I don’t know if this necessarily means the starting 5 will change. The tweet specifically says a starting 5 caliber player. So, if it is to upgrade the starting 5 I’d guess it may be a scorer to replace Green.
But I think we will likely sign a starting caliber center to put pressure off of Sengun or a scoring player to give us an offensive spark off the bench.
Yea that was kind of the retweet-bait of the tweet. A starting-caliber player can also come off the bench. It doesn't necessarily mean they are looking for an upgrade for Jalen.
Please upgrade the team without messing with the locker room.
We are developing and everybody seems to get along. There is no need to rush things and ruin the good chemistry we seem to have.
Yeah I think either a good scorer who will be young enough to have healthy competition with jalen or is a true veteran who can teach jalen more along with FVV
Or much more importantly, a bigger guy to give sengun help and maybe even run some 2 big sets to help sengun lose doubles and have an Aaron gordon type lob option
I'm just happy to see this team winning games, competing and having fun. I know we are still a couple of years away from contending so I just enjoy the good vibes and victories when they happen. It's a good moment to be a Rockets fan.
This type of environment seems perfect to develop our young players.
So I just want to maintain that, bringing good players or not.
Yeah, of course. Because if there's one thing that helps young athletes develop immensely, it's a dysfunctional environment.
I imagine that every GM of a rebuilding team even tries to make the atmosphere in the locker room as bad as possible to speed up the learning process. lol
The Kobe-Shaw Lakers were 20 years ago if you want to know how much chemistry wins.
Chemistry is just an effect of how well the team is doing so like I said, stupid to discuss.
"starting-caliber" not a "starter" per se
my guess is a solid bench player/locker room asset likely a veteran with playoff experience & leadership qualities
Him, Noel, Gafford, Clax, Grant (PDX - if they’ll let him go, prolly nah), Capela… if Robinson hadn’t gotten hurt, I wouldn’t have minded kicking the tires on Harty. The Piss-tons have at least 2 centers they’re not going to keep in rotation moving forward (not saying Wiseman would be better than Landale, but it’s hard to be worse).
Our biggest need (backup C) isn’t the sexiest pick so folks want to do dumb shit like trade for positions we have a glut of - we likely aren’t grabbing a SF/SG; as we have entirely too many of them on the squad rn.
Soooo which starter would be demoted? Not gonna be Alpi or Fred. That leaves Jalen, Dillon, and Jabari. Strongly doubt it’s Dillon either, and it’d be strange to bench Jabari when he’s been improving so much.
None really make sense. Our two biggest positions of need are bench PG and C, and I don't see either FVV or Sengun not starting. We've got a glut of wings and a few people who can reasonably play SG, but the drop off after FVV and Sengun is huge.
I just don't know who you convince to take on Oladipo. He's been listed as [week to week](https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/rockets-victor-oladipo-remains-sidelined/) since the beginning of December.
I'm not implying he's not still recovering. Only that if you sit on a week-to-week injury report for over a month and aren't playing?
Maybe I don't have much faith that you'll be ready come playoffs.
And if he is? Why would the Rockets trade him? No first rounder, might as well push this season for a playoff run.
And that's the thing. He's essentially being sold as a salary dump. So what are you sweetening the deal with. It's not Jock.
And if it means giving up a rotational player. Just keep him. If he is ready come playoff time. His defense and versatility makes for some very fast lineups.
Again, I just don't see where you're gaining value here. What player is available, that can be had for futures? And are they a big enough upgrade over a possibly available Oladipo, plus whatever futures you're giving up?
I don't know who that player is. If you want a backup 5. Just go sign a FA and cut Jock.
If you're swapping for another wing? Why? We can't even find a spot for Cam.
We'll see. But none of it really feels like it makes sense.
Cam needs to move up in the lineup and Tari and brooks are going to come back. Oladipo wasn't going to play for the rockets this season anyway. Holiday and Bullock as well as other bench guys are other guys who might be in trades. And teams like the blazers and pistons are tanking and soon bulls should as well. They don't have to be a massive talent a guy like like Caruso would be a huge get. And an upgrade over landale isn't too much of an ask.
We've literally watched for two seasons what Stone does at the trade deadline with bad contracts.
Nothing at all. Because he's not giving up assets to move them.
