Yeah I mean teams like NOLA and OKC are good teams for a “star” like Zion where you can manage him in the regular season because you are otherwise deep enough to still get to 48 wins without. The Rockets are a team that without that star (after giving up what they would need to) would not be competitive enough in the regular season to manage that star and just hope they are healthy in April.
I don’t think rim protection is more important than getting a good shooting combo guard who can take pressure off Fred, but I do think if we had a guy like Claxton instead of Adams it would give our team a versatile dynamic it doesn’t currently have. I like Adams and I like Jock and I think Bari will grow into his body and be able to play bigger. So I’m not jonesing for a big.
Green sucked in April - but March was great - and sucked from Oct-Feb - so what to make of him? I am fine with trying one more year, he showed signs, but to me, it is his mentality that is weak, he seems to be a front runner who does great when he feels good but when challenged he struggles, that is worrisome. Sengun - another promising guy with flaws........ So, what do we do....extend one, or both, or neither? In the end, it will be an interesting offseason, I would personally look to trade Green.....but I think Stone is going to stay put. DD
A backup PG who could limit Fred's regular season minutes is my top get for the Rockets this offseason.
Adams/Jock/Jeff/Boban would be gone in those scenarios, idea being that Claxton or Hartenstein is an upgrade at the backup 5. Maybe, maybe not…
A healthy Sengun with Jalen playing at least 50% of his streak most of the season and a healthy Tari with Jabari and Amen getting better? I think that is top 4-5 in the West. If we get streak Jalen for the entire season we will challenge for the top spot. I definitely "run it back". These guys need a few years to mature. In 3-4 seasons Sengun will be in MVP discussions as will Jalen if he can figure out how to make his streak performance the norm.
Yeah, probably an upgrade but I don’t know. $16M-$20M+ backup center? Roll with Adams and still have Landale in their back pocket. Go spend on shooting. Or depth if Holiday, Bullock, Green, and/or Tate are leaving.
We have Sengun and Adams. While Jabari can play the five and switch onto the perimeter, I think we might need another, also... long athletic guy ....
Sengun and Tari will need time to get going. Adams is an unknown with his injury history. Despite that, we need reliable 3 point shooting and defense, more than anything else. A veteran wing with athleticism would be awesome. Unfortunately, they don't grow on trees. We shouldn't sell the farm on Mikel Bridges.
Donovan has shown he can’t be the main guy in a championship team and yet it sound like ppl are ready to supermax him and sete for first round playoff series
Circumstances dictate course of action. I don't think there has been a player have a greater difference between cap hold and actual salary in the last decade. I think you make it absolutely clear to Sengun that it is your intention to extend him at the max but because of the unique circumstances, it will happen at X date - its best for the team's success and ultimately his as well. You just don't throw away opportunities to take advantage of the salary cap when it's in your favor. A $32.4m shift in salary can be franchise altering. I don't think there has been a player have a greater difference between cap hold and actual salary in the last decade.
Where are you getting this cap hold figure from? I have seen it as 16.3m. Jackson said similar on locked on rockets. I still agree with you that we promise him an extension after we take full advantage of the cap space.
https://www.spotrac.com/nba/houston-rockets/cap/2025/ Greens cap hold will be 16.3 million Senguns will be 7.6 million
Amen could be a point forward, bring the ball up and start the play. Amen and the PG could share the responsibilities. That eases Amen into the role. There will be teams that will game plan Amen’s lack of shot. This will be especially true in the playoffs.
