Trading Plumlee for another average center doesn't make the team better.
PJ is the only one in the trade from our end that has decent value.
Personally, I think McDaniels isn't anything special. Tate, IMO, is better than he is.
Tate would be our best perimeter defender, maybe best overall defender too. That's the main reason I added him to the deal. If we want to be a good team, we need someone besides Miles than can guard others teams top players.
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/Jae-Sean-Tate-becoming-Rockets-stopper-on-16592478.phpOur defense isn't good and our centers aren't good. If we want to improve those situations, we have to be willing to trade something of value. We aren't going to trade any of Melo/Rozier/Gordon or Miles. Trading Plumlee is pointless. And I doubt we'd trade Kai or Bou. So that leaves PJ.