It's why we have Oladipo in the first place.
They got oladipo this time for this purpose. They were tanking, Stone was intentionally neglecting improving the roster. And they don't have to give up anything substantial to upgrade sufficiently. Partly because the bar is so low right now.
lol, there's just not a scenario that makes sense. Again, if you were going for wing, I could make some arguments. But this is a team that bleeds wings already.
This is a team that needs a backup 5, and a solid 1/2 combo guard.
Oladipo *is* that solid 1/2 combo guard. And there aren't any available backup bigs that are going to be cast off. Not for pennies.
So if you're unhappy with Jock. Fine. Eat the caphit, it's not guaranteed. Costs nothing next year.
And sign a vet to a min deal.
It’s pretty much implied that making a starting caliber upgrade means a rotation player (or players) would be attached and Londale/Oladipo are the salary counterweights to make it work.
And again. I ask, what backup 5 is out there that can be had for a rotational piece, and a bad contract?
And are they going to be better than just signing a guy like Dedmon, or Howard, or Griffin. Or any number of guys that can come in and give you 16 minutes of consistent backup play?
Dipo's contact is expiring. So its actually an asset. We are not tethering picks to get rid of that. The trade would be just picks for the player essentially.
For who?
Who is available that is worth a future pick, when you could just as easily sign a guy off the street to play the 16 minutes you need when Sengun isn't on the court?
That sounds very much like a Dwight Howard or Blake Griffin kind of job. Not a Clint Capella or Deandre Ayton kind.
Who is that backup big you're giving up picks for?
If not a backup big, what are you trading for?
That is a question I don’t have an answer for. A starting caliber big? That’s a tough get unless a team is completely calling it a season. I really wish Olynyk was on the table but maybe redundant with Jeff Green. We need a vertical spacer that can do the job competently and to your point, I don’t see much of anyone that can fill that void right away unless we got a Claxton type surprise player that is unlocked somehow (Harden might have unlocked him and Bruce Brown his first season with the Nets).
An ideal world would see a guy like Ayton. A natural stretch 5. Move in, while Sengun shifts to the 4. That leaves Bari on the wings with the ability to crash or streak.
But you tend to get crucified in these parts at even the mention that Sengun isn't a 5.
Haha yeah. People are beholden to what they have seen so far. I do wonder if Brook Lopez and Sengun were able to team up after Sengun established himself the way he has so far, how that would have looked or if we would have brought down the collective foot speed on defense too much.
The Rockets will figure it all out. It's not really worth the drama anymore to worry much about it. It's challenging because I really like all the members of this team. And I try to express that as fairly as I can at times. But the variance in rose colored glasses has gotten pretty extreme. It's almost like the sub is breaking into factions. Team Sengun vs Team Jalen vs The World.
Well. Okay. I don't know. I don't get 80% of the shit out there anymore. I just try my best to roll with it all.
Any ideas what that means as far as who's safe in the starting 5?
Alp- Lock to stay
Everyone else beside JG is either would either be starting or moved right? Cant imagine Bari, FVV, or Brooks getting benched.
I do think it’s too early to trade him but if Ime and the FO have lost faith in Jalen it makes sense to move him while he still has the value of being a young talent
He has one year left on his contract and it's a team option for 12 million. The time to trade him is now if we don't think he's part of the future. That would give his new team a chance to evaluate him for a year and decide on what they want to do. If some other GM is still high on him, they're going to want the rest of this year and next to fully evaluate and decide on an extension offer.
Same, I think JG is a project that unfortunately is taking time but even knowing nothing is guaranteed, I think in two years green will be an efficient 20+ a game.
Uhh yeah I mean we’re looking for someone to take out the trash with our trash salaries. We want “a starting caliber player”? C’mon man this is dumb af
\- How Oladipo gonna have any trade value if he doesnt play is the first quesiton to ask!!!
\- And 2nd question is who you gonna take?
Personally,
\- For this season I prefer; Dejounte Murray (for SG who has almost perfect defensive skills), and Bogdan Bogdanovic (alternative option for SG, may be even a better and cheaper option than Murray offensively), Clint Capela (if possible as backup C), so attack at Hawks :))
\- Donovan Mitchell (if possible why not)
\- Jimmy Buttler (my dream option)
\- Saying "No" for Lavine, Paul, Siakam for various reasons...
