Enzo The Baker said:

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ATM9000 said:

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Enzo The Baker said:

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Griffin's stats are empty calories at this point. He's not a winner. If I were the rockets I wouldn't touch him.

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Russ' career is built on stat padding and not being able to win on his own too.

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True. And it might come down to fit, but Russ has more playoff experience (albeit doesn't perform well in clutch situations) has a motor and is still elite in transition. To me going from CP3 to Russ to Griffin is a downgrade to downgrade move. And it's not like Griffin will address the problem of going up against the bigger teams in the west. At best it's a second round appearance assuming he stays healthy. I think it's worth it for the rockets to at least give it another go and make some other peripheral tweaks. Morey went all in with small ball. He should at least give it a full season IMO. Will be interesting to see who he chooses as the new coach.

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I'm not excited about the small ball thing. It's fundamentally really flawed in my view when there are so many big skilled guys in the league right now. I thought the Capela trade was really really dumb and they've got to figure out a way to bring a guy or 2 in who aren't stiffs. Don't have to play them all the time, but, if you are going to compete in the West... as long as Jokic and Davis are around, the small ball lineups will get abused by those guys in the long run.

I was willing to give the Westbrook thing a shot even though I've always hated his game. But I can safely say after watching him this season, I still hate his game. I'd love if he got dealt and the Rockets ended up with a big back. He's explosive, can do some really athletic things, but he just does too many dumb things on the floor. The league is too efficient now to have him out there wasting as many plays as he really does.

lil99chris said:

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I worked numerous AAU tournaments with Blake Griffin in attendance. He was the biggest jerk I encountered (and it was confirmed by others).

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If you paid like a quarter million a month in child support, you'd probably act like that too

Basketball-wise, I'd rather ride it out with Russ than Blake Griffin.

Human-behavior-wise, in my experience, anyone who thinks they're funnier than they really are, those people are generally huge *******s.

Guitarsoup said:

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Heard fans talking about Russ for Blake Griffin.

Maybe Griffin has a healthy season, maybe not, but one less guaranteed year.

What are y'alls thoughts

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AG@RICE said:

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Guitarsoup said:

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Heard fans talking about Russ for Blake Griffin.

Maybe Griffin has a healthy season, maybe not, but one less guaranteed year.

What are y'alls thoughts

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How many of y'all would CONSIDER trading Harden if it would net a "Paul George-esque" haul?

M.C. Swag said:

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How many of y'all would CONSIDER trading Harden if it would net a "Paul George-esque" haul?

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No. I get it's an increasingly unpopular opinion, but I still think everyone is expendable except James Harden. The Lakers will be worse next year (I hope). The Clippers might be even. Denver will be better. Who knows what GSW looks like. But I still see another "open" year next season where there isn't a clearly dominant team which is the window the Rockets can win in.

I think in two years though, Denver will be a full-on powerhouse. Same with Boston. That's when we blow it up. With that said, I really am at a loss for what the Rockets will need to do next season with no coach right now.

Why are the Lakers going to be worse? Expect a lot of players to opt out and get contracts? They aren't in luxury tax, so not worried about repeater tax.

As long as they have Caruso, they will be a contender.

The next Rockets coach will not be Billy Donovan.

M.C. Swag said:

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How many of y'all would CONSIDER trading Harden if it would net a "Paul George-esque" haul?

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No, Harden would win a ring if he was traded for PG. The Rockets might not make the playoffs. Need to get younger if trading Harden.

canadiaggie said:

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PoppaB05 said:

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M.C. Swag said:

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How many of y'all would CONSIDER trading Harden if it would net a "Paul George-esque" haul?

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No, Harden would win a ring if he was traded for PG. The Rockets might not make the playoffs. Need to get younger if trading Harden.

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I think he meant that we deal Harden for picks and young guns like OKC dealt PG, not that we trade Harden for PG straight up

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Yeah, my fault completely read that wrong

Hardin for picks and young guns is the only move I see at this point. Trade him while he still has value

A few years ago that whole tweet would have triggered me. At this point that possibility is only mildly annoying.

People are talking about Tobias Harris + Ben Simmons for Harden.

Brodie+Simmons would be the worst shooting all-star backcourt ever.

