Jump to content

2024-2025 Houston Rockets thread - Prepare for Liftoff 🚀


Macklemore

Recommended Posts

1 hour ago, TonyTexas said:

Waiting for @HtownHorn to chime in. He’s been wanting to get rid of him for years. 

I am sure you posted this same shit last year, when he had a hot streak followed by a longer cold streak. When Green can do this over a season instead of a 10 game stretch here and there, your point is valid. As such, he still sucks but at least he's finally not a net negative on the court. The real star though is Amen Thompson, since he was inserted into the starting lineup this team has found a new gear. Smith isn't getting his starting spot back any time soon. 

6-1 with a +62 in scoring margin.

Edited by HtownHorn
Link to comment
Share on other sites

What if I told you that Jabari Smith going out just unlocked Jalen Green/Sengun/Amen as a viable top 3 and we don’t need Butler or Durant?   
 

We aren’t beating the Thunder this year.  so let’s not take on $50m a year for 2-3 years.  I won’t shit on a pick swap back + players for Durant or Booker.  But I am willing to see just how far this team can get in playoffs.  No one in the west scares me other than OKC and weirdly Golden State who might not make the play in.  Our place in the standings validates this. Go win 54 and get a 2 or 3 seed and see how the chips fall in the playoffs.  We will learn a lot about these guys in the playoffs that we don’t have a clue about now.  Hope we have more Jimmy Butlers and fewer Demar Derozans but who is to know until they grind out a series or two.  

Edited by A-Tex Devil
  • Hook 'Em 2
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 minutes ago, A-Tex Devil said:

What if I told you that Jabari Smith going out just unlocked Jalen Green/Sengun/Amen as a viable top 3 and we don’t need Butler or Durant?   
 

We aren’t beating the Thunder this year.  so let’s not take on $50m a year for 2-3 years.  I won’t shit on a pick swap back + players for Durant or Booker.  But I am willing to see just how far this team can get in playoffs.  No one in the west scares me other than OKC and weirdly Golden State who might not make the play in.  Our place in the standings validates this. Go win 54 and get a 2 or 3 seed and see how the chips fall in the playoffs.  We will learn a lot about these guys in the playoffs that we don’t have a clue about now.  Hope we have more Jimmy Butlers and fewer Demar Derozans but who is to know until they grind out a series or two.  

Don't disagree, but not counting what you give up, Durant is about as perfect of a plug and play player for this team as one could imagine.  Swap Durant for Brooks in the starting 5 and you could challenge for the West this season.

Durant plays solid D, averages 1.5 blocks per game, can play small ball 5, would instantly be the best shooter on the team, improves spacing and plays off the ball as well as anyone.  He just seems like the perfect fit.

Would be short term as well and keep future options open. 

Edited by ChickenSandwich
Link to comment
Share on other sites

ESPN suggested a trade for KD. Would really be something to get him in a swap like this. 

Quote

Suns' big three era ends -- with KD leaving

Houston Rockets get: forward Kevin Durant, center Bol Bol, guard Monte Morris, guard Damion Lee

Phoenix Suns get: forward Dillon Brooks, forward Cam Whitmore, forward Jae'Sean Tate, forward Jeff Green, center Jock Landale, two first-round picks (2025, 2027; both return to Phoenix)

We are not going to hold these words against Rockets general manager Rafael Stone.

"Of course, my job is to be open to everything, so I'm not going to not do my job," Stone told Sirius XM radio in December. "[But] we like this team. We definitely do not intend to change anything and I would be shocked if something changes this season."

But what would happen if Suns owner Mat Ishbia looks at the standings in early February and does an about-face with the roster? Instead of holding on to Durant with the belief this roster can contend for a championship, the Suns could realize that the best move is to retool the roster without the former MVP.

In the unlikely scenario that Durant were made available, Houston checks the boxes of expiring contracts, young players and draft picks to offer an appealing trade package.

To steal a page from the Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix would receive back its own 2025 and 2027 first-round picks. Those two picks were initially traded to Brooklyn when Durant joined Phoenix two years ago, and then again traded to Houston this past summer. The 2025 pick would be projected to land in the lottery.

The Rockets would certainly draw a line in the sand for which former first-round picks are available. Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun signed rookie extensions in October and have a poison pill restriction in their contract. Trading either is close to impossible. That would leave Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard and Whitmore as trade candidates. The Suns should ask for Thompson or Eason, but that would be a nonstarter for Houston.

Whitmore would be the odd man out. He recently expressed his displeasure with his role in Houston.

The trade would give the Rockets a starting five of Fred VanVleet, Green, Thompson, Durant and Sengun. Current starter Jabari Smith Jr. and Eason would anchor the bench.

Besides Whitmore and returned draft capital, Brooks would give Phoenix an NBA All-Defense wing under contract for the next three seasons.

The Suns are over the second apron and not allowed to aggregate contracts. But veteran minimum contracts included in a trade do not violate the aggregation rule. -- Bobby Marks

 

  • Hook 'Em 1
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

ESPN suggested a trade for KD. Would really be something to get him in a swap like this. 

Suns' big three era ends -- with KD leaving

Houston Rockets get: forward Kevin Durant, center Bol Bol, guard Monte Morris, guard Damion Lee

Phoenix Suns get: forward Dillon Brooks, forward Cam Whitmore, forward Jae'Sean Tate, forward Jeff Green, center Jock Landale, two first-round picks (2025, 2027; both return to Phoenix)

We are not going to hold these words against Rockets general manager Rafael Stone.

