KD or Sengun (Poll) Which to keep, if you could only keep 1

If this is true then why is it Sheppard and Sengun who are constantly put in actions & isolation by other teams?

Your starting center (who expects to be paid like an all NBA player for the next 10 years) being a minus defender is a way bigger problem than the body language of your PFs closeout (who will be retired in 2 years)

 

The poll question sucks.


Which player to build around - Neither.

Which player to keep - KD, mainly because Amen & Sengun don't equate to a functional offense.

If you move KD you made the problem of spacing worse and you still have to trade one of Amen or Sengun.

The more interesting question is who do you keep between Amen and Sengun - KD is just a peripheral, short term piece.


Casuals .... ask dumb questions.

 

Wrong. Issue is KD. This team was a 2 seed last year with both Sengun and Amen. This whole "cant run two non floor spacers" is bogus as last year proved. If we had Mikal Bridges instead of Jalen Green last year we beat the Warriors in 5 games.

KD crowds the floor because he occupies the same spaces Sengun and Amen like to operate. He doesnt gladly stand at the 3 pt line like Dillon did, cant slash like Jalen could, cant dribble, cant even penetrate like Dillon could either. The reason it feels so crowded this year is because KD is a mid range merchant with no other skill that threatens the defense. He cant drive. All he can do is pull up and shoot so where the **** or what the **** are Amen and Sengun supposed to do when Dickerson is sitting 10 feet away from the basket.

Casual KD watcher is a casual. Durant is just shittier Luka Donic who is just shittier prime James Harden. Put this years Kawhi Leonard instead of Cringe Reaper and we win 55+ going away wouldve just had to plant a few trees.

 

KDs issue is much more than body language. Yes he’s a skilled scorer but his negative energy infects the entire team like a virus.

I shouldn’t have to point out that he’s 56 years old and IDGAF about his stupid career. The amount of loyalty shown towards this hired assassin that has no previous ties to Houston except this season is beyond me.

Sengun has plenty of issues but he’s young and the Rockets were absolutely terrible since Harden walked out and before he arrived. Sengun is a frustrating sloppy ass player, but overall he brings way more positives than negatives. And the rockets drafted him and developed him, there’s way more investment there. **** KD if he can’t get us over the hump. That’s his ****ing job.

I’d also like to point out that all this negative energy towards Durant would likely not be the same if he wasn’t a complete diva and pulling weird burner BS off the court like a ****ing 15 year old. He’s just a weird, weird dude and he plays more defense about his reputation than he does on the damn court.

 

Yeah I hate the framing of this question because everyone knows that this choice wouldn’t be made in a vacuum. KD is 38 years old. That alone adds context that adds a giant “it depends” to the equation.

IMO if I was Stone I would be open to trading either of them, but with entirely separate goals in mind for each player getting moved.

With KD with his stature it largely depends on what he wants and if he wants to stay to give it another year and if he likes Houston… you don’t even seriously make calls to gauge interest. He’s one of the all time greats, and you just don’t do that without him being involved. Mostly too because if him and his agent work with the Rockets they are likely to help broker a deal that’ll ensure compensation back. There’s power broker benefits in a situation like that if you involve the star player and their agent.

With Sengun, I think you are looking at a young all star who you aren’t looking to dump, but looking to use to retool the roster with players that can help the team improve with skill sets that better fit what you are trying to do. In shopping Sengun, you have to have a very high bar and know exactly what you are looking for. So a deal with Sengun going out for fans and media to them would look far more like Stone pursuing X player vs shopping Sengun.

 

"The trade was not a bad trade" and "KD is not the answer" can both be true. Chemistry is important for a contending team unless the team has overwhelming talent which the Rockets clearly don't.

 

It's incredibly frustrating that an amazing player like Durant has such a flaw.
I wish he'd just play in a solo sport with this talent.

 

I'm keeping KD. Alpi gets a bigger return and he's regressed. I was a huge supporter of his but I don't see it anymore

 

It's easy to get rid of the 24 year old, over the 38 year old when the 38 year old has shown he can't lead the young guys for sh*t?

Easily? I pray lil Patty Fertitta isn't this stupid. But nothing the Fertitta ownership of this team has shown me so far gives me much hope this will be the case.

 

Trade them both.

 

Segun all day.
He is a home grown Rockets drafted player & All-Star. I truly believe he has another step to take. Adding a consistent 3 ball or at least a midday will elevate his game so much more. He also played Euro ball coming into the season he has basically had no break from basketball this year & he is still producing despite his flaws.

KD is basically a hired mercenary at this point.

I wouldnt even mind dumping KD & tapping all the way into the Rockets drafted guys.

The right GM could build a solid roster around Segun, Reed & Amen.

 

I'll always be of the belief homegrown success (at least when it comes to the core) has more value than purchased success. I'm disappointed Sengun didn't make the leap we all hoped this season, but I'd still rather have him than the cancer that is KD.

 

KD is old and about to retire. Be for real

 

Hes an open door to a practice 3. Watch the opening play the Timberwolves drew up. Hes the ****ing reason every team seems to go ballistic against us from 3.

The issue becomes exacerbated when Reed is on the floor. Then he goes and blames everyone else for why he doesnt do stuff even though he is where those issues begin to start with. **** man. He ****s up, game snowballs, other players **** up trying to make up for him then he blames those players for why he isnt trying.

 

I'm saying I'd keep Sengun. Read the title of the thread again.

 

Including this season, Sengun is under contract for 5 years, with the last year a player option. So he’s been paid, and the guy’s 23, pointed out several times (which you already know, of course). Could be that the new deal had an effect on his lackadaisical play through what seemed to me to be quite a stretch, or that could have been due to a lingering injury I’m not aware of.

Regardless, a light appears to have gone off in Alpi’s head and he’s playing more like I expected him to play this season, at a high level. Long may it last! Reassess during the offseason, in my opinion.

 

My apologies boyo! My Friday night drinks obviously made me misread this thread!

 

I know that it’s kind of a non-answer, but my reply is
Build around Thompson/Reed/Jabari.

Smith represents a value contract and still has some room for growth.

Amen, I would be worried about the shooting if his free throws hadn’t improved so much and to be honest, he’s pretty decent at the rim. I think he’ll get to 33% in a year or two.

Reed, I think he pretty clearly has defined that he has a very solid floor. we got a hope that he hits and becomes Austin Reeves or even better.

The coaching has to be better. I am actually all about keeping Kevin around, but we know a better offensive coach is needed, he needs to expand this energy on the side of the floor and finish the play more often than he initiates it. I think if we were to adjust as well we could feel very good about him being Reliable for 2 to 3 more years.

I tend to think that we would be #2 or #3 if Fred had not gotten hurt. but I don’t think he solves all of our issues.

we should be able to retain Tari at a value contract and he will be valuable to trade down the line. Sengun has an incredible Value because of his contract. little bit, worried about a lack of size and shooting.