The whole Philly speculation is 100% grade A bull****

Guitarsoup said:

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People are talking about Tobias Harris + Ben Simmons for Harden.

Brodie+Simmons would be the worst shooting all-star backcourt ever.

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Could the rockets even absorb that much salary? I'd assume Eric Gordon would have to be a part of that deal to make it work.

Simmons is poison pill until they start it over for next season, so it would be complicated. I think Harden+EG for Simmons+Harris+cheap contract would work right now.

Guitarsoup said:

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Simmons is poison pill until they start it over for next season, so it would be complicated. I think Harden+EG for Simmons+Harris+cheap contract would work right now.

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Hard No

CFTXAG10 said:

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Guitarsoup said:

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Simmons is poison pill until they start it over for next season, so it would be complicated. I think Harden+EG for Simmons+Harris+cheap contract would work right now.

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Morey isn't this stupid

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He traded all the future first rounders for Russ on a team that puts priority on shooting threes.

WES2006AG said:

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Guitarsoup said:

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Simmons is poison pill until they start it over for next season, so it would be complicated. I think Harden+EG for Simmons+Harris+cheap contract would work right now.

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Hard No

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Yea I wouldn't do it either from Hou's perspective, but I 100% believe Philly is looking to trade Simmons or Embiid for a Harden-esque player.

M.C. Swag said:

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WES2006AG said:

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Guitarsoup said:

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Simmons is poison pill until they start it over for next season, so it would be complicated. I think Harden+EG for Simmons+Harris+cheap contract would work right now.

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Hard No

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Yea I wouldn't do it either from Hou's perspective, but I 100% believe Philly is looking to trade Simmons or Embiid for a Harden-esque player.

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And therein lies the problem with Philly. They just have a bunch of pieces that don't really fit. Trading for Harden is a good idea in theory for Philly, but Morey isn't coming to that table after looking at that roster.

You don't trade an MVP unless you get one back or you are blowing it up for a re-build.

I have to imagine that with the roster we have we are going to continue to run a small ball lineup without Mike. If that is the case Simmons would be a terrible fit.

That is of course unless Morey blows it all up which is always a possibility.

Russ for Simmons would be an interesting trade though.

haha yea i was about to say that Simmons would be an upgrade from Russ. Plus he could functionally serve as a legit Center without giving up any mobility.

WES2006AG said:

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I have to imagine that with the roster we have we are going to continue to run a small ball lineup without Mike. If that is the case Simmons would be a terrible fit.

That is of course unless Morey blows it all up which is always a possibility.

Russ for Simmons would be an interesting trade though.

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I wanted to propose this trade a few weeks ago, but I didn't think the sixers would realistically take it. I actually think a simmons-harden pairing is the best possible fit.

We would be stupid to take Embiid. He is lazy.

AG@RICE said:

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WES2006AG said:

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I have to imagine that with the roster we have we are going to continue to run a small ball lineup without Mike. If that is the case Simmons would be a terrible fit.

That is of course unless Morey blows it all up which is always a possibility.

Russ for Simmons would be an interesting trade though.

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I wanted to propose this trade a few weeks ago, but I didn't think the sixers would realistically take it. I actually think a simmons-harden pairing is the best possible fit.

We would be stupid to take Embiid. He is lazy.

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That and Embid is about as proven a winner as James at this point.

Why do you obsess over me? I love the NBA and the Rockets and Morey are always one of the most interesting teams to follow. I've lived in Houston for over 16 years. Pretty normal for someone to follow the local teams. Don't like my posts, hit the ignore button. I'm talking about basketball. You're talking about me.

who is going to coach?

If Morey blows up the lineup, I would imagine you go get a young (cheap) coach. If he keeps it together for another try, maybe he gives Doc a look or another proven coach?

Aggie95 said:

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who is going to coach?

If Morey blows up the lineup, I would imagine you go get a young (cheap) coach. If he keeps it together for another try, maybe he gives Doc a look or another proven coach?

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Perhaps Doc Rivers

First thing I thought too when I saw the Woj bomb. Wouldn't be surprised to see us kick the tires on Doc and bring Cassell with him if LAC doesn't offer him the job.