That's not how any sane GM would calculate, you're basically betting your future and gambling on a bunch of extremely unlikely what-ifs adding up together. If you are looking at ways to improve the future of this franchise, the flexibility of a draft pick is a much better and safer way to improve the team. And as others said, getting sluaghtered by GSW in consecutive games could have very negative consequences for the FA period, as good players wouldn't to join a team with a flawed roster and basically no odds of contending in the near future.
It would still be better than not making the playoffs. everyone expects us to get trounced so nothing lost there. Not making the playoffs is an embarrassment not FA of any worth wants to join.
Any fan that's betting is gonna lose their shirt. But at least they have a team they want to win, rather than lose to collect another "asset".
Everyone expects us to get trounced by a historically dominant team, no surprise there. We break even. Show some heart and now you have a chance to get some interest swinging your way, demonstrate this season was an aberration rather than the norm.
making the playoffs without a winning record isn't something to be proud of. so in this case for the rockets, making the playoffs or not has very little bearing on FA's
We're still in the Murphy's Law lane, where we back into the 8th seed and get swept, losing our morale, our prestige, AND our draft pick. Hope it doesn't happen. But when I bet against Mr. Murphy, I often lose.
George Karl should not travel with the team too, knowing that he is going to be fired after this game, so King would rest the head coach too.
Now Gay has also been ruled out......lets not mess around and finish this team early. GS here we come
Watch the Rockets think they're hot sh** after beating a team without their whole starting lineup to get into the playoffs. I bet after the game we will hear quotes from our players saying we've turned it on and turned the corner.
that and a bunch of posters are going to get all excited for the 4 games hou is going to play next week.
I highlighted all the hyperbole in your post. None of that is true to such an extreme level. But, I really want to point out the last comment, "good players wouldn't want to join a team with a flawed roster and basically no odds of contending in the near future." -- Yung-T How does that also not apply to us if we fail to make the playoffs...because a 12th pick with zero NBA games played will sway a FA...lols. That statement is indeed true, because it can be backed by historical precedence that shows worthwhile FAs rarely change teams to a non-playoff team, even ones with fresh top picks and current and recent 1st Team Rookies. Those who are after just money, tend to resign with their own team. Those looking to align with a contender, a unproven 12th pick is not going to sway them. So, you just made our point about how playoffs is always a good thing. The only question is whether the value in FA attraction and increasing trade value of our role players showcased in the playoffs is equal to a 12th pick. That's the debate. Playoffs most certainly don't have zero value (much less negative value that you tried unsuccessfully to state). There are many cases (several each year) of a role-player having one great game (if not a solid series) and even in a loss their value increases temporarily to overrated status. All "sane GMs" know that.
