Why did the Rockets sign FVV to more years/money over Kyrie?

[Special_Puppy]

FVV is basically in the same ballpark as Kyrie at this point. It was also going to much easier to pry away FVV from the Raptors than Kyrie from the Mavs. The Rockets improved by far the most out of any other team from 2023 to 2024 and the FVV signing was a massive part of that. Don’t know how you can say it was a bad decision

[iLLmatic860]

I think Dallas was the perfect situation for him. He already had a relationship with Nico

[KG Leonard]

They chose rightly FFV over Kyrie, he is far from a leader, much worse defender. Why would you let him destroy the future of your many young players? He is a toxic mess as your biggest star that only works as a sidekick to All-time great superstars big playmakers like Lebron, Luka. It is easy following Luka/Lebron, play without the pressure that he couldn't handle in Boston where he couldn't led young stars like Tatum, Brown.

Let not kid ourselves about Kyrie,Mavs works because of their two big defensive centers, wing defenders who helps Luka win games. Kyrie is the worst fit of all-star level talent for a team like Rockets...

[MakeItSplash]

Why did the Rockets sign Dillon Brooks to that contract?

[KG Leonard]

Imagine signing Kyrie Irving to lead your rebuilding team.

That is essentially what OP is asking.

Thats a horror show that i can't forget as Celtics fan, waste of seasons. He is a horrific leader for a rebuilding team and any other decent team with young stars. That's why this is a silly thread idea imho, the trades that made Mavs big, better defence and forwards who can shoot, defend is the reason they are winning outside Luka. Kyrie as a star of a team got swept by Celtics with him, KD in Nets.

[Exp0sed]

I mean in all honesty, most NBA players prefer Houston over Dallas for whatever reason. It is what it is.

maybe back in the day, but Cuban has really put an emphasis on extra perks for players, he really gives players the best treatment in the league, not to mention they have an ATG basketball genius whose passing and gravity get role players paid

morever, Houston has gone in the other direction since Fertita got the team, one debacle after another

the Mavs have a great rep rn as far as players are concerned
i'm guessing Kyrie would have prefered to stay in Dallas last summer but we'll never know since he was really seen as toxic and they didn't make him an offer

[wegotthabeet]

They obviously overpaid FVV to get the shorter term and Kyrie needs the perfect environment to excel. Probably would’ve been a disaster honestly.

[KGDirkTD_Fan]

The Rockets were very smart in realizing just throwing Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr, Sengun, and whatever young guys together isn't going to all of a sudden create a long-term sustainable playoff team. They aren't going to magically pick up good habits and learn how to win without veteran presence. FVV and Brooks are veteran add ons to oversee the rebuild with Udoka.

[Chuck Everett]

Jesus Christ, why not watch the Rockets play a game or two during the season? If you had, there's no way you could conclude that Brooks and VanVleet were bad signings.

[MoreyWins]

Why are brain dead threads like this not locked and thrown in the garbage

[TheGeneral99]

Weird thread.

Houston brought in FVV because they needed a leader who can mentor the young guys and teach them good habits on both ends. They wanted someone serious. Kyrie has a track record of being a poor leader, especially around young players. He's not someone you bring in to change the culture of a franchise.

Kyrie is perfect playing next to someone like Lebron or Luka that are great leaders and can take all the pressure away from him. He's the perfect #2 option.

[Anticon]

Irving would have been an absolute disaster there.

His maturity in Dallas has been remarkable and great to see. But it's very unlikely that would have been the case in Houston.

[Lalouie]

I guess this shows how inept and incompetent bad organizations are.

Last summer, Houston could've gotten their "star" they desperately are seeking this offseason in Kyrie.

But instead, they choose FVV and sign him for more years and money than Kyrie got from Mavs. Fast forward to this season, and Kyrie is the main reason they team is in position to play in finals meanwhile Rockets are trash as usual.

they needed a luka to get the kyrie you want

they would have gotten the boston kyrie

[Anderson Hunt]

The Rockets needed leadership. Irving is most definitely a leader in his own right on the Mavs, but it's different. The Rockets needed one stable leader who they could look to to hold everyone accountable, a coach on the floor. Think Mike Conley.

The Mavs needed an older dude with wisdom to be great on the floor, but he didn't absolutely need to be a leader in the locker room. If the Mavs got leadership from that guy, great, but it wasn't required.

That's two different situations. For the Rockets, leadership was a requirement. That's what they were paying for. For the Mavs, they needed an All-Star, and leadership was an afterthought.

Irving needs freedom to find himself in a locker room. Ideally, you put him in a role as smallish two-guard who will efficiently score 25 a game. Anything positive after that is just extra.

[srhcan]

I guess this shows how inept and incompetent bad organizations are.

Last summer, Houston could've gotten their "star" they desperately are seeking this offseason in Kyrie.

But instead, they choose FVV and sign him for more years and money than Kyrie got from Mavs. Fast forward to this season, and Kyrie is the main reason they team is in position to play in finals meanwhile Rockets are trash as usual.

Watch on YouTube

Really bad thread

[davidv2001]

I guess this shows how inept and incompetent bad organizations are.

Last summer, Houston could've gotten their "star" they desperately are seeking this offseason in Kyrie.

But instead, they choose FVV and sign him for more years and money than Kyrie got from Mavs. Fast forward to this season, and Kyrie is the main reason they team is in position to play in finals meanwhile Rockets are trash as usual.

Watch on YouTube

You are ignorant about the Rockets’ needs and who Kyrie Irving is as a player.

The Rockets needed a point guard that could get their young talent (Sengun, Green, Smith, Whitmore and Amen Thompson) the ball in their preferred spots on the floor while also serving as a coach on the floor who could get all their young talent to function within Ime Udoka’s system. That point guard needed to also hold the Rockets’ young talent accountable when they displayed bad habits on the court.

Fred VanVleet was that type of player. Kyrie Irving is not a pure point guard, nor is he a coach on the floor for young players.

Furthermore, the Rockets gave VanVleet 43M per year so he would take a two-year deal with a team option for the third year. This way, if Amen Thompson shows he’s ready to lead the team after VanVleet’s second season, they can hand the point guard reins to Thompson and allocate VanVleet’s money elsewhere. Kyrie Irving required a four-year commitment and didn’t fit the Rockets’ needs as well.

Finally, the Rockets were not “trash.” They finished 41-41 in a Western Conference where 10 teams won 46 games or more, a 19 game improvement from the previous season. That’s with Alperen Sengun missing the last 5 to 6 weeks of the season after badly spraining his ankle.

[Kiss of Death]

The OP could have just posted ‘I know absolutely nothing about the NBA.’

Same difference.

[dhsilv2]

Even if we were to agree Irving is a way better player. The FVV signing was still a good one. This thread makes no sense. Who had the rockets winning 41 games this year?

[Sane]

I think people may also be forgetting FVV has won a title as a role player and basically transformed himself from a second round pick into an average NBA starting PG. This is the guy you want mentoring your draft picks. He's not just a good culture fit, he's an elite culture fit.

[ChuckChilly]

They had to spend the money on someone to reach the salary floor.