If I could pick the perfect realistic-ish off-season 1) Gordon for Turner 2) Re-sign Green Bruno and Rivers Keep MLE for mid season additions unless Crowder is available at that cost. Russ/Rivers Harden/Ben House/Nwaba RoCo/ PJ Turner/Green/Bruno
A G-leaguer as the 3rd guard would work if the timing of the rotation is done right. We don’t need and/or afford “name” players to play roles for our team. We need replacement/playable type players to fill in the holes. A successful all-star type G-leaguer is a serviceable role player. These type of players on team friendly long term contracts is our answer. We lock them up and then move them as sweetener in larger trades. Most anyone will get the Harden rub and look better than they really are.
Look. We’re probably not going to swing a blockbuster trade. We’re probably not going to have a major makeover. We just got to try our best at being nine deep next year, meaning we add two solid players on top of what we have, one preferably with size. I’m fine with adding to Harden Westbrook EG House PJ Roco Jeff Green. We won’t be favourites, but there isn’t a realistic scenario where we will be. Who had the Heat as title contenders this year? Literally nobody. I don’t even believe Jimmy when he says he believed. Look at their rotation: Jimmy Bam Dragic Herro Robinson Crowder Iggy Olynyk. That’s 8 deep and on some nights Nunn or Derrick Jones Jr count. People like Rivers (if kept) and Ben should only be used in unusual circumstances. House needs to keep his dick in his pants. Adding Gerald Green does not count as a rotational player. One more example: 2018. CP3, Harden, Ariza, PJ, Clint, EG, Luc, Nene, Gerald Green, Ryno. Yes those last few names are weak but I put them along with a Nunn or Derrick Jones Jr caliber. If we do add two names to that roster with little money will we be as good as this Heat team or the 2018 Rockets? Probably not but who knows. With the right coach and the luck that every NBA champion needs when they win, sometimes it just works. We were a top 8 team with the our season ending with missing a bench player, playing an unusual style that wasn’t tested for long, and our second best player having the worst playoff performance ever.
If Rockets trade for 2 centers in Bamba/Turner for Gordon/House then the Rockets need to target a 3rd playmaker/scorer behind Harden and Westbrook. Good target to chase to replace Gordon IMO is Jeff Teague. Playmaker/Scorer FA: Jeff Teague, DJ Augustin, Alec Burks PG: Westbrook, Teague, Rivers, Clemons SG: Harden, McLemore, G.Green SF: Covington, Nwaba, J.Simmons PF: Tucker, J.Green C: Turner, Bamba, Bolden Always have elite rim protection on the court with Turner/Bamba protecting the paint and Covington/Nwaba being the weak side help. Plus Harden/Westbrook will have two viable lob threats...not Capela level but an option sorely missed. Test out during the season how well Turner/Bamba can play together starting with small bursts with enough of a sample size to see if analytics can prove they can coexist, especially around garbage time.
If Houston cannot get another big to form big 3 without trading harden or wb. Harden or westbrooks may trade with nuggets or Sixers or nets to get another all stars and good players or 1st picks.
PG Harden SG Russ (etc) PLEASE!! Anyone who puts their lineup with Harden at SG is demonstrating they haven't watched the Rockets I years. (And yes, I know Russ is a bad option as a 2, and overpaid as a backup PG - but that is the route we took by going all in on Dantoniball. Sux. But it is what it is)
Just looking at heat and celtics statistics, Houston better builds a team with 2 people can score 20 points + and 4 people can score 10 points+ and the bench is able to get around altogether at least 20 points. It is better than only one or two people are able to shoot. In playoff, the refs will not give more fouls for shooting. It is better to employ the new coach quickly and then decide the future of transformation
I think we’ll get a third star for sure. Bc of how desperate we are to win. But Morey is gonna have a hard time finding vets willing to take the veterans minimum to come here.
Negative 1000 lateral movement. Positive 1000 abused on switches. A 4 is a 3 and a 3 is a 4. There is no chance in hell Myles F’ing Turner is going to be a Forward on a championship team in today’s NBA. Hell, this year’s Rockets would absolutely shred this team of yours to pieces.
