This plan makes more sense. Continuity is underrated and the Rockets have many of the right pieces. It's mostly about defense.
They need Harden to pull a Patty Mills and commit himself to getting in better shape and playing better defense. Everybody knows he can score, but his defense is embarrassing. Aside from the poor example one of your two stars is setting for the rest of the team, opposing offenses can hammer away at him which puts everyone else in bad positions.
If they bring back Parsons, he has to become a two-way player. He's a nice offensive player, but you need some defense at the 3 in today's NBA, especially for the kind of money he will probably make next season.
Howard used to have a better post game than he displayed in LA and Houston, so maybe he'll be able to get that back on track before his body gives out. His reduced minutes should help him there, but as is he's going to be nothing once his explosiveness goes. He already has a lingering back injury plus ~800 games on the odometer, so if he's going to develop his game the time is now.
Do that and another 55 win season and playoff appearance is in the cards, then you get to go into next season with some momentum, a bit of an identity, and potentially a little money to play with depending on how they fill the roster out this year. It's always going to be difficult to make a well-rounded team with two guys (1.5 right now, with Harden only playing on one end) soaking up over half the cap, but at least they'll have a fighting chance.
They need Harden to pull a Patty Mills and commit himself to getting in better shape and playing better defense. Everybody knows he can score, but his defense is embarrassing. Aside from the poor example one of your two stars is setting for the rest of the team, opposing offenses can hammer away at him which puts everyone else in bad positions.
If they bring back Parsons, he has to become a two-way player. He's a nice offensive player, but you need some defense at the 3 in today's NBA, especially for the kind of money he will probably make next season.
Howard used to have a better post game than he displayed in LA and Houston, so maybe he'll be able to get that back on track before his body gives out. His reduced minutes should help him there, but as is he's going to be nothing once his explosiveness goes. He already has a lingering back injury plus ~800 games on the odometer, so if he's going to develop his game the time is now.
Do that and another 55 win season and playoff appearance is in the cards, then you get to go into next season with some momentum, a bit of an identity, and potentially a little money to play with depending on how they fill the roster out this year. It's always going to be difficult to make a well-rounded team with two guys (1.5 right now, with Harden only playing on one end) soaking up over half the cap, but at least they'll have a fighting chance.
