2018 Rockets Offseason Thread - LeBron or bust

[BigOrange1 6,422]

oh damn, they picked up trevon duval for the summer league team.  there were duke games i watched this year where i thought he was the best player on the court.  granted, there were many more where he clearly wasn't, but he definitely had some moments.

 

[WJC88 97]

42 minutes ago, BigOrange1 said:

oh damn, they picked up trevon duval for the summer league team.  there were duke games i watched this year where i thought he was the best player on the court.  granted, there were many more where he clearly wasn't, but he definitely had some moments.

 

Same for me when i watched a cpl of their games.

Huge fall for him to not even get drafted. But i think he finds a way to stay in the league at some point.

[Simon Honeybone 113]

No LiAngelo Ball? #Powerballin 

[Chapo 104]

If Melton can just shoot >35% on catch and shoot 3s, he will have a long NBA career. Perfect role next to Harden and should be good in switch everything defense.

[A-Tex Devil 2,445]

12 hours ago, WJC88 said:

Same for me when i watched a cpl of their games.

Huge fall for him to not even get drafted. But i think he finds a way to stay in the league at some point.

K recruited over him assuming he’d Ben one and done. He would have played 8-10 fewer minutes/game as a sophomore.  

If he can find a shot he will be good on the league.  He’s one of these guys like Westbrook or Avery Bradley  (much inferior than them of course) where NBA game may suit his game much, much better than college. 

[runthebone 7,933]

Talk about a good trade that didn't "work out":

 

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23890370/carmelo-anthony-oklahoma-city-thunder-exercise-early-termination-option-contract

Carmelo Anthony returning to Thunder, will earn $27.9M

 

Quote

With the deadline passing Saturday, Carmelo Anthony did not exercise the early termination option on the final year of his contract to join the 2018 free-agent class.

Anthony, officially a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder again next season, will earn $27.9 million in 2018-19 to complete the five-year, $120 million contract he signed with the New York Knicks in 2014.

With Anthony back, and the desire to re-sign Paul George to a max-level contract once free agency opens, the Thunder would have one of the largest payrolls in NBA history. ESPN's Bobby Marks projects the Thunder's salary to be close to $150 million, with a luxury tax hit of more than $120 million if George re-signs. While the tax implications are jarring, the Thunder have positioned themselves financially to absorb the penalty.

Since acquiring him before last season, the Thunder anticipated Anthony would opt into the final year of his deal, always viewing the trade as a two-year deal, despite some comments after the season by the 10-time All-Star expressing some dissatisfaction with his role.

"I think for me, my focus would be on kind of figuring out what I want out of the rest of my career, what I want in my future, what am I willing to accept, if I'm willing to accept that at all," Anthony said following the season. "I think everybody knows that I've sacrificed kind of damned near everything, family, moving here by myself, sacrificed my game for the sake of the team, and was willing to sacrifice anything and everything in order for this situation to work out. So it's something I really have to think about, if I really want to be this type of player, finish out my career as this type of player, knowing that I have so much left in the tank and I bring so much to the game of basketball."

Even with Anthony under contract for next season, the Thunder could negotiate a buyout, use the stretch and waive provision, or work a trade for Anthony (although he would need to waive his no-trade clause). However, the expectation for now is Anthony will be with the team in training camp.

Anthony, 34, averaged career lows across the board with the Thunder last season, including 16.2 points on 40.4 percent shooting, though he did set a career mark for 3-pointers made in a season.

"If he is back with the team, if he feels like this is something he wants to continue to do, we all just got to be on the same page," Thunder general manager Sam Presti said in April. "I don't want to lead it any different direction. Carmelo was great for us this year in the role he was playing. Made more 3s than he's ever made in his career. Changed his shot distribution. Lowest turnover year. As I said before, that lineup was the best starting lineup in the league."

George has until Friday to opt out of the $20.2 million he's owed in the final year of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent.

