Brian Windhorst: Rockets armed and ready to make deal for another star

I say we just fill out the roster with the MLE and some ring chasing vets [mostly targeted at shooting and ball handling guards] and go for it with what we have.

I don't want to gut our assets/young player core for a veteran star.

 

I loved Bruce Brown on the Nets and thought he was very underrated there. They were stupid to trade him to the Nuggets.

If his fire is still burning, he'd be a solid addition to the Rockets backcourt.

 

If ime doesn’t plan to incorporate Cam into the rotation, might as well trade him for a piece we San actually play.. we made the trade for kd. That means it’s some urgency to win now. If ime isn’t going to play Reed or /and Cam, then we’re wasting resources and salary

 

Did you want to trade Green?

Never turn down the opportunity to get a 30/10/4 top 5 player. Make other trades to add shooting if need be. BTW, this would be a really good defensive team.

 

Yep, adding top 5 players to your team for 3-4 years is a terrible decision.

 

Agreed. The remaining roster moves will tell us if the Rockets still believe in Cam.
I don't think there is any doubt about their plans for Reed.

 

I like Keon Ellis as a trade target.

 

I agree with this. It could be posturing, but they seem high on Reed. I wouldn’t let that love interfere in a trade for Coby White or Derrick White though. Derrick White along with KD would make us an instant contender.

 

But is it necessary ? Giannis is going to cost Sengun or amen plus another young sssets and FRP’s and then we’ll still have holes at the backcourt and depth issues now. Plus dwindling assets to improve other areas of the team

 

Context is king.

The Suns roster was not structured well. You had two non-defender guards (perimeter players) and neither was an off ball point guard player. Then you throw in Durant. It was a terrible match. Beal isn't a star and hadn't been in awhile.

 

Derrick White would be a dream come true. Unfortunately, I don't think there is any chance the Celts will trade him, especially now that Holiday is gone.

 

Derrick White is a perfect fit if possible

 

Give them Aaron Holiday.

Problem solved!

 

I think it's a fair point on Cam, I'm not sure it stands for both Cam and Reed. We do also need developmental players coming through considering our Franchise player could retire at any point in the near future. I just think we'd be better looking to upgrade via FVV, Landale, Holiday etc more than the actual prospects we went through all the tanking to get. Jalen made sense, he failed to meet the required standard to continue in his role. I'm not sure we can fully say that about any of the rest yet, and I do hope moving 2 wings gives both Reed and Cam more of a look before we move them. If you have to package one of the two with FVV to upgrade the PG spot that's great, but not this notion of chasing bonafides like Giannis that are going to cost infinitely more. It's why I'd rather get what I saw earlier somebody refer to as "aging vet chasing a ring" James Harden. Ime got Jalen ****ing Green to buy into defense to chase a ring, and y'all don't think Harden would finally buy in not having to do all the work anymore with better targets for his passes than he's ever had since he left the Thunder? Come on now.

 

Now that we have KD it would be foolish to trade for Giannis. Much better fits without giving up Sengun or Amen and all those picks.

 

Kennard or Beasley please

 

Depends on the additional cost beyond Sengun.

Remember, Giannis is a battering ram force of nature who brings 30/12/6 on 60% shooting. IMO, he's the 2nd best player in the NBA after Jokic.

If everyone stays healthy, Rockets might win 70 games with both Giannis and KD. Giannis and Amen on defense together would be a cheat code. You want more transition basketball? Trade for Giannis and see what happens.

Giannis is just as good a passer as Alpi but he's so powerful at finishing in the paint that passing is less often the better option.

Probably won't happen though. Just enjoying the discussion.

 

Beasley defense isn’t starting caliber.

 

Another star player is incredibly unlikely unless it's a no-brainer, and nobody will hand us a no-brainer deal like the Suns.

They will want too many assets off our hands, and we'll get into some iffy territories if we grind down the number of capable bodies on the roster.

Watching the Finals this year, G7, Tyrese Haliburton goes down and immediately the Pacers were ineffective. We can't have that with another aging star adding to this roster. It's just not good basketball. We have to have a team foundation and team mentality that stands up to the task beyond 1 or 2 players, and we can't trade that level of young, healthy, trained talent for some aging grumpy superstar.

If you're going to mention someone like Jalen Brown, tell me what that trade looks like on paper. Lets see if we can even fathom a no-brainer trade to get Jalen Brown here.

 

I think our biggest need (unless we can land a superstar like Giannis) would be a 3&D wingman to replace Brooks