Frank, you're usually spot on. My only issue is you seem really reticent to call a potential superstar role for Sengun and Green. At 21, jokic wasn't what Sengun is. Does that mean Al-P will be better? No, but I can't dismiss that he's better at this point. And as far as Jalen, the inconsistency is frustrating, but not a lot of players can do what he was doing in March. Bad teams or not (they weren't all bad). And I'm loving what Jabari is showing. His handle is improving to where I think he's going to be sneaky good. Sign a shooter to be the 7th man and run committed to these guys' growth one more year at the very least. Bump winning now. I want to win big.
This "team patience" thing is nothing but joke. Lot of people wants to wait because Al-P arrived before lottery picks. Lotta Al-P hate going on. If Jalen and Jabari had turned into the players we wanted/expected before Al-P, everybody would say trade Al-P, get rim protector and we ready to compete now. Thats why lotta ppl want Clingan. They still believing we are like Minnesota. Jalen is Ant, Jabari is KAT, we have wings but Al-P is not Gobert. But the reality is Jalen sucks, Jabari looking like role player and now everybody wants to wait. Waiting will not change shit. And we cant wait cuz their contracts are coming and we can not pay everybody. Instead of worrying about "most inconsistent player" too much, focus on positive players like Al-P, Cam, Amen n Tari, get them some help and let us see what they capable of in the playoffs. These guys are playing for Rockets btw.
Took Kyrie 7 years and 3 teams to get back to the finals. While Jrue was packaged twice in the summer, to end up on the better team than Dame. Best bet is to build with this group, but improve the depth since injuries will happen drafting Castle, Clingan, Risacher, or if lucky Sarr will help the most. Sheppard seems to be Redick or Fredette 2.0.
I think trading #3 pick is not smart !!!! We are developing a great young team why ruin that???? We can pick up another guy that can help us to win!!!! We already picked up the veterans we needed to give us an "Edge" we don't need anymore.
Good pod Frank. I agree with you. nobody is standing around waiting to see what the Rockets become. the west is now and will be for years to come a dog fight. the reason I believe we should stand pat is we don't yet know what we look like fully healthy. we know what the pieces look like, but we haven't seen the full puzzle put together yet. I am not against trading one of the core 6, but the asking price is high. I want to see these players we have under Ime's influnce a 2nd year. he pull promise out of a group I thought might be slipping into pugatory. some of these players are finally starting to look like what I thought we drafted. I would rather add to the team around the edges and lets get a good look at who we are and make moves at the trade deadline or next year. I suspect one of our young players will have taken Dillion's job by then giving us a pretty good trade chip. it's REALLY hard for Stone to mess this up no matter the route chosen. all he really needs to do this summer is don't do nothing stupid trying to short the process
We're not behind the 8 ball when you consider the youth of the Rockets. You're comparing teams with players like Luka, Tatum, Brown who are in their 6,7, and 8th seasons to our team? So either blow it up...or wait. But I think it's silly to think you're going to be a legit contender in half the time it took other teams to get there. If those Teams weren't allowed to get through their youth...you wouldn't be envying them. Yes, none of those Teams will stand still...but none of those teams will be immune to player rotations. Patience my man...or get lucky picking up players other teams are willing to let go and catch up to the elite teams (which doesn't sound practical). Just my opinion.
One thing i see in the playoffs that im worried about for jalen is the level of physicality. Even if jalen takes a leap and puts up numbers in the regular season he seems like the type of player that might struggle with physical defenders and teams scheming against him. As much as i love him on our team he might end up being the odd one out. Right now only players i believe in long term are Alpi, amen, jabari and cam. I think tari will also end up being traded just because of lack of opportunity, he might want to do more than just being a hustle guy.
I think the Rockets have their young nucleus in Jalen Green and AL P who both players I believe can compete at a high level. All the Rockets need at this point are effective role players. I would stay at #3 and try to go get another quality veteran in free agency. They need another Bigg true 7 footer with rim protection and a utility shooter. In this new league it's not about plugging in SSs but rather putting a team on the floor that knows each other's game. Chemistry is everything in basketball.
The West seems stack right now, but when you look at the landscape a few teams about to regress soon. Lakers, Warriors, Suns, Clips for instance all getting old and probably will fall off soon. Wolves looked good this year, but honestly their future is tied up in the next 2 years aligned with Gobert contract. Kings/Pels seem to be stuck in mediocrity land. Blazers and Jazz just aren’t good. Only teams we’ll have to worry about competing with in 2 years (when I feel like it’s our time) will be the Thunder, Spurs, Mavs, and Nuggets. Oddly enough, we matched up well against those teams this year. We have to be patient and understand Luka, Jokic, SGA, and Ant didn’t do anything significant in their 1st 3 seasons when they were 21 or younger. All either missed playoffs or were bounced in 1st rd at that point. Luka took off and made it to the WCF in year 4 at 22-23 years old. This is the year I think we see a true leap for JG/Sengun. Tari is 23 and lowkey will be highly impactful as well. We’ll just have to be patient with our younger prospects in Cam/Bari. Guys like Mikal/D-Mitch would definitely raise the Rockets floor a bit these next 2 seasons. But I don’t feel like those guys win us a championship or give the potential high team ceiling that can be reached if keeping these guys together imo.
