Durant to Rockets

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

Losing the leading scorer and a glue guy antagonizer isn’t significant?

What’s the starting five now?

KD
Sengun
Amen
FVV

Then Cam? Jabari? Eason?

Their window is small to make noise.

Are you talking about the invisible player in the Rockets-GSW series?

The guy that the team decided to sit in some critical minutes? Yeah, I'd call him insignificant.

DBrooks can be replaced.

[spurs50fan]

It’s an ok deal but understand why the Heat and Spurs decided to leave it

[kipgen]

Originally Posted by Chryghst

They traded 2 starters for 1. Does Jabari or Tari move into the 5th spot? The obvious issue is that giving up Brooks makes the defense worse, but maybe not if Tari takes his spot.

Tari is a great defender who can slide right in for DB, they can also run a KD Bari Sengun lineup

[asujbl]

Durant is super annoying… I hate him as well

But let’s stop pretending Jalen Green is that good. He’s a decent volume scorer. Bring Michael Beasley back. Didn’t he just smoke Lance Stephenson?

Rockets draft Mobley and this trade won’t even happen

Thank god

[kipgen]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

Are you talking about the invisible player in the Rockets-GSW series?

The guy that the team decided to sit in some critical minutes? Yeah, I'd call him insignificant.

DBrooks can be replaced.

Agree, DB was great down the stretch in a couple games from an offensive perspective but he did also give up some critical fouls against Jimmy Butler in the Warriors series and wasn't really a deciding factor overall

As for Jalen Green being the leading scorer, that's all a product of him being a streaky player in games that don't matter that much. One good game in a seven game series should be the thing we're looking at here.

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

Are you talking about the invisible player in the Rockets-GSW series?

The guy that the team decided to sit in some critical minutes? Yeah, I'd call him insignificant.

DBrooks can be replaced.

Not a fan of Brooks since he pushed over that cameraman, but the last team built on defensive identity who traded ‘fungible’ Brooks just fired their coach and traded their 3rd best player following a 1st round sweep.

If defense is your strength, and offense is your weakness, it isn’t quite as simple as trading defense for offense. Then the scale shifts and your new weakness holds you back.

Sam Presti explained this really well in his postseason media last year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBeKvAVfXTc&t=1813s. He said it’s not as simple as just get more rebounds when your offensive/defensive philosophy revolves around pace and space, and most heavy rebounders can’t play that system. It’s also probably exactly why OKC benched the specific guy they found (Hartenstein) against Indiana, the other team whose philosophy is pace and space. You have to find guys who strengthen your team weaknesses without weakening your team strengths. Maybe KD does that, but all indications are the coaching staff/ownership pushed for this while Houston FO didn’t want it. Typically FO is right for long term view, but we’ll see.

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by kipgen

Tari is a great defender who can slide right in for DB, they can also run a KD Bari Sengun lineup

I’m a big Tari fan. If this move was made to open up a spot for Tari, it becomes much more explicable imho.

[dizzy4111]

Jalen Green is terrible

Fantastic trade for Houston

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by asujbl

But let’s stop pretending Jalen Green is that good. He’s a decent volume scorer.

I don’t know how anyone watches this finals and thinks Jalen Green can be anywhere near it. Mathurin is the closest comp and he’s playing 18 minutes a night.

[DR Murph]

Will root for KD—will always be grateful for him leading Golden State to an 8-1 record and two titles vs LeBron in 2017 and 2018.

[oldgoldy97]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

Are you talking about the invisible player in the Rockets-GSW series?

The guy that the team decided to sit in some critical minutes? Yeah, I'd call him insignificant.

DBrooks can be replaced.

Yes, but who takes his place?

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by DR Murph

Will root for KD—will always be grateful for him leading Golden State to an 8-1 record and two titles vs LeBron in 2017 and 2018.

Remember when LeBron won Game 7?

That was awesome

Last time it happened before tonight

[kipgen]

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

Yes, but who takes his place?

Tari Eason can easily play the 3

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

Here's what I wrote nearly 2 months ago: "Rockets have a promising future, just need to make a few roster changes. FVV is expensive but shows up, Amen T is $$$, Sengun is mentally weak but still talented, DBrooks is annoying AF but a good teammate, JGreen is overrated as hell."

And the Rockets did just that, improved their roster without losing anyone significant, quite impressive.

They needed a reliable scorer (as seen in the Warriors series) and got it.

If healthy, they'll be a dangerous team IMO. I'm also high on Amen T too.

I think we are the only 2 high on this trade.

