OT- Fred VanVleet out for season

[LoveMyRaps]

Shead for Amen

Get er done BC

[Los_29]

Big loss. One of their better players and a huge reason they’ve been able to turn things around. If Reed can take a big step forward and Amen continues to improve then they should still be a great team.

[TheGeneral99]

Brutal - this was the perfect squad for Fred tbh.

He had a true MVP in Durant, another all-star in Sengun, and a budding star in Thompson - he was perfectly suited to be the 3rd or 4th option on a contender.

[Tofubeque]

Sucks that a relatively grounded and strength- based player can still blow his knee out, it can really happen to anyone.

One smoking gun could be that he plays a ton of nba minutes - 35.2mpg last year and that was his lowest since 2019.

[mtcan]

IQ for Fred and Reed Sheppard?

Houston is in win now mode and can't waste a year of KD to wait for Fred to come back. We know Ime Udoka won't start Sheppard and otherwise they only have Aaron Holiday. They could start Amen Thompson at point guard but he doesn't shoot. IQ gives them shooting.

For us...we take back Fred who is on contract this season and has a player option for next season (he probably picks up the option). So we take back a shorter deal and get Reed for the future.

Thoughts?

[DelAbbot]

IQ for Fred and Reed Sheppard?

Houston is in win now mode and can't waste a year of KD to wait for Fred to come back. We know Ime Udoka won't start Sheppard and otherwise they only have Aaron Holiday. They could start Amen Thompson at point guard but he doesn't shoot. IQ gives them shooting.

For us...we take back Fred who is on contract this season and has a player option for next season (he probably picks up the option). So we take back a shorter deal and get Reed for the future.

Thoughts?

Yes if we are tanking 2025/2026 season

[Tripod]

IQ for Fred and Reed Sheppard?

Houston is in win now mode and can't waste a year of KD to wait for Fred to come back. We know Ime Udoka won't start Sheppard and otherwise they only have Aaron Holiday. They could start Amen Thompson at point guard but he doesn't shoot. IQ gives them shooting.

For us...we take back Fred who is on contract this season and has a player option for next season (he probably picks up the option). So we take back a shorter deal and get Reed for the future.

Thoughts?

Yes if we are tanking 2025/2026 season

And we are not, so no.

[mtcan]

IQ for Fred and Reed Sheppard?

Houston is in win now mode and can't waste a year of KD to wait for Fred to come back. We know Ime Udoka won't start Sheppard and otherwise they only have Aaron Holiday. They could start Amen Thompson at point guard but he doesn't shoot. IQ gives them shooting.

For us...we take back Fred who is on contract this season and has a player option for next season (he probably picks up the option). So we take back a shorter deal and get Reed for the future.

Thoughts?

Yes if we are tanking 2025/2026 season

And we are not, so no.

I'd argue and think Bobby would also agree that we are still very much in asset acquisition mode...and also trying to figure out what we have with the young guys.

I agree that Reed and injured Fred is a step down from a healthy IQ in the immediate future...but how much of a step down is it vs the upside and salary cap savings that we will see going forward?

I would say that you can then play Gradey/Jakobe/Ochai a bit more and the shooting they provide can make up a bit for IQ. Start Shead and have Reed play some backup PG minutes while letting the other young guys play a bit more.

[GoRapstheoriginal]

Yes HOW did this happen? Official information plz not speculation don't troll me.

Inquiring minds are curious.

[DreamTeam09]

Yes HOW did this happen? Official information plz not speculation don't troll me.

Inquiring minds are curious.

what is it that you need to know? He tore is ACL probably training like most NBA players do in the offseason, train. Even if he wasn't training, what changes for you?

[sidsid]

IQ for Fred and Reed Sheppard?

Houston is in win now mode and can't waste a year of KD to wait for Fred to come back. We know Ime Udoka won't start Sheppard and otherwise they only have Aaron Holiday. They could start Amen Thompson at point guard but he doesn't shoot. IQ gives them shooting.

For us...we take back Fred who is on contract this season and has a player option for next season (he probably picks up the option). So we take back a shorter deal and get Reed for the future.

