T-Jones I'm sure would be on the trading block and maybe already out of here if D-Mo was healthy and playing well. But we can't afford to lose him right now. It could really complicate things though if D-Mo continues to have issues beyond the trade deadline. Then what do you do if you're the Rockets?
Codman's posts are likely Sheridan Hoops source. But Codman doesn't tweet...so Sheridan Hoops is the real "news"....smdh
Swapping Harrell into the lineup for Jones would mean more energy and better defense with a little bit less 3 point shooting. I honestly don't think it would matter all that much. Is Harrell going to play as good as Jones at his best at this point? No.....but is Jones going to play like Jones at his best or is he going to regress back into worthlessness again like he seemingly always does after a few good games? The Rockets already have won a game they would have lost by benching Jones for Harrell, in the end, I think it would be pretty close to a wash. If there's a deal on the table, you take it.
Codman didn't mention putting Harrell into the starting lineup vs Jones. He was talking about trading Jones away, such that Harrell and Clint are the only left. Thus, you'd have no PF bench. That's completely different than what you said. Follow along.
Before you think about trading him you need to ask what is the market for TJones? He is a free agent coming of a rookie scale contract, if you want him its better to sign him as a FA than trading a pick for him so he comes "free" without costing any assets. For the rox, you don't really want to take on salary because with Lawson's 12M being cleared and the 30% increase in salary the Rox can probably sign a big fish in the summer or straight up overhaul their roster if needed. Right now TJones is playing really well and has adjusted as a bench guy behind Capela. I watched his last two games and although he gets manhandled the dude is trying on D and on the boards while being opportunistic on offense. With DMo's health uncertain it would be stupid to trade Tjones for scraps when you need him this year unless somebody REALLY wants him like with Asik last year.
You essentially run a 3 big rotation right now, you'd be running a 3 big rotation then as well. Also, if the Rockets wanted to bolster that PF rotation by picking up Smith, he's available....probably for really cheap. The point was that you don't lose much by trading away Jones because his replacement is already on the team.
It's called situational basketball. Sometimes you need to put in a different player for different reasons. But if you trade away TJ now, you limit your options even more.
IF the Rockets are keeping their options open, on trading Dwight, wouldn't that mean holding onto Brewer for possible trade flexibility?
What situation would you need Jones over Harrell? If you are in a situation where you need an athletic tweener, either will do.
I by no means am a fan of TJones, but Harrell is no where near the caliber of Jones is right now as an overall player. The only way the Rockets right now make a deal involving jones is if they get a front court player back that is better than Jones. Losing Smith hurt the Rockets front court depth but that shouldn't have matter that much since DMo was supposed to be back but we have yet to see DMo 100% healthy and at the level he was last year before his back injury. The Rockets front court rotation right now is super thin and cannot lose Jones without another quality big coming back in return
We'll just have to agree to disagree. Jones at his absolute best is better than Harrell is, but you rarely see Jones at his best and the average play of Jones is equal or inferior to the average play you could expect from Harrell. People shouldn't let the last 2 games blind them to the fact that Jones has bounced between simply bad and completely worthless for the vast majority of the season....and his career as a whole. He has games where he gets hot and makes people start thinking he's turned the corner, then he regresses back into garbage. How many times do we have to see that pattern before we recognize it? As to another quality big, Josh Smith is available and he's better than Jones. If you are really that concerned about it, just make that deal and it's no problem.
Yeah, that's the biggest problem with Jones. His inconsistency. And it's not just that he'll have the occasional bad shooting night. Everyone has those. It's that he completely vanishes far too often and contributes nothing out there.
When Harden scores, Dwight puts up anywhere from 15-20 pts and 11+ rebs, AND there is a 3rd efficient scorer the Rockets will most likely win. Its really that simple. Having only 2 of the 3 or more commonly just having Harden score (and inefficiently at that) has been the major problem on offense. The defense is a whole other issue...
Interesting question, at least to me: if JSmoove is as available as CW says, is JSmoove that available (back) to the Rox? Think Doc wants Josh back where he did well or does he believe he couldn't do well period?
Yes he really, really is. He's a better rebounder, a better defender, a better passer.... I mean, sure he's kind of an idiot from time to time, but Jones is straight up worthless pretty often and especially in the playoffs.
To me I think his options are to trade him back to the Rockets, cut him, or waste a roster spot for the rest of the season. I really don't think that Josh Smith has much trade value since the only place he's really worked out is in Houston. He's ended up being a problem everywhere else he's gone.....I mean, he's already gotten himself permabenched in LA.
I don't think Houston makes any significant trades. They are on a win streak right now and Morey probably thinks this team can pull thru this. Unfortunately.