Rockets got a steal. Jalen Green is a huge risk with his new deal and Brooks was overpaid. They have a 2 year window in a conference that doesn't look that scary anymore and after that, they can build around Sengun/Amen/Sheppard/Eason.

[kipgen]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

I think we are the only 2 high on this trade.

Rockets got a steal. Jalen Green is a huge risk with his new deal and Brooks was overpaid. They have a 2 year window in a conference that doesn't look that scary anymore and after that, they can build around Sengun/Amen/Sheppard/Eason.

I'm 100% high on this trade, I think it only makes the Rockets better

[oldgoldy97]

Originally Posted by kipgen

Tari Eason can easily play the 3

Who’s the 2?

[kipgen]

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

Who’s the 2?

Reed/Amen

[Scottish Punk]

Originally Posted by Brobocop

The five second round picks made me laugh. What are those worth, realistically?

Hell of a good G-league team. I think this a good trade for Houston. I suspect a free agent signing or two to complete the roster and they are in business.

[Boo]

Originally Posted by tjforce

Shout out to the most obnoxious fanbase in recent memory for their upcoming years long rebuild

Cavs fans took that spot this year

[DR Murph]

Originally Posted by kipgen

I'm 100% high on this trade, I think it only makes the Rockets better

Same. Not sure if he’ll be able to hold up at his age, but worth the gamble in my opinion.

[yiguiri2002]

Well, it's 4 so far.

Even if they somehow get bounced in the first round next season, I like the trade. Green/Brooks was not getting them anywhere. They could have Put Shepperd instead of the pick, let's see if they make the right call there.

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

I think we are the only 2 high on this trade.

Rockets got a steal. Jalen Green is a huge risk with his new deal and Brooks was overpaid. They have a 2 year window in a conference that doesn't look that scary anymore and after that, they can build around Sengun/Amen/Sheppard/Eason.

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

Well, it's 4 so far.

Even if they somehow get bounced in the first round next season, I like the trade. Green/Brooks was not getting them anywhere. They could have Put Shepperd instead of the pick, let's see if they make the right call there.

I fully agree with your view.

Their pre-KD trade roster was good but wasn't going to win a championship. Their post-KD trade roster addressed a big need and increased their odds of winning a CHIP.

Even if they get bounced out early in next year's playoffs (don't see that happening if fully healthy but obviously it depends on what other moves teams in the west make as well as match-ups), it's still worth it. What's the point of constructing a roster if the goal isn't to win it all?

On a separate note, KD will help HOU sell more tickets/merchandise than JGreen/DBrooks combined (a positive for the team).

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

I fully agree with your view.

Their pre-KD trade roster was good but wasn't going to win a championship. Their post-KD trade roster addressed a big need and increased their odds of winning a CHIP.

Even if they get bounced out early in next year's playoffs (don't see that happening if fully healthy but obviously it depends on what other moves teams in the west make as well as match-ups), it's still worth it. What's the point of constructing a roster if the goal isn't to win it all?

On a separate note, KD will help HOU sell more tickets/merchandise than JGreen/DBrooks combined (a positive for the team).

Yeah, I completely agree. The only "questionable" thing is the 10th pick and I think they could have gotten away with including Sheppard instead. So I do think it's a separate discussion.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by Brobocop

The five second round picks made me laugh. What are those worth, realistically?

Depends on how well you scout/draft.

Some teams, like the Warriors, are very good at finding and developing good role players from their late first and/or second round picks.

Draymond Green was the 35th pick.
Kevon Looney was the 30th pick.
Jordan Poole was the 28th pick.
And last year the Warriors got the very useful Quinten Post with the 52nd pick.

[gomiamigo]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

Here's what I wrote nearly 2 months ago: "Rockets have a promising future, just need to make a few roster changes. FVV is expensive but shows up, Amen T is $$$, Sengun is mentally weak but still talented, DBrooks is annoying AF but a good teammate, JGreen is overrated as hell."

And the Rockets did just that, improved their roster without losing anyone significant, quite impressive.

They needed a reliable scorer (as seen in the Warriors series) and got it.

If healthy, they'll be a dangerous team IMO. I'm also high on Amen T too.

Couldn't agree more. KD averaged 27ppg in 62 games, 64% TS, 60% eFG, still an effective defender/blocks shots, would have been All-NBA again if played 3 more games.

Now he can worry less about having to defend the front line and more about scoring, it's a win-win for Houston. For Brooks, a young guy they wanted to move, and the #10 pick and still kept the PHO first-round pick in 2 years? Great deal.

And I think we've seen this playoffs that OKC might not be the juggernaut people made them out to be when they can barely get to G7 versus the 4th best team in the 'weak' East.