(or never even really started) Let’s talk trade targets, since that’s pretty much our only path to improving. Here’s what I think is a fairly comprehensive list: Marvin Williams - 1 year $15 million Nic Batum - 2 years $26 million per Otto Porter Jr - 2 years $26 per Kevin Love - 4 years $30 per Aaron Gordon - 2 years $20 per Serge Ibaka - 1 year $23 Pascal Siakam - 1 year $2.3 (then RFA) Brad Beal - 2 years $27 per Andre Igoudala - 2 years $17 per Covington - 4 years $10 per Gallinari - 1 year $23 LMA - 2 years $26 per The common theme here is useful players that are relatively overpaid, with some exceptions. I’d try for Siakam or Covington first with a bunch of picks, then go for some of these overpaid guys.
Pretty obvious that as long as Tillman is the owner, we are just gonna sit around and do nothing and waste our best shot at a championship in a long time. When Tillman says we are trading for a star, in his eyes LTS is the best player in the NBA.
Getting Siakam would be much more difficult than Jimmy Butler. Easily the most difficult player to get from that list considering his low salary.
Daryl doesn't get a pass from me either. He is just as responsible for the failure to add anyone in FA as the ownership.
Rockets can’t get a cousins, Avery Bradley, Javele, Jamychal for bargains being a “contender” this year or last year. This offseason we got Austin Rivers but surprising, I feel like this is where Morey has to step in and make something out of nothing and that can help move things along. Hard-cap, over the tax is all BS, teams have improved their teams with less assets and less salary and involved 3rd teams without any issue. This isn’t a Houston thing b/c 2 offseasons ago we got CP3, Luc, PJ all on discounts/favors, Darryl has to step up and make a move for a rotation players or this Harden/CP3 era is done.
With the exception of Beal, Siakam & maybe Gordon, I don't know if I like trading Gordon AND/or Capela for any of those guys. Shumpert S/T & 1st, different story. Capela & Gordon(expiring) are your last remaining assets. Like hypothetically, Kevin Love is a popular name on here. Are you comfortable trading Gordon & Capela for Love and you're core for the next 3-4 years being Paul-Harden-House?-Tucker-Love (or) Paul-Harden-Tucker-Love-Chandler? Paul on his max deal(3 years, $124M) Harden on his Love on his (4 years, $120M) + yearly MLE & minimums But to be honest, I'll believe it when I see it (them taking on huge salary) Chris Paul got his (prearranged) max; Capela his new deal & House $3.5M. Everything else has been minimums & salary dumps.
At the end of the day...he’s still an elite defender. I’ll take any risk that comes with it. But once again...it ain’t happening most likely.
Anybody watch Gordon in the playoffs. Guy is a waste. I say go out for Bradley Beal that doesn't destroy our core and then pick up and center and go into the season. This team is still good.