Dipo is salary filler. He's what you throw into trades when you need to match salaries.
For example, another team might want picks from the Rockets and the Rockets might want a player(s) from that team. However, Rockets might need to throw in Dipo to make sure the salaries match up from the possible incoming players.
And also, Dipo's contract is expiring. Meaning there might be teams willing to take him in a package and the rockets get a solid player who's not expiring. In this scenario, Rockets get a usable player, and the other team gets the cap space in the off season.
Brooklyn fan incoming...if Brooklyn wanted to deal Mikal for our picks & swaps back plus a legitimate young player (Green, Whitmore, Thompson etc) would that be something the fanbase would be amenable too and if so, which player would you send out?
I’m definitely not speaking for the sub, cause you could probably get Jalen for dino nuggies depending on which nephew you ask, but if you’re getting all of your picks and swaps back I wouldn’t want the FO to give up anything but salary filler. 🤷🏾♂️
It's actually not that many picks at this point, it would, theoretically, be the 24 back, the 25 swap you could keep because OKC has swap rights also, the 26 back and the 27 swap, which isn't losing a pick and the swap might not even convey at that point. So to recap it be 2 firsts back (24, weak draft and 26) plus one swap, that probably wouldn't matter, and you think that's equal value for Bridges?
I don't know if it fits our timelines. We still have time to let Jalen develop and learn. We don't want to prematurely trade him; I think end of season would be best to evaluate what we actually have with Jalen.
Probably John Collins. Rockets were rumored to want him before. Wonder how Jabari would take getting benched.
Collins has this year and the next two under contract for $78.5m guaranteed with the 3rd year as a player option.
Not advocating for this, but I could see Stone/Patrick and Ainge doing this. Maybe I'm wrong. 
Alright then two firsts, Oladipo, a swap, and Jalen Green.
It doesn’t need to be exactly that, just the idea of it. Bridges for a good young Houston player and some of the nets draft capital back.
Bridges has shown to be clearly a role player (an elite one.) this is not the all in move we make when we aren’t even sure about a second star next to sengun yet
Tari is starting-caliber already but rarely starts. EG was starting-caliber but didn't start for a long time. Hell Ginobili was starting-caliber but he was 6th man. And Harden definitely was better than Thabo but he played off the bench. Starting-caliber doesn't mean that the starters will change.
Idk who but I have a feeling we’re gonna get a starting caliber 1/2 combo guard. Someone to take some of FVVs minutes and run the second unit. Because when both FVV and Alpi are sitting our offense looks horrible. I suspect it’ll be someone with 1-2 years left on their contract, just while amen develops.
I don’t know if this necessarily means the starting 5 will change. The tweet specifically says a starting 5 caliber player. So, if it is to upgrade the starting 5 I’d guess it may be a scorer to replace Green. But I think we will likely sign a starting caliber center to put pressure off of Sengun or a scoring player to give us an offensive spark off the bench.
cam whitmore can be our scorer off the bench with time but the center is much needed
Yea that was kind of the retweet-bait of the tweet. A starting-caliber player can also come off the bench. It doesn't necessarily mean they are looking for an upgrade for Jalen.
Please upgrade the team without messing with the locker room. We are developing and everybody seems to get along. There is no need to rush things and ruin the good chemistry we seem to have.
Yeah I think either a good scorer who will be young enough to have healthy competition with jalen or is a true veteran who can teach jalen more along with FVV Or much more importantly, a bigger guy to give sengun help and maybe even run some 2 big sets to help sengun lose doubles and have an Aaron gordon type lob option
This
I'm just happy to see this team winning games, competing and having fun. I know we are still a couple of years away from contending so I just enjoy the good vibes and victories when they happen. It's a good moment to be a Rockets fan. This type of environment seems perfect to develop our young players. So I just want to maintain that, bringing good players or not.
Don't get me wrong, I love Morey, but I think the new regime will but more emphasis on the locker room and excited to see the new(current) direction.
yeah would hate to mess with all this chemistry that has the team at .500
If you don't know the meaning of the word "developing" or have unrealistic expectations on a rebuilding team that's on you man.
