Nice to see a little consensus forming about the new nucleus. Only thing that will be hard to predict will be trading away the vets. I love Cade Cunningham let me just say that now, i've been riding for the team to get him, but after watching KPJs game I want to surround him with supreme talent and allow him to run the show. For me starting 5 next year: Wood Kuminga or Mobley (if top pick) Tate Mason Jones (he's my wildcard next year) KPJ Bench: Wall (untradeable) Patton Martin JR Lamb Armoni Brooks Vet free agent #1 Vet free agent #2
I just don't share the Mason Jones love with many here. I just don't know that I'm buying him having the requisite athleticism for an nba rotation player. He had a really good shooting 2 week run (like pretty much everybody in the team at the time) but I don't think that's his baseline. I'm not sure he's even in the nba next season. I'd love to be wrong because it's be great to already have another piece in the team but I don't see it.
nothing we get for those spare parts will be as good as a lotto pick from Detroit for taking on Blake's contract. how bad would it really be to have him on the books for 1 year? are you planning on using $18M in cap space next summer on someone better than a lotto pick? you think trading vic, pj or whoever else gets you a lotto pick? will facilitating trades get you a lotto pick? I mean its not like Blake is on the books for 3 years like wall. its just next year. get the pistons to lower the restrictions from top 16 to top 4 for a couple years and enjoy a top 5-7ish pick. that player will be better than whatever other spare parts our spare parts can get us. I don't want a million late firsts, I'd rather have one lotto pick.
This D Jones kid on the Lakers looks like he could be a good rotational C. He is on a 10day right now. Do they have space to sign him to a deal or can we scoop him up after he done with his 10days with them? Long, agile, and active around the paint.
Gordon, Exum, Tucker & House ...for... Griffin and pick restrictions lifted & 3 SRP. These are better, same tier player as low FRP but on a team friendly contract. Great filler and/or building blocks xxxxxx NYK will overpay and have the cap space to do so for Oladipo and the rights to the contract ...for... Toppin, lottery one year removed in a position of need.
So is the consensus that we should only tank for this year? What if the new nucleus is good enough next year to get us into perpetual 10th-8th seed range?
Given how stacked the West is at this point, I doubt we will reach that point. There's no nucleus right now except for Christian Wood. When we trade everyone at the deadline, we will likely be the worst team in the league next year
I think it depends on your definition of tanking. If tanking is synonymous with losing then no. There is no getting around that this needs to be a complete rebuild around the few pieces that the Rockets have (Wood, Tate, KPJ and their draft pick stash). And it is going to take some time for that process to result in a good team/winning record. If tanking means actively trying to be bad so that you can rebuild then yes, this could be the only season. The hope is that the Rockets score a franchise player with the draft pick they earn by sucking to combine with the young players with potential they obtain by trading away their veterans. You add those pieces to Wood, Tate, KPJ et al and that is the team that they continue to add to and develop.
Agree, much depends on how well we do when Wood returns and then if lotto balls fall our way this year. I expect 2-3 years of building the roster to hopefully make us competitive again. As for championship caliber that's going to depend on development and who we can add to the roster, that could be 3-5 years.
I just wish that I had more confidence in management. Not only is TF considered, rightly or not, to be a cheap owner, but media reports seem to indicate that the franchise is his kid's hobby. Hopefully there are grownups in the room because the Rockets are in a really unique position to rebuild quickly and effectively. You will obviously have to wait to see the efforts bare fruit but the team could be turned around pretty fast if they play their cards right.
Works been crazy, just getting around to your plan. First, well done--very comprehensive and lots of good thoughts/ideas. A few questions and comments... - I'm good with keeping Patton and MJ around another year, but wouldn't be disappointed if we traded either - Agree, we're likely stuck with Wall and Gordon this season and maybe next - Jessup kid looks interesting--nice find (shooting 59% from 3pt range in Aussie league)--I like trade #1; interesting article on who he models his game after... https://sports.yahoo.com/warriors-justinian-jessup-reveals-nba-185820817.html - If Jessup is a Duncan clone, I'm not as excited about trade #2, but if we could send Dragic to a contender, then that would be more palatable - For #3, Knox provides a young guy who can contribute and would be someone we have a chance to develop - Appreciate the draft prospects, I'll look at each of them - Overall, I really like some of your trade ideas and the players we could get back (KZ, Robinson and Jessup) alone add youth, shooting and a little length. If MIA wouldn't give us DR, I'd take Precious. Thanks for your thoughts AW--nice work!
Had a hard time finding a home for Tucker and Exum. I feel moving Tucker should be priority 1 or 1b. After looking closer at New York, still with team salary in the $90M range. I would adjust that so we (Rockets) don't have to buyout a Frank Ktilikina (Restricted Free agent this off-season). Maybe Tucker for Noel or Reggie Bullock expiring contract. Plus pick(s). Hard because both of them are contributing for Knicks. But there was some friction between Nerlens and Thibs earlier, and Nerlens almost went to Houston this past offseason. Chance we could convince him to return if the fit is there. Find a separate home for Exum......Utah, do you want hm back? LoL. Thank you Sharky for your comments. It will be a work n progress since there are so many moving parts going forward.
I'll be honest Smooth, I cringe at the thought of Blake, but I get your line of thinking--find an opportunity to turn mud into gold. DET is trying to turn it around, and jettisoning Blake for contributors could do that, but I'd rather see younger promising players or more picks back in that deal. Not a Ball fan, but of that's best we can do I would look to send him to a third team. I like Horton-Tucker and if we can add some length in the draft of trades, he would be a nice addition. If we can get Collins for House and those picks, I'd be all over that. He gives us a nice compliment to Wood and someone that can carry on as the 5 if another injury occurs. Thanks for putting this together, its definitely a different approach than what I was thinking and we need to be looking at some wild cards.
Supposedly there are a lot of interested parties for Tucker, but if 3 2nd or 1 first is what we're holding out for, we'll likely not get it. A young player would be nice, but I agree we really need to find PJ a new home ASAP. I'm thinking he might be moved with VO as a get ready for a playoff run bundle from the Stone Store--we'll see.
Yes, but it's tough to couple the Tucker $8M contract with the Oladipo $21M without taking back really bad contracts. I've tried hard to find one. Let's hope for the best, 3rd team involvement. That's one thing I didn't try, because multi-team trades rarely come about. But it is possible.
Hemi, This is a creative approach and a little closer to helping Smooth make gold of that Grif mud. With the Mavs currently in 10th their pick is trending lotto. What protections would you anticipate on 22 pick from DET? Shedding both VO and EG salary and PT wise would be great. Grif could maybe be bought out, although TF would have to sell a casino. Thanks for the idea, I think it has merit... esp if VO doesn't turn it into high gear soon.
