Speaker 1: Grant if Houston Rockets fell to the Colden State Warriors. But
they have one hell of a regular season and now
they are tasked with one of the harder progressive curves
in the league, where it's all right, you're already super
good in the regular season, how do you establish yourself
as a contender. They're probably deep enough with talent that's good.
There will be people who advocate for them to stand
relatively pat Maybe they do that. They've prioritized patients in
the past. They still have not given Reach Shepherd a
ton of chances. But we move into their offseason and
what they should do next. So it was a quick overview.
They projected to be two point four million over the
luxury tax if they pick up Fred van Fleet's forty
plus million dollar team options, So basically they don't have
to be a luxury tax team if they don't want
to be, let's start there. And also that factors in.
They have jockland Down Aaron Holliday total about thirteen million
in non guaranteed money. You in theory that don't necessarily
want to pay those guys, but if you're looking to
make a trade like guaranteeing those contracts, just having thirteen
million in expiring money where you could take back almost
twenty million dollars or whatever it ends up being. But
I kind of so they could access My point is
the non tax payer mid level exception very easily. I
don't think that they're gonna get They're not gonna get
a player. I'll say this, that's as big of a
difference maker as van Fleet for them with a non
tax emily, I want to start here, what do you
expect to happen with Fred van Fleet? And like, what
would picking up his team options signal? Would it will
be more likely to signal we're running this back, or
we have this huge expiring contract that we are going
to trade in a pretty big shake up.
Speaker 2: We've had this exact conversation about him, and I remember
hating it because it's.
Speaker 3: Like, oh but what okay, but you would so is
he guaranteed to be traded if they pick it up?
Speaker 1: Is that why that's there?
Speaker 2: And like I never arrived at an answer I felt
comfortable with. I think at the moment, I would say
if it does get picked up, it is a precursor
to a trade, because I don't think this is the
bigger QUI obviously question that will inform all of Houston's
offseason moves, which is, like, do you think this current group,
the flaws it has can be overcome like organic, like
from within and so like if you bring them And
I think the answer to that should be no.
Speaker 1: You have to believe isn't there really only one option?
And I think the reason, as high as I am
on him, the reason he is the one option is
because he's still a mystery box. You have to believe
that Read Shepherd is just that guy.
Speaker 2: Which is such like it shouldn't be because of where
he was drafted, But doesn't that feel like if like
if that's the reason, if that's why they run it
all the way back is they're like, hey, you know,
we got this guy that we didn't think was good
enough to play at all, and turns out he's the
answer to all our problems. Like that's a huge leap, right,
Like we love Read Shepherd, we think he's gonna be good,
but like to go from what he was this year
to being like the key to everything that's there's gonna
be like five steps on the way if he ever
gets to that end point, not to say it's not
possible but like that's a huge jump. So like I
think you're right that like that is the Shepherd is
the if Shepherd can be what we think he can be,
then actually he does feel like sort of an answer
to their offensive issues, their shock, they're shooting, their shock
creation all that stuff. But like you can't think that's
gonna happen next year, Like that just that can't be
the way it goes.
Speaker 1: Well, I mean, I get well, you do have sort
of like two ends of the spectrum where it was, well,
look what kind of happened with Aman Thompson. I think
he definitely shown more as a rookie. His role was
smaller out of the kay of injuries. Then also his
role only expanded this year, it would have gotten to
this point, I'm sure, but like the Jabari Smith junior injury, right,
like that was sort of the infection point of oh,
like Oarsar is gonna be a like the guy and
whatever gonna look back. But you can said the same
thing about camp whitmore like they brought him along gradually
and like he still couldn't like his role was smaller
this year. So I'm with you there. And the other
thing that complicates this though, you've mentioned this, but we
both mentioned it before windows open and closed very quickly.
The Rockets have already paid shanng Gun, They've already paid
Jaellen Green. Both those deals are fine. Tari's and Jabarismith
Junior are both extension eledgeable this summer. And the way
those were like two players where if you asked to
tell me the number, I don't, I don't think I
would even come close to getting it right, And you
could tell me a bunch of different numbers and I
would just believe it. So you kind of have to
ask yourself, even if you're willing to wait for internal growth,
it's not going to be long before you're almost prohibitively
expensive because is extension eligeable next summer. It's like these
deals are coming down the pipeline. Do you think, based
off what you've just said about the Reed Shepherd experience
and where this team is and how they lost in
the playoffs to Golden State, by the way, do you
think this team needs to be open to making a
bigger trade. Whereas when we talked about the Pistons, we
said that they're not at the acceleration point, and the
difference with the Rockets to me is that they had
their piston season last year, even though they wont t
were games. This was this was their arrival year. And
now it's sort of the Orlando Magic feel like a
good analog, where after they lost last year, it was okay,
this is clear. What happened to players? They need to
do this, they didn't do it. It kind of screwed them
over this year, just like even more so than the injuries.