"Of course, my job is to be open to everything, so I'm not going to not do my job," Stone told Sirius XM radio in December. "[but] we like this team. We definitely do not intend to change anything and I would be shocked if something changes this season."

But what would happen if Suns owner Mat Ishbia looks at the standings in early February and does an about-face with the roster? Instead of holding on to Durant with the belief this roster can contend for a championship, the Suns could realize that the best move is to retool the roster without the former MVP.

In the unlikely scenario that Durant were made available, Houston checks the boxes of expiring contracts, young players and draft picks to offer an appealing trade package.

To steal a page from the Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix would receive back its own 2025 and 2027 first-round picks. Those two picks were initially traded to Brooklyn when Durant joined Phoenix two years ago, and then again traded to Houston this past summer. The 2025 pick would be projected to land in the lottery.

The Rockets would certainly draw a line in the sand for which former first-round picks are available. Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun signed rookie extensions in October and have a poison pill restriction in their contract. Trading either is close to impossible. That would leave Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard and Whitmore as trade candidates. The Suns should ask for Thompson or Eason, but that would be a nonstarter for Houston.

Whitmore would be the odd man out. He recently expressed 

 in Houston.

The trade would give the Rockets a starting five of Fred VanVleet, Green, Thompson, Durant and Sengun. Current starter Jabari Smith Jr. and Eason would anchor the bench.

Besides Whitmore and returned draft capital, Brooks would give Phoenix an NBA All-Defense wing under contract for the next three seasons.

The Suns are over the second apron and not allowed to aggregate contracts. But veteran minimum contracts included in a trade do not violate the aggregation rule. -- Bobby Marks

 

If that trade happened it’d be sick!!!
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tough little stretch to end January coming up for the young Rockets w/ only 2 of the next 9 games at home:
@ Den - tonight
@ Sac - 1/16 TNT
@ Por - 1/8
vs Det - 1/20
Vs Cle - 1/22
@ Cle - 1/25
@ Bos - 1/27
@ Atl - 1/28
@ Mem - 1/30 TNT
Yeah i could see a 2-7...so hopefully that doesn't happen. Gonna have to ball out
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, Dutchrudder said:

ESPN suggested a trade for KD. Would really be something to get him in a swap like this. 

 

Notwithstanding above post, I would do that in a heartbeat. PHX would be dumb not to at least require Jabari if not Amen or Tari. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, BigOrange1 said:

big time measuring stick game tonight.  can't wait!

 

1 hour ago, Js1 said:

No Joker or Gordon 

More like a classroom ruler. 

 

Udoka is going to force Amen to be great. Dude makes a lapse and gets coached immediately... And Amen looks right at him. Dog. 

Edited by Slacks
  • Hook 'Em 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, A-Tex Devil said:

Notwithstanding above post, I would do that in a heartbeat. PHX would be dumb not to at least require Jabari if not Amen or Tari. 

Yeah, that package feels a bit light for Phoenix. Brooks doesn't really help them either, since they would have Brooks, Beal and Booker as their core, and that ain't winning anything. I get the idea of keeping FVV over Brooks, but I think a team looking to rebuild would want the salary dump of FVV's non-guaranteed deal to offload salary immediately and a young stud to build around like Amen, Jabari and/or Reed.  Getting their 2 picks back only makes sense if they are planning to tank soon, and I just don't see them doing that with a rich new owner who wants to make a splash. 

Probably doesn't matter anyways, since Phoenix just made a trade for Nick Richards, who is likely to be the fill-in C when Nurkic is hurt. I don't think they would bother doing that if they planned to do a firesale soon. Maybe in the offseason after they get bounced in the play-in. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This team is fucking legit. Jalen is becoming a star. Love how he is attacking the cup and making the extra pass. That’s the reason why I’m a believer that this breakout is sustainable since it’s predicated on drives to the hoop. No doubt he has also improved the form of his jumper too by not jumping as high as before which allows for him to stay consistent with good form. This offense is so much better than it was earlier this season.

Edited by Macklemore
  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Dutchrudder said:

Yeah, that package feels a bit light for Phoenix. Brooks doesn't really help them either, since they would have Brooks, Beal and Booker as their core, and that ain't winning anything. I get the idea of keeping FVV over Brooks, but I think a team looking to rebuild would want the salary dump of FVV's non-guaranteed deal to offload salary immediately and a young stud to build around like Amen, Jabari and/or Reed.  Getting their 2 picks back only makes sense if they are planning to tank soon, and I just don't see them doing that with a rich new owner who wants to make a splash. 

Probably doesn't matter anyways, since Phoenix just made a trade for Nick Richards, who is likely to be the fill-in C when Nurkic is hurt. I don't think they would bother doing that if they planned to do a firesale soon. Maybe in the offseason after they get bounced in the play-in. 

There ain't shit I'm trading for Amen Thompson. I think he is Jalen Brown level with more athleticism. 

Y'all can stop with these fake ass trade offers. 

  • Hook 'Em 4
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, Slacks said:

There ain't shit I'm trading for Amen Thompson. I think he is Jalen Brown level with more athleticism. 

Y'all can stop with these fake ass trade offers. 

No fucking way in hell Amen Thompson is going to be part of any trade this team makes…

  • Hook 'Em 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



×
×
  • Create New...