Can’t help but think how different this rebuild would look had the front office focused on a Orlando/OKC style approach: length, size, high IQ, two-way players. An approach, that could easily have been incorporated with 3 simple decisions: — Kept Jarrett Allen — Drafted Evan Mobley — Drafted Quentin Grimes *Left out players like Franz, Herb Jones, etc. because those weren’t realistic considerations at our draft slots. We also had interest in Grimes: The building blocks would have been: Core: Scoot Henderson* (top 5 2023 FRP) Jabari Smith Evan Mobley Jarrett Allen Supporting pieces: Tari Eason KJ Martin Quentin Grimes Kevin Porter Jr This could’ve been a very realistic outcome, with a bright future ahead, and no question marks defensively long-term (Sengun, Green). Depressing to think about.
It’s a butterfly affect where one decision is changed and it would have completely altered everything. Jarrett Allen being part of the deal coming back to Houston and then keeping him long term likely means that Sengun certainly is not drafted using 2 first round picks… a hefty price to pay if you aren't going to ever give him a real chance as a starting 5. I love Sengun but I’m certainly not one of the growing chorus here who think he is the cornerstone of the franchise moving forward. Just this one move alone being changed(Allen in the deal) completely alters not just the dynamics of the roster but the entire fan experience. I do feel like the pick package from the Nets was still the way to go and while Oladipo didn’t work out, if the goal is to tank for top 3 talents, Allen and LaVert coming likely means you aren’t getting Jalen, Jabari, whoever we get this Summer, and certainly means we don’t draft Sengun the way we did. With the Harden trade every move differently conceived unravels everything so as critical as I’ve been of Stone lately, it’s hard to really speaks in absolutes that he could have had this guy or that guy even though in some cases like Mobley… yeah… he still could have had him instead of Jalen. Then that still means we don’t like take Jabari etc etc. If you are of the Stones mindset (don’t get what you want/get what you need) I guess this fanbase was just spoiled the last 40 years and needed some suffering.
So you think we would've had Allen and still got a top pick? So you think we could've gotten Mobley and Allen and still get a top pick? So you think we could've gotten Mobley, Allen, and Jabari Smith and still get a top pick (Scoot)? So basically your alt reality is still a bottom 3 team as of now or are we just getting lucky into these picks?
Again, I feel the draft is rigged and the Thunder know it. League is not going to let them have both Chet and Wembanyama. The league is not going to let little OKC corner the market on Uber thin phenoms like them. NBA will not take a chance of the Thunder being a ruling dynasty in the NBA for the next 15 years. They don't need Scoot Henderson with all their guards like SGA, Dort, Giddy, 6'5" Jalen Williams has been a stud. Thunder are trying to win where as the Rockets are not. ________ P Fertitta has always had a guard driven fetish. Harden with CP3 Harden with Westbrook Harden with Wall Wall with Oladipo (Stone said he always wanted Dipo but I think P Fertitta pushed Allen for Dipo) Wall with Green (added KPj.......and then Christopher because someone saw Jrue Holiday) Now KPj with Green. I'm ok with big guards at one and two for switch everything defense and everyone facilitate....but I liked Jarrett Allen over Oladipo rental. Would we be so well off with Green and Jabari though if not for everything that has transpired? Holding on to Wood and Eric Gordon as long as we did was a mistake.....but watch our GM turn it to gold as he is rumbling, bumbling, fumbling his way to success. Much like that Pink Panther character in the movies. P.S. I still say Portland wins the Wemby sweepstakes as a reward to Dame for staying in Portland and not demanding a trade......but San Antonio has become a dark horse. The NBA loves them some Popovich.
How about have the exact same team, just swap Green for Mobley? Go with Sengun Mobley Smith/Tari KJ KPJ At least defensively, that team is a LOT better.
Mobley is one of the best defensive players in the league already, there's no need to speculate like with Smith or Green about what they might become once they stop being terrible at basketball. Also, why can't you have Sengun and Mobley? Sure, one or both of them would have to put in the work at the 3 point line to make the fit better, but both seem to play well next to other big men.
All these wishcasting threads, be they in the GARM or D&D, are just ways of not accepting the reality of our world. And right now, this team is showing no arc of progress. Some players are up, some are down but it's not within the team concept. It's just guys trying or not, learning from self-study or not. The fact is, this is a bad organization that excuses losing and instilling losing habits as part of the pursuit of evermore draft picks. If only we get the next guy, then we'll be winners! No. You can't rebuild without a sound foundation and this is the time for that foundation work--culture, identity, team. But it's not happening. This is an organization that throws a very young team out there every night and thinks there is no need for a even a league average point guard. And don't give me KPJ stats and claim he's a PG. PGs control the game, the pace, and their team. They make the right decisions. They understand the flow and how their team is playing. They understand the personalities on the team and know how to push the play to get the best result. We are not close to having a PG or a coach and we expect things to be different if we just draft a front court player? 30 Wolves points were scored off of turnovers. 30 points. That's a good NBA quarter's worth of points that were gifted to the opposing team. Different draft picks aren't making a difference. Coaching will. Good PG play will. So, until we address those two major flaws, none of this could have, should have stuff matters and given our current situation, it's not even a fun exercise. It just shows how pathetic this organization is and how much player development is being stunted and team identity forsaken.
Quentin Grimes is better than any player currently on the Rockets. Mobley/Allen is great for 4/5 seed. Redundant pieces. Mobley here would be like Jabari now. This team's problems are administrative. Not talent.
Mobley on this team would play like Othella. Very easy with a defensive center and all stars and pgs. Veterans around u. this coaching style and leadership sucks.
We wouldn’t have had as good of a chance at a top 3 pick with Mobley on our team last year. Jalen was pretty critical for the tank. And if somehow the lottery played out exactly the same we might have drafted Ivey or done something like trade down to draft Murray. But we could have walked out of the 2021 draft with Mobley, Sengun, and Grimes which were positions advocated on this board and that’s a really, really nice core. I still want to see guys like Jalen and Christopher with a real coach though.
Yep.....it's a "Thank You" for all your servitude Allow us to assist you and your franchise as the baton is passed from you Popovich to your successor. But retire when you wish.....on your terms. Enjoy Wembanyama until then. Go ahead and trade Proetl....you won't be needing him.
Considering we would have kept Allen would we even have been in position to get Mobley? And if we were able to get both Allen and Mobley, I believe the Rockets would have drafted Jaden Ivey over Jabari at # 3
15 years from now I wonder how much better Mathurin and Mobley will be than Green and Jabari. Cuz right now they both look like better players and prospects.
