Going on the 2nd Off Season since they did away with the Youth Movement and the Rockets still don't have a sense of direction! We have 6 players over the age of 30yrs old and 6 players under 25yrs old and if I asked anybody what is the Rocket's Identity.....No one knows! Free agency is all but dried up, so whats the plan? Which direction do they go now?
let’s be real, the youth movement was ass too Amen, Sengun, Jabari, Reed, and Tari: all mediocre or insanely flawed…the core of a 1st round exit that everybody wants to see in the playoffs Lakers face any other top 6 WC team and they would’ve been dealt with easily Jalen only lasted 4 years. Do you know how much of a fail it is that you had to give up on your #2 overall pick before his 2nd contract even kicked in?
It's the two timelines thing I suppose. The problem I have with it is that the current timeline makes no sense without a lead creator to pair with KD. They're not competing for a championship without that at least. So, I'd rather forego the current timeline and optimize around the best young player (Amen). Any pieces that don't fit and KD should be moved for future picks or better fitting pieces. Having a foot in both timelines is only going to be detrimental to the future one, which is the only real one.
I hope they'll trade a few of their old vets for young players and/or draft capital. Or maybe even trade some of the young ones. The current team is going nowhere and, on top of that, they're boring and frustrating to watch.
Honestly I think they are just remaing competive untill fred money, Durant leave. They have the 2027 draft, 2 good picks top 1-15 potential? They can also sign who ever they want if they keep there young core, say if Durant leaves or retires etc.. With lots of money to spend . Those 3 picks will get them back to being young, and they might have some better pieces down the road. Still a team you can buiild around im sure they can get Amen on a decent contract next. Still have lot of wiggle room in the future. They are just trying to compete, and riding alot on these vets being healthy when it counts in the playoffs.
This is like the worst flip flopping since renowned Clutchfans..... I prophesied this, they were using FVV and DBrooks as crutches. One of the youngsters has to lead the team to a Playoff Victory, preferably 2, there is no other way.
More than anything, I think the Rockets need a sense of direction, defined an identity that they want to take moving forward. If its defense first, then ALL players must be able to play defense first and foremost. If its 3pt shooting, then ALL players must be able to shoot, similar to what Charolette and San Antonio is doing. But the constant mixing and matching doesn't give them an identity moving forward. Some players old, some players young, some can shoot, some can't. Its about roster design and whomever is putting this roster together doesn't seem to have a clue
It's a fail, but it's really not as big of a fail as you're trying to make it sound... It's incredibly common for at least one, if not both, of the top two picks from any given draft to be flops. Just look at the top five picks from all the NBA drafts and you'll see. Just look at the last ten drafts if you want. Does anyone remember Marvin Bagley III? He was picked #2 right before Luka... Ayton was picked first. No matter how good your scouting is, you're going to make big mistakes in the draft. It's such an inexact science, and anyone who tells you otherwise is full of sh**.
We can still right the ship by bringing Severo Y Grupo Fuego for the half time show on Hispanic heritage night....
I believe they can extend him this offseason. If they don’t, he will still have a large cap hold and be a Restricted free agent next summer. If Durant opts out next summer, they will have around $100M in salary invested in the team. But between Amen’s cap hold and two mid-1st draft picks, they will probably have around $150M locked up when free agency begins. We might have enough to sign a Hartenstein or Coby White level player.
Because Alpi, Jabari, Tari, and soon Amen will all be on big extensions already will put as right on the cap and we won't be able to sign a max free agent even if KD and Fred just straight up fall off the books. The prime time for tea. Building is when most of your players are on rookie contracts.