 

[Slacks 6,792]

Talk about a good trade that didn't "work out":
 
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23890370/carmelo-anthony-oklahoma-city-thunder-exercise-early-termination-option-contract
Carmelo Anthony returning to Thunder, will earn $27.9M
 

With the deadline passing Saturday, Carmelo Anthony did not exercise the early termination option on the final year of his contract to join the 2018 free-agent class.

Anthony, officially a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder again next season, will earn $27.9 million in 2018-19 to complete the five-year, $120 million contract he signed with the New York Knicks in 2014.

With Anthony back, and the desire to re-sign Paul George to a max-level contract once free agency opens, the Thunder would have one of the largest payrolls in NBA history. ESPN's Bobby Marks projects the Thunder's salary to be close to $150 million, with a luxury tax hit of more than $120 million if George re-signs. While the tax implications are jarring, the Thunder have positioned themselves financially to absorb the penalty.

Since acquiring him before last season, the Thunder anticipated Anthony would opt into the final year of his deal, always viewing the trade as a two-year deal, despite some comments after the season by the 10-time All-Star expressing some dissatisfaction with his role.

"I think for me, my focus would be on kind of figuring out what I want out of the rest of my career, what I want in my future, what am I willing to accept, if I'm willing to accept that at all," Anthony said following the season. "I think everybody knows that I've sacrificed kind of damned near everything, family, moving here by myself, sacrificed my game for the sake of the team, and was willing to sacrifice anything and everything in order for this situation to work out. So it's something I really have to think about, if I really want to be this type of player, finish out my career as this type of player, knowing that I have so much left in the tank and I bring so much to the game of basketball."

Even with Anthony under contract for next season, the Thunder could negotiate a buyout, use the stretch and waive provision, or work a trade for Anthony (although he would need to waive his no-trade clause). However, the expectation for now is Anthony will be with the team in training camp.

Anthony, 34, averaged career lows across the board with the Thunder last season, including 16.2 points on 40.4 percent shooting, though he did set a career mark for 3-pointers made in a season.

"If he is back with the team, if he feels like this is something he wants to continue to do, we all just got to be on the same page," Thunder general manager Sam Presti said in April. "I don't want to lead it any different direction. Carmelo was great for us this year in the role he was playing. Made more 3s than he's ever made in his career. Changed his shot distribution. Lowest turnover year. As I said before, that lineup was the best starting lineup in the league."

George has until Friday to opt out of the $20.2 million he's owed in the final year of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent.

 
Remind me what was on the table in the trade, because I'm pretty sure Carmelo is still way better than Ryan Anersn.

[aggie08 21,443]

1 hour ago, Snacks said:

 
Remind me what was on the table in the trade, because I'm pretty sure Carmelo is still way better than Ryan Anersn.

You can bench Ryan Anderson.

[runthebone 7,933]

Yeah, the chemistry issue is the key. 

[Slacks 6,792]

You can bench Ryan Anderson.

Yeah, the chemistry issue is the key. 

Carmelo would be a great stretch 4 on this team... and he's a better defender than Anersn... (but so am i)

[aggie08 21,443]

49 minutes ago, Snacks said:

Carmelo would be a great stretch 4 on this team... and he's a better defender than Anersn... (but so am i)

Based on what exactly? Melo shot 40% this season, 36% from 3. Anderson shot 43%, 39% from 3 on only one fewer 3PA per game.

Anderson obviously no-showed in the playoffs, and was relegated to garbage time minutes because of it. Garbage time minutes are about the only kind of minutes Melo should be playing in a competitive playoff series; he shot 37.5%, 21% from 3 against Utah playing some of the laziest defense you'll ever see. He would have been every bit as worthless against Golden State as Anderson was; except he would have thrown a tantrum when D'Antoni finally had the nerve to bench him.

[BigOrange1 6,422]

count me as another who would much rather have melo than anderson.  