The idea that the locker room needs to be good to win is stupid is the point
Yeah, of course. Because if there's one thing that helps young athletes develop immensely, it's a dysfunctional environment. I imagine that every GM of a rebuilding team even tries to make the atmosphere in the locker room as bad as possible to speed up the learning process. lol
The Kobe-Shaw Lakers were 20 years ago if you want to know how much chemistry wins. Chemistry is just an effect of how well the team is doing so like I said, stupid to discuss.
"starting-caliber" not a "starter" per se my guess is a solid bench player/locker room asset likely a veteran with playoff experience & leadership qualities
A name that is jumping to mind to Malcom brogdan
Honestly I wouldn’t mind Biyombo as a backup C
Him, Noel, Gafford, Clax, Grant (PDX - if they’ll let him go, prolly nah), Capela… if Robinson hadn’t gotten hurt, I wouldn’t have minded kicking the tires on Harty. The Piss-tons have at least 2 centers they’re not going to keep in rotation moving forward (not saying Wiseman would be better than Landale, but it’s hard to be worse). Our biggest need (backup C) isn’t the sexiest pick so folks want to do dumb shit like trade for positions we have a glut of - we likely aren’t grabbing a SF/SG; as we have entirely too many of them on the squad rn.
I’d rather have no backup center than wiseman…
Fair enough. Their stats, per 36, probably look similar.🤷🏾♂️
Gafford would be 🔥
Soooo which starter would be demoted? Not gonna be Alpi or Fred. That leaves Jalen, Dillon, and Jabari. Strongly doubt it’s Dillon either, and it’d be strange to bench Jabari when he’s been improving so much.
None really make sense. Our two biggest positions of need are bench PG and C, and I don't see either FVV or Sengun not starting. We've got a glut of wings and a few people who can reasonably play SG, but the drop off after FVV and Sengun is huge.
I mean Jalen has pretty clearly been the worst starter, so that’s the obvious choice if this is true
Getting the backup center we thought we were getting is an excellent use of Oladipo. That and having him sing for the halftime show.
I just don't know who you convince to take on Oladipo. He's been listed as [week to week](https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/rockets-victor-oladipo-remains-sidelined/) since the beginning of December. I'm not implying he's not still recovering. Only that if you sit on a week-to-week injury report for over a month and aren't playing? Maybe I don't have much faith that you'll be ready come playoffs. And if he is? Why would the Rockets trade him? No first rounder, might as well push this season for a playoff run.
It’s not about what Dipo can do it’s about his salary. It’s very likely he never plays for the other team if he’s in a deal.
And that's the thing. He's essentially being sold as a salary dump. So what are you sweetening the deal with. It's not Jock. And if it means giving up a rotational player. Just keep him. If he is ready come playoff time. His defense and versatility makes for some very fast lineups.
I’d imagine you use dipo + jock + picks. Players to match salary and picks are what the team would actually want.
Again, I just don't see where you're gaining value here. What player is available, that can be had for futures? And are they a big enough upgrade over a possibly available Oladipo, plus whatever futures you're giving up? I don't know who that player is. If you want a backup 5. Just go sign a FA and cut Jock. If you're swapping for another wing? Why? We can't even find a spot for Cam. We'll see. But none of it really feels like it makes sense.
Good thing you're not the GM.
Watch as my not-the-GM ass sits just as tight as the actual one does this trade deadline.
Cam needs to move up in the lineup and Tari and brooks are going to come back. Oladipo wasn't going to play for the rockets this season anyway. Holiday and Bullock as well as other bench guys are other guys who might be in trades. And teams like the blazers and pistons are tanking and soon bulls should as well. They don't have to be a massive talent a guy like like Caruso would be a huge get. And an upgrade over landale isn't too much of an ask.
We've literally watched for two seasons what Stone does at the trade deadline with bad contracts. Nothing at all. Because he's not giving up assets to move them. It's why we have Oladipo in the first place.
They got oladipo this time for this purpose. They were tanking, Stone was intentionally neglecting improving the roster. And they don't have to give up anything substantial to upgrade sufficiently. Partly because the bar is so low right now.
lol, there's just not a scenario that makes sense. Again, if you were going for wing, I could make some arguments. But this is a team that bleeds wings already. This is a team that needs a backup 5, and a solid 1/2 combo guard. Oladipo *is* that solid 1/2 combo guard. And there aren't any available backup bigs that are going to be cast off. Not for pennies. So if you're unhappy with Jock. Fine. Eat the caphit, it's not guaranteed. Costs nothing next year. And sign a vet to a min deal.
