Currently no one. Maybe Reed can play the 2 on offense and the 1 on defense. Amen is basically a chameleon. If Amen can run point and Reed can play off ball it could work with those two. But it's a tough sell for the Rockets F.O. to go to another team and say "hey can we trade you these balls of SG potential for your serviceable SG". We're basically trading two misfits for someone who plays the same position.
Well, they have Cam now, aren't playing him, and don't seem to be regretting it, and that's the problem. I loved the Cam pick and thought it was an absolute steal, but if anything, Cam has shown several highlights (last year, for the most part) and a brief ability to shoot the 3, but both of those things seem to have disappeared this year to-date. I've never really seen much court awareness, ability to consistently not fall asleep on defense, or general bball IQ on the court from him, and this last thing I think is what's really killing him. Could he learn to play better in the next couple of years? Sure. I'm just saying I haven't seen a ton of improvement in that area yet. The only reason I'd get rid of Jalen (in terms of talent) before Cam is because of Jalen's continued inconsistency. You just hope Cam eventually finds his way. A positive for him is that he's more a wing than a SG, but a negative is that if Reed figures things out, what he brings to the team is far more valuable to this team. That and Reed is an all-around player (assuming he hits his peak) which means Reed will be able to play both guard positions at any time, and like he always has.
Cam has plenty of ability, Ime is breaking him of the ONLY SCORING mentality - and it is ****ing with his game, but all of it will come together soon. DD
Man what is happening with this guy? Is he not buying into the schemes? Is he getting punished? He is definitely not G-League worthy.
It's enough with this take. Be a fan of Cam all you want, but he's more than proven he doesn't belong on an NBA court right now. Stop holding the hype shield for him and let the kid be accountable for his own bullshit. He has less heart than Tracy McGrady and I mean that as the most damning of indictments.
Haven't really kept up with Cam this year much as last year. Haven't watched all the games either. So I was asking what factors led to the decision to send him to G-League? In your opinion, what things/actions in particular does he need to be held accountable for? B.T.W I am a fan of each and everyone on this roster but my favourites are Amen and Tari.
He has the highest shot rate on the team, and one of the lowest assist rates. He has tunnel vision of the worst variety. When your TS is 43% on top of that..yeah, you aren't gonna play much. He gets lost on defense to boot, which you can almost tolerate if his offensive awareness wasn't reprehensible. He's shown zero growth in that regard even though it's been a well known problem, just move the damn ball. When everybody tells you a problem exists, and you make no effort to address it. I can't imagine theres much coaches hate more than that.
I know this is an unpopular take, but Cam would be a 20+ PPG scorer and probably a “star” (especially with all the highlight plays he’d accrue) on a team where he was the first or second option. The problem is he’d likely be inefficient and it’d be a losing team. But if he is given the “top pick” treatment I think he shines. I think you either showcase that type of talent for a trade or keep that type of talent and try to iron out the bad habits so he can be a winning player. Season 1 it looked like we were doing the former. This season I hope we’re doing the latter because I like Cam.
He’s a young guy who’s been the man everywhere he’s played and was able to do whatever the hell he wanted anytime he wanted with the ball (namely shooting the ball) and now he finds himself at the bottom of the rotation and being told by the coaching staff he needs to change the way he plays (don’t tunnel vision each time he gets the ball). Add to all this that he’s still a KID and barely just turned 20, it’s going to take a hot minute for him to adjust. I remember when I was 20, you couldn’t tell me s*** and I was nowhere near a professional athlete lol. My gut tells me he’s going to end up on another team sooner than later, but I hope we can get some valuable PT from him before then.
He either can't or won't concentrate on defense. Could have severe ADD like Harden if you ask me. Players like that can only focus on-ball. Whatever the reason, the other 4 players are affected by it in an ugly way. That's defense, so he's really bad already half of the time he's on the floor. Even if he aces the other half, it's still just half the game. Can't one-on-one beat his man to the basket not even in a PnR, he's very far from developing this skill. His handles are very shaky and his agility maneuvering inside is non existent. He either runs you over or loses it. This is the NBA, most basketball players are bigger and stronger than him no matter how loud he roars. He doesn't or can't pass the ball. He takes an insane number of shots per minute, leads the team since he got here I think. Then his shot stopped falling since around game 70 last season. Then it didn't fall in the summer. Then in preseason. Then in season. That made everyone notice he's not even good at FT's so right now it's looking like his 3PT ability was flukey. In reality a 70% FT shooter is rarely ever a good 3PT shooter. So then all of this impacts his confidence too. So it's time to send him to the G League and build him from scratch. Which we can and will, once his ego surrenders. No one better to do it than Ime.
They should have sent Reed down there with them. He and Cam made a good pair in the SL. Now they would both have the starter minutes they need. Neither one should be playing less than 25 minutes a game.
I think the trade option is not as dire as you paint it. Amen is offensive PG of the future. If Jalen or Reed is not the SG we need, then you can trade for one. It doesn’t have to and probably won’t be a one for one switch. That’s why we have tradeable contracts in FVV, Brooks, Landale etc. and mulitple draft picks. It doesn’t even have to be a trade for max player like Booker. It could be a stop gap until Amen and Reed are ready that are still an upgrade. Herro has been mentioned. There are others that could be a potential upgrade at SG for a playoff run that won’t break the bank.
Disagree with the notion that Reed going down to RGV is better for him or the team. He’s well rounded and complementary enough to the rest of the main squad to ultimately raise the ceiling this year. Cam is very far back in the off guard/wing rotation. Even if he did improve he still wouldn’t leapfrog others for playing time given what he’s bringing to the table.
I think this is a sign that Reed is going to gradually get more run. If he still struggles they will pivot to Holiday and send Reed down to RGV as well.
Some people here believe that players who haven't yet established their fundamentals should be chucking 15-20x per game. Not that I blame them, we've been conditioned to see that here for 4 years now. Harden (and Curry) spoiled people thinking these are good shots. Reed is playing exactly as he should right now. As is Amen. And frankly....so is Jabari and Tari. Sengun is the most advanced by a quite a bit but I think his Euro background basically gave him a head start over everyone else. The fact that Reed is given priority over Holiday should let everyone know where Ime stands with him.
If I were Ime, I would send him to the GLeague and tell him, you are going to run Point there. I want to see you leading the team with your passing. Doesn't mean you can't shoot but I want you getting guys the ball in good spots.... And leave until he finds the joy in passing, because if he can get that part, he is a superstar. DD
Cam's going to get traded. He has insane scoring potential, but he's not a piece that seems to fit with what they are trying to do. He will have value around the league. Somebody is going to want him, but I don't think very many people are going to be happy with the return, myself included. He just feels like the odd man out here.
