I'm absolutely out on the Snake and I reckon we need to get him off this team as soon as we get eliminated from the playoffs (or play-in, whatever). So in direct comparison to the most ill-fated superstar acquisiton in Rockets history, is it worth seeing what we can get on the trade market for Kevin Durant? We traded Scottie Quitten for Stacey Augmon, Kelvin Cato, Walt Williams, Carlos Rogers, Brian Shaw, Ed Gray and a draft pick. Durant has killed yet another team's chemistry and is old as hell and only going to get worse from here, so I don't even think we could get a haul as solid as that. But what could we get? Would any GM be willing to go the Tobias Funke approach and think it MIGHT JUST WORK for them?
The problem isn’t durant. The problem isn’t udoka. It’s Sengun mainly and it’s Amen not being able to shoot. Again they need to get Sengun out of here. This should be their number 1 priority. Every team zones up the Rockets and play delay blitzes on Durant and Sengun. Its the same strategy for every team. And they zone up because we only have 3 shooters.
This time last year we were 41-25. This year, 40-25. So we stayed pretty much the same. There is a chance we can win one playoff series just like we had a chance last year, it is all match up dependent. Despite this terrible chemistry that everyone is discussing, the Rockets seem to be in decent shape. We could trade KD for what would not amount as much, or we can just roll with KD next year and hope that our youngsters grow (not holding my breath). I think we are stuck with the team we have now and I definitely don't see the point of trading KD. We are getting another year of FVV and I don't imagine we will trade him because Udoka will still be our coach. I rather trade DFS, see if a sign and trade of Eason could get us anything (if not keep him), and consider whether we can build a team around both Thompson and Sengun. I rather keep KD.
It doesn't matter who the problem is. This team has zero chance to acheive any success even if you replace sengun by next year. Lets get rid of both of them while they still have value. Good teams are made by growing young talent. We need draft positions
Durant for who at this point? This would be another rebuild situation. Unless they get a star back there’s no point. That’s what they got him in here to do. If they replace Sengun and maybe Amen with proven stars they will win.
Can this team win a championship this year or next year, as constructed? Obviously no. Will KD be adding championship value after that, age 39+ on a $47M/yr contract? Also no. Hence we should trade him this summer if there is anything real out there for him. If there isn’t, your decision is made for you. Simple.
KD has to go, I just know this front office is going to run it back because of their infatuation with “Streaky Van Vleet” as the missing piece Would anyone be on board for an Amen for Giddey, Unprotected 1st swap?
Some might say yes, but everyone on this site knows my answer. Amen is our only hope for a superstar. I might trade him for 3 or 4 unprotected firsts from a sh*t team or for Jokic or Wemby.
The bigger problem when it comes to shooting is a guard who can't shoot more so than a center who belongs in the paint anyway. Teams literally ignore him if he's off ball on the perimeter. Moving Sengun doesn't solve the problem of teams blitzing KD or your new center when the real issue is Amen. Why not move him instead? Or move both of them .... I really don't care. Just wonder why people are still so high on a guy who has no offensive bag to dig into and has made zero progress in that aspect. His defense isn't worth the damage he does to the offense.
I see why management is so big on Amen and think his game can take off if given the opportunity without Sengun. That being said he is limited on offense in terms of range. I have thrown around the idea of trading both and I wished we traded him alone for KD. I think KD would work great with Brooks and JG. I don’t agree with your assessment of teams blitzing a new Center or KD. The team style and personnel would be different since the new center wouldn’t be the main focus of the offense. And almost no centers who are focal points of their team’s offense have a rsnge of 10-12 ft. This is why I like stretch 5’s who can defend (turner, porzingis, bam) or a defensive lob threat (robert Williams, j allen etc) who aren’t focal points or hubs. If we need to trade them both to get Giannis and turner so be it. I absolutely think Giannis brings this team a championship considering they get another guard/combo guard type. But i think one or a combination of sengun amen and Sheppard need to go for this team to move forward
I'd trade Durant and I'd mainly be interested in getting back a first round pick in next year's draft. I think teams like the Heat and the Knicks would make an offer. In an ideal situation Fertitta would fire Stone and trade Durant. I don't trust Stone's eye for talent anymore. But this won't happen because I don't think anyone wants to admit that they made a mistake trading for KD.
How does this solve teams loading up playing 5 on 4 on us? Or the fact that Sengun, one of the offensive hub’s inability to consistently score or facilitate consistently while shrinking the half court set for us?
Much of what you said is solid. Makes sense. The question for me is: “Can we win next year by keeping KD?” If the answer is No, then back at-cha, “what’s the point of keeping a scoring mercenary?” Best to trade these guys sooner than later. kd is all about his legacy from a scoring perspective. He’s got the titles. He just wants to keep climbing the scoring ladder. He’s not a leader (never has been), yet he needs to stay on the floor to score. Won’t sacrifice. Doesn’t make others around him better. He plays soft to avoid injury, etc. he’s just a mercenary.
