Since you mentioned it, Stone should have just kept Dillon and tried trading JG for Jalen Johnson, Brandon Miller,, NAW, Herro, Deni, or Trey Murphy III., etc
I would not build around either at this point. I lean Amen as the one most likely to get to the point to build around. I don't like posts that try to limit choices to avoid dissenting opinions. Overall, really down on both of them, as I expected at least one of them to be better than KD this season.
I mean the clear answer is Amen but neither has proven enough to warrant a "build around". Amen is probably closer to Jabari Smith than he is Cade Cunningham right now. Might be behind him even because Jabari actually was a competent offensive player last year if a bit inconsistent. The Sengun ship has likely sailed.
I don’t care about dissenting opinions, but wanted to limit it to these 2, because they are pretty much the only two mentioned in that regard. Not really looking for a pissing match, just wanted to see where clutchfans stood on the two players. Who else should I add? Durant might get 3-4 votes, Reed would get 2 for sure DD, BTG. Neither would probably get the most votes, but I didn’t really want to start the Ime and Stone hate parade all over again.
Amen easily. A point forward with plus defense who doesn’t really shoot 3s is a pretty common prototype and really not that difficult to build around. Giannis, Hill, Butler, KG, Odom, M. Johnson, etc. Basically, just make sure you have good shooting around him. Sengun, conversely, requires a very specific lineup if you’re looking to best utilize his abilities. There just aren’t nearly as many historical examples of a Sengun prototype. Not to mention he’s a bit of an awkward fit with Amen. Now, I do think there is a world where Amen and Sengun can coexist with Amen taking the keys if (1) Sengun continues to develop his 3 ball and (2) focuses more on facilitating.
None of the above. The Rockets are not in a place where they should spend much to build around either player. I don't mind small moves to see if one or both of these becomes worth building around. I do want the Rockets to have shooters so they can evaluate Amen, Alpi, and even Reed better, so I'm not opposed to adding shooting for the right price or not trading a vet.
Amen. Not build around in the sense like he Ant or something but Amen and Jabari the only 2 I care to keep. Amen is my untouchable. I just think he’s too solid with a lot of room to grow. Amen & Jabari only 23. I’d use the 27’s, 28’, and 29’s draft picks to start trying to build a new young team through the draft around them I’d ship Sengun after next season for more picks if not this off season. Let Stone / Ime run it back with Fred & save assets. Draft the 27’ picks and maybe package Sengun with them to move up
It’s a valid point. I don’t think we should sell low on any of our assets other than KD or FVV (just because they are not a part of our future and we have virtually no chance of competing during the so-called “KD window”. I would trade Alpi for a top 3 pick in this draft or a combination of high value young players and draft picks, but short of that I’m giving him more time. Amen has as much or more potential than anyone in this draft (IMO) so I wouldn’t trade him for the no. 1 pick, but if you blew me away with a top 3 pick in this draft and a plethora of either frp’s or good young players, I would consider it.
Post All Star break, Amen basically averaged 20/8/5 on a .65 TS%. If you look at the list of the 20 or so players who put up this line or better last season, a few things stand out: (1) very few also play plus defense; (2) only 3 had a TS% better than Amen’s (Giannis, Shai, and Joker); and (3) the vast majority had usage rates way higher than Amen’s 20%. The overarching point - had this team given the keys to Amen and traded for some supplemental shooting rather than just KD, I don’t think anyone would be questioning whether it’s worth building around Amen.
G Bravo! Best post in a while. Ime abandoned the Amen pg experiment about 10 games into the season. We would have been much farther along if they just handed the keys to Amen and loaded up with shooters instead of extending and trading for over-the-hill vets.
I don’t pretend that he is. I believe he has the potential to be. When you are a young team, potential is about all you have to go on. Clutchfans in general is incredibly impatient when it comes to developing young players. They expect immediate dividends, which only happens a couple times a decade.
I see this as the Amen/Sengun window. While I have soured a lot on Amen and Sengun this year as likely multiple All-NBA guys, I would not give up on the Amen/Sengun window yet even though I would not build around either unless we see something by the trade deadline. I think KD is really important to learn if Amen is worthy of building around. FVV is not an asset for trading. I do think FVV is probably one of the better PGs if he's healthy to see if Sengun is worth building around.
I really don't know so I'm not going to vote. I do lean toward Amen, but my view is something like 15% chance it's Amen, 10% chance it's Alpi, 75% chance neither of them is a guy you can truly "build around". I do think both of them are probably going to be good enough age 25-29 to be #2 options on offense though? But also perhaps not a good fit together if neither becomes a 3P shooter you have to guard.
I'll take Amen, but I'm not building around him as a cornerstone player because he isn't one. But if I had a 3rd choice, I would reroll and restart.
