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The 2017/2018 season is over. This Houston Rockets team was one of the best teams assembled in Franchise history; but at the end of the day it was not enough against the GSW juggernaut. Granted, a healthy Chris Paul (or Luc or Ryno, for that matter) could have made a difference; but what we do know is that it wasn't enough.

Now, the natural thing for some is to go full knee-jerk and start screaming to tear everything down; but it is not wise to do that with a team this close. I still maintain that this Houston Rockets squad is the best hope of defeating the Warriors; but something has to change.

In your opinion, rank the following players on the team and their importance to keep around for next season. Bear in mind, some of these guys will have to go in order to bring in a kingly upgrade; but just for the guys on the squad how do you rank them by how you see their importance to stay with the team.

Harden is not going anywhere, so he is not part of the list. Paul is very likely to be back (with a buddy); but it is not set in stone like Harden with his mega-extension.

Chris Paul
Clint Capela
Trevor Ariza
PJ Tucker
Ryan Anderson
Eric Gordon
Luc M'bah a Moute
Nene
Zhou Qi
Tarik Black
Gerald Green

How do you see it?

There are two scenario.
First one, we aren't going after LeBron and these are the players we are keeping.
Second one, we are going after LeBron and these are keep and everyone else are trade assets.

If we aren't going after LeBron:
1. Harden
2. CP3
3. Capela
4. Tucker
5. Eric Gordon
6. Mbah a Moute
7. Ariza
8. Green
9. Nene (i think he will retired)
the rest don't care

If we are going after LeBron:
1. Harden
2. CP3
3. Tucker
4. Gordon
5. Mbah a Moute
6. Ariza

yes, i'm willing to trade Capela for LeBron
i don't want to keep Capela and lost Tucker, Gordon, Ariza, and/or Mbah a Moute

then you call DeAndre Jordan to see if he's willing to take a discount to reunited with CP3 and play for his hometown team

I wrote my opinion and the page crashed before I could hit submit.

So.

First tier - Unless the return is amazing or there's a huge snag
1. Paul - can't be replaced for what he does, but is going to be 34, will probably want a max or near-max, and there are rumors that he’s injury prone.
2. Capella - might could be replaced (Deandre Jordan, e.g.), but it'll cost a lot. However, he’s got a case for being a top-3 C in the league right now behind maybe AD. Is that a personal function or a system function? I think a bit of both.
3. PJ - I can't pick between 3 and 4 after the playoffs
4. Luc - Was bigger for us in the regular season by far

Second Tier - Would be really nice, but isn't 100% necessary
5. Eric Gordon - gives us a 3rd creator that we don't really have otherwise. I don't know who we'd replace him with.
6. Ariza - Switchblade is still going strong, but got exposed against Golden State. Granted, it was with Luc and Paul out and no rest.

Third Tier - Work nice in their roles, but can probably be replaced.
7. Gerald Green - Catch. Shoot. Catch. Shoot. Guarded? Shoot. Didn't catch? Shoot.
8. Tarik Black - Got no burn, but I still like Tarik.
9. Nene - Still an effective regular season backup?
10. Zhou Qi - Investment.

Fourth Tier - Does he have to? I mean, if he gets his confidence back and we can't trade him, ok, but even I soured on the spaceman by year end, and I always liked his play.

CP3 wants the max and no discount
i don't mind giving him the max next year but not when he is 35

worst case scenario is we keep the same team together
don't know how much Ariza and LMAM will ask for
if we hit the hard cap we don't even have MLE to use

Which trade would be best (if CP3 signs elsewhere) and the team wanted to blow it up and go young. Not saying this is gonna happen but hypothetically which of these 4 deals would you do and would the other team do it?

1. Harden and Ryan Anderson to Lakers for Ingram, Ball and Kuzma. Frees up a ton of cap space since Lakers could absorb the difference in salary.

2. Harden to Suns for Booker, Chandler, Knight and Ayton (#1 overall pick)

3. Harden to Kings for Fox, Hield, Bogdanovic, Jackson and Bamba or Doncic (#2 overall pick)

4. Harden to Celtics for Horford and Tatum (or Brown)

texasholdem wrote:Which trade would be best (if CP3 signs elsewhere) and the team wanted to blow it up and go young. Not saying this is gonna happen but hypothetically which of these 4 deals would you do and would the other team do it?

1. Harden and Ryan Anderson to Lakers for Ingram, Ball and Kuzma. Frees up a ton of cap space since Lakers could absorb the difference in salary.

2. Harden to Suns for Booker, Chandler, Knight and Ayton (#1 overall pick)

3. Harden to Kings for Fox, Hield, Bogdanovic, Jackson and Bamba or Doncic (#2 overall pick)

4. Harden to Celtics for Horford and Tatum (or Brown)

I think #4

I don't like Ball. I don't care he become the next GOAT. I do not want to deal with Lonzo.

Ayton lack of defense is scary. I understand not every team is going to be as deadly as GSW. But still bad when your center don't play good defense. See KAT.

Don't see any special in Fox or Bogdanovic.

Tatum been great. Player good in both offense and defense are hard to come by.