Was the plan with Brook Lopez always to play him WITH Alpi, not instead? Trade for a rim protector?

Brooke Lopez and Alpi would fit like a glove on offense because half of Lopez' shots are 3-pointers and the rest are either jumpers or put-backs from offensive rebounds. He would have no problem staying out of Alpi's way.

The problem is on defense. Against the constant barrage of PNRs in today's NBA, Rockets would be eaten up.

No matter how you look at it, Lopez would have cut into Alpi's minutes and probably slowed his development.

P.S: I say this as someone who thinks Brooke Lopez is a cool cat, with a great attitude and a sense of humor. With all that, he has a seriousness about basketball that would have complemented the Rockets' locker room.

 

I was all for getting Lopez and disappointed when he stayed put. We may have to settle for a player a bit different.

 

I was (and still am) convinced that the FO wanted to move Alp to the bench and with the right offer to another team. I do not believe they wanted Brooks and Alpi in the Starting line up. That was one of the reasons I was so happy we did not get Brooks. I do not think the Rockets FO saw how special Alperen was. Everything that we saw from the FO supports that the Rockets really did not see super star potential in Sengun. If they did see it, but still chose to play the way we did last year they are idiots.

 

I think Jeff Green syncs better offensively AND defensively with Aply than Lopez would have.

Sure, it is a 1 year only thing, but what a great old head for developing Alpy (and Jabari), and it gives us a year to find the right 12-18m backup big. We have 5 2nd rounders in the next 2 drafts - perhaps we could use some of them to sweeten a deal for a player making around Landale's salary (he may prove useful after all!)

 

No Jabari would have been the SF. Ive said it before, he is similar to MPJ of Denver. Jabari showed it in Summer League and again last night, that he can guard on the perimeter.

We would have been a big team, similar to Minnesota with Gobert and K.A.T

People want him to bulk

 

Brook Lopez moved up from No. 123 to No. 122 in the scoring all-time list after passing Pete Maravich
Source: HoopsHype

 

You think Bari starts over Brooks under Ime? I seriously doubt it.

 

I'd say the FO saw star potential from Sengun, but were really scared of his defense and didn't have him as having the most potential among young guys. The FO traded for the pick to draft him because they saw home run potential. The FO took a lot of home run swings not knowing which one(s) would pay off.

 

For what it’s worth, Jabari has two more blocks on the season than Alpe does…

I don’t think Lopez was coming here to be anything other than the starter. Maybe it was just the wake up call Alpe needed?

Hard to imagine a better fit on paper between Alpe and Jabari. Especially the player Jabari is going to be once he’s 23 years old, has hit the weights and has more experience.

The need for a shot blocker is, in my mind, one that comes off the bench. One who isn’t necessarily going to add much on offense, just won’t give it away on defense. Hold the fort until the big fella catches his breath and is ready for more.