I’m fine with having concurrent windows. To focus on the more immediate future, a two-year window that involves 6 young guys. Amen Smith Reed Tari(on a contract that is either projected to be relatively tradable or not terrible. Maybe a mutual option after two years) Okogie(bring him back reasonably to be 10th man. Davidson(11th-12th man, unless we acquire another stud young point Guard in the draft or via trade) in supplementing those guys with a veteran grouping of FVV Durant Adams Uncle J to be like the 15th man. So ends up with 10 spots. this has us trading Sengun, Capela and DFS. Shooting Big/Adams Smith/Eason Durant Amen/Okogie Reed/FVV/Davidson so it puts you at needing to find a above average shooting big man combined with a perimeter type of player that covers skill sets in between the wing, and the interior. defensive rebounding should not be an issue for this group and the perimeter. Defense should be pretty strong. We probably could use somebody that is an efficient POA defender unless Shepp can get thurr. You know Amen can do it, but Austin will be matched up on the wing same for Okogie. DFS is an expiring contract and there is a reasonable chance that he plays better this year and could add some value to a team meeting that sort of veteran. Capela wasn’t great but 7 million for a back up Big for two more years is not some sort of albatross Sengun probably lost a little trade value this year, but his amazing contract and the fact that he is still young should provide quite a bit of trade value. Not to mention the correct coach could probably get more out of him on the offensive end. TO LAC Clint Capela #8 Best of 2027 Rockets Top 8 protected. Conveys to best of 2029 unprotected if it doesn’t convey DFS TO ATL Alperen Sengun 2027 Suns First 2031 Rockets lotto protected TO HOU Brook Lopez Onyeka Okongwu #5 in Draft
Look at the guards’ depth of each team contending in the conference finals (including both DET/CLE). All of them have nice depth. MIN also had a good depth - they could play both old Conley and Shannon jr. while missing Ant, Div and Ayo. Even when we assume thar Fred is getting back ok from his injury, who do we have to backup him and Reed? We must aim for getting an additional legitimate guard to our rotation, if not - a 1st round exit will be our ceiling for next year as well. If we could only pursuit NAW instead of DFS last summer..
Not going to do anything, we have players who fit two completely different styles. Veterans + Sengun are fit for the slow grind, old school 90s style, 1-on-1 offensive rebounding priority. The other is all about running, passing, shooting, slashing and defensive rebounding to get our running game going.
Can we please acknowledge that Fred isn’t going to be the same player coming off ACL surgery at age 33? There are few examples of guards coming back from ACL tears at that age. You can look it up. Yet I’m constantly hearing this sentiment that when Fred comes back healthy we’ll be fine. He is unlikely to be the same player. Keep in mind, some of us thought he was declining in that 2024-2025 season. And as for Steveo…I love the guy, but he can never be counted on to stay healthy again. He’s been seriously injured now twice in 3 yrs. And lower body injuries for bigs are even more detrimental. He’ll be 33 in two months. I hope both players come back healthy. I really like Fred and Steveo. Wish they were 5 yrs younger. But they are not! Can we stop with the dreamcasting about Fred and Steveo? The org needs a rational plan for life without those guys. Anything less is pure negligence. Here’s to hoping that we find a way to get back into this incredible draft and grab one of these stud guards. That would be in the best long term interest of this team.
Its like the Rockets STARTED SPACING AND SHOOTING in the Harden era, then went away from it. I don't understand. You just can't win playing for 2's vs 3's.
Never forget that Ime's stated on record that the team doesn't use an analytics based approach. It's almost like Ime and Stone just want to do the opposite of whatever Morey did, regardless of the many times Morey was right.
I mostly agree with you, but it seems like Adams. injuries were more random. FVV should age well. Don’t want them starting but if they are the 8th and 10th man it works for me.
Stone wants to be the smartest guy in the room and they think they can win a way NO ONE has ever won before.....the lack of self awareness with Ime and Stone will hinder us for years until one or both are gone. DD
Ime, FVV, Durant, DFS, Capela, Tate, Holiday, Sengun, Tari and Jeff all need to go. What "veteran" presence do the Spurs have thats leading the charge to the *checks notes* Western Conference Finals?
I remember some on this forum thinking the FVV injury was a blessing in disguise since it would free up minutes for Reed and Amen at the position. So it's kind of wild to see the front office fall back on the FVV injury as an excuse. I love Fred as a player but when he and Brooks were acquired, they were just supposed to be good veterans for Phase 2 to help the young core progress into the phase 3 championship run. Fred was supposed to be a bridge to Amen/Reed to replace him. Right now we should be trading Fred for picks and/or players to build around the 'young core'. This was supposed to Jalen's team Sengun's team Amen's team. Right now it's KD's team. It seems like the goalposts are constantly shifting with the front office and the fans/media are going along with it. I strongly believe that you can call the rebuild a failure right now because we know no one among the young core will emerge into the superstar tier. Its time to start selling high on some of them.
Agreed, we went through this before with the Harden years being 2nd fiddle consistently to the Warriors. I'm not looking to blow anything up but I'm not giving are future away to go all in either.
At first I wanted to attach the PHX pick to Fred for an upgrade but I know Stone / Ime wouldn’t do that. At this point I’d rather just let Ime have his cake with Fred and hopefully shows he shouldn’t be a starting level PG anymore and Ime still not a good coach Next year seems like kicking the can down the road and praying to Jesus the Nets & PHX picks bring us a couple decent guards in the draft
I’d welcome Chris Finch on the Rockets coaching staff as the lead assistant. He would be the best offensive minded coach on the market. He would also be a great option if they eventually part ways with Ime.
