I was reading an exchange between 2016 and JG about whether each expected Bev to be resigned or not and it got me thinking about the teams financial future. WARNING.....this thread isn't about whether we will be able to get some of the proposed players that will be listed here, but more on how each of these players would change our outlook financially. I think Morey is taking his time choosing his next move because he understands the next trade we make is going to steer us in a direction of limiting our flexibility. up to now that's been the big word.......FLEXIBILITY. if we acquire another star or semi-star type player we will have set our course financially. I'll try to be as reasonable as possible on trade scenarios. this will be more about what said athletes cost the team in assets rather than teams involved. we must also consider what some of our present players/assets will cost to keep. there are players who fall between the gaps of these categories(require more or less in trade), but this will sum up the vast majority. we will only look at a 3 year window and even that can be an eternity in the NBA
1. Kevin Love..........some will say we can't get him. if Minny continues it downward spiral......maybe? regardless lets say a trade of the following..... Rockets send out Asik, Lin, T-Jones or D-Mo and 2014 first rounder and 2016 first rounder. Love makes 14.7 this year.....15.7 next year with an option for another year at 16.7.............to trade for Love locks us in for the next 3 years especially considering we are probably going to have to take back an unfavorable contract with Love to make the numbers work. this represents the star trade. we can group players in this category like Horford or LMA. a trade like this basically raids the vaults of all tradable assets
2. Deng............this is the next level down and while not as restrictive as #1, we will still burn off one of our best trading chips in Asik. lets say the Rockets send out Asik, D-Mo. Deng makes 14.2 this year and is an unrestricted FA after that. if we're going to give up good assets I would think that we are intent on keeping the player traded for around. I don't think Morey is looking at rental type players right now, but we'll explore that later. so if we resign Deng.....lets say he gives us a discount and we get him for 11-12 a year. we will still have erased two good assets and lock ourselves into limited flexibility
3. Afflalo/impact player non-star..................this keeps the door open with flexibility, but the catch 22 here is said player the Rockets would be receiving must be seen as equal value to other GM's to not have lost value on an important asset as Asik plus be in position to help the Rockets presently on the floor.
4. Hawes/rental type........this opens flexibility, but also depletes our asset in Asik for little gain except a draft pick. while I expect the Rockets to continue to develop players.......we are in win now mode. letting go valuable assets for future consideration is probably low on the totem pole to Morey right now unless said draft pick has potential to land in the lottery
Any trade must be weighed against the backdrop of a decision on how to handle the Parsons retention. since I expect Parsons between 9 -11 per year and Les's indication he intend to retain him, that amount must be considered within this next trade whether it be dole out next year or the following year. also wherever we send Asik must be a place where he can not cause problems for us much like the Harden trade is doing for OKC. other things that must be weighed is the retention of role players....aka Bev, Garcia, Brooks. I expect Morey to keep what we need in role players easily, but how this next trade goes will affect the core of the team both on the court and in the wallet must be considered equally. if we lock ourselves in we must be sure that that's the team we want to go to battle with because major upgrades would be unrealistic after that point. if we accept role players.....will that get us over the hump? if we choose the rental route will we be able to replace that talent once gone? discussing all these trade ideas is fun, but there is a lot more on Morey's plate. many think as long as a trade works on the trade machine it's good for us when nothing could be further for the truth. if you really want to know what the Rockets will do......watch the MONEY
That probably makes me an idiot, but that's how I feel.
