Just being able to dump Ryan Anderson and bring back trade-able pieces that we can also use to replace Ariza (i.e. W Chandler), would be a big win in FA this year, even if it costs us multiple picks.
I have wondered all along what people expected. The Rockets are not in a good spot from a financial or asset stand point. The only bad contract is Anderson, but Harden and Paul eat up a tremendous amount of the cap. The only point to trading Anderson is to either get a more useful player (Bazemore) or if the owner isn’t willing to go deep on the tax. Those that have been expecting Morey to pull a rabbit out of their hat are not being realistic. The Rockets are extremely hamstrung in almost every way. When the season ended my best hope was the Rockets owner would blue light signing all our own free agents and pay the tax. Well there obviously are limitations to that because the Rockets did not sign Ariza to a one year deal at what Phoenix offered. There is no one available to replace Ariza. There is no defender with his length and ability to switch and intelligence that the Rockets can add to fill his shoes. The Rockets are not as good as they were last year. Morey will try, he will try three way trades, try trading Gordon for a way to get a wing in trade and then sign someone to replace Gordon. However the reality is there is only so much Morey can do. I personally think it is very possible Morey has been told to dump Anderson to lower the tax bill. That could mean dumping Anderson and picks and not adding another rotation player in trade. However, the Thunder really really want to unload Anthony and save $100,000,000 and the Lakers want to unload Deng and Denver wants to unload Chandler. My point being the cost to unload Anderson will be huge most likely. To those expecting to add Carmelo Anthony. First he can’t start, the Rockets require a very versatile and good defensive small forward and that isn’t Anthony. Second, if he is bought out, he is likely to go to the Lakers. It is going to be very very hard for the Rockets to put a team on the floor as good as last years with Ariza. It will require someone unknown blossoming or a completely unforeseen trade that is the perfect alignment of circumstances.
quoted for emphasis. also hoping morey can figure out a way to sign and trade ariza instead of him just walking to phoenix. with Denver looking to shed salary, maybe there's a way to get Wilson chandler in the same transaction. Adding Allen Crabbe or Demarre Carroll as potential trade targets by sending picks with Ryno. Then applying to MLE to one of the FA wings, or a backup big to replace Nene and we're better than last year.
We wouldn't have to shed key salary/pieces to keep Capela. We would have to shed key salary/pieces to trade for Love/Aldridge. Also Capela is twice the defender either of those players are, and can switch along the perimeter, making him still a capable player against the Warriors. Not comparable scenarios at all, really.
There's a good possibility that Morey will be more creative than that. Here's an a example of the type of thing that they could do. This is just an example, if you don't like the players or don't think its realistic then change it to somebody you like. Trade Anderson and two first round picks to Chicago or Atlanta and take no salary back. That gets Anderson off the books but more importantly, it creates a $20.4m trade exception for Houston Now go make a deal with Denver. They've got tax issues and need to dump salary. See if they'll give us a 1st to take Wilson Chandler. We"d use part of our new TPE to absorb his salary. That reduces Denvers payroll by $12.8m and also creates a $12.8m TPE for the Nuggets (though they wouldn't likely use it). Then we'd still have $7.6m TPE left to go trade for another asset. We would also still have our MLE and we would have recouped one of the first rounders used to get rid of Anderson. That's just a quick example of what he could do. Morey, probably has multiple variations that none of us has thought of. The point is that there are other moves he can make if he gets a bit creative.
I like that, aelliot. I like that a lot. I'd be more concerned about trading the picks if we weren't going for a championship. That's exactly what we're doing, though. You have to give to get, and that was a great idea.
It does change your targets for players to acquire. You cant use the TPE to sign a FA so your looking at pure trades instead. The key is to find teams with really high payrolls but no real chance for a title. Those are the teams that would be willing to trade us a player just to clear cap space.
I trust Morey to make improvements despite a lack of flexibility. Exec of the year for a reason and known to make splashes in free agency that no one sees coming. Harden and CP3 trades came out of nowhere. He’s always a step ahead of the pack.
Bring back Clint and Luc Sign Ennis Go to war next year. Paul Harden Luc PJ Clint Bench EG Ennis Green Ryno
We were a CP3 injury away from doing that with essentially this roster. People need to stop having unrealistic expectations about what Morey can do. This is the best we are going to get and I’m okay with that. This team is a dog. They grind and I bet they are all even hungrier now.
If we get Wilson Chandler and reddik somehow it would be nice. Reddik would have to come in cheap but maybe this season he will since he got a nice pay last season. Would be nice to trade Ryan since he seems unhappy with his role here. And he is a very streaky shooter but he does spread the floor for Harden. Hope we keep Capela but if he gets overpaid hopefully we can get a nice replacement. I’ve seen some possible trade or replacement posted here but idk how doable they are. Losing Ariza will be hard to replace specially in the locker room. But maybe he will get back before the trade deadline. like someone posted too. But if we get Wilson he will be a nice replacement in offense and defense he can do ok as well. Reddik would be nice if we trade Ryan.
Yep. And Ariza didn’t help much the way he shot the ball. Well everyone was shooting pretty bad including Harden. And so far we only lost Ariza. My guess is we will bring pretty much everyone back. Wilson in for Ariza and maybe we trade Ryan. Then it would be a good offseason. And we would be good to go against the warriors.
Let's help Kawhi get to Philly by throwing in a pick? Send Anderson to Philly and a future first to SA. Get back Covington (or Luwawu Cabarrot) San Antonio could get Saric, a first from us and 2 from Philly. Might be too much for Philly to put on the table? But with a roster of Simmons/ Leonard/ Embiid and a host of talent, they could flesh out their roster nicely with some vets.
