I think, with the right coach and right system, a core of Green, Smith, Eason and Sengun could win. I think the Green-Sengun tandem could be better than the current Fox-Sabonis duo in Sacramento as soon as next year. You add a year seasoned Eason and Smith to that and you're halfway to a rotation. I go back and forth on KPJ but think he's another guy who could be a rotation piece on a good team. Maybe this team under the right circumstances. Maybe I'm the fool but I think if this team tried to win next year and only added some vets and another non-Wemby lottery pick they'd have a shot at an OKC like improvement.
DD, I think the world of you, my friend. But I respectfully disagree. Silas' one job this year is the same as it has been to this point: maximize draft position. I'm convinced this is the last season for that strategy. Next year the development and achievement begin in earnest, whether our coach is Silas or someone else. Edit: I would add that Stone has a firm perception of the Rocket's core.
My Rockets core from 2022 - 2023 for the 2023 - 2024 season are:- Green Martin Smith Christopher Easton possibly Washington Y Trade = Sengun, Porter, Tate, Nix Gone to their own way from Kamansky Days Hudgins Boban
I want to wait until after the offseason, we could go a lot of different directions. It'd be mistake to catch too many feelings with this current group.
Tier 1 core: Green, Smith, Sengun Tier 2 core: KPJ, Eason, KMJ Tier 3 core: Tate, TyTy, Garuba, Christopher Tier 1: Almost untouchable Tier 2: Touchable for the right price Tier 3: Wouldn’t have strong feelings if traded, but I’m also fine with keeping around
No one on this team is a sure thing, future all star. Green is the most likely, but also the most likely to be fools gold with some of the worst D I've ever seen. The lack of development is frustrating and makes the OP question difficult. The only sure thing is Silas has to go. I can't remember a Rockets team that played with less effort, carelessness, and poor body language than the Silas teams. Is it all his fault? No, but it doesn't matter at this point.
Do people watch recent games since the all-star break? I guess this is why Kobe won so many all-defensive team awards when he was older and sucked on D. Reputation is everything on defense. People really don't pay attention. If you did you would visually notice the improvement mostly in effort since the all-star break.
Developing core: Green, Eason, Smith 2nd tier: Porter, Martin, Tate, Sengun, 3rd tier: Washington, Christopher, Garuba 4th tier: Boban, Augustin 5th tier: 67 tier: 4 billionth tier: Nix
Gods of Houston Pantheon : Sengun & Eason Promising talents : JGreen & Tari Hopefuls : KPJ & TyTy Needs Improvement: Garuba & Josh Cheerleaders : Boban & Kaminsky Trade chip : Tate Has to go : KPJ&Nix
Uh Don't make me spam all the clips of Green being doubled and tripled. If there is one player that deserved gods of Houston Pantheon it's Green not the dude who NBA defenses completely ignore and pretend does not exist the moment they step outside the painted area. And you know that's how 30/30 GMs view it also
If we consider Rox' current status even Head honcho or Nix can be franchise player. Sengun and Eason are luxury for this organisation.
Every player on the roster is tradeable. Jalen probably the least likely, followed in a group by Sengun, Tari, and Jabari. Otherwise - In the rotation next year: Jalen, Sengun, Tari, Jabari, KPJ, KJ End of the bench / no minutes / trade filler: Garuba, Christopher, TyTy
i have noticed an improvement on Jalen’s defensive effort since the all star break. I still see him get beat a lot and make a lot of mistakes, but the effort has been much better. Didn’t realize it’s actually translated into results. But yes, even the eye test will tell u Jalen has been playing harder on D.
I’d still like to see what Sengun, Green, Tari and Jabari can become. That’s still our core. But I also want to see what Garuba and TyTy can become. If we can add good free agents to those 6, plus draft another corner stone, at least we’ll be moving in the right direction. I think we have to trade KJ, KPJ, Christopher, and that clippers pick. Most likely one of our other core young guys gets moved. This is the year Stone has to consolidate and actually build a real roster.
And you would be right about the worst care scenario but that risk would still totally be worth the potential return.
And you would be right about the worst case scenario but that risk would still totally be worth the potential return.
