If the Rockets can't move up to get a player from 17 in the draft, they should offer it to the Knicks plus Nwaba for Cam Reddish. Edit: I'm having second thoughts, I didn't know until just know that Reddish is out with a separated right shoulder injury. I like his skill set. @ApacheWarrior
If the Rockets select Dieng with the Nets pick, he should be kept in the NZ league for another year with an easy buyout. I'm also somewhat interested in offering OKC the 17th pick for Poku. They love picks, and Presti changes his mind.
I think something like this may very well be the plan if we draft a big with our 1st pick. By not taking late round picks when offered for Gordon and Wood, i think Stone signaled that he wanted our current crop plus our no. 1 this year to have time to percolate if he can get a big either in the draft or through trade. Dieng would be a great guy to hide for a year.
Seems like every session I hope Knicks will be a trade partner with the Rockets. CP3 then Westbrook then Wall then/now Eric Gordon. For a couple of months, deep down I'm hoping for a deal involving Cam Reddish and Nerlens Noel. *Cam Reddish was not wanted by Thibs, so Thibs didn't play Cam after the trade went through. Previous season per 36-minutes with Hawks: 18.9 pts...3.8 rebs...1.7 Ast...1.6 stls...90% (FT%)...37.9% (3P%)...6.9 (3PA) Cam was 38.9% on catch-n-shoot 3's this season 3P DFG% of 31.2% this season, may need some work with interior defense. Likes the left Corner 3 (we need left corner 3 shooters) 21/22: 57.7% 20/21: 57.1% This season was: Lt Corner 3....57.7% Rt Corner 3....33.3% ____________________________________ *Nerlens Noel wanted to come to Houston but C Wood got more money as we had to out bid another team. Joined the Knicks but has publicly shown he does not care for Thibs authoritarian style. I said Houston would offer Noel money in free agency (prior)......come to find out Houston did or would but Nerlens Noel agent did not return our calls according to the lawsuit Noel filed against his representation at the time. LeBron's buddy. Noel still favors Houston and could work that "Dunker Spot" Nathan Fogg and @D-rock were speaking about the other day. Noel can set screens all over the court as well. Better option than WCS in free agency imo....Silas may disagree. Less than 6 feet DFG%: 21/22.......54.9% 20/21.......56.5% 3P DFG%: 21/22.......44.0% 20/21......27.5% _______________________ So if the Rockets incorporate more zone defense like I believe they will, Nerlens Noel helps defend the interior while Cam Reddish at 6'8" can help defend the perimeter. Rockets were 4th worst in DF% in less than 6 feet at 65.7% Rockets were middle of the pack at 15th in DFG% from 3 with 35.2%. Works on the trade machine Eric Gordon x Cam Reddish/Nerlens Cam is 22 y/o and fits our timeline.
17 is too high of a price even if he was healthy because he will be a FA after next year. The Rockets will have a ton of space to pursue him.
Thanks, but his contract will only be 5.9 M right now. I'm having second thoughts because of his shoulder injury. Jalen Johnson is less experienced, he is healthy. It might be worth going after him.
It might be better to trade it for a 1st round pick in 2023, if there is no one left worth pursuing. I do think Stone might find a useful role player though eg Kessler.
This is probably the biggest concern! ((A 6'10 all court defender who has silky point guard skills is an asset to any team that can surround him with 3 point shooters. Sure, he passed off on that open layup, but Thybulle should have had an "and-1" (or at least hit a FT). It was far from a dead possession... Still!)) Simmons countryman (and good friend) Jonah Bolden is not playing NBA - not because he doesn't have the skills (he certainly does), but because he seems to enjoy trading crypto. He created his own firm, and is worth a LOT. Sure, he could make a few mill per year playing basketball (in the NBA or Europe), but he makes more in crypto, and prefers it. That's my concern on Simmons... his friend can make him money, is his heart really there to play basketball?? Another of Ben Simmons "countryman friends" is Nick Kyrgios - a world number 1 tennis talent who will never get there because he just doesn't care. He plays the game for a job... again - what kind of influence is that?
He would be cheap for the first year but if he plays well you have to pay him next off-season. In their current state the Rockets are much better off taking a player like Sochan, Brown, Daniels, Agbaji, Eason, or Dieng who they can develop on the cheap.
I would be happy with Jabari and Agbaji. Then over the next few years you search far and wide to get a few of the better front court defensive players and the team would be set.