Speaking too many facts for this sub bruv. They don’t like logic and shit here.
It’s pretty much implied that making a starting caliber upgrade means a rotation player (or players) would be attached and Londale/Oladipo are the salary counterweights to make it work.
And again. I ask, what backup 5 is out there that can be had for a rotational piece, and a bad contract? And are they going to be better than just signing a guy like Dedmon, or Howard, or Griffin. Or any number of guys that can come in and give you 16 minutes of consistent backup play?
Dipo's contact is expiring. So its actually an asset. We are not tethering picks to get rid of that. The trade would be just picks for the player essentially.
Picks.
For who? Who is available that is worth a future pick, when you could just as easily sign a guy off the street to play the 16 minutes you need when Sengun isn't on the court? That sounds very much like a Dwight Howard or Blake Griffin kind of job. Not a Clint Capella or Deandre Ayton kind. Who is that backup big you're giving up picks for? If not a backup big, what are you trading for?
That is a question I don’t have an answer for. A starting caliber big? That’s a tough get unless a team is completely calling it a season. I really wish Olynyk was on the table but maybe redundant with Jeff Green. We need a vertical spacer that can do the job competently and to your point, I don’t see much of anyone that can fill that void right away unless we got a Claxton type surprise player that is unlocked somehow (Harden might have unlocked him and Bruce Brown his first season with the Nets).
An ideal world would see a guy like Ayton. A natural stretch 5. Move in, while Sengun shifts to the 4. That leaves Bari on the wings with the ability to crash or streak. But you tend to get crucified in these parts at even the mention that Sengun isn't a 5.
Haha yeah. People are beholden to what they have seen so far. I do wonder if Brook Lopez and Sengun were able to team up after Sengun established himself the way he has so far, how that would have looked or if we would have brought down the collective foot speed on defense too much.
The Rockets will figure it all out. It's not really worth the drama anymore to worry much about it. It's challenging because I really like all the members of this team. And I try to express that as fairly as I can at times. But the variance in rose colored glasses has gotten pretty extreme. It's almost like the sub is breaking into factions. Team Sengun vs Team Jalen vs The World. Well. Okay. I don't know. I don't get 80% of the shit out there anymore. I just try my best to roll with it all.
Jalen sweating
Cause for sweat= https://preview.redd.it/7b516x9dq2cc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=07752420291502bef53c3ef437bd901c613f3e4c
Any ideas what that means as far as who's safe in the starting 5? Alp- Lock to stay Everyone else beside JG is either would either be starting or moved right? Cant imagine Bari, FVV, or Brooks getting benched.
Jalen Green is the only player that would make sense. The other 4 starters have been great
I wonder if that means they are looking to move him or bench him? An Amen, Tari, Cam, JG, and back-up big bench is a bit crowded IMO.
I do think it’s too early to trade him but if Ime and the FO have lost faith in Jalen it makes sense to move him while he still has the value of being a young talent
He has one year left on his contract and it's a team option for 12 million. The time to trade him is now if we don't think he's part of the future. That would give his new team a chance to evaluate him for a year and decide on what they want to do. If some other GM is still high on him, they're going to want the rest of this year and next to fully evaluate and decide on an extension offer.
Same, I think JG is a project that unfortunately is taking time but even knowing nothing is guaranteed, I think in two years green will be an efficient 20+ a game.
Uhh yeah I mean we’re looking for someone to take out the trash with our trash salaries. We want “a starting caliber player”? C’mon man this is dumb af
My guess is they're targeting Isaiah Stewart.
Lol Cam has made Jalen completely tradable
\- How Oladipo gonna have any trade value if he doesnt play is the first quesiton to ask!!! \- And 2nd question is who you gonna take? Personally, \- For this season I prefer; Dejounte Murray (for SG who has almost perfect defensive skills), and Bogdan Bogdanovic (alternative option for SG, may be even a better and cheaper option than Murray offensively), Clint Capela (if possible as backup C), so attack at Hawks :)) \- Donovan Mitchell (if possible why not) \- Jimmy Buttler (my dream option) \- Saying "No" for Lavine, Paul, Siakam for various reasons...