And so I'm of the mind because I don't want
to put words in your mount that like you do.
I'm not saying give up everything for the first player
to come on the market, but I'm not necessarily in
favor of well, let's just see how this thing organically
growing for another year. I think.
Speaker 2: I think it almost would signal a higher level of
ambition if they didn't do anything and banked on organic growth,
you know what I mean, Because you'd be saying, we
think the guys we have here have so much more
room to improve and can do it quickly enough that
therefore a big swing to make us better next year
is not justified because we think maybe we take a
slight step back next year potentially, But these guys we
have are so good that you know, two years from now,
three years from now, will just you'll think of us
like the thunder or you know, something like that, where
it's like that would be that would be a flex
if you didn't go do something, which is like kind
of counterintuitive. So I think it, but it is a
Having said that, it's a close call for me because
like Shepherd should be will be a bigger factor. I
don't think he's going to change the whole thing, but
him mattering more in conjunction with like I think Thompson's
just going to get better, right like that, Like I
think Green should get better.
Speaker 3: I think Shanng Gooon should get better.
Speaker 2: So you I think, I think, ultimately I'm with you
that that you probably do need to do something because
this team has conspicuous flaws. I think the scary thing
is you might go leverage some of your assets for
a quick or fix that, like it will turn out
that like, oh shit, like we could have got there anyway,
you know, if we've been a little more like boldly patient,
we could have got there anyway. Because look, it's twenty
twenty seven.
Speaker 3: A star.
Speaker 2: Thompson is like an All NBA second teamer or something,
you know, because he figured out how to shoot.
Speaker 3: Like that's not off the off the board, right.
Speaker 1: It also doesn't have to be the right player well
like it like you have to be opportunistic about it
to where I think the three names we hear the
most now are Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Giannis attend
to Kombo. I want to start with Yannis. We don't
know that he's available. I understand the appeal just well,
it's Yannie. We have to go after him, but that's
like he's not This team needs an advantage creator who
can also stretch the floor. Jannis is. He's definitely gotten
better as an advantage creator for others when you're looking
at that, but like that doesn't really fit the mo
O and if you're bringing him in, it's like there's
a lot of redundancies with Albert chang Gun in the
sense that not there's the strongest perimeter shooter. They're both
like Alpert Shangun's probably better or I won't say better,
but he's more comfortable like working off the ball, where
we know Yannis does want to be on the ball.
He don't want to set a billion screens per game,
but that would just be if they went after Yannis,
I would kind of question two things, what's the other
move that they're making. Where going What do you envision
this team being?
Speaker 2: Yeah, no, I I think if you bring in Yannis,
of the names you mentioned, like shan Gun's gone, I
just like you can't because because if you believe in Thompson,
and I think everybody believes in Thompson, I don't think
you can say, like, oh, he's gonna be a thirty
seven percent three point shooter next year. Like no, and
if you have Giannis and Shangun and Thompson, I mean, yeah,
Yannis will create advantages of the way that he does.
But I just don't think the offense is already the problem.
Like I don't know that you're if you're cramping spacing
even more, I don't know that that makes a lot
of sense of what I do like is a Yannis
Jabari Smith Junior four or five combo, because you're talking
some real spacing that's exciting, and so the fits, like
the more logical fits if you just take away if
you get out of the like, welly honest is the
most talented, so just throw get the most talented guy
and figure it out, like Booker and Durant make more sense.
And I think like Booker's just the one that's like
that kind of scratches all the itches. I think, like
with you know, in terms of like age.
Speaker 1: Durant interesting, I don't care as much. I think the
age is important, don't get me wrong. Also only has
the one year left on his contract. I don't care
about that as much as the opportunity cost of getting him,
because he doesn't check enough of that. Like he is
one of the greatest basketball players of all time, can
still get it done on defense for them, but like
he's not someone who's creating advantages for others. Yeah, and
also like we've kind of seen him struggle against like
certain you know, Blitzer or double team looks over the
past few years. So bringing him in makes you better,
but it shrinks your way. And so if the opportunity
cost is Phoenix wants this year's pick back and like
maybe another type of first round pick or is it
this year's pick and Cam Whitmore, and then you're gonna
match set like Fred van Fleet, I might consider it,
but like even then you're you're all of a sudden
out of playmaking day, it still increases the importance of
Reed Shepherd next year without Fred van Fleet. And just
very quickly before you comment on that, when you mentioned
about what was Houston, what is a signal if if
they pick up Fred van Fleet's team option, could it
also tech Lee signal that Fred is still here? But
like Jellen Green is the one getting movie?
