Iko & Amick: Rox have less interest in Durant, Booker, Zion

Iko does legit have sources and talk to the Rockets. However he does only have the information that THEY want getting out.

If you watch the Rocketswatch Clutch typically has the same read from what he hears coming out.

So yeah I do think there is legit concern about Durant's age and longevity to be on this team (AKA they don't want to pay him). They also obviously need to be seen as still high on Jalen. They want the league to view his as valuable to the Rockets so they know they aren't giving up on him for nothing so don't low ball them.

But we all know that Stone and the Fertitta's have opinions, and desired goals beyond what they tell Iko. However what they put out there to Iko and co. typically is self serving.

Love him or hate him though, actually the guy who seems to have sources that maybe gleem a little more insights that they do to Iko is Tim McMahon. He's more opinionate, and feels more freedom to express him opinion on what he hears which helps beyond just getting same info that Iko gets. He might have the same sources as Iko & co. but I do think his willingness to read a bit deeper into it is helpful. You just get a better read from both McMahon and Clutch on how the rockets "FEEL" about things which I think is most important.

Take all of that into account, and I do think that Stone and Tillman are DEFINITELY going to be picky, but I DEFINITELY think they'll be engaging for sure on Giannis, and I you'd be crazy to think that they wouldn't entertain Booker. The noise around KD not being an option I think is likely a message to Phoenix's GM to be best aligned when they do have calls later in the Summer, and express some goodwill with KD's reps so they communicate to him in a way that establishes effective intent.

Does that mean they will or wont end up with KD or any of the big stars out there.... no... but I think we have pretty clear insights here at least on how Stone wants to engage the league and agents for these stars this offseason. The intent and starting point for talks IMO looks promising to engage and have positive outcomes for Houston one way or another.

 

I still don't know why they didn't take him to RFA. The only reasons I can think of are that they really like Green's potential or that the Rockets wanted his contract to be tradeable this offseason.

 

Durant is old as balls (bill worrell's), Zion can't shoot and is injured as balls (lonzo and lavar), Giannis can't shoot and is over 30.

Booker still seems like the best fit if the idea is making the current team structure work.

If you target Giannis the whole team needs a makeover and we only have a 3-4 year window to do it in.

 

Tbh I think when the Rockets made him a starter, it ruined our bench rotation. The injuries were a warranted reason to start him at the time, but after Jabari returned healthy, they should have given him his spot back.

 

Is @Pastor George a real Pastor and is his name George

 

You guys gotta keep in mind that never in a million years would Stone EVER let it slip out that either him, senior front office guys, Ime, and Fertittas had given up on, or desire to trade one of their guys like Jalen Green or Sengun, etc. unless they WANTED that out there to draw a market for him (see Oladipo, EG, etc.)

We know they are high on Amen because they put that out there proudly as a way to either cool offers to include him in deals, or set a very high price for him. They also are clear that just because Reed didn't play does not mean that they are not high on him (AKA don't think you can just steal him away as a filler in a trade).

So the Rockets are pretty transparent in alot of ways, but you just gotta keep in mind that we really have no idea what they REALLY think about alot of players on their team IF it's not information that helps them when it gets out. Same can probably be said about how high they are on players they want to acquire. We know they are not trying to align themselves with a KD trade, but they are very guarded in what they let get out there about how they feel about other stars like Giannis.

 

I’m convinced you guys are more afraid of AI than your ability to use it.

 

All they are saying here is that Phoenix isn't getting all their picks back in a Durant or Booker trade.

Green + either of Eason or Whitmore for Booker straight up. That's it. Fine, we'll throw in Block Landale too.

I know Green struggled in the playoffs, but at least he made the playoffs. How did Booker go in the post-season?

(I'd only offer the same deal for Durant. 1 pick would be my best offer, Green, salary filler and the 2027 pick. Then they can try and get 26 and 28 swaps back from Washington and tank 3 years. Otherwise, good luck. Lol.)

 

I don't think we should trade for any of those guys unless we're winning the trade at like a Luka to Lakers level. And I don't think we should trade for Zion at any price. Doesn't stay on the court, doesn't fit with our defensive/hustle culture at all, totally redundant with Sengun and Amen.

I find this reporting hard to believe other than maybe the Booker part.

 

The Rockets story coinciding with what I would consider a soft trade demand from Giannis is interesting to me.
Iko is a useful mouthpiece for the Rockets organisation.
I think that the public cooling on these players from the Suns and Zion does not preclude the Rockets obtaining them. This is some public negotiation. The news about the Rockets being interested in Giannis is a pretty straight forward signal to him with the idea that if *he* wants the trade to happen, it will.

 

I think the Booker statement is complete baloney and represents posturing. There is no doubt in my mind the Rockets and Suns will have serious discussions about Booker. Rockets sorely need the upgrade and getting their draft picks back is a compelling way for the Suns to start a rebuild.

 

Jalen needs to be moved to the 6th man spot if he is here next year. Bring him off the bench. If he is "on" let him play and he can let it fly. If he is "off" then greatly limit his time on the floor.

 

If Giannas wants Houston then we make it happen. Period.

I've never been a big fan of Book. Durant for 2 years is cool as long as we don't give up much. Zion...his injuries just make it hard to get behind this.

 

Why would you need Artificial Insemination?

 

LOL from having all this interest to disinterest within a few months, yeah sure. They’d trade for Booker just as badly, just trying to get the price to go down

 

I don't believe that messaging they were fed. Green is on the block, they are going to make every call possible. They will say they are still in on Green to not tank his value. If they dont find anyone they will try to increase his value next season and move on as soon as possible unless he actually turns it around.

 

Send Jalen to the bench or lessen his expectation. I think targeting Quentin Grimes would make a lot of sense.

 

It is normal for him to earn less than 66 million dollars, a player who could not average 10 points in a 7-game series

 

The difference between Iko and a national writer like McMahon is that Iko can't call out BS when he hears it. That's the issue with singular source. If McMahon hears from the Rockets that they are souring on Booker, but hears from the Suns that the Rockets are presenting actual legit offers, he can see through the lies much better. And as a result, if the Rockets are giving McMahon info, they are more likely to be somewhat legit. To me that's why it's more important to listen to national writers. Because teams may not tell them as much they tell the local ones, but the ones that are out there have been screened to a certain extent.