I agree. Myles Turner is going to be THE CENTER on our championship team. It's LONG SHOT, but like the Otto Porter Movement of 2018, where there is a will there is a way. Until Turner is traded elsewhere, I'm keeping hope alive. Eric Gordon + 2 2nd Round Picks for Myles Turner. Why would Indiana trade a young defensive big who spreads the floor? #1 He and Sabonis are both under contract long term. #2 They don't fit together. Both are modern fives. #3 Myles Turner alluded to this in his post game presser after being swept by the Heat. He says that it took a long time for them to gel but they figured it out, but then speaks about enjoying playing alone. #4 They have to pay Oladipo, paying two bigs isn't best for team building #5 They don't have a secondary scorer next to Dipo, Turner is not that guy. Maybe Warren is? #6 Sabonis is probably the better player of the two acting as a playmaker in the post. #7 Turner has kind of stagnated and hasn't taken the jump Pacers fans expected. He's still an iffy offensive player outside of having an above average three point shot. He hasn't proven he can be an elite rebounder. In the series vs the Heat, he definitely showed some talent there but it was a sweep. #8 The Pacers have lost in the first round of the playoffs five years in a row. It's time for a change somewhere. They fired Nate, maybe a personnel change comes next? So we have established that Turner is LIKELY traded. There will be other suitors. Boston and Golden State will likely have interest. MDA being hired by Indy would put us in first place. He loves Eric. Why would Indiana want Eric Gordon? #1 He'd instantly be their second option on offense. #2 Brogdon needs to play SF, he has quickness and size for the position. #3 Dipo needs to play PG. To completely get the best out of him you need the ball in his hand. #4 That would create a hole at the SG spot if both 2/3 are true. The PF spot is set with TJ Warren and the C is set with Sabo. Eric balances their starting lineup and gives them some different looks using Lamb, McConnell and Dougie Buckets. #5 Eric Gordon is a home town hero. #6 Eric Gordon fits in defensively with that team. #7 MDA needs to be the hire for them to believe all of this. If MDA is hired, it's time to trade Eric. #8 Eric, while slightly overpaid is cost controlled and allows them to pay Dipo while making sure the other positions are taken care of. #9 They need a guy who wants touches, a guy who wants to take all of the big shots Why would Houston want Myles Turner? #1 He spreads the floor with size #2 HE provides rim protection we've missed without Clint. #3 He is a great chemistry type player. #4 HE is under team control for three years #5 He has shown some growth on defending on the switch #6 he's young and has star-upside, something we haven't had since Harden came to town. #7 He doesn't need touches to be successful. #8 He is willing to do what it takes to take his game to the next level. Why would the Rockets trade Eric if he's so good? #1 he doesn't fit with Russell Westbrook and most players wouldn't. He thrives as the second option. Playing next to CP3 and James Harden, he was that second guy when the team needed a bucket. It's why he was paid an exorbitant amount. He earned it. He may be inconsistent but when he's on, he's one of the best scorers in the NBA. I'm not sure why Morey extended him after trading for Russ unless a trade for this season was always the plan. Just remember, last year, EGo was ineligible to be traded due to the extension. Eric needs to be the second option and the way that MDA used him last year (as a SF in the starting lineup over House) was an absolute disgrace. IF Eric stays, he needs to be relegated back to sixth man. He will be a sixth man of the year candidate if he accepts the role. He thrives as the second option and the Rockets failed to use him as such all last year. #2 The Rockets need size. Most teams in the NBA can use Eric Gordon, in fact, I'd wager that 30/30 teams would play him at least 25 MPG. The Rockets aren't hurting because he's playing, they are hurting because they need versatility and without a big who can spread the floor, the Rockets will always be incomplete. Eric is our most likely trade piece to bring in a game changing big man. Maybe the Rockets should keep him? There is a reasonable argument for keeping Eric. His value isn't high and it will get higher if he's used properly. He's an elite perimeter defender and was once an elite shooter. His health is a huge question mark and will remain as such for the remainder of his career. If the Rockets could keep him healthy (they've done it before), it's possible he's more valuable to this team as a player than an asset for now and later could be used as an asset to bring in a good piece as his value is raised. Turner is unlikely and I hope the team doesn't just dump Eric to save money.
Great points! But Turner would still be my 3rd or 4th trade target. Just not switchable enough, nor does he provide as much offense or even playmaking as EGo. Or even House. Would still rather sign Aron Baynes with MLE and trade EGo/House for another defensively switchable playmaking forward like Aaron Gordon. Getting 2 need players instead of 1. Russ/McLemore Harden/Nwaba RoCo/PJ AG/Green Baynes/Bruno https://clutchpoints.com/magic-orlando-needs-to-explore-trades-for-aaron-gordon/ Another option is Kelly Oubre in 3-4 team EGo trade package. And still sign Aron Baynes and/or another small trade of House for Bamba. Russ/McLemore Harden/Nwaba Oubre/PJ RoCo/Green Baynes/Bamba
Gordon, Tucker, Moute for Love works in the espn trade machine. You know what? Roll the dice and go for it. Starting 5 Westbrook, Harden, House, Covington, Love Bench has a few options at guard still but really need to bolster forward/center depth with any remaining asset.
We would be so cap locked with no chance of ever getting better If/when something happens. Love was a great player but his age, health and contract make this a hard choice. Trading Harden would be our only asset for the future. Russ and Love are very high cost win now players. I think there are better moves that can be made for both now and the future
It would obviously come after all 3 guys greenlight it. Even limited as they might be in making moves, maybe they develop chemistry and I think all 3 are 31ish so next 3ears being locked into 2 MVPs and a champion. Could be worse. This is the time to shoot for the moon. If it falls part at least you tried.