Speaker 2: Maybe yeah, yeah, I think well, if you're gonna do anything,
Van Vleet's contract has to be involved and or of
Green or Shanngoon.
Speaker 3: Really like those are.
Speaker 1: The three like real money anchors.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I don't care.
Speaker 2: You've got Landale on the card here if you're watching
on YouTube Landale on holiday, that's thirteen million and non guaranteed.
Speaker 3: You guarantee that. And it's like okay, that's that's like
a rounding area.
Speaker 1: Duncan Robinson, right you congratulations, best wishes.
Speaker 3: I I I'm.
Speaker 2: Struggling with the idea that, like this team has a
clear strength, which is which is the size, athleticism, defense,
like that, it's that's how we think of the Rockets.
We also think of the Rockets in terms of what
they can't do, which is score consistently in the half
court because they don't have the advantage creators you're talking about,
don't you think that.
Speaker 3: Like the only way.
Speaker 2: I don't feel like there's a world where they get
to keep the defense size, athleticism they have and then
also add the type of offensive weapon that they need.
Like I think you're gonna have to like pull from
one to do the other. It just just because like
I don't know the logic, like Dylan Brooks, if you
go get Kevin Durant, like Dylan Brooks is gonna play less,
or like Tarry Easton's gonna play less, or maybe you
trade one or both of those guys, and like Thompson's
going nowhere. But I think you're gonna and like Van
Vliet is actually kind of an important part to like
their rugged defense. They're like ball pressure all that stuff.
Like I think you're gonna pretty fundamentally change the makeup
of the team if you add this offensive player.
Speaker 3: I think that's probably a worthwhile trade off.
Speaker 2: But like it's not like you just dad Devin Booker
and the Rockets as we know them stay exactly the same,
but now they also have Devin Booker. It's like, yeah,
you're subtracting something from what makes them really good now,
And I think, like that's you just have to keep
that in mind because what they are now is like
a very extreme kind of good team.
Speaker 1: I'm trying to think of, like what would be that
dearon Fox may have come the closest to. We wouldn't
have loved the spacing element from him, but like in
terms of like preserving enough of it, because like with LaMelo,
I guess in Fury on a better team, maybe he'd
preserve the size, yeah, like the physicality and the defense.
What about this team decides that they're cutting costs now,
I don't know if he's like the playmaker enough, but
it's close. Jalen Brown might be the closest they would
come to getting the offensive weapon that fits the motif
of how they want to play everywhere else.
Speaker 2: That would be a fact, Yeah, because he could that
same you know, he's not going to subtract from the
defensive intensity stuff. I think he'd fit in just fine
there and he wouldn't even have to guard anybody given all
the guys they have.
Speaker 3: Yeah, and then and then he could he would be
an upgrade.
Speaker 2: Like I still like, do you love him as your
number one offensive option? Like maybe not, but like if
he's there with Shanegoon and with Green maybe and with
Reed Shepherd maybe, Like I don't know who we're trading
in this hypothetical, but like, uh yeah, I think I
think he's he's at a level where it'd be you
definitely you do that.
Speaker 3: I think, would you poke?
Speaker 1: I wouldn't if he comes. I'm not poking around the
Jamran trademarket. I just don't think that's just not the
right offensive fit for that.
Speaker 2: No, and if for many reasons, and like not the
least of which is just like the shooting, Like you
just how do you make that work with with Shangoon?
Speaker 1: I am curious though, whether you think this player is
to ball dominate, you can certainly insulate him defensively. Are
you looking at Trey Jung should he become available?
Speaker 2: That's more interesting to me than Jaw for sure, I think,
like I actually don't. The ball dominance doesn't bother me
that much because I do think the Rockets have a
lot of guys that would really thrive on being set
up better, you know, like Thompson comes to mind. Even
Green not having to work hard for his shots comes
to mind. Shengoon's like a fine facilitator, but he's not
He's not a Sabonus level pastor. He's certainly not like
a Jokic level guy. So like I think, yeah, I
don't have an issue with Trey.
Speaker 3: Young being ball dominant on.
Speaker 1: This team cause that like he's mega expensive. I want
to make that clear, but like he just won't cost
you as many assets I would believe as a Devin Booker,
a jail In Brown, does he get more or less
on the trade market than Kevin Durant even like he
like when you look back at it all because the
defensive issues because of you know, he's younger, but he
has like that extension coming up as well. I could
see a scenario where just because it's Kevin Durant that
he ends up costing more ya as far as if
your Phoenix maybe just despite like, oh you're not gonna
give us back enough of our own picks, then no,
you're not gonna get Kevin Durant.
Speaker 2: Is it also weird that it's easier to imagine like
more Trey Young destinations than it is Durant destinations at
this point?
Speaker 1: Oh?
