Zion train is coming our way? Or Houston we have a problem?

[MoreyWins]

I think trading Green is too much of a risk here. Zion should be worth


Jabari
Steven Adams
Cam Whitmore
2 1sts



If Zion never plays they would still be okay but if he’s semi decent for 50 games a year and playoffs this could make Houston a title contender


Sengun
Zion
Brooks/eason
Green/amen
Fred/shepperd

Yes, I think Zion is the most realistic target for Houston to make a big move to a title tier.

And they're deep enough to hedge against the downside.

The upside is title contention. So, I wouldn't jump to dismiss this target so quickly if I were a Rockets fan.

The big move for the Rockets involves a player who has never stayed healthy a full calender season or play a single game in the postseason... That's putting them in the title chase?

[MoreyWins]

I'm fine with Ingram as a target but the only position for upgrade where there is no glut is the 4. Ingram is a wing. As a 3/4 he overlaps with Eason who adds significant value on defense over Jabari in the games where Zion is unavailable.

Zion is a superstar when healthy. The Rockets would need to have a near ironclad plan to reform him. He could be a change-of-scenery superstar if that's even possible.

Ingram is a nice consolation, but I just find him temporary. He wants to enter unrestricted free agency and I don't blame him. His next big contract might be his last. Age 27, will finish it at 31.

The guy doesn't want to extend.

Rockets may need to revisit the playoffs.

I just think Jabari plus 2 1sts for Zion is about as cheap as you can get a bedrock piece. Ingram is definitely not a bedrock piece. And Fox is redundant with FVV.

They don't need wings and guards. They need a scoring threat alongside Sengün so they can optimize his playmaking value.

You just talked yourself into why waiting might be better move for the young rockets I believe.

They are clearly buyers right here right now.

I've been trying to say, you can wait on the next star (Ingram) but bedrock pieces (Zion) are different. You can be waiting multiple years for one. Buyers compete and bid during these rare windows of opportunity. They do not wait.

Typically, the bedrock piece that becomes available is older (KD, or Dame for example). These bedrock pieces make more sense for older rosters.

I wouldn't even consider Towns a bedrock piece. Wolves are building around Edwards, not KAT. Is Edwards, a young bedrock piece, someone Houston should wait on? He's contacted 5 years.

Their fans just over yonder inside a neighboring thread are sitting around waiting for the Hornets to listen on LaMelo - 23, #2 scorer in the NBA, secured on a bargain deal - 5 years long.

So this idea of waiting is not something I see in their fanbase.

I've been trying to orient myself for the here-and-now.

That is not LaMelo. That is more Zion than anyone else I can think of.

Maybe they bridge with someone like Ingram. Maybe they punt. I just think they're spinning their wheels. You do not reach the next level in this league without taking some serious risks.

Zion doesn't even fit how the team plays. Before saying Team X should target Player Y because they need a recognizable face on the roster, think for a second about how the team plays and what the expendable assets are.

[DaddyCool19]

Don't like the fit with Alpi and Thompson going forward. And he isn't reliable at all. Wouldn't risk what they have built for him.

[MasterIchiro]

You just talked yourself into why waiting might be better move for the young rockets I believe.

They are clearly buyers right here right now.

I've been trying to say, you can wait on the next star (Ingram) but bedrock pieces (Zion) are different. You can be waiting multiple years for one. Buyers compete and bid during these rare windows of opportunity. They do not wait.

Typically, the bedrock piece that becomes available is older (KD, or Dame for example). These bedrock pieces make more sense for older rosters.

I wouldn't even consider Towns a bedrock piece. Wolves are building around Edwards, not KAT. Is Edwards, a young bedrock piece, someone Houston should wait on? He's contacted 5 years.

Their fans just over yonder inside a neighboring thread are sitting around waiting for the Hornets to listen on LaMelo - 23, #2 scorer in the NBA, secured on a bargain deal - 5 years long.

So this idea of waiting is not something I see in their fanbase.

I've been trying to orient myself for the here-and-now.

That is not LaMelo. That is more Zion than anyone else I can think of.

Maybe they bridge with someone like Ingram. Maybe they punt. I just think they're spinning their wheels. You do not reach the next level in this league without taking some serious risks.

Zion doesn't even fit how the team plays. Before saying Team X should target Player Y because they need a recognizable face on the roster, think for a second about how the team plays and what the expendable assets are.

Think of what happens if you double Sengün and Zion is the recipient of his playmaking instead of Jabari Smith who is only going to make a straight line drive, and Smith is not getting to the rim.

Who is pressuring the rim over there for Sengün?

I have said, if you take the time to read all my thoughts on this deadline for the Rockets, that Houston would have to have a "near ironclad plan to reform Zion" in place before pressing in negotiations.

You can trash Zion as a target, but that does not give you any inside track to a bedrock player who isn't even on the market.

[tmorgan]

Instead of saying “bedrock” player, say “foundational”, as in someone you can build your team around.

Zion is just not that guy. You can’t build around a guy that misses this many games.

If Houston wants to level up further, they need to overpay for a real star that plays. They have the assets to do so. Go get Markkanen once you can. Inquire about overpaying for a young scorer that fits with your own young talent — move Jalen Green for someone more reliable if you want. But don’t trade for Zion. You’re gonna need the money to pay your own guys soon enough.

[YayBasketball]

Yea I get the appeal of buying 'low'on Z, but don't see it now since he's dealing with injuries again and HOU is ready to contend in the West this season. Also, I think if Griffin/Pels do finally trade Z, then they'll try to send him East in case he finally hits and becomes another force in the West.

[YayBasketball]

Not Z, but I do think Ingram is a real possibility for them. Klutch connection through FVV and Brooks, and they could make a deal without touching any of their young core.

Their expirings (Green, Landale, Tate, Holiday) as the base salary, then Pels would push for Jabari, HOU can counter with Whitmore. Protected first or some seconds to close the deal.

I know many fans posters don't want Ingram, but adding him reasonably to their core would help them add talent. His addition could also push Jalen Green to a 6th man role.