Let's all be clear about what we just saw. We just lost by 3 points and Amen, The Chosen One, was a -17 in plus/minus, the worst on the team by far. He got 9 more minutes than the guy he replaced in the starting lineup, Jabari, who was second on the team at +6. It's a team game and, right now, the team is much worse with Amen on the floor - that's the fact jack. Do I think Amen still has a lot of potential? Yep. But he is far from untouchable.
That Jalen Green extension is going to be brutal. We need to trade him in the offseason while he still has value. He isn’t the answer in the playoffs.
Au contraire mon frère! The Jalen extension is brilliant. He's the salary ballast we need to include with all our juicy picks when we trade for a star.
KD > Giannis imo bc of fit. My only question is… Could the Rockets trade FVV, Jock and the PHX 25 pick for KD and still have the NT MLE for Adams? I think the Rockets are kinda stuck with Jalen for now and we just have to hope for the best. Amen/Reed/Holiday Jalen/Cam Brooks/Tari KD/Bari Sengun/Adams Fill in the rest with vet FAs (Tate) or young players (Dante).
I agree KD is the best option. He’s the next bridge to phase 3. A actual super star compared to Fred but will cost the least in core pieces. A perfect 1-2 bridge for Amen, Green, Sengun or somebody to step up I’d be amazed if we could keep Tari, Brooks, and Jabari. I would keep Jabari and Brooks but Jabari above all I’d probably start Jabari > Brooks for development purposes and to get youngins minutes next year
I expected it .... this is what we've seen pretty much all season. No way he should be on this roster next season.
If Giannis is picking his location .... what other teams can offer really doesn't matter, they'll take whatever poo platter that the Spurs can cobble together .... and they do have the 2nd most #1 picks. It's quite obvious that these stars go where they want to .... If he says trade me to SA, then SA it is.
I’m just not sure this is the case. He’ll give the Bucks his top three locations, and the Bucks will pick the best offer from those.
I actually think it depends entirely on how they feel about the situation. I can't be the only person who had a perception that at one point Giannis looked like he'd be a Buck for life. I could easily see the organisation getting extremely upset/offended if he does ask out, they may not send him where he wants at all, they may just realise they have one of the most valuable pieces in the league and gouge a team for as much as they can get regardless of where he ends up. If that's the case then he's the Thunders if they want him, nobody else can compete.
I just don't see Amen as the best PG option. How many starting point guards can't hit 3 PT shots or free throws?
I hear you and I have the same hesitation with this move. The Rockets would have to be confident that Reed is ready to contribute 20+ minutes per night off of the bench or look to bring in a vet min back up. Neither is a very attractive option imo but I don’t see practices and don’t know how much Reed has progressed.
Brooks is still the better starting option as he is the better defender. Jabari’s versatility off of the bench is a huge positive. I wouldn’t be so quick to move anyone from the forward rotation. It is one of the reasons the rockets are so good on defense right now. The best defensive team the rockets ever had was in large part bc of 3 dominant defensive forwards (Ariza, Tucker and Luc). It is a recipe for success and I would hold onto all 4 from the current squad as long as possible.
Conceptually, I do think the Thunder are in the best position to get him. But I only think that IF they are willing to give up Chet and/or JDub. If they are reluctant to do that, I'm not sure who can beat our potential package of Sengun + picks (if we decide to do that).
The Bucks do not have their own draft pick until 2031. Even if they want to do right by Giannis, they simply can’t afford to accept a poo poo platter for him. They package will have to include a young foundational piece + picks.
Oh I agree we're probably #2, but our offer is going to have to include at least Sengun or Amen, whereas I think they can actually probably do it without including any of their top guys - they really do have that many assets, it's insane. People dreaming of getting him for Jalen and bits are on drugs though.