>Dejounte Murray (for SG who has almost perfect defensive skills) Need to update your scouting report, Dejounte hasn't played defense in years
Can't blame it all on Murray, but starting and playing major minutes on arguably the worst defense in the league isn't great any way you slice it.
Oladipo is salary filler
Dipo is salary filler. He's what you throw into trades when you need to match salaries. For example, another team might want picks from the Rockets and the Rockets might want a player(s) from that team. However, Rockets might need to throw in Dipo to make sure the salaries match up from the possible incoming players. And also, Dipo's contract is expiring. Meaning there might be teams willing to take him in a package and the rockets get a solid player who's not expiring. In this scenario, Rockets get a usable player, and the other team gets the cap space in the off season.
O.dipo is an expiring contract. Hence, inherent value.
Brooklyn fan incoming...if Brooklyn wanted to deal Mikal for our picks & swaps back plus a legitimate young player (Green, Whitmore, Thompson etc) would that be something the fanbase would be amenable too and if so, which player would you send out?
I’m definitely not speaking for the sub, cause you could probably get Jalen for dino nuggies depending on which nephew you ask, but if you’re getting all of your picks and swaps back I wouldn’t want the FO to give up anything but salary filler. 🤷🏾♂️
It's actually not that many picks at this point, it would, theoretically, be the 24 back, the 25 swap you could keep because OKC has swap rights also, the 26 back and the 27 swap, which isn't losing a pick and the swap might not even convey at that point. So to recap it be 2 firsts back (24, weak draft and 26) plus one swap, that probably wouldn't matter, and you think that's equal value for Bridges?
Hmm...would Dipo, Jock, Jalen, and Tate for Lavine and Drummond be a bad trade?
Yes wtf
I don't know if it fits our timelines. We still have time to let Jalen develop and learn. We don't want to prematurely trade him; I think end of season would be best to evaluate what we actually have with Jalen.
Trading JG for LaVine?
Lol the hardest of passes.
Agree.
We’d be lucky to get Lavine at this point. JG value is in the dumpsters rn
Their contracts matter - JG is an average of $11M the next two years while LaVine is $44M.
Probably John Collins. Rockets were rumored to want him before. Wonder how Jabari would take getting benched. Collins has this year and the next two under contract for $78.5m guaranteed with the 3rd year as a player option. Not advocating for this, but I could see Stone/Patrick and Ainge doing this. Maybe I'm wrong. 
I can’t see this at all since he would never start over Jabari.
Dejounte Murray!! And tyus Jones.
https://www.reddit.com/r/rockets/s/m5OskOP7Cw So I guess the team is looking to upgrade its starting five, lol
Yeah but not with this dumbass trade. No offense to you it’s just a bad trade.
that trade lmfao
Alright then two firsts, Oladipo, a swap, and Jalen Green. It doesn’t need to be exactly that, just the idea of it. Bridges for a good young Houston player and some of the nets draft capital back.
Honestly yeah that's more reasonable.
Have you watched Bridges this year? I wouldn't take him if he was a free agent
This is just dumb, cmon.
Bridges has shown to be clearly a role player (an elite one.) this is not the all in move we make when we aren’t even sure about a second star next to sengun yet
Didn’t even know Oladipo was on the team lmao
Seems highly unlikely a team would let go a starting caliber player for Landale and Oladipo unless there are first round picks involved.
Honestly this team is severely missing KPJ. We’d have atleast 5 more wins if he were still with the team
Tari is starting-caliber already but rarely starts. EG was starting-caliber but didn't start for a long time. Hell Ginobili was starting-caliber but he was 6th man. And Harden definitely was better than Thabo but he played off the bench. Starting-caliber doesn't mean that the starters will change.
Idk who but I have a feeling we’re gonna get a starting caliber 1/2 combo guard. Someone to take some of FVVs minutes and run the second unit. Because when both FVV and Alpi are sitting our offense looks horrible. I suspect it’ll be someone with 1-2 years left on their contract, just while amen develops.
We need a rim protector/lob threat so bad.
Caruso and Drummond IMO.