The "franchise player" debate has been settled. It's Amen.

he hates everything

 

in this game, Amen made 10 of 16 shots for 63%

4 of those 10 made shots were 14 to 16 feet jumpers
2 were 7 ft floaters
2 driving layups
and only 2 were layups while he was "camping" at the dunkers spot

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CF...eamID=1610612745&flag=3&sct=plot&section=game

 

@Bobbythegreat absolutely loves Reed's 30% overall and 3pt shooting in the playoffs though

 

At this point, an Amen jumper is bascially a turnover.

 

The fact that you took out the first paragraph of my post in your response shows you either did not read my first paragraph, or read it and decide to ignore it. I'm not sure which it is, but either way it seems pointless. Unlike click baity news or social media, it's not as if there's really anything for you to gain on a message board cutting out to quote someone out of context.

 

Its an investment. Just like every time Reed gets bodied on defense or Sengun shoots a flamingo. They need to develop.

Every possession ran by Fred or one with Dickerson on the floor is a wasted one we wont get back.

 

I give up.

 

List of players I would trade for Amen, knowing our situation as it is and assuming the trade is pretty much straight up or maybe considering us including a draft pick or two if that would make it happen.


Obviously..
Wemby
SGA

Likely….
Flagg
Ant
Luka

Maybe…..
Cade

 

This. People make it so complicated.

It is quite simple. Amen has elite athleticism. He also has great processing speed. Those two attributes are extremely valuable tools for a basketball player.

But he also has glaring weaknesses.

By far the number one weakness everybody can see is shooting. If he can't shoot, he can't be a franchise player. It's just that simple.

His handle is also weak for a PG. That's okay if he's not pegged as a point guard. Personally, I think improvement of his shooting is more likely than improvement of his handle to the level of an NBA PG. But that's just a subjective hunch on my part. He also doesn't have elite playmaking instinct. He makes up for it by his processing speed. But he doesn't see play development like a good PG should. Reed is actually more advanced in that regard. The handle and playmaking weaknesses together is why I don't think he will likely develop into a full-time PG. I think they are wasting time trying to make him one. It'd be better to develop him on his strengths and focus on making him a good shooter.

If he can develop a good jump shot (big IF), he can still be a franchise player, not as a primary ball handler but something like Kawhi. He can create his own shot alright. He just can't hit them. If he can, he will be a true two-way superstar.

 

Agreed on Fred and Dickerson. However, until the Rockets pick a direction and allow the young players to lead without question, the benefits are marginal.

Amen launching up the occasional missile from 3pt land doesn't help him.

 

Yes. For the love of god lets pick a direction.

 

mostly agree he needs to develop his jumper first, then three ball, and lastly his handles

but I believe his passing is already there in the playoffs, he was 6th in potential assists amost at par with Cade who has been in the league for 5 years already and he does take care of the ball his assist to turnover ratio was as good as Jalen Brunsons

this upcoming season he needs to do all his best to shoot at least in the high 40s% 5 to 24 feet (he's already shown he can do that after the allstar break and in the playoffs) then in the low 30s% from behind the arc.

his passing will continue to develop and his handles will round out eventually

 

I actually think we should just give up on him before we even get a chance to see what he can do.

we should move him for a franchise player like Karl-Anthony towns.

 

Every GM in the NBA would swap Amen with every player on that list straight up with no draft pick. If you want more controversial young players for a talking point you can say:

Maxey
Barnes
Jalen Johnson
Jalen Williams
Harper

 

I get what you're saying especially about Wallace, but I'm old enough to know and that when Wallace wanted to be dominate, he would basically be unstoppable. He had the post game, 3 ball, mid game, shot blocker, the entire package, but he never wanted to be great.I also get the comparison of Simmons v Thompson, but until he can get range and not be a ced ceballos type, then he's just a good player. If he was just as good as Marion, then the Rockets would have something.

 

Giannis has a decent mid range plus he's basically a 7ft er who moves like a sf

 

I actually agree with @Sooner423 's post above. He's the best shot the Rockets currently have on the roster to become a franchise player.

What I don't agree with is people stating with certainty that he's going to solve all his issues and become that.

You ask them why they believe that and you'll get some response like "I thought he shot better from the mid range" or "I thought his shot looked better" or a very small sample size like the playoffs (where he actually got even worse statistically).
When you point out that the stats don't support their eye test the goal posts get moved "He had the 6th most potential assists in the playoffs" ..... like that is really relevant.

I actually agree that he's the best chance for one of the home grown players to turn into a star just that the odds of that actually occurring are very very low.
After three years of data staring us in the face, I put the odds of him doing that - becoming a respectable shooter beyond 10 feet at something around 1:20 or 5%, mainly because his stats are trending the opposite direction and culminated with a playoff flop with his stats continuing the downward trend.

I guess this is just the age we live in where someone posts on twitter player X did Y better than everyone in history over the last 3 games making Ryan Bowen appear in the same level as MJ.

 

If he did that, I'd STFU.

 

I think we all would.. But even to this day GA is still a pretty horrible mid range and 3pt shooter.

 

That’s not true. Several players couldn’t shoot three pointers or midrange but became better shooters through consistent growth and development. I gave 3 names last week (A Gordon, Jerami Grant, Toppin). But also guys like Amare and Kenyon Martin Sr., and Lonzo drastically improved their shot after virtually not having a jumpshot.

Amare shot 28% from 15-19 ft rookie year and 23% midrange. In year 3 he shot 48% 15-19ft and 44% midrange. Ball likewise improved his midrange to 40% in year 4.