Chandler Parsons, Gordon Hayward and Lance Stephenson-- All 3 are supposed to be free agent wings, two restricted and one unrestricted (Stephenson). What is your order of preference among the 3 in terms if having each on a team over the next 3 or 4 seasons at a price to be set by the market this summer?
Parsons, Hayward, then Stephenson. Stephenson is just such a butthead that I can't imagine anyone finding him pleasant to be around.
If salaries are equal, Parsons by a mile. Hayward can't shoot and Stephenson's antics will catch up to him (if it hasn't already).
Lance would be pretty great to help fire up the team. We need more players that play with passion. If only he was a good teammate as well, because it doesn't sound like the Pacers players like him in the locker room. If he was like KG (annoying to opposing players, but loyal to his teammates), I would want him on my team in a heartbeat.
im shocked at some of y'all putting stephenson at #3. he brings the fire and passion that this team NEEDS. him and beverly on the court together would be great, along with harden/howard.
I like Hayward's potential. I think he had too much pressure being #1 in Utah. Would be a great third option.. that said, Parsons is better.
This. Lance is one of those player that should only be signed to 1 year deals. Other player are Nate Robinson and JR Smith. Lance is Robinson if Nate was 6 inches taller. I wouldn't trust any of them with long term deals. To answer the question: For the Rockets: Parsons, Hayward, Stephenson. In general: Hayward, Parsons, Stephenson. I think Hayward might be the better player but Parsons is the better role guy.
The obvious answer for this team would be Stephenson. With his ability to create his own shot and sheer will to play great defense on players like Lebron and Durrant without being intimidated one bit. Kind of reminds me of the old Madd Maxx, we need that kind of attitude and resiliency.
and with the right leadership he could mature and learn how to use his emotions to benefit the team at all times.
Lance Stephenson is far and away the better defender out of the 3. Great rebounder for a 3 and a very solid offensive player. Lance has gotten better and better each season. Parsons is the best offensive player of the 3 players. He has the total package on offense but is best suited as a 4th option. In 2 straight play offs Chandler was the 2nd best player on the team which is a huge reason why the Rockets lost both series. Parsons downfall is his defense which has gotten worse every season. Gordon Haywood is the most overrated role player in the history of the NBA. He is a good role player but in no way should he be a number 1, 2 or even 3rd option. Gordon has the tools to be a great role player much like Parsons is a great role player but he is very clearly a failure as a number 1 option.
This may be yet another reason why Morey wanted to put Parsons in this free agent class. Its basic Supply and Demand Economics. The Supply is high for young, free agent, SF's, who aren't necessarily superstars, but very good players. Also add Luol Deng, Sefolosha, Ariza, Marion, P. Pierce, and Kirilenko to this list as other SF's on the market that could help drive the price down. The more, and more you think about it, you probably couldn't have picked a better year to put Parsons in RFA because of the supply of similar productive SF's. Morey might very well get a pretty good bargain after all. Keep in mind that there are only 30 starting SF jobs in this league. If teams know what the Rockets are willing to pay and its as high as rumored, you'd think that teams would probably tend to go for bargain deals on similarly productive players.
We don't have the right leadership at the moment, we seem to have enough problems already with chemistry with this young squad, we don't need a guy with potential to be a nutcase to add fuel to the fire.