We are rebuilding. All the aging players are on expiring contracts except for Scola and 1 year of Miller. A ton of young players and picks. Morey's been rebuilding since last year.
This. Getting a superstar player or nucleus is extremely difficult and unpredictable via either trade or draft. All you can do while you are waiting to get that cornerstone(s), is to acquire good, young talent to make it easier to do so. If that talent allows you to get to the playoffs and maybe win a series, then thats nice; and if that talent does not gel, and nets you a lottery pick then thats also nice. In both scenarios, the team's assets increase -- by having better developed & regarded players that can net more in trade or by having higher draft picks to draft someone or net someone in a trade. Rebuilding in this sense does not mean tanking. Tanking would be the method of choice if the organization is primarily attempting to run as a business with monetary issues and "deadlines" to win a title held in the highest regard. However, if you do not have a franchise player to get you that title, then that is foolish target which will almost never be achieved, and the team is setting themselves up to fail to get that player or overpay other players who will never live up to expectations. Morey has been able to build a team of young and marketable talent, multiple high draft picks, and serviceable veterans with expiring contracts. Of course he will say he is happy with the team he has now (he shows his hand to some extent if does not), but he very much understands the requirement of a superstar player (and closer) to win a title. As such, he knows that the current team is merely "a fill in" team waiting it out until he can acquire that player and have a true contender. No one is saying to tank, trade all the starters, or what not. Simply temper your expectations. Hope this team plays well, hard and hungry but realize that their glass ceiling is very likely the 2nd round of the playoffs if lucky (though not if they continue to shoot 3-pts and shots at the rim at some of the lowest percentages in the NBA and continue to fail to defend). Enjoy this season and the players, but do not get attached to them. If anything the struggles of the team in this situation and perseverance of the fans who still support the Rockets, underscores how difficult it is to construct a championship team and reinforces to the fans and organization to savor those events because they do not last or happen very often. This is why the parade is a huge deal, why the ring celebrations are corny, overdone, and take forever and why many fans rub it into everyones faces. This is why sports organizations that continually build/luck into dynasties or buy the best players are generally despised by many fans (Yankees, Celtic, Lakers, Cowboys, Manchester United); because they escape the years of failure and shattered dreams seemingly effortlessly. Having said this, this approach takes very disciplined management and patience by both the organization and the fans. But most of all, it boils down to luck.