[aggie08 21,443]

6 hours ago, BigOrange1 said:

count me as another who would much rather have melo than anderson.  

It goes without saying that I'd prefer the "neither" option, but, between the two, I'd MUCH rather pay Anderson $20M to soak up 28 minutes a game in the regular season, make a few threes, then get phased out against the upper echelon teams in the playoffs than pay Melo $27M to catch and hold, hold, assess, jab step, jab step, hold, jab step, brick a 19-footer, then jog back on defense. They're both completely unplayable against the PnR, but Melo still thinks he's Melo. Some dudes can't change.

Edited June 25, 2018 by aggie08

[Simon Honeybone 113]

Debating between Melo & Anderson is like debating between syphilis and gonorrhea

[ChickenSandwich 9,798]

If you can’t get Bron who has the ability to impact the most as a sign or trade?

id roll the dice one year on a Melo for Anderson swap. Melo plays iso ball and our offense plays a bunch of it. Maybe Paul can pull something out of him. 

Other than chemistry (Paul can handle) it’s a one year 7 million dollar risk or stay put. 

[Rockethorn1978 6,061]

When we don't get LeBron I don't think we stay put at all. If Lebron stays in Cleveland we will have a better shot at PG, after that I would love to see us pursue more PJ Tucker and other bench role players that are 3 and D experts.

Get rid of Anderson for sure, move on from Nene and fill those two spots with 3 point specialists, I've always maintained the best way to maximize this system is to fill it with 12-13 guys that can get hot and hit 5-6 three's a game. 

[Patrick Bateman 3,903]

So.... just wondering, but how would a Anderson for Melo trade work?  They're both over the cap so money has to balance and what would be the motivation for the Thunder to take on an extra year of salary?

[ChickenSandwich 9,798]

43 minutes ago, Patrick Bateman said:

So.... just wondering, but how would a Anderson for Melo trade work?  They're both over the cap so money has to balance and what would be the motivation for the Thunder to take on an extra year of salary?

Buyout possible?

[LCHorn 2,585]

If we're not going to be able to add Lebron I'm leaning on keeping Anderson.  Adding parts to a team (and this is presuming we re-sign Chris Paul and Capela) that's going to be WAY capped out means that we have the mid-level exemption and that salary slot to add players.  Anderson's two year deal effectively means we have to pay someone to take him off our hands this year, but it becomes more valuable next year as an expiring deal. 

In other words, we can't add much talent to this roster unless it's the margins (vet minimum or the mid-level), but next year we might be able to swing Anderson's deal over to someone for a talented player/bad existing fit that prefers the expiring. 

[LCHorn 2,585]

Also, I highly doubt Morey wants Melo.  Not a good fit for this team, even as an Anderson replacement.  Need a couple more 3 and D wings and a back-up point that D'Antoni will actually play. 

[Slacks 6,792]

21 hours ago, aggie08 said:

Based on what exactly? Melo shot 40% this season, 36% from 3. Anderson shot 43%, 39% from 3 on only one fewer 3PA per game.

Anderson obviously no-showed in the playoffs, and was relegated to garbage time minutes because of it. Garbage time minutes are about the only kind of minutes Melo should be playing in a competitive playoff series; he shot 37.5%, 21% from 3 against Utah playing some of the laziest defense you'll ever see. He would have been every bit as worthless against Golden State as Anderson was; except he would have thrown a tantrum when D'Antoni finally had the nerve to bench him.

OK... Ryan Anderson is a better scorer than Carmelo Anthony... got it... %ages say so... fuck it, bring back Patrick Patterson and start him at 4.

Anderson got to play mostly against backups and got worse as the season went on.  He already has it in his head that he can't shoot in TC. He could use a change of scenery.

Carmelo was the #3 scoring option in OKC. He is a scorer that can also be another mid-range threat... that could have maybe scored 5 points when the team was going 0 for 2037 from 3FG... and only has one season left on his deal.

