Feigen mentioned that with the new picks, Houston is expected to be a player at the trade deadline for “an upgrade”. The question is who fits that definition and what limitations might there be to get them. The limitations are: 1) Outside of Wall, Harden and Wood, only Tucker, Gordon and House are making above the minimum. This is relevant for salary matching. 2) We have the apron to consider. While Gordon, Tucker and House would under normal circumstances be able to bring us back up to $35 million in salary, we are right up against the apron hard cap. That means, at most, we can only bring back $28-29 million between the 3 of them. Also, the player (or players) would have to represent an actual upgrade to the best player we are sending out in the trade. So if you’re sending out PJ, you need someone very good coming back. Here’s a list of players making $29 million or less that could represent upgrades and IMO, MIGHT be available at the deadline: CJ McCollum - $29M Bradley Beal - $29M Otto Porter - $28M Giannis - $27.5M Lamarcus - $24M Jaylen Brown - $24M Oladipo - $21M Aaron Gordon - $18M JJ Reddick - $13M Larry Nance Jr. - $12M Joe Ingles - $10M That’s it IMO, and some of those names are certainly debatable as far as whether we are getting an actual upgrade or if they would even be available.
I would target Aaron Gordon/Larry Nance and Matisse Thybulle. If Rockets moving 3 key rotational players then try and fill 2 starting positions instead of just one.
I would love the 3 pt shooting that Redick and Ingles could provide in spurts. Legitimate shooters who would make you pay for leaving them open.
Tucker would be a great fit on the Magic if we could swing Aaron Gordon. That'd hurt seeing him leave, but would be a good move in the long run. Unfortunately the Rockets will be competing with the rest of the NBA and I would say our package would be closer to the bottom tier. However, all it takes if the right GM/owner to also like Tucker or whoever.
of course you would smh oladipo probably the only one gettable that could possibly be an upgrade for all three of those player combined. House is an idiot but would hate to lose such a bargain player. Rather just do Gordon and tucker for him but they can probably do better if they decide to trade him.
dont disagree. Just depends on the caliber of the player. If you’re getting someone like Beal or Giannas (highly unlikely), a legit star, then you just do it and don’t think twice about it. If not, you’ve got to think about your roster and depth. Another option, though also unlikely. Let’s say Wall restores his value but isn’t a perfect fit with Harden. He’s more efficient, still explosive and shoots a bit better, but usage is still too high to play with Harden... I could see a scenario where the Clippers still haven’t figured out PG13 and Kawhi, and Houston makes a run at Paul George with Wall, House or Tucker and Picks. Clippers would need to have a much higher view of Wall than everyone else does right now, and they would need to think there’s a good chance they lose one of Kawhi or George in free agency. I wouldn’t be too worried about losing George in free agency if Harden agrees to an extension.
not a huge fan of trade deadline acquisitions....get him here right now so he can acclimatize, become a real part of the team and all that
I think that's a longshot scenario. Strategy based on trading Wall for an All Star or trading our spare parts (EGo, Tucker, House) for an All Star are low probability. We need to target young players with All Star upside especially when paired with Harden. Players like Christian Wood who are on the verge of a break out. Harden has a knack of weaponizing young players. E.g. Chandler Parsons, Clint Capela, Danuel House, Ben McLemore. And even older players like Jeff Green, Gerald Green, etc.
@ch44 said we are shopping Tucker for a pick, but that would mean a forward has to come back, even if just to eat minutes until the deadline.
definitely long shot. Clippers may prefer to make a run at Giannis, who actually would be a good fit with Kawhi I think. Of course you can always resolve these type of things with a 3 team trade, but that would mean the Clippers giving up on the season, which they wouldn’t do. I wish we could make an Aaron Gordon + JJ Reddick trade work, but it’s just a bit too much salary coming back I think.
don't put me in that box I want us to blow this up. dipo doesn't fit here anyway just saying he is probably the only one we could get. if its just Gordon who looks washed and old man tucker. Aaron Gordon isn't an upgrade. he isn't better than the 3 of them
No way Rockets have pieces to trade for Oladipo without throwing away MULTIPLE first rounders AND adding multiple teams to make trade work. And your opinion of Aaron Gordon is just as shoddy as your basketball analysis.
The Rockets now have assets to make a big trade. However they are only going to make a big trade if they are playing really well. Theoretically they could do a 2-3 team deal moving Gordon and others for someone like ......... Tobias Harris, Buddy Hield, LaMarcus Aldridge, Malcolm Brogdan, Otto Porter or Aaron Gordon.. However, the Rockets better really believe they can win it all because their assets would again be all gone with Harden a year older.
Maybe Otto Porter and Paul Reed (on 2 way with 76ers)? https://www.denverstiffs.com/2020/11/5/21550630/2020-nba-draft-profile-paul-reed Porter is an elite 3P shooter on the upside while Reddick is not as long, as switchable, as good a ball handler and closer to downside than his prime. Another option to pair with Porter that does not require giving up additional assets (unlike Paul Reed) is Jonah Bolden.
