Westbrook was the 16-17 MVP and they had four straight winning seasons after KD left. They traded for all-stars PG and Melo in the summer of 2017. They added only one late 1st round draft pick during that entire span. They legitimately tried to compete and only blew up the team once they showed they weren't going to win in the playoffs. Getting rid of Russ/PG/Melo in the same offseason is really the start of their rebuild, IMO.
Something like that could work. I don't want to give up a '27, though. If we could trade for someone who could become a #1 (with growth and development) and a 2026 pick then that's even better. But I don't know if that's possible. Okongwu is a good piece but would never be a #1. It's hard to find someone who would work. Keyonte George would be good but there's no reason they would trade him. Sengun+X for Murphy+Bey?
Guys, I'm talking about involuntary attrition. Neither Shai or Haliburton were involuntary losses for LAC or SAC - they chose to give them up, and they turned into franchise players after the fact. This is the point. I think we all are on the same side here. If a team wants a "best player on a championship team, in their prime", there is only one path. The Shai/Hali/Wemby/Cade/Tatum/Ant/Jokic path. Draft or trade for a high potential player in their early 20's - a player that the other team is willing to trade (i.e., a player who is not already a franchise player) - and develop them into your franchise player. There are no other paths in the 2020's NBA. If this were the 2010's, then Ant, Shai, Jokic, Haliburton, Cade etc. would probably leave their small market teams by age ~26 and be potentially acquirable by us. But not anymore. None of them are leaving until they aren't good enough to be get the supermax extension anymore. So we need to get the next one of those guys before their ascent.
Should have kept the 20 year old Cam Whitmore. It's ok though, because Sengun + Tari and FVV can net you Giannis, Sims, and KPJ. DD
Yeah, I don't exactly like where the Rockets are at the moment, but at least we're not in the bargain basement shopping for head cases and low IQ athletes and hoping dogshit like Jalen and Cam work out despite all evidence to the contrary.
I just want to know what the interview process was like when they talked to them pre draft. Stone just went for freak athletes with low iq.
Yup, and that's Ime's favorite types of players....and a few people here too apparently. All flash, very little substance.
Yep. You're not going to get somebody like Keyonte George who has already shown very strong signs. It's going to have to be somebody a level below that. A rookie who has high potential but didn't totally blow the doors off the hinges immediately, so like, most of the 2025 draft class except for Flagg and Kon. A second or third year player who has been somewhat disappointing but still has potential, like Scoot Henderson or something. Not a whole lot of guys in this category, where they're not a bust but their trade value isn't super high. And for the "high lotto rookie" category, the team would have to really like Sengun.
I've thought about Murphy too, but what is the fit for New Orleans? Sengun + Zion seems like an awkward combination. Would they want KD? Seems doubtful, except maybe if we include draft capital...?
