Totally agree with Clutch The team is largely too young to designate many people as core players, and lacks any true identity yet. But Jalen was the #2 pick in the draft and the guy you are hoping to build this team around. He is absolutely untradeable at this point. It's stupid to be impatient with a guy you've invested so much in. People souring on him before the end of his rookie year are laughable. There's also some of you that are under the impression that a rebuild takes 1-2 years. Another ridiculous idea. Whoever you take with this year's draft is ideally the 2nd piece of that core, the #2 to Jalen (or #1, doesn't matter). Players that could be core: -Sengun -KPJ -Christopher These are all guys that we've seen something from that I think could be key members of a future squad. Sengun is the closest to being core because of his skillset, but he still has a ways to go and is young. I'm not sure if KJ is in this category or the next one. Probably this one. Could be core, Could be asset accumulation: -Garry Bird -Jae'Sean Tate I think these guys are already solid role players and can contribute to good teams, but their ceilings are a lot lower. Depending on the timeline, they could become core pieces, but they could are also the more likely players to be packaged for upgrades Prospects -Garuba -Nix These guys we don't really have enough info on yet, I'd wait and see with them The main point is, I think Clutch is right, asset accumulation is still key right now. This is still the first full season of the rebuild and we don't really know what we have.
How could you leave off franchise players... “luxury tax savings” and “draft pick odds” ?? truly , the bastions of this franchise
Jalen Green is untouchable in the sense that he has the highest trade value and anybody that you would theoretically trade him for would be untouchable on their own team unless they demanded to be traded themselves. Jalen Green isn't a star yet, but you never see a superstar traded for another superstar because teams want to add that player to the one they already have. So it's always a superstar traded for lesser parts. Right now, Jalen AND some other considerations are probably the only packages we can put together right now that could land you a disgruntled star, but it would be foolish to trade him for say Damien Lilliard or Bradley Beal because they're older and what are you teaming those guys up with? It's utterly pointless, especially if you expect him to at least eventually develop into being that kind of player himself. Bottom line, like or hate it, there isn't another guy on the team with the trade value of Jalen Green. Sengun: I feel like he can be a piece. I think that he can at least be as good as Domantas Sabonis when it's all said and done. The Jokic stuff is completely unattainable for him because he will never be as big as Jokic. His sheer physical attributes will never allow him to be on Jokic's level. I prefer to look at his ceiling as being Sabonis with better shot-blocking. I think that is a much more realistic expectation. A lot of what Jokic is able to do outside of being super skilled is just being a massive human being much like Embiid. Jokic is a physical mismatch on the floor almost every night before he even does anything else. Too big and too strong. KPJ: I know some see his potential as highest on the team. I don't agree. Even if he is moved to the wing as a secondary ball-handler, which I believe would be his optimal position, he has some things that I think put him a notch below Green as far as ceilings go. I'm not a sports psychologist or a psychiatrist so I'm not going to delve into his mind so I'll just keep it strictly basketball. 1. Despite his obvious physical talent, he is overly reliant on his jump shot. 2. His ability to get to the basket and finish. I'll explain. The vast majority of his good games seem to be dependent upon whether or not he is having a hot shooting night. His handle is solid, but there is a lot of overdribbling in order to get to where he wants to go. His ability to break his man down off the dribble without a screen isn't that great despite his decent dribble package because his first step isn't elite. He more often than not chains his dribble moves together to get off a jumper rather than to attack the basket. Although he has adequate top-end speed and leaping ability, at the end of the day, he just doesn't get to the basket easily or frequently enough for my liking and when he does get there, he shoots awkward shots and struggles to finish. I would like to see him go stronger to the basket and use his athletic ability more, but for some reason, his athleticism doesn't seem to translate as often as you would like to see when he is contested. On the other hand, when he is on a fast break or is uncontested to the basket, the leaping ability is on full display and he really shines. Everybody knows by now that I like Nix and Josh. I hope they're here for many years to come. I think KJ Martin is a keeper and maybe Tate in a lesser role. Of course, we have to keep all options open and upgrade when an upgrade is available. Unless Wood finally commits to not being a sieve on defense, he needs to go. I don't think anybody else on the team is even worth mentioning at all. Oh and Garuba gets a mulligan. We'll see next year what he's got.
