Forget "was" better. James Harden right this second is a significantly better basketball player than Jalen Green. If we still had Jalen as well as Durant it doesn't change the prospects of the team much. If we had James Harden on this current roster we're probably the odds on favourites to win it all.
Of course he will, he's back to being on an 18 win team where he can thrive as a low efficiency high volume chucker with no pressure to actually be good.
I hoped that he would thrive as a Houston Rockets from the day that we drafted him. He played hard, did his best and clearly got better. It is not clear if efficiency and decision making will improve but I will definitely root for him to succeed except for when he is playing against Rockets.
I predict the OP will continue to be an unrepentant troll and JOF. The takes are so bad, they have crossed over to entertainment during my morning coffee. I think everyone should follow the OP - the artistry is there.
The Phoenix Suns did NOT ask for Jalen Green specifically - they actually said the opposite, that they did NOT want Jalen Green involved in the trade. They wanted Jabari, Tari, Cam and Reed more and knew that they were not getting Amen so it wasn't even discussed. Brooks was added so that Phoenix was open enough to take on Green. I don't hate Jalen Green, he is an NBA player - but he is gone and I am glad that KD is on the Rockets for the forseeable future. The difference between Green and Durant is MASSIVE.
I have seen the rumor - but it isn't accurate. The Rockets did not offer Jalen Green and Jabari Smith for Kevin Durant at this last trade deadline.
The best case scenario for this trade is Durant is healthy, the young guys take a leap and we win a championship during his tenure. Showing it was clearly the best decision. The worst case is he's injured, we miss out other better opportunities, like another available young star due to his contract, Jalen develops during Durant's tenure into a star and/or a player from the 10th pick onward becomes a star. The leadership should be praised or held accountable by fans for the move as the results play out over years. I'm hoping for the best case, although it may even be something in the middle. No one, not even experts know for sure so we'll see.
James Harden was 23 years old when the Rockets got him - he also was coming off being the 6th Man of the Year and one of the most efficient seasons in NBA history, with an EFG of nearly 60% - for reference, Jalen Green had an EFG% of 50% ..... also Harden was traded to the Rockets after his third season in the league, Green has already played four seasons. It is a really silly comparison.
James harden was an analytics monster. His numbers per 48 and efficiency was through the roof. You could see why he had potential to be a star. Jalen green is not that, not even close.
When these type of threads come up I'm always thinking, "OP, if you think Jalen will thrive, then what do you think his stats will be next year? For the next three years?" And then it's either hard to get a big fan to commit to stats or they put out something that I'm 99% sure won't happen. First, we have to know what team Jalen will be on, if he will start or be on the bench, etc. If OP thinks he will thrive next year then Jalen will start. What will his stats look like? Does Phoenix have the "wide open offense" that will finally unlock Jalen?
Well rockets will focus on Thompson, Tari, and Bari Development, thats not even including Reed, and Cam, which they are about to take a leap here and show why they were first rd picks. I think Whitmore is going to surprise some folks. So if KD, is injured for most of the time, im pretty sure he will be played lightly thru the season, for injury purposes. Rockets have good development to keep them afloat, barring injuries.
Hope this opinion goes better than the time OP blamed Harden for Ty Lawson playing like hot garbage as a Rocket…
I agree with you O.P. Jalen Green (24/25) P-n-R (ball handler) NBA percentile Reg...................Playoffs 67.4%.................81.0% 24/25: 67.4% [ Jalen improved each year, despite lousy Roll Men ] 23/24: 61.9% 22/23: 50.2% 21/22: 41.7% Nick Richards (24/25): PnR (roll man) 81.6% NBA percentile beats that crappy 27% by Sengun Suns will have that pick your poison scenarios. Who do you stop? Jalen driving? 3-pt shooters everywhere? or the roll man Richards? 3's > 2's Jalen Green is going to have open lanes that he drive a Mac truck through. Beats that zig-zagging through the mind field to get to the rim in Houston.
When management considered the no touch guys Shepperd and Tari before Green, that should tell you something
We don't know that the Suns "asked for Jalen specifically". I'd be willing to bet they didn't, and that was what the Rockets eventually negotiated them down too, especially with all of the news about the trade market drying up for KD and Phoenix not getting what they wanted. But I don't know. Regardless, Jalen might become more consistent and eventually thrive. I have a hard time seeing him become more than what he is at this point, but we never know. It didn't seem like it was happening here. I don't love the trade, but if we were going to do it, I'm definitely OK giving up Jalen to get it done.
If you’re already thinking the suns could move Jalen due to a clog at the position, shouldn’t that say enough about him? You wouldn’t trade a young stud just because there’s another guy at the spot, you make it work. I really wanted Jalen to work, but it was rough watching him. Amen made more of an impact in less time than green did, and now you’re gaining a top ten player (yes, when healthy, there’s always going to be risks). If Durant fails, you still have Sengun, Amen, Eason, and then cap down the line once FVV’s contract goes. It’s not like we are falling off a cliff. I think we are in a perfect spot to take this kind of gamble.
