I was always against the KD trade. Even if the pieces traded we're paltry (not saying they are/were) in comparison to 'Kevin Durant', the fact of the matter is you just didn't know if you had your 1A (we don't). Even though the likelihood of the 10th pick turning out to be that player is incredibly slim, you still have to keep playing the lottery game until you hit for sure. 3 years of KD doesn't help.
Look what Atlanta got for the 13th pick. It was a knee-jerk reaction to a bad playoff performance by Jalen and Phoenix rejection of the Booker overtures. Stone’s entire plan in trading the Nets picks for Phoenix picks was to get Booker (who is fool’s gold) and when that didn’t materialize he pivoted to Durant to save face. Stone sh*t the bed with Jalen’s extension and has been trying to cover up his multiple foul-ups with bandaids ever since. He could’ve gotten a frp from the Knicks for Ime, and, instead signed his master to 6 years at an obscene amount of money. I’ve been a fan of the Rockets for 40 years, watched every game during the Silas years and most every era. I’ve never been as frustrated with a FO and coach like I am with these complete idiots. I know I’ll do it again next year and hold out hope that ownership wakes up before the 27 draft.
This was by far the most disappointing aspect of the season for me. Not a single player in the "young core" materially improved this season from last season, and they are all at the age where you'd expect to see SIGNIFICANT improvement year to year if their potential is as high as we thought it was. It definitely caused me to reevaluate the future prospects of this team.
Translation: "I drafted a lot of guys at the top of the lottery the last 5 years. I get that all of them wouldn't become great - but come on man, this can't be all that they have in the tank. I can't really do a lot to improve outside of them because I spent the cap signing a bunch of old and broken-down guys no one really wants. I don't get it, I brought in Udoka a few years ago, so why haven't these guys gotten better." - Rafael Stone Translation: "Whatever." - Ime Udoka
I think that Reed Sheppard certainly improved, but not to the point where you can say "This is the point guard for the next 5-10 years". Jabari Smith became more consistent and tougher and Amen had his moments... but no, I don't see anyone that I look at and say "This guy is a problem for the rest of the league." Making it more frustrating is watching Dylan Harper at barely 20, quickly showing in the playoffs that he is going to be at least a Booker level player, and likely even more..... OKC having guys outside of the lottery and even in the second round showing massive improvement and playing huge roles. Mean while the Rockets cannot play Sengun and Amen together---- or Sengun and Sheppard together........ and the Rockets still don't have a shooting guard on the roster.
The Rockets are not trading KD unless he wants to be traded. The Rockets will entertain offers for Sengun and look at guys like Banchero, Giannis, Mitchell and AD.... but all of those are guys to win right now and pair with KD. The Rockets are going to double down on FVV/Adams/FVV/Durant and try to get to the WCF to by themselves more time from ownership. As for the KD deal, I don't have an issue with it except that they gave up the #10 pick, a pick that other teams wanted. The Rockets did not and do not have enough talent to be moving assets like that for a 37-year-old. Stone and Udoka claiming that KD was never an all out "lets go for it" move isn't going to play well with the fans. Just be honest about it. Lots of poor decisions and missed opportunities have piled up over the last couple years and fans are frustrated.
These point to coaching and/or talent evaluation. Even though I rail against Sengun and Reed, and didn't like the Jalen pick at all, you get rid of the coach and gm before you ship off the young guys. Look at Knicks, Suns, Atlanta, Wizards, they all switched front office or coaching in recent years and players who were already on the roster suddenly looked better
I view this season as Reed's "base" year in a sense as he didn't really get an opportunity his rookie season. Agreed on other points.
Yeah - when you have a lot of players failing to improve to the degree expected on the same team.... that points to poor player development and poor talent evaluation and team building. Consider all of the draft picks that the Rockets have had over the last 5 years, most of them quite high... and yet the Rockets had no bench in the post season. Then look at teams like SA and OKC and even Utah and others finding key guys outside the lottery. The Rockets don't have that.... which points to a blind spot at identifying and developing talent outside of obvious talent at the top of the lottery.
So short sighted, clearly KD was brought in to mentor the young guys. That kind of tutorship is unquantifiable. The amount of burners the young players now have has exploded.
which is why i said (assuming he wants out). I think he wants out personally. We'll see though. AD is not like Giannis, Mitchell or Banchero. He's not even like a Mobley. I'm fine with trading Sengun for those guys. AD sure, if it comes with the #1 pick. Overpaid and cannot stay healthy. That would be a catastrophic trade otherwise.
I hope he does. The Rockets are not going to get amazing value for him, but GS has a late lottery pick and several teams have multiple picks. The Rockets would be well served to try to get into this draft. I am not really a fan of AD, he has had a very good career - but not the type of career he could have had based on his talent. When he is healthy and playing, he is still very good both ways. However he is always hurt, is slowing down and has a massive contract. I don't really want AD, but I know for a fact that both Stone and Udoka are big fans of his -- and he would not cost the Rockets any draft capital like the other names could. A lot of it is going to be how patient TF will be.
Yea his injury concerns are just something I cannot overlook. KD to Portland is my #1 hope now. I think Sharpe or Henderson could be a great second team gamble.
You shouldn't overlook the injury concerns. The Rockets GM arguably should lose his job for bringing in a bunch of high milage old guys with injury issues. If I were the Rockets, I would be ecstatic to get Henderson and see what he can do away from Portland.
