well we didn’t even get a 1B or 2 type of player…at best we got a 3 and a bunch of role players, and most of them have massive flaws to their game as well that’s what tanking with multiple top picks got us
Ok? #1 overall isn’t the only slot where franchise players reside…and we’re picking top 4 and not even getting just regular stars we’re getting Jalens and Jabaris and Reed Sheppards and Amens who teams don’t even defend because he can’t shoot a lick
other teams tank and get nice presents in their mystery box we tank and open up our box to find some sh*t with sprinkles
And every pick has its most value before the pick is made. The Rockets could trade those two picks right now for almost any player in the NBA. And certainly for anyone who fills a current need. I’m not opposed at all to running it back and holding onto those picks, but it’s crazy to call them untouchable because they could maybe, possibly, perhaps turn into a #1. They traded for Durant to win now, so if a good deal is there, we should make it. Our drafts have been underwhelming, but Stone has left himself some options I don’t think most people appreciate.
I'm open on our '27 picks; I like the idea of keeping them, but I would also definitely give the Nets a call and talk about a trade for their pick this year.
The more I've thought about it the less I've liked the KD trade. I think trying to "win now" is kind of stupid with any player his age, unless you're already stuck in a situation (i.e. Golden State) where you have a long-running star who is also around that age. The window is just too short, and the odds of injury derailing your season too high, as we just saw. I don't really like the idea of making any further trades that are based around the idea of winning now with KD, to be honest. I think we should just flip him for whatever we can get and call it a decent return on offloading Jalen Green's contract.
Cade Cunningham, Jalen Johnson, Scottie Barnes, Paulo Banchero, Victor Wembanyama, Cooper Flagg, probably Kon Kneuppel too when all's said and done (we traded our pick in that draft for Katie Dickerson.) I'm sure more will emerge too. We've had plenty of opportunities to draft franchise level talent and had plenty in the warchest to facilitate moving up in the draft if needed to get one...
Jalen has probably a sub 5% chance of being a franchise player, Kon probably a sub 1% chance, Paulo maybe 10%? but that's tough, Scottie also sub 5%. Out of those, Cade, Wemby, Flagg are actual legit franchise guys. It has to be someone who you can pay 35% of the cap and think you're getting a great deal (jokic, shai, luka types).
I feel like Jalen Johnson and Scottie Barnes may or may not have better careers than Amen or Sengun, it's hard to say with high levels of certainty on those guys at this point. It's also possible all four of those guys are just in that "make some all-star games but never really get to top 10 player status" category. Paolo is almost certainly not a franchise player IMO, he is looking like more of a franchise anchor due to his chucking and inefficiency. I am very glad we aren't paying him the money Orlando did. Flagg and Kon look like they have very high odds to become superstars, but it's not a done deal yet. The only ones that are definitely, 100% for certain in that category are Cade and Wemby, in my view.
Whilst I love the pessimist outlook, most pundits and the teams themselves would likely disagree with you. Scottie's already treated as the franchise guy in Toronto, Jalen's almost there in Atl after this season, Paulo's already treated that way and Kon's the actual generational shooter you all pretend Reed is.
Same. True story, I was so pissed off after that trade I stayed up the entire night reading the forums trying to figure out if I was missing anything, and in the morning after no sleep at all, went to the only yoga class I’ve ever been to to relax my self.
That’s cool but totally irrelevant. If kon or scottie or paulo or jalen do win mvps though, you will be proven correct. They are soooooooooo far away though and i would be STUNNED if any of them even get close.
KD is not an all-in player at this point, even though the opportunity cost for grabbing him was reasonable. Between doing nothing and picking up a Dennis Schroeder level player at the deadline, the Rockets would still be playing right now if they did. This would not have crippled their future flexibility. The numbers of players who can actually dribble and get their own shots is lacking *with* FVV. I would keep KD for next year.
