 3 games mind you but still.... ).
they are certainly focal points... and typically dominate the game... but I dont believe any ever said "I'm not a system player, I am a system," I also watched Harden cry about not having enough support here - and then he'd run off anybody that was brought in to try to lighten his load... (D12, CP3,...) When the dude had a play called for somebody else, he would wander off to half court... The dude had so many turnovers bc he had no interest in a hockey assist - it had to show up on his stat line... Did folks not pay attention to his narcissism when he was here - or were they just blinded by the stats...?
if Cleveland trades for Harden theres literally 0 chance they get Lebron in the off-season. Really dumb move for them.
All that being said, I am still okay with the KD trade. However I don't think the KD trade can fully be paid off until next season when (hopefully) the deficiencies with this current roster are improved upon. Also if they would not have made the KD trade in theory - FVV would still be out, Jalen would have missed time with injury, Adams would still be out for the season, Capela likely wouldn't have been signed, and Cam Whitmore (if kept) would still have had the blood clot. Trading what Dillon brought plus getting a prospect like Maluach would have been nice additions, but I think what KD brings now in the short term vs Dillon/Maluach is a net positive IMO.
Garland for Harden is a backwards move. Makes them worse, maybe ppg better, but overall he wont deliver what they need defensively. Its obvious there slowy going to dismantle that team cavs (clippers too), looking for smaller contracts where they can get out of the Likes Harden 1+1 deals. Its obvious they need a little taste of the sourness he brings to org.
Look at that defense! Look at the lack of turnovers and controlling the pace! (Easier to defend when you walk everything up - same with controlling pace....... turnovers are easier too when you are not passing but just jacking up shots....... rebounds will go way up too when you have no spacing and are missing 65-70% of your 3's.) I am sure it will bring a tear to the eye of JVG .... hell, even Thibs figured out you need someone to score.
Both of you are right. We are going to end up with the same number of wins or more than last year, but have the same outcome unless we make a trade. We will waste another year as well when FVV comes back and Ime inserts him back into his 35min role as last year. Blaming this putrid offense on not having a PG is misdirected. We need to pick one of Sengun or Amen and put 4 great shooters around them moving forward or Sengun or Amen have to get a 3 pt shot. Durant has been great, but it can also be true that he is not a good fit for this team. It is too hard to guard the 3 point line in today’s game and 3 pts is more than 2.
My guess is that any moves in LAC are related to the soon-to-be dropped hammer on the Kawhi-Aspiration scandal. From the evidence I've seen they're guilty as hell and will get SLAMMED and garland gives them *something* to pivot to.
OK, so hear me out. All we need is for Harden to hit the clubs and promise FVV that if he accepts a trade he'll have lapdances for life in Houston, and a wink/handshake with Ime/Stone that if the Clips can buy him out or waive him will get Fred right back to come give Ime cuddles between games as usual. Win win, and we get a real PG back and win loads of titles and Roosh can go suck his mum.