[Patrick Bateman 3,903]

1 hour ago, ChickenSandwich said:

Buyout possible?

Add Melo after a Thunder buyout?  I assume it would be an option, but there's so many things which would have to happen, it doesn't seem like an option which should be relied on....

[Slacks 6,792]

 

15 minutes ago, LCHorn said:

If we're not going to be able to add Lebron I'm leaning on keeping Anderson.  Adding parts to a team (and this is presuming we re-sign Chris Paul and Capela) that's going to be WAY capped out means that we have the mid-level exemption and that salary slot to add players.  Anderson's two year deal effectively means we have to pay someone to take him off our hands this year, but it becomes more valuable next year as an expiring deal. 

In other words, we can't add much talent to this roster unless it's the margins (vet minimum or the mid-level), but next year we might be able to swing Anderson's deal over to someone for a talented player/bad existing fit that prefers the expiring. 

 

14 minutes ago, LCHorn said:

Also, I highly doubt Morey wants Melo.  Not a good fit for this team, even as an Anderson replacement.  Need a couple more 3 and D wings and a back-up point that D'Antoni will actually play. 

I do agree with most of this...  Personally, I'd keep PJ / Ariza / Luc on as the 3/4 combos and keep the party going with the primary team intact...  which Morey would never do.

[dingleberryswitzer 2,724]

12 minutes ago, Patrick Bateman said:

Add Melo after a Thunder buyout?  I assume it would be an option, but there's so many things which would have to happen, it doesn't seem like an option which should be relied on....

I had heard of this last week.   Not sure why okc would don't this.  He'd be off the books in a year, and might have some trade value at the deadline.  Unless of course he becomes an insufferable asshole and just wants to be gone.  

[Patrick Bateman 3,903]

1 minute ago, dingleberryswitzer said:

I had heard of this last week.   Not sure why okc would don't this.  He'd be off the books in a year, and might have some trade value at the deadline.  Unless of course he becomes an insufferable asshole and just wants to be gone.  

If Paul George opts out and goes to LA, then I could see it...... Melo won't be happy and OKC would need to re-set anyway....

 

[BigOrange1 6,422]

i wonder if atlanta would do bazemore for anderson + a first round pick.  they have cap space, no one is going there, they're going to be awful for a few years and they pick up an extra 1st round pick just for taking on a little extra salary.  

the priority this summer has to be flipping anderson for a player who can actually stay on the court for 10-15 minutes against the warriors. 

[LCHorn 2,585]

35 minutes ago, BigOrange1 said:

i wonder if atlanta would do bazemore for anderson + a first round pick.  they have cap space, no one is going there, they're going to be awful for a few years and they pick up an extra 1st round pick just for taking on a little extra salary.  

the priority this summer has to be flipping anderson for a player who can actually stay on the court for 10-15 minutes against the warriors. 

Bazemore would be a great get but if I'm Atlanta I'm thinking I can get more elsewhere.   

[Orca of Peace 109]

40 minutes ago, BigOrange1 said:

i wonder if atlanta would do bazemore for anderson + a first round pick.  they have cap space, no one is going there, they're going to be awful for a few years and they pick up an extra 1st round pick just for taking on a little extra salary.  

the priority this summer has to be flipping anderson for a player who can actually stay on the court for 10-15 minutes against the warriors. 

how much will Stephenson cost? can he hit the 3 ball? 

[BigOrange1 6,422]

 

[BigOrange1 6,422]

morey finally won executive of the year!

[Ricky Butler 2,662]

1 hour ago, BigOrange1 said:

 

I'd bet Ariza won't be back. If the Rockets are up into luxury tax territory, I'm not sure paying a guy like Ariza makes sense. Morey has shown an impressive ability to identify bargain role players.

[Machinator 32,098]

 

[Bogeywon 2,518]

LeBron should come here. its his best chance to win against GSW in my opinion.   