The Rockets will be one of eight best teams in the NBA in a few years with 3 of the best players under 25. So fast forward to 2028 and the Rockets should be in the thick of it. They need patience to get there. Quick fixes will only harm the progress. Amen and Cam could easily be top twenty five down the road. Don't rush the process. Generally you have to over pay. Just look at how the Westbrook trade is still harming the Rockets. They give up the 12th pick this year. Don't over think this draft. Most teams are trying to trade back. Go for quality. Don't trade for any player that will be over 27. Rockets need to learn how to win on the road, how to win in the playoffs, and how to win at the highest level. Keep in mind that say Portland wanted the 3rd pick. That would be similar to trading Coulibaly and Hawkins for Amen last year. Maybe that is a good trade to get Amen last year, but is the 3rd pick this year worth the Blazers' 7th and 14th this year?
My problem with the Team scenario in this defensive player of the year conversation is that look who Rudy had on his team, then compare that to Wemby. Rudy has Anthony Edward's, who's a plus defender; Jaden McDaniels - the KD stopper; Naz Reid, who did a great job slowing down Jokic and is an all around good defender. Who does Wemby have? Devin Vassell? Zach Collins? When you compared the two's defensive stat to defensive stat, Wemby had Gobert beat in pretty much everything except for TEAM defense. Which is a kinda weird factor to put in place for an individual award. All I'm saying is I've been seeing dudes run away from the paint to avoid a wemby block, they were giving it to Rudy Raw in the playoffs.
I mean I agree to a point. I think we don’t give talent long enough to develop. What’s worse moving off 2-3 superstar prospects before they’re ready to compete now or waiting an extra year or two until our talent fully develops
So far so good. I'm definetely optimistic and exited about the core six. I don't wanna loose any of them. If we let them thrive togather, they have the potential to achieve stg special. Lets stay on the track and don't worry about the others.
I think you are patient this summer and you reassess at deadline. If you are firmly in playoff contention- that means some of our young guys popped and we have our answer. If we are hovering outside the play in- that's also an answer- our young guys did not live up to what we hoped- at that time you start looking at consolidation trades for a star in the off season and some big time overhaul.
Man all this Jalen leap talks are funny af, 3 straight year he was the same. Some of yall still expecting some magical miracle leap but thats just a stupid hope, there is no reality behind that. And Ime is not here to wait for Jalen's leap. The man already missed playoff once not going to let that happen again. Jalen going to get traded whether some of yall like it or not. I hope Boston lose so we can get Jaylen Brown, or D-Mitch.
The only problem is that the two Rockets that have the potential to be elite are Green and Smith. Maybe they get there, maybe they don't, but don't pull a Clip's move and trade SGA and a bunch of first round picks for George.
@@greglyon1402 I dont agree with that "two Rockets that have the potential to be elite r Green n Smith". Al-P, Cam and Amen have all the potential/mentality to be elite imo. Lastly who is SGA? Jalen? LMFAO man please be serious. NY Knicks became better team after RJ Barrett trade, Jalen is our RJ Barrett.
Yea Frank bro, I dont agree with this take at all, I understand the logic you are trying to use, but its counterproductive due to the fact that the teams your name drafted and developed their team.. There isn't a Luka or Ant we can get in the trade. Our young guys are better than what you're giving them credits for and have Waay more upside than you choosing to acknowledge
I think the west is going to be relatively open. Only the Nuggets look like a potential dynasty, and they got knocked off. Both the Mavs and Wolves have a lot of flaws, the Mavs with their style overreliant on inefficient players, and the Wolves with their low-IQ twin towers. There’s room for the young Rockets to make some noise.
Stone showed no indication that he will pay Green. Signing FVV just tells everyone that FO and Ime has other plans. FVV is a band aid himself. Rookie contracts very valuable no doubt. Thing is, you only have 4 years to work with. After that it's decision making time. Bridges is top 3 better value contracts out there. One pick alone won't move needle here, will have to add more.
As longest Rockets 🚀 keep same roster routine going Rockets will be fine competitive once again i still believe confident positive Rockets 🚀 will win 3rd title no worries Clutch City 4life
A lot of people miss that get to the finals have point forwards. Draymond, lebron, giannis, jokic, Tatum, luka...big bodies that can attack 3 levels. If we want to fill the box paul george is probably the most feasible option.