I disagree with your assessment basically in full. KPJ is hitting his 3's at 37%, Green at 31% KPJ is a significantly better ball handler KPJ already is the combo guard that Green would have to turn into one day in order to be more than just another traditional SG. KPJ is significantly better defensively. Green has a touch more athleticism and speed...and that's about it. Since I've already seen promise as a combo guard, that's why I see Green's ceiling being higher than Green's....though Green has flashed some potential recently himself. I think people just don't judge the two fairly due to preconceived notions. KPJ can create 12 assists and single handedly pull the team back into the game and people will complain that very night that he's not a "true PG".....meanwhile Green manages a career high of 6 just once and those same people are wanting him to turn the point LOL. Personally I see them playing off of one another well, neither having to carry the burden of creating offense alone. Sengun can help with that too. When you have all 3 on the court, you can't really help much without creating easy offense for the rest. That's why I have those 3 as the "core" of the team moving forward despite the fact that I don't really see any of them becoming superstar caliber.
So Harden was untouchable, traded for tons of picks. It is harder to trade for actual players that have similar value, that is true.
@rhino17 like your breakdown . I don’t know how long the “rebuild” will take ... I really hope it is 1-2 years ( at least in that we are trying to win after that timeframe) afterall , how do you tell if your assets are actually any good ? It’s by playing them and seeing how they do in real situations . and @DaDakota , why trade KPJ for size ... Nix IS size . We can start him at the 5
Green and Sengun are the two core players. Tate, Martin, Christopher, and Garuba could be the role players. I personally don't want to trade them. If they were traded to bring in another big piece I could accept it.
There is no core. I think everyone is expandable if the deal is right. No secret we are still seeking the franchise player to build around. Green shows flashes but Silas hasn't make him the main focus. According to Wood, Green is the one asking for more touches. KPJ is streaky. He is better if he's focus on scoring himself and not setting up his teammates. Not sure why his FT suck this season. Wood, good on offense but suck at defense. Sengun also shows flashes but he needs to improve handling the ball. Tate and KJ are good role players. Christopher, not showing much improvement since all-star break. We'll have to wait and see next season. They should be work on their weakness in the off season.
I would guarantee right now that every team in the league would take Greenover Porter if they were basing it on who was better now and for the future. You are wrong. Its ok. Move on to another hot topic like how Deshaun Watson was a **** QB. You just keep dropping bangers.
I disagree. I think it's Green and Sengun. Sengun showing talent you can't teach. Right now his value around the league probably doesn't reflect that. Everyone else is a nice bonus if they turn out to be good.
Heading into the draft the Rox wanted to get the best guard in the draft, little did they know the best big man would also still be available past 6. And grab the 2 best players at their positions they did.
The biggest problem is that we have TOO many players developing and not enough playing time to go around. Developing players on the team right now that MIGHT be part of the future. Green KPJ Sengun KMJ Nix Queen Christopher That is 7 guards or SFs.......and we are still playing Mathews Schroeder Tate Nwaba We just don't have the playing time to go around........we are overstocked at the guard position.....where none of them are going to get 100% of what they need. DD
Hello everyone. My name is Sinan. I have been following the forums on clutchfans for a few months and it is exciting to finally write something. I believe that the Rockets have talented pieces that could all be turned into a core. However, coaching and the decisions made by a coach on a consistent level with a determined mindset affect a possible "CORE" to a great extent. Unfortunately, Steven Silas does not seem to be that guy. IMO he still did an ok job this season in terms of giving all the young players time to show their talents. But hypothetically speaking, if lets say Memphis' coach was in Houston or even a guy like Stan van Gundy, we could develop something more of a potential core. Lets hope that the Rockets get good drafts this summer and possibly have a new coach.