Speaker 3: Is it for me?
Speaker 1: It is? I think it's easier for me to envision
Kevin Durant trade designate. Put him on as the team
I'm rooting for the Which team? I didn't hear you? Spurs?
Speaker 3: Oh, Katie to the Spurs. That's fine, Yeah, they'll.
Speaker 1: I would really actually like to see him on the Nuggets,
but I just don't see a realistic way to get
him there.
Speaker 2: Just swapping for MPJA and see if anybody notices.
Speaker 1: Yeah, when he's dribbling into mid rangers, I think a
lot of people are gonna do it a little bit.
Speaker 3: Yeah, that's true. What else on the Rockets?
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think that's pretty much everything. They're really good.
But it's like you're in this. It's not a bad
spot on it. They're super flexible, they have a ton
of assets. But you now kind of like you do
need to make a big ish move unless you believe
that the internal leap is coming. And I don't know
what would you. Is there a case to say, well,
let's just reab out, let's pick up the Fred VanVleet
team option, let's just reevaluate at the trade deadline in
twenty six.
Speaker 3: Yeah, there's a case.
Speaker 2: I think ultimately, I'm with you that you I think
a trade needs to happen and it probably needs to
involve Van Vleet. So if that's this offseason, great, if
it's if it's over the if it's in at the deadline, sure,
I do still want to say, like I could understand
if the Rockets had enough faith in what they have
to let it ride for another year. That just feels
like very, very risky.
Speaker 1: You know, I'm gonna give you over unders quickly on
their two extension eligible players. Yeah, Tari Easan twenty million
dollars a year.
Speaker 3: Under I just I don't.
Speaker 2: I don't think in the modern cap environment, a guy
that's like not quite defense only but pretty close is
just gonna get that anymore.
Speaker 1: Jabari Smith Junior twenty four million.
Speaker 3: Oh you know how I feel about uh human XI.
Speaker 1: Honestly, that's the If I'm a team that's trading a
star to Houston, I think I'm probably targeted. And I
mean the and the contract might have something to do
with it. Shanegun's contracts could end up being a steal
I'm trying to get, Like you want, Ahman, I don't
think they're gonna give it. Maybe in a honest deal
they might think about it, but even then I don't
think they would. Yeah, I'm like trying to get Jabari
Smith Junior as part of any of that package. And
like if you're the Bucks and you're sending Giannis there,
yeah you bet like you better get Jabari Smith. He is,
so he just fills so many different holes.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean he's he's reaching the point where it's
like I know, I think he's better than he is
or then he's shown overall. I just the type of
player he is. I've like, I just want that on
every team I'm trying to put together under I think
he I think he might get under twenty four. I
think he might be under that, and I think I'm
gonna if someone signs him for less than that if
whether it's the right like great, good job, guys got
to steal.
Speaker 1: I think if it wouldn't shock me if he turned
that number down and said I'll go to his restricted
free agency in two thousand and betout himself. But just
his role is kind of just like functionally if he
here because of the talent they've surrounded him with him,
because of just how many different like good defensive players
they could have. So it's all right, like how like
he's average what are the average in the Schoolden State
Series under twenty five minutes. It's a game that's not
really a player you would expect to give twenty five
plus million dollars a year or two, Like he's just capable.
Is that the the way the roster makeup is it
makes it for both of these players? Really, I think
it makes it super fascinating. So like what's the number
if you're Houston and then they might decide to play, Well,
we're still gonna keep our books flexible and let them
re restricted free agency and will match whatever offers they
might receive. It certainly like if it was this year
they were entering restricted free agency, you're afraid of the
nets and nobody else.
Speaker 2: Right, Yeah, that's I mean, I think that the real
one of the real takeaways is we're gonna have to
like kind of recalibrate how we think about extensions and
like team's willingness to like risk guys getting the restricted
free agency and just like the general I don't know,
like suppressive effect of the of the new CBA where
it's like, yeah, Jamaris Spaccinior would have got like, no
question over twenty four million a year like three years
ago and now it's just like, I don't know who
can do that.
Speaker 1: Final question, most likely player to be traded on the.
Speaker 3: Rockets, Let's go Vamfleet. I think that's just I can't
overthink that one.
Speaker 1: I'm gonna go with Jalen Green, Okay, just for I
don't really have like there's just like too many options,
you're gonna say.
Speaker 2: Jalen Green, all right, thanks everybody for listening, for watching,
Make sure you're rated review subscribe five stars, many thumbs up.
If you're watching this on YouTube, leep and comments there,
let us know what your thoughts are.
Speaker 3: I'll join our discord and leaks for that in the
YouTube and podcast description
Speaker 2: Close It's always been a shout to Frank Milkina in
an apology to Jared Allen