BEN SIMMONS IS ON THE MENU.

Check out Ben Simmons averaging as many assists as Harden while playing elite defense:

 

Lmaoooooo seen that many times. Still an embarrassment every time. Dude is now the most overrated guy on this board clearly by the same losers crying about him still

 

Eventually i knew at one point or another you’d come around. Just needed time

 

The bolded is crazy and just shows how much a good playoffs in a good system can mask things. Robinson plays within a system while Simmons is the system, major difference.

Even the Hawks aren't building around shooting because Trae is also an awesome playmaker, unlike Herro. I prefer building around elite skills sets like playmaking and defense. Simmons isn't WB.... I can understand the PTSD from last season but let's not get carried away here.

Shooting is important... but is that something you build around or trade Harden for? I don't think so. Without Bam, the Miami package represents mediocrity. We don't get the Miami coaching staff in the trade...

 

Morey is definitely trying to dump Simmons for Harden.

 

you’re not reading my comment correctly.

I’m not saying they’re close players. I’m saying they’re closer than you’d ever think possible. Cause with shooting... Simmons is an MVP caliber player. Whereas without shooting, Robinson is in Europe or at the Y.

so my comment is that that’s how important shooting is.

I don’t think the 76ers consider Simmons their system btw lol

 

Rich Paul saved us lol.

 

Let's be clear on something. Harden is one of the top talents in this league. He is a unique player. But he is not a leader and his personality is toxic to the locker room (and this is if we are talking about a focused Harden). Trying to convince James to stay without him having his mind in Houston is a mistake that will lead to disaster at the first failure.
But Houston can't sell low to one of the top 3 players in the league, and I think Stone knows that.

 

And my point is there other skill sets than shooting and shooting isn’t the end all.

We are talking about a package for James Harden.

Pretty sure they do.

 

there are lots of skill sets. There’s lots of nba players that can’t shoot.

but in the nba in 2021 it’s probably the most important skill set and that was my point. There have been very few - no modern ones I can think of - championship teams led by a player like Ben Simmons who can’t score in volume, with some ability to shoot, and the ability to do so down the stretch.

Shaq is the closest in the “can’t shoot” department but then he was a dominant force like 100x more so than Simmons.

So if you trade for him then how do you get that #1 guy? Especially bearing in mind he’s already being paid largely. You won’t be signing a FA that is that. As is apparently our “culture” sucks... but they won’t have cap room anyway.

I’d rather they just give Harden away to the Nuggets for MPJ and lone 5 firsts and 3 first swaps and salary filler. Nuggets can make legit runs to the championship while the Rockets do a legit rebuild.

no doubt trading for Simmons will keep them more relevant now. But never relevant enough.

 

The other problem is that a team with Simmons has to be built around Simmons. He's not like Shaq that you can fit easy with other players and stars.
He has to have the ball in his hands, he has to have shooters all around him and leave the dunking spot open for him to slash to the basket.

That's not just a 3rd option. It's a 3rd option that a team must be built around, and that's a huge difference.

 

Well sure, but why wouldn't we try and add a Beal/Booker type of player alongside Simmons once John Wall is moved?

You have to move John Wall obviously, which was going to be the plan no matter what unless somehow Wall outperformed his bloated contract.... Minus John Wall (which is a major hindrance) this current roster fits Simmons.

As far as "culture", you hope that winning overcomes that or maybe it just takes Harden leaving. Or most likely a combo of the two.

Nuggets have signed Jokic and Murray to max deals, how are they going to fit Harden in? It would need to be at least a 3 team trade with Harden probably going somewhere else.

I'm certainly open to other deals besides Simmons, but I still feel you need to get at least a foundational player (even a lower tier one) for a Harden trade because the likely hood of top 3 picks will be low based on the suitors.

Maybe. Maybe not. I don't see why gambling on lottery picks and role players becoming stars is a worthy trade for Harden or a prudent move for the franchise. Concisely, Simmons is severely flawed in one very important aspect, but is elite enough elsewhere to make up for it with it

 

just go find a Booker/ Beal type and somehow magically get him?? Lol. For John Wall somehow?? Nobody is clamoring for John Wall. If he ever lives up to his contract and is therefore more tradeable... he’d be the type of player you wouldt want to trade.

Why do you think draft picks and players with lots of growth potential are important?? You have to “get lucky” and the good GMs know you make your own luck by giving yourself more choices. The Pelicans got Ingram and Lonzo and other players with upside and picks galore.

you know exactly what your getting with Simmons ... and it’s solidly good... but not good enough and leaves you limited room to means to improve.

the entire concept of a Simmons package now excited me less about Simmons and more about what and how much else comes along.

 

LOL. Come on bro. The same issues will be there with or without Simmons..... John Wall will be with us no matter what the FO chooses.

Even if we magically find a better player through a combination of luck and skill we will still need to find another star to pair them with. All your plan does is give us a bunch of uncertainty.

Ingram and Lonzo and picks is a much better package than the Herro package. Something on that level should be strongly considered. However, all that luck to try and get a Ben Simmons clear cut type #1 pick or a lucky Luka trade when you can just take the bird in the hand.....

No you don’t know that and I'd argue its more than solidly good. It really depends if the organization is willingly to tank otherwise, your ideas are moot.

I just prefer a bird in the hand than two in the bush. Limited options to improve is a drawback, but not knowing when you'll hit gold with a franchise player is its own drawback.