I think they need to keep developing the core but be ready to come in and make a quick decision if a great player becomes available. Hopefully they have a list of guys that "fit" their vision and know exactly what they will give up for that player. I know Udoka wants to win now but I don't think you should trade 2 core players and all the swaps for him. However, there is no guarantee a great player will become available. They may have to just get lucky and find a diamond in the rough like Sengun later in the draft. I DO NOT believe you can just go out and grab some stars and force it to work - that is the New Jersey way and it got them nowhere. I don't see anything happening in the near term so just keep focusing on improving the core and improve along the margins as much as possible. As much as I would hate see him go, Tari and some guys on the bench might get you a pretty good veteran. Throw in Dillan and who knows you could get a near all-star starter. Money, however, is another concern - you have to watch your future salary structure.Right now you have to concentrate on developing the core and implementing the full offense and defense. It might be quite a while before we see a big trade but they should be ready to do it at any moment if someone becomes available.
1. Draft Reed Sheppard and get the good shooting problem solved 2. Find a legit lob threat that can play sneaky defense too, the Mavericks with Gafford/Lively and those freaking alley oops and back cuts are just stupid (amen and Tari could be this) 3. Trade Tate-Landale-Green or something with a rockets pick to a championship caliber team for one of the unprotected future firsts if they can - like a nuggets 2028-2029
Frank quick question Brother so Gil praises Jalen often from how hard he works to what he will become in the future. Does Gil's assessment hold any weight with you? He seems like a great basketball mind so I feel like I can trust his judgment I may be wrong just wanted your opinion because Gil loves Jalen
Their both signed to Adidas and bang the same girl so there’s no surprise he rides Jalen so hard. He said he wouldn’t trade Jalen for Brunson and Randle 😂😂😂😂. Can’t take him serious
Will jg add something in his bag this summer by working his hearts out? After watching haliburton and ant's performance in playoff has felt any pressure for any solid improvement? Or it is only us fans feel the pressure like frank does…
This teams needs either Paul George or Jimmy Butler. Both of them are great fighters and defensive players. they can also bring discipline and working ethics to the team.
I'd hope the Rockets keep the pick and swing on a high upside player. Risacher at SF, Dillingham at PG, Buzelis at SF could all be homeruns IMO. But yeah this draft doesn't impress me.
Team Patience: realistically we can’t keep all core 6. Maybe 3 and we flip the others which could be trade chips for a better piece. Next years draft is nice so why gamble that pick.
Its still too early to project what our guys will be. We knew Luka was great right away, but what about guys like Jokic and SGA who just continued to get better and better each year. Even a guy like Steph, year 2 or 3 nobody would of predict hed be on his way to be one of the best point guards ever.
I would rather the Rockets poach a player like okc Isaiah Joe rather than waste assets on mikal bridges who wouldn’t move a needle. Add Isaiah Joe and Malik monks to this team and we would have a play off team bro,with a Very deep bench
Definitely teen patients we have no reason to rush anything especially when all of our guys are 22 and under. That's the equivalent of a senior in college and those are the oldest of our core 6. Young players aren't ready to compete until they're closer to their mid-twenties anyways at best so we have time
They need to just redo the Brooklyn trade and reduce the amount of assets we're giving away. Brooklyn indicated recently that a rebuild could be the direction they plan on going, but imo they cant do that without their picks. Yea, they have the Suns picks, but i dont see them being bad for the picks to be in the lottery. My concern is if we dont make the trade they will trade for a star which will improve their record (in a weak Eastern conference) then the picks wont be worth much to us. I kinda want to see what Jalen can do this year, but I wouldnt be mad it Stone traded him away for Bridges either.
I would be pissed if Stone done that. Bridges is not a star. one reason to keep the Brooklyn picks is we have a possible steady pipeline to high draft picks even while still trying to win. it's not like we are heavily dependent on Brooklyn. these assets are extra to us
They're not as valuable if Brooklyn makes a trade to become a better team is what I was saying. Also, that's why I said reduce the assets. Never said Bridges was Michael Jordan lol.
I’m patient this year they need to see what Jalen Green and Sengun and the rest of the young guys can do. But yeah as it’s looking Sengun probably the only one that can be an all star all nba player and I love Sengun but he won’t be enough to compete in the west. This is make it or break it Jalen if he has a jump. He might not be Luka obviously but if he takes that jump and be in that Maxey range. Then we got something special cooking. If Jalen doesn’t produce then it’s time for the rockets to go star hunting after this upcoming season. I think we are going to make the playoffs similar to like what the Magic just did and after we gain that experience Stone and Ime would do whatever it is they need to do to improve the team and that could be getting a all star level player
Honest question, how does a Mikal Bridges make us closer to contention but a Donovan Mitchell doesn't? I think Mitchell would be the type of player to trade for, not Bridges
Exactly. WHY would you consider Bridges but not Mitchell??? That's crazy. Trade green and picks for Mitchell. Mitchell and Seguen could be like Jokic and Murray....
When you build a team, timing and salary cap needs to be accounted for. So when fans like say, let's keep drafting, how many players will be extended? Sengun will ink 5 year 225 mil this summer.
Looking at these playoffs, you need versatility. You will need to play lineups thats big at times and you need to go small at times. The only way to negate this issue, is to have a big that can switch. Like i have been saying all season long, Sengun is a 25 minute rotational big, because you will have to go small half the game.