[Murfdogg21 4,412]

2 hours ago, Bogeywon said:

LeBron should come here. its his best chance to win against GSW in my opinion.   

Yes I concur that swapping out his Love and scrubs squad for Harden, CP3, Capela, and Tucker/Ariza would give him a better chance to beat GS. 

[Ricky Butler 2,662]

59 minutes ago, Murfdogg21 said:

Yes I concur that swapping out his Love and scrubs squad for Harden, CP3, Capela, and Tucker/Ariza would give him a better chance to beat GS. 

I can't decide if I want the Rockets to get Lebron James so the Mavs can swoop in and steal Capela or not....

[ChickenSandwich 9,798]

56 minutes ago, Ricky Butler said:

I can't decide if I want the Rockets to get Lebron James so the Mavs can swoop in and steal Capela or not....

Stick to DAJ or Boogie....not happening unless we want it to..see Chandler Parsons - like a fox

[Ricky Butler 2,662]

16 minutes ago, ChickenSandwich said:

Stick to DAJ or Boogie....not happening unless we want it to..see Chandler Parsons - like a fox

Start adding up Lebron+Harden+CP3+Capela Max..... Tilman may have a threshold.

[ChickenSandwich 9,798]

20 minutes ago, Ricky Butler said:

Start adding up Lebron+Harden+CP3+Capela Max..... Tilman may have a threshold.

he's also got an ego, jealous of Cuban

[Ricky Butler 2,662]

12 minutes ago, ChickenSandwich said:

he's also got an ego, jealous of Cuban

Yeah, but the tax is punitive and gets crazy when you're up that high. And that doesn't even get into the repeater tax. I'm sure @Patrick Bateman understands that stuff.

[Patrick Bateman 3,903]

Earned.

 

[Chapo 104]

If Mavs get DAJ, there shouldn't be any serious suitors left that could offer him more than the MLE right?  

[Dutchrudder 11,124]

The Lakers may do it if they strike out on other free agents. He would probably fit their core pretty well. 

Atlanta, Chicago, Indiana, Philly and Sacramento will all have the money to offer him a max as well, but teams tend to shy away from doing that for RFAs, since it locks up their money for a few days. 

[Patrick Bateman 3,903]

2 hours ago, Chapo said:

If Mavs get DAJ, there shouldn't be any serious suitors left that could offer him more than the MLE right?  

Offer who more than the MLE?

[Mack Tripper 696]

Phx has more than MLE in cap space but they really need to use it for a PG.

[Mack Tripper 696]

Offer who more than the MLE?

I assumed he meant Capela.

[Patrick Bateman 3,903]

6 minutes ago, Mack Tripper said:

I assumed he meant Capela.

Ah... Gotcha.  I've read Phoenix and Brooklyn will be in on Capela.  Maybe Sac-town.

[Chapo 104]

8 minutes ago, Dutchrudder said:

The Lakers may do it if they strike out on other free agents. He would probably fit their core pretty well. 

Atlanta, Chicago, Indiana, Philly and Sacramento will all have the money to offer him a max as well, but teams tend to shy away from doing that for RFAs, since it locks up their money for a few days. 

Lakers - Magic is going for 2 stars, Capela is not that.  I think they would just rather keep cap space for next year.

Atl - Collins is PF/C;  Ind- Myles Turner; 76ers - Emibiid; Kings - WCS, Bagley

[Chapo 104]

6 minutes ago, Patrick Bateman said:

Ah... Gotcha.  I've read Phoenix and Brooklyn will be in on Capela.  Maybe Sac-town.

Um, the Suns just drafted Ayton.

[Patrick Bateman 3,903]

8 minutes ago, Chapo said:

Um, the Suns just drafted Ayton.

Ayton could play the 4.  He has the face up game and range.  I think Capela to Phoenix would be disastrous especially without a PG and as MT noted, they have a need for PG more, but I read a piece that said they're still interested.

[angryhomer 98]

LeBron off the table?  He opted out.