With the signing of MDA, Anderson and Gordon (ie all offense and no defense), I figure the Rockets aren't really trying win or perhaps even make a deep playoff run next year. They are trying to re-brand Harden. The only way the Rockets become serious free agent contenders next year, and be able to retain Harden the year after, is to improve Harden's image across the league. Ie rebrand him and get him back to the MVP runner up level (or players choice MVP) that he was in 2014-15. So yes, he has to play defense, but more importantly he's got to appear to be more of a team player. And that comes from having shooters next to him that can take advantage of his penetration/iso kick-outs and are great spot-up shooters. And that's why we're gambling on the oft-injured Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon instead of spending the cap space on defensive centers. Because we're not going to win any time soon, why bother trying to field a team aiming to win? And with the salary cap probably going up another $40-50m over the next 2 years, Anderson and Gordon being below 30 will be easily tradable at their current contracts. So the plan is to get MDA to improve the offense, and put Harden in the Linsanity role. To get shooters around Harden to make him look like a team player that players would want to play with again. And run an offense players would like to play in. And worry about defense later. And hopefully during this process, rebrand Harden's image and make him someone players around the league want to play with again, and make the Rockets a free agent destination again. And to do this before Harden considers leaving the Rockets in free agency. This means, we won't be rebuilding any time soon. And we won't be winning any time soon. The team's focus will be on rebuilding Harden's image and making the Rockets an attractive destination again. The downside ... if this isn't done correctly, we may end up enabling Harden even more than he has been over the past couple of seasons.
We are basically done for imo. There is no hope. The next 5 years will all be OKC vs Cavs and when they are done a new superteam rivalry will take over.
I'd rather at this point have a D-League team and cheap tickets. We're not even going to compete, let alone win for the foreseeable future.
i generally agree. this season is about changing the attitude and culture of the team while hoping to win a few more games and using all of that to change the perception of the team away from the disaster that it is now. there were no championships moves to be had this offseason, might as well try to fix things enough to make them possible in future offseasons.
I'm excited about this team. Those Suns teams were fun to watch. If the Rockets coach can work out the problems with the playoffs we can go really far.
I 100% agree. The team the Rockets should try to model after is last years Blazers. That team became beloved and widely respected with how they rebounded after losing LMA, and because of their unselfish play.
Definitely, and one part of that plan is to win him the MVP and first team accolades I think they'll be mostly successful at it... just need to pay off some ESPN people as well
Although the stripes on my nails indicate that I should be taking heart medication I don't take any drugs. I've had them for a very long time and ive had heart palpitations for a long time, since I was a child. But I don't blame that on anyone. Most 'help' people give me is disguised as torture. Drugs are a copout.
Ehhhh.... might be a fun team to watch, but I really have no high hopes at this point... hopefully the team can at least look somewhat organized...
You're thinking too hard. We had poor shooters. Everyone that isnt a crap fan knows harden isnt selfish and is a good passer. He'd paas and tbey couldnt hit threes. Common sense= we need shooters. And im not sure where you get they're not trying to win...if there is anything we know is that they are trying to win..thats why we're in this mess to begin with and not with all these high picks looking to develop. Our center spot is worse, for now, but other than that we've improved. If we can get a solid center signing there's no reason we cant be in the playoffs again.
I don't think you can rebrand and change perceptions in one offseason. It takes along time to build a reputation, but only a short time to lose it. We've done the later and it's not just the poor showing in the court. its also about perceived volatility and instability within the organization. It's gonna take more than one season to change that; it's wishful thinking to assume otherwise.