Ergo, we are risking losing D-Mo or T-Jo and/or Capela and Papa for a declining player who may leave the team at the end of this season? Even for a paltry salary of $2+M, does this really seem wise?
I don't think he has that planned out. Otherwise why bring over Papa? Or draft Capela in the first place? Those things happen out of the blue... now we have to deal with the remains meaning clear roster spots
DMo should be a keeper. Capela is 3-4 years away. With Brewer & Smith here now Pap will likely get Garcia's minutes. If Zoki is involved in a Gogi trade that's another SG/SF on the roster anyway and then there's Gentile who the Rockets tried to sign this year.
Rockets are in win now mode, and Morey doesn't have a crystal ball. I'm sure if he had known Josh Smith was going to fall into his lap that some offseason moves would have been different.
The Rockets won't be "risking" anything unless they choose to. If any of these guys are gone, it will most likely be because the Rockets choose to trade them for value. And the Rockets certainly don't have to make a decision on these guys right now. They have plenty of time to work with Smith, see him up close, and figure out whether he is indeed "declining" and whether he is worth keeping around over the other guys.
When you consider who the bloviating naysayers are here at Clutchfans regarding this signing, you have to be reassured it is the right thing.
I'm still so stoked this happened. Usually, we're not the team getting strong, veteran talent at a low risk in the middle of the season. That's been reserved for teams like the Clippers, Heat, and Spurs over the last few years. I really think we're going to look back on this move as the one that put us over the top in the Western Conference (unless of course, we trade for Dragic!).
Don't know how anyone could dislike this move. This is the pure definition of low risk high reward move. The only risk involved is if he punches Harden in the face or something.
Last year as this time, there was a rumored Asik for smith deal and we would had to give smith a huge contract. Now we have a lottery pick and smith now. Amazing how being patient works for us
