2026-2028 Houston Rockets - The Slim Reaper Vanity Tour

I think he's performed very well this season and probably exceeded my own expectations. All that being said, I think we should have recouped some assets at the deadline and we definitely need to move on from him this summer.

Unless some news comes out otherwise, I really believe that Stone's plan was to acquire Booker and not KD. Props to Phoenix not folding completely as they could have done a full rebuild sending out Booker and KD to different locations. They now look in a decent shape after being in a truly low spot last season. I believe Udoka was a strong influence in then acquiring KD to "make a run" this season when it was clear Phoenix was not going to cave into the pressure.

KD doesn't fit our timeline now and it's a shame that Fred then Adams went down but you gotta know when to fold the cards. We still have a vastly young roster and with the right moves we can setup a new window maybe in 2-3 years.

Stone has a really tough choice to make, he can tie his wagon to Udoka (which seems what he's done) or he can pivot. Udoka can either get on board or take his beautiful severance package to Cancun.

 

It feels like Udoka is the new Doc Rivers - a guy who probably comes off as a player friendly coach with the biggest stars, but development under him is stifled and he tends to lean too much on aging players as a strategy to success.

When we talk about timelines and player acquisition strategy we are really talking about direction - at first I thought this was about putting strong vet leadership around the young guys and giving them reps but somewhere in the last couple of years, we are expecting more of our vets rather than our young guys and I think that speaks to a shift in both timeline and what that acquisition means.

I think KD has done really well as a better version of Jalen Green to keep our offense afloat....but it feels like as the season has wore on, we are increasingly using KD as a crutch rather than a bridge to get new players reps both facilitating and handling the ball in late game situations which is manifesting as us being very one dimensional. The last two years have felt like a bit of a waste developmentally telling me our GM pivoted to "win now" strategy too soon and with the wrong types of players. I like KD as an offensive weapon, I don't like KD as the emotional leader of our team and lynchpin of 90% of what we do on offense(so we can't take him out even when he isn't playing defense). KD is one of the greatest scorers to ever play the game, but his record as a leader of men is far more spotty and if our coach isn't able to check KD, then we have made the exact same mistake Phoenix did in acquiring him.

In short we are only as strong as we can be honest about our weaknesses and if KD is so legendary he is beyond reproach, then he will NEVER lead a team to the promised land. That's why someone else needs to step up and Ime needs to find new voices in that locker room and elevate those voices even above his own and that of Mr Durant.

 

KD should’ve been a luxury piece, but our young core hasn’t stepped up so he’s stuck here being one of the league leaders in minutes and having to save this offense from countless droughts and cold spells

KD won’t be here much longer, and the organization should already be thinking about who they’ll be bringing in to be #1 option once he’s gone

 

Actually...
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Total Turnovers

1. LeBron James^ 5,582
2. Russell Westbrook^ 5,006
3. Karl Malone* 4,524
4. James Harden^ 4,433
5. Moses Malone* 4,264
6. John Stockton* 4,244
7. Kobe Bryant* 4,010
8. Jason Kidd* 4,003
9. Julius Erving* 3,940
10. Artis Gilmore* 3,926

 

I have always wanted to root for him but never could. This year has been a treat. He is still very good.

 

So he is withholding from marriage or coming out until he gets his 3rd ring?

 

The issue with that line of thinking is that it doesn't take into account the circumstances.

KD, & Sengun are all being asked to do things that they shouldn't be doing on a regular basis.

Ime is asking them to initiate the offense and putting them in bad situations.

KD shouldn't be catching the ball beyond the 3 point line looking to create offense, IF he catches the ball outside of the 3 point line, it should be to take an open shot.
He should get his touches in his spots, mid post / wing where he's maybe the best ever at it.

The issues with KD are amplified because defenses have realized they don't have to cover that guy so they immediately double / blitz KD or Sengun.

KD should be your play finisher, not your play starter.


Sengun shouldn't be catching the damn ball outside the 3 point line either, he should be getting entry passes in the post be it low, mid or high where he can do his thing.


It comes down to the fact that Amen can do it, and Ime won't commit to Reed doing it, so someone has to do it.

Not having anyone on the entire roster with the point guard skillset forces others into roles they aren't suited for.

Honestly, I think KD has outplayed my expectations so far .... I think we have to look to next year when the team has an actual point guard, to see KD and Sengun in roles they are better suited for. It would have been nice to get one at the deadline but apparently the cost was too high.

If anything right now, we should be pissed off at Ime for not committing to Reed as the point guard and developing him for the future.

 

KD iso is slightly below average for half court offenses.
KD PnR is well above average for half court offenses.

This is with Rockets playing lots of non-shooters clogging up the lane. I don't think the Rockets should go heliocentric with KD, but mixed in such that the defense can't gear up to stop the Iso is fine.