Amen is definitely not the best player. We’re just hoping he develops a jumpshot and a better handle, He’s a 3rd option glue guy, it’s crazy how some people on this board really want shooters around this guy with the ball in his hands as if he’s like Giannis or Westbrook, He’s overrated, I’m not a Sengun fan either but atleast he’s an offensive hub and wasn’t great due to not having a PG. If Amen is the main guy he’ll crumble and he’ll be scapegoated and we’ll be the 10th or 11th seed, He doesn’t command a double, and Jabari is nothing more than a inconsistent role player that’s it!
This is true. Other teams' fans are sniffing coke when proposing trades: "Amen + Sengun + Sheppard + Jabari + four first round picks for Giannis", that sort of thing. Rockets' fans are taking barbiturates.
I’ve had in the back of my mind that Stone didn’t make a move this year because he had something else in the works that he did not want to disrupt. Is it possible that Stone had the opportunity to turn their oldest and most disappointing “young core” player into an asset placeholder in KD? I’m actually starting to think more and more that KD is just here to be flipped for later assets, possibly to a pre-determined team. Riley and the Heat could certainly work a long-term plan like that.
Makes sense, but the club has no urgency to trade KD right now. They'll use his injury in the playoffs and FVV out for the year as the excuse to run it back with a bit more firepower. KD is under contract for 2 more years (includes his player option for 27-28). Rockets still have time to trade him next summer to get something for him. I am certain the Rockets feel FVV was the missing stable piece in the lineup and hope he can come back effective enough to start every game. Baring a total collapse half way through the season, KD will be a Rocket for at least 1 more year. What the Rockets do need to do is create options around KD to take over games and not rely on him so heavily down the stretch. Give KD time to stay healthy for a deep playoff run. Trading Tari, DFS and some role players may allow them to put a roster together that can compliment outside shooting and ball handling more consistently. I also wouldn't be opposed to trading Reed and or Jabari if the right kind of scoring threat came back like Jaylen Brown who could cover those minutes and spell KD on offense, but most likely the Rockets will try to go all in for 1 or 2 seasons with KD and hope for the best before tearing it down.
Watching almost every game last season, including the playoffs, there’s nothing abiut this team that would remotely give an objective spectator reason to think they can make a deep playoff run. Moves on the margins won’t change that. Fred coming off ACL surgery won’t change that. And if they do go all in on a guy like Jaylen Brown, we are just gonna deplete our future assets and make it harder to rebuild when we inevitably come up short of a championship. I doubt he’s available anyway. KD getting through last season with virtually no injury was beating the odds. If he gets hurt or starts to decline, his trade value will be very poor. Why not sell high? We aren’t contending. There’s no cheating a good rebuild. Very disappointed in the direction it appears we are headed.
Rank the top 30 player assets in the league - The Rockets don't have one. All that prospect / upside stuff went out the window as they showed us who they are. Stone & Ime can believe their players are high value all they want, that doesn't mean the 29 other GM's do.
Bill Simmons (I know, I know, but he's the only one I know of in the media who does these rankings) thinks we have the #35 player by trade value (KD), #19 (Sengun), and #16 (Amen).
