Yeah, I didn't really mean for Jabari straight-up. It would probably end up being something more like Jabari + KD + draft picks if something like that ever happened (which again, it almost certainly won't).
I don't know if that 2nd guard needs to be a high volume guy but I think he does need to be on the bigger side but also have the ability to put the ball on the floor and finish at the rim and stretch the floor .... efficiently. Anyone out there that fits the description?
I think you'd want a guy who really makes defenders stick to him like glue, the way they do Reed, unless we're moving off the idea of Amen/Sengun as a pairing, which... maybe? Who knows. But as long as those are our two core young players, we need at least a couple of guys on the perimeter that teams are terrified to leave open. That's my thought here basically. One issue is that as @Joe Joe points out, finding one of those guys who is also at least decent defensively is not necessarily that easy. The best I can come up with right now, and he's not necessarily a good defender but maybe more of a neutral/mediocre one, would be Ty Jerome. I can see Memphis being willing to move him for the right price because he's already in his late 20s and not necessarily going to fit the timeline of a team that is moving into full rebuild mode starting, essentially, right now. However, he's on a value contract, so he may not come cheaply.
My understanding is that Fred doesn't have a legally binding no trade clause. It was a handshake style agreement to renegotiate the contract. Maybe we can renegotiate it down to $12M per to be Reeds back-up.
He's the only PG I saw as an option last offseason. I don't think he's a great fit with Reed, but he had a chance to be really good. He's better than the Cobi, Ayo, and Alvardo bunch in my opinion such that I would have been fine with him. Even if the Rockets targeted him in free agency, I'm not sure he would have signed with the Rockets. He got more guaranteed money from the Grizzlies than DFS, and would not have had to depend on an injury to get PT in Memphis.
FVV had the ability to decline a trade at anypoint until he exercises his player option granted to him by the CBA. It wasn't specifically in the contract as a no-trade clause, but it is in the CBA for any contract being a 1 year deal with a player option with Bird rights ramifications. As soon as FVV accepts the player option (i.e., it ceases to be a 1 year deal), the Rockets can trade him this offseason.
FVV has no trade options or a no-trade clause this summer - he can be packaged wherever Stone wants to send him. Honestly, I think Stone is going to have to trade him, Ime would play him too much and he is not as good as Reed is, and will be even slower now. DD
I think by the nature of the contract - one year free agent deal with second year player option- that without waiving the no-trade clause when signing the new deal, those types of contracts automatically contain a no-trade clause, but if Fred signs his option for the second year then he becomes immediately tradable without his permission. I wouldn't be surprised if Fred is traded at some point next offseason if he exercises his option. He is expensive for a 6th man and he blocks Reed Sheppard from what should be 30+ minutes per game. I think you are correct in thinking that they may try to renogotiate it down to something under the mid-level exemption for a longer guarantee, but Fred may think he is a starter quality player worth that $25M/year.
FVV may be a starting NBA player next year, but if it’s on the Rockets instead of Shep then there’s a huge problem. And FVV should willingly accept that role.
SGA. For the most part, PGs suck at defense. SGs/SFs that can put the ball on the floor and finish at the rim, and stretch the floor generally suck at defense as well, or are stars. On high volume, a player generally can't stretch the floor unless they are a volume shooter (i.e., Okogie is getting better at shooting more by the eyeball test, but he still is not stretching the floor much). If I were Stone, I would try hard for Trey Murphy, but that would put even more pressure on getting a PG that plays defense, as Murphy's defense is suspect.
Fred is gonna say he’ll accept being a backup to Reed. Wink wink Ime will proceed to start him while Reed rides the pine.
Mikal Bridges Nickeil Alexander-Walker Desmond Bane Tyler Herro Ty Jerome Quentin Grimes I don't think most of these guys are immediately available, but their skillsets are decent enough to fit on any team. The cost to acquire some of these players would be incredibly high though.
Yeah, my major concerns were defense and ability to get his shot off. I, too, was thinking he's more of an undersized hybrid/tweener, but Reed's definitely best with the ball in his hands. Great feel for the game... He should play up top for the next decade, allowing Amen to do what he does best. I know big men and PG's take awhile, but the kid's on his way.
