Sign Harden. Sign Kyrie. Trade Green, KPJ, and all the Nets picks for Durant. The Nets Big Three reunited!
Trading for next disgruntled star depends on why said player is disgruntled. If its because his present team cant win a ring, then this would be a terrible idea.
Amen-Green-Middleton-Smith-Sengun Beverley-Porter-Martin-Eason-Garuba Washington-Christopher-#20/Howard-Tate-Boban
That's basically "run it back" plus overpay for chronically injured middleton and handing a starting job to a high draft pick, just because, even though that doesnt' work as we all know. No true non-Boban centers on the roster; no shot blocking, no new shooters; seriously that projects to like a 27 win team and the worst defensive team in the NBA.
Chronically injured is a bit of an exaggeration but it's true, the team lacks a rim protector. New shooter: Jett Howard at 20 and Middleton is kind of known as a bucket. It's not perfect. That dream died when we got #4 instead of #1. What's your suggestion?
First off, there's no indication right now that Middleton is going anywhere but Milwaukee, he's more valuable to them than to any other team and they have either "run it back" or "lose giannis" as their 2 options in Milwaukee - they basically can't do much other than bring their current players back. Second, he played in only 33 games this year and then had secret offseason knee surgery that we just found out about - that's a really bad sign. All the worries about a broken down Harden in year 3 are of him having seasons like Middleton had last year. Third, he was pretty bad this year when he did play by his standards, shot 41-31, that's actually like Kenyon Martin Jr type splits but without the dunks. If the Rockets spend big money or trade for somebody it has to be somebody who can initiate an offense, like Harden or trade. Middleton at his peak was more of a secondary creator; fine but the Rockets don't have a primary one and so his value isn't as much for them, even if he rebounds from a bad season. As for the rest of your proposal, I'll say it again, if the Rockets just draft another 19-20 YO (not named victor) and say "here you're starting good luck hope you're the new savior, 3rd time's a charm - this is a recipe for another 20-30 win shitshow. I"d rather see them trade the 4th selection for a useful player today than draft anybody who is expected to be there. And yes, add somebody in the roster who can actually jump and catch a ball who is taller than 6-10.
Ok so not Middleton. Put Amen on the bench. I'm not giving up another blue chip prospect for a win now player, the goal next year isn't to win it's to be better. 35 wins and some competent play from Green, Smith, Sengun, #4 is the goal. Kuzma? Dillon Brooks? As long as it's not KJ Martin starting or playing 30 minutes a game at 3. Porter-Green-Kuz/DB-Smith-Sengun Amen-DiVincenzo-Martin-Eason-Thomas Bryant Augustin-Washington-Christopher-Garuba-Nnaji#20?
