Leverage? Rockets benefit from having a multitude of options. Maybe the Rockets aren’t really interested in making a trade with Miami. But, Miami having interest in Harden could help us in getting a better deal from someone else.
I think Miami is an option simply because between the contenders (so, between the teams that have a reason to have interest in Harden in the first place) they might be the one in a better position to go all in in one single trade for a veteran, they have some young players to move, but their current best player is over 30 so, they can't really wait for the young players to get better etc, they obviously prefer to go all in now to maximize what they already have, not to mention that getting Harden means they have a legit tremendous big 3 with James, Jimmy and Bam. On the other hand, think about a team like Phila, Embiid and Simmons are both young, Sixers have time to wait and see how they develop, what they can get with other deals etc if they want, they aren't really forced to make an all in trade now...and while Harden is a clear upgrade over Simmons, having a great duo like Harden and Embiid still isn't as good as a trio like Harden, Butler and Bam. A Harden for Simmons swap won't instantly make the Sixers a lock to be in the finals or win, and it's likely that after a similar trade they would be stuck with what they have with no picks or good players to trade to upgrade further...and that without even considering the possibility of Harden leaving in two years which would obviously be a disaster if they trade Simmons plus picks for him.
What criteria does Simmons exactly "fit" for us? We play 5 out with shooters everywhere. Simmons is terrified of his own jumpshot. Please explain
One thing Dr. Buss said when Kobe demanded a trade is he wouldn't make a trade unless it made the team better. He got Gasol, built a team, worked it out and they won as a result. No player we get in a trade will be better than Harden. Stay strong as a team, talk with him, ride it out and build a roster to win.
Miami was holding out for Giannis. Now that he's off the board, more teams are hungry for Harden. That's why they're in the mix. Not saying Giannis is better than Harden just one guy's deal is finalized first. Being young doesn't auto equate potential. They have to have shown some proclivity into whatever category areas you believe that person will grow into. Fit - fitting with guys like John Wall. Miami's package can be more flexible in that you can possibly flip them for other assets. If we go full rebuild or if rebuilding having pieces like Nunn/Duncan/Herro could turn into a Celtics like scenario. Beginning of last year, the two favorited teams to win NBA 'ship were Lakers and Bucks. Lakers ended up winning, Bucks was gentleman swept by the Heat. Several of those core was the reason, wasn't Butler and Bam alone.
I agree about this package being nowhere close to acceptable. Miami simply doesn't have enough to move for James. That said, it helps put pressure on Daryl.
Like James Harden had the it factor in his 1st or 2nd year..give me a break Harden broke out in Houston with all the minutes he had to play with Kevin Martin was 23 when he had the numbers Herro has at 20..go and watch a couple of games, Herro is underrated I see Herro doing 25-30 in 35 minutes per season
I said All-NBA and he's already made an All-NBA team... You can have one non-shooter on the floor. It's just difficult to figure it out when there's more than one. Fortunately, unlike Russ, Simmons is 6'10", elite defensively, and a much better passer. So figuring out how to build around him as your non-shooter should be much easier.
If Harden is 100% gone. If the Heat would offer Herro, Robinson, KZ, Precious ,( Iggy , Olynyk both to a third team for other assets) , 2 FRP is good enough to accept now. That's enough to scare Morey into upping the offer. That's all there has to be. A deal that you can legit say you would take if Morey is being stubborn. Some are saying he's trying to include Harris and even @Clutch thinks that's something Morey is probably trying to accomplish. If Dork Elvis fumbles this one, he's going to regret it for the rest of his career. This trade will define Harden, The Rockets organization for the next decade and Daryl Morey no matter who ends up or doesn't end up getting Harden. EDIT:
You should go watch the last playoffs, not a preseason game, to analyze Herro. I don't see Kevin Martin there. Yep, I get it, the body build and that stuff, but I see a different animal. Martin was not a key player of a finalist team in his rookie season. He barely averaged 3 ppg in his 1st year. This kid can be weak phisically as of now, but is tough mentally. His fundamentals, shooting techinque, ball handling, overall skills are better than Martin's ones, more prepared for elite opposition. He's weak but plays hard, is a competitor. He's underrated athletically, potentially an elite shooter, has shown that can create his own shot and score contested jumpers. He's smart and his style fits in any team (can't say the same about Simmons). You got him and got a great piece to build a winning team. All-star? I think he can be it, but the another interesting thing of the trade is the cap space you create for the next summer, apart from the picks and other young players you would be getting. Not that much interested in Duncan, he's gonna ask for a big extension next summer and don't see Herro's potential in him. Also shares the same weakness with Herro, would prefer to pair Tyler with another kind of SF. The Preicous guy, love him, bring him. OTOH, cap space, picks, good looking young players like Herro, Precious, Tate or even Wood, that's what teams gonna ask you for a future potential star available.
This. It's not exactly rocket science.... shooters and scorers around the elite playmaker and defensive force. Simmons has been top 10 in assets every year.
You’re defending a guy with a 6’3 wingspan. His potential stinks. It’s quite possible he’s already peaked. Athletically he isn’t close to DBook.
If Philly don’t get James after offering Simmons then Morey should worry more about Simmons crazy sister on Twitter then Simmons. She is unstable
