Brooks is slumping. If he keeps on slumping then by the time Bari comes back it won't be a debate. Amen will just take the SF spot over Brooks and everyone is happy besides maybe Brooks but maybe he is at the stage of his career where he's okay with it?
With trade deadline coming up, Tate and Whitmore playing well, Tari potentially being back, I think JSJ has more to worry about than trying to take back a starting spot. Brooks has these same issues, but also has to worry about JSJ, too. I'd guess Brooks remains a starter this year though I'm not as sure on that as I have been most of this season. The slump doesn't affect that thought at all. I expect young guys to generally improve, but not all of them. It would not surprise me if the Rockets went after a better shooting forward at the deadline to pair with Amen.
Yeah. I think you can't unsee what we've seen with Amen/Green making us competitive even when Sengun is off. On Brooks, his stats just seem to die every time we play fast. I've never seen it with a 3&D player, they're usually very plug n play. I know he's horrible in transition but I can't figure out why his shooting slumps when we go fast. He doesn't have to speed up his motion, but I think he's trying to fight that habit maybe? In any case, who isn't wondering what happens if you replace Brooks with - say - OG Anunoby? Jesus we might be in OKC territory with that one.
Not I. Anunoby is well paid for his services. I'd rather look at Cam Johnson. Not as good a defender as Anunoby, but shot is better and contract is $100M less after this year. Cam would likely require more to get though even though I doubt the Knicks would trade Anunoby.
I would love Cam Johnson, but I'm not wild about giving up draft capital for him. I'm not even sure which of the young guys I would be okay with giving up because I like them all. Cam would be a really good fit on this team. Dillon would have to go with him, but who else.
Brooks should obviously go to the bench once Bari is back. Amen’s best position is SF with Smith next to him. You could always include some minutes with Bari at the 5 and Brooks and Amen together. Plenty of minutes to go around but Brooks needs his reduced when Bari returns.
The Rockets still have a Brooklyn pick. I think the value of that pick to Brooklyn would allow the Rockets to get back a pick or a swap back. I think the young player is the more dicey part. I think it would have to be one of JSJ, Tari, Cam Whitmore, and Reed. I doubt Tari's injuries will allow it to be him. I'm probably in the minority, but I think Cam Whitmore is looking good. Reed is a guard. I'd rather not trade him. I think Brooks would likely be a separate deal. I don't see Brooklyn wanting him.
A guard with 5 blocks in a game is not normal, a special specimen. I would take Amen, a fearless complete player over Bandero. Sad to say, Amen is a lot better than Ausar.
Brooks can be traded to a third team. Brooks definitely has value to competing teams out there, so we can definitely use his salary to get Cam to Houston. The question is how much better does Cam Johnson makes us and is it worth sacrificing a protected future pick (or swap) or a one of our young players (Cam, Reed, or Eason) to get him over here. Cam would fit this team so well.
I don't think Brooks is a good fit with Amen. That said, I'm not sure Smith is the best fit either currently.
I see the NBA as Boston and OKC first tier with Cleveland as a Tier 1B. I think the Knicks are Tier 2 as they are the next best in East. For West, I see a hodgepodge of teams with the Rockets likely towards the top fighting to be the 2nd best West regular season team. I think Dallas is probably the 2nd best playoff West team if healthy. With Cam Johnson, I think Rockets basically are the 2nd best regular season west team and give themselves more of a puncher's chance in the playoffs (OKC and Dallas will likely play each other 1st). After this season, I think having Cam Johnson will make it easier for the rest fo the roster to work and make it easier to see who is developing.
Agreed. I do not want to discount the chemistry that Dillon has with these guys though. I do believe chemistry can be underrated so that's something I also think about. It's really hard to tinker with something that is working, but at the same time, there are weaknesses in the our roster that will be exposed in the playoffs. I know we are young, but right now the West is there for the taking. Even though OKC is really good, we shouldn't shy away from improving the team if there is a move out there that does make us better.
I think it will improve. Neither are ball dominant, both play good defense, and each creates space for the other. Both just need more minutes to continue to grow.
Too many fans only look at one side of the ball. Just getting FVV off the ball has improved our offense 5 or more points a game. Cam is fools gold when we have Jabari waiting in the wings.
They will have one already, in Jabari. It never hurts to add shooters, though. As long as it is at the right price and doesn't screw up our flexibility.
I really doubt Brooks would be okay with it. And I'm also not sure that Bari is even better than a slumping Brooks.
Naw, he's better. No one expected Jabari to be one of the most athletic players in the league or a DPOY canditate.
In what aspect of the game is a slumping Brooks a better than Jabari? We have seen our defense get worse with Jabari off the court. Our offense is much better because of Ime handing the ball over to Jalen and Amen more than FVV. Jabari is a better defender, much better rebounder, and before the year is out, a better 3 pt shooter. Jabari is also a much better transition player than Dillion. I don't think Ime makes the change, but he should. People are in love with Brooks' attitude more than anything. He is a valuable player and has helped transform our culture. He is a good defender, not a great one. Jabari's interior defense and rebounding make him a much more valuable starter than Brooks. Amen, Jalen, FVV, Jabari, Sengun is an insane rebounding and defensive team.
I think some of you are discounting the value DB brings to this team. To clear space for Amen (esp. long term), it's FVV that needs to go-either to the bench or another team. Regardless, both DB and FVV will finish this year on the roster unless the wheels completely fall off in the next 2-3 weeks.
