I don't know about that , cold be sooner or .... not. So much depends upon how the lottery balls fall this year and how KPJ develops as a distributor .... Then KMJ & Tate improving their 3 point percentage and you've got a hell start with those guys and Wood , one more 3D guy and you've got your starting 5 set. Wood KPJ KMJ Tate Draft pick Wall You find two more quality rotation guys and they might make the playoffs next year .... Financially that's not out of the realm of possibility either as they'll have the full MLE and a large TPE to add guys in the ~$10m range. They could also retain Olynyk via bird rights - he's a rotation worthy 5 that can shoot the 3 , defend & rebound. It's not likely all the dominoes fall into place but its not crazy to think they could be the 8 seed next year ..... Unicorns farting rainbows ? ... probably.
While it's interesting to discuss free agency and potential targets, everything about our ownership from the past couple of years leads me to believe that whatever we do, it will somehow have cost savings implications as much of, if not more, for the reason behind it than anything else
Sign Jabari Parker. Still 26, Rockets need to acquire/sign every young talented former lottery pick they can get their hands on. Praying for top 4 pick is 50-50. Those are not good odds, need more than one strategy.
Malik Monk could be an interesting one. He's starting to catch on at the end of his rookie deal. Hornets may be reluctant to commit having Rozier/Lamelo/Graham
Still say there is no harm taking flyer on Jabari Parker. Better than Kelly Olynyk especially if on a prove it contract.
Current version of Jabari is nowhere near Olynyk’s level. Olynyk is actually a useful player that can contribute to winning. He can play next to Wood or be the backup 5. Parker, when healthy, is an inefficient volume scorer that does nothing else. Think of a lesser version of today’s Melo. Occasionally, he’ll get hot and put up numbers. But he’s not interested in the game, he doesn’t put effort in improving. He’s happy to just use his natural talent and get them checks.
I'd like to see him in a 5 out offense. And there is no risk if he is signed to vet contract for remainder of season. Parker still has untapped upside. Olynyk is what he is, a 29 year old journeyman.
We will have lots of roster spots, but not actually a lot of money coming off the books. Olynyk and Exum come off the books at 12.2 and 9.6, but after that the highest paid players that will no longer be under contract (unless they and the Rockets agree to an extension) will be DJ Wilson and Ben McLemore. We won't have much flexibility with free agents until Wall and Gordon are off the books. The salary we're committed to for 2022-23, even with all of those roster spots opening, is just over 98 million. Coincidentally, that's right about the minimum allowable salary. The cap itself is just a hair under 110. Meaning, in order to sign a 35 million dollar max player, we'd need our payroll to be 35 million under 110. If we get lucky and keep our pick and are able to draft a top 4 guy, we will be on the line for another 6-8 million in guaranteed contracts. Picks in from 20-30 range from 2.15 to 1.6 million in guaranteed salary and it looks like we will likely pick up a few of those guys too. So by the time the draft is over, there is a fair chance we'll be at or around the cap. We will still have the usual MLE and, of course, they may be able to reduce salary by finding a buyer for Eric Gordon or, PLEASE GOD, John Wall, but otherwise there is no possibility that we're bringing in a top tier free agent. And that's without even considering the fact that no top tier free agent is going to want to join a bottom of the league team. Nope. It's MLE, rookie scale and league minimum contracts we'll be filling our roster with. Pray for the following: !. The draft goes our way. 2. The organization is able to identify and bring over the next Beverley or Tate from overseas or a G Leaguer ready to take the next step. because those are going to be our best options in the offseason. *edit: they can also possibly add salary by taking in a player utilizing one of their many trade exceptions, but do we really think cheap ass Tillman is doing that?
D-rock? Really? What would Parker do for this team except take shots away from Wood and KPJ. What good strategy has you signing Jabari Parker?
He is a very skilled big and still only 26. Rockets need 4/5 that can pass, rebound and score on all 3 levels. Not suggesting signing him for big money but vet min. Rockets need to take fliers on as many failed lottery picks because no legit FA wants anything to do with Houston right now. Never a fan of Jabari either primarily because of his inconsistent defense, but he has the ability when locked in.
I've been seeing this around and I think people are still misunderstanding buyouts. Buyouts don't give you any cap space. It's essentially a waive but the player gives back some real world money to the owner. The Pistons will still have 30+M of cap space locked up for Blake Griffin next season even if he plays for someone else. Basketball wise, buy outs are completely useless, all they do is save some money for the owner. If we buyout Wall, that 40M is just locked in for the next 3 years and we can't even trade it.
