I think whatever moves the Rockets make the main thing I would like to see is an investment of time into the following guys development: - Tier 1 Smith Eason Garuba (want to see that defense flourish) Washington ( I believe he has a lot to offer on both sides of the ball and should be focused as the primary backup at point) - Tier 2 Green Christopher (I think with Udoka as a coach he has a real opportunity to get structure added to his game) - Proven to me already Senhub (Design an inside out offense ala Hakeem and let this man work) - Meh I don't really care Porter Martin (Though I think he could have a greater impact on the court and maybe get his game elevated)
Spent some time reading some fan forums. Charlotte and Portland are just as mixed as we are here (although no fanbase is a toxic as ours) Saw a number of unrealistic scenarios, but a few that stood out: - If Harden comes back, #4 + assets for Dame. - If Harden leaves Philly, Dame to Philly, #4 to Port (+other Philly assets), and Maxey to Houston. - Both teams consider trade down for Orlando's two picks - Some Charlotte fans really like Eason and the 2024 Brooklyn pick to move up. - Almost no one seems to want Jabari or Sengun, some talk of Green.
As long as we are keeping Jalen, Jabari, Tari, Sengun, KPJ. Trade 4th pick and future picks or filler to move up for Scoot.
If we want Henderson and if Portland wants to win. #3 to Houston #4 to Brooklyn + 2024 Brooklyn 1st Bridges and Clarkson to Portland
ngl, I like Suggs more on this team than any of the picks for #4. Has a potential to be a decent two-way player not unlike Marcus Smart especially under Udoka.
I know we have all talked ourselves into a huge gap between 3 and 4, but it is one spot and teams have idiosyncratic valuations; they don’t directly mirror media consensus. Not to mention that putting all your chips on the table to trade up in the draft is, on average, something that loser franchises do. Assuming scoot is there at 3, is this really too meager: #4, swap tate for nassir little, and swap our #20 for their 23. Tate is a good win-now option on a good contract, whereas Little went backwards from meh and is signed thru 26-27 (gross)
Stated differently, trading up is usually a loser’s game because the team moving up is in love with a specific guy and doesn’t sufficiently discount for the risk of projection. Anyone who hasn’t played in the nba has a non-zero risk of flat out sucking. Even wemby (though that risk looks pretty low without injury, f*%#*ing spurs). But the recent history of #1 picks flaming out completely should give us pause before being so certain that scoot is worth a war chest based on the player we all think he will be.
I agree you probably have to overpay to move up. However, as much as I think DD is wrong about the direction he wants to go (trade anything to bring in veterans), he does have a point that we are reaching a saturation point on the number of young players we can have on one roster. Consolidating some assets isn't a bad idea at this point, and doing it for a young, top of the draft player is better than doing it for some roleplayer or second-tier star who will just take minutes away from the young guys. As a result, I don't mind too much overpaying up to a certain point.
Philadelphia trading up for Markelle Fultz instead of staying put and passing on Jayson Tatum. Years later 51 points in Game 7
There is a huge difference because this year, Vic is number one. The Amen-stans have Amen at 2-3. The Amen-doubter have him much lower even out of the lotto. Scoot is universally considered to be 2-4. Miller is universally considered to be 2-3. If his doubters are right, you just drafted a dude who can't adjust to the NBA and has only played 16 year olds his entire life.
And Mikael Bridges went from a player who was considered one of the top premier perimeter defenders in the NBA to having a negative DPBM when traded to the Nets. When will people realize advanced defensive analytics have so much covariance and so much connection with team defense, team communication, team chemistry etc.
Hear me out. If we pull the fire alarm at the Barclay's center after the third pick and the draft is delayed a day, then our pick turns into a quasi #1 and we have 24 hours to extract max value in a trade.
Whoever that player is, they are going to have a difficult time making the money work .... they are in a bad spot talent and cap wise. Unless they are trading Simons or Nurkic, they'll have to resort to some form of S&T with their FA's to match salaries.
I have not seen a single serious draft guy have either twin outside the lotto... only random anonymous posters on internet team forums who may or may not have ever watched them play