Thoughts?

I don't think Houston is in win now mode. Or else they would have aggressively looked to trade Fred's contract + picks/prospects to build that team from the deadline onward. I think they ended up pivoting to acquire Booker to grow with their team and when that door closed, only went ahead with Durant after dumping the bad Green contract and minor assets. They're not doing anything different than the Warriors and their 2 track mistakes.

Related, the Fred player option was a mistake. Bidding against yourself in a bad cap space year never makes sense and for a team that's been pretty conservative on the moves/signing front to shield themselves from risk (and getting bailed out on the Green mistake) it's one that's now going to limit their trading options. Should have been a team option and dare to take the MLE somewhere if it was even being offered.

[gp2015]

IQ for Fred and Reed Sheppard?

Houston is in win now mode and can't waste a year of KD to wait for Fred to come back. We know Ime Udoka won't start Sheppard and otherwise they only have Aaron Holiday. They could start Amen Thompson at point guard but he doesn't shoot. IQ gives them shooting.

For us...we take back Fred who is on contract this season and has a player option for next season (he probably picks up the option). So we take back a shorter deal and get Reed for the future.

Thoughts?

Who are we going to start at PG this season? Shead?

Just no.

Also, Reed has been complete crap outside a few summer league games.

You want us to throw away 25 million this season for a player who won't even play and for another player who has shown nothing so far in the NBA?

[mtcan]

IQ for Fred and Reed Sheppard?

Houston is in win now mode and can't waste a year of KD to wait for Fred to come back. We know Ime Udoka won't start Sheppard and otherwise they only have Aaron Holiday. They could start Amen Thompson at point guard but he doesn't shoot. IQ gives them shooting.

For us...we take back Fred who is on contract this season and has a player option for next season (he probably picks up the option). So we take back a shorter deal and get Reed for the future.

Thoughts?

I don't think Houston is in win now mode. Or else they would have aggressively looked to trade Fred's contract + picks/prospects to build that team from the deadline onward. I think they ended up pivoting to acquire Booker to grow with their team and when that door closed, only went ahead with Durant after dumping the bad Green contract and minor assets. They're not doing anything different than the Warriors and their 2 track mistakes.

Related, the Fred player option was a mistake. Bidding against yourself in a bad cap space year never makes sense and for a team that's been pretty conservative on the moves/signing front to shield themselves from risk (and getting bailed out on the Green mistake) it's one that's now going to limit their trading options. Should have been a team option and dare to take the MLE somewhere if it was even being offered.

The moment Houston traded for an aging KD...they are trying to win this season and next.

[mtcan]

IQ for Fred and Reed Sheppard?

Houston is in win now mode and can't waste a year of KD to wait for Fred to come back. We know Ime Udoka won't start Sheppard and otherwise they only have Aaron Holiday. They could start Amen Thompson at point guard but he doesn't shoot. IQ gives them shooting.

For us...we take back Fred who is on contract this season and has a player option for next season (he probably picks up the option). So we take back a shorter deal and get Reed for the future.

Thoughts?

Who are we going to start at PG this season? Shead?

Just no.

Also, Reed has been complete crap outside a few summer league games.

You want us to throw away 25 million this season for a player who won't even play and for another player who has shown nothing so far in the NBA?

Shead to start games isn't the worst situation. And if there is still some potential for Reed to eventually meet which I think there is for a 2nd year player...then there is a case to take a good look at him. And saving on the remaining years of IQ's contract which in the current market looks like a bit of an overpay...it is flexibility for future signings and acquisitions.

[LiSTWithLani]

I feel bad for Freddy, who had a lot of things go his way in the league thus far.

Playing alongside KD, with Sengun and Amen, with Eason and co - that's a fun team man. They will definitely miss FVs steadiness and shooting.

[gp2015]

IQ for Fred and Reed Sheppard?

Houston is in win now mode and can't waste a year of KD to wait for Fred to come back. We know Ime Udoka won't start Sheppard and otherwise they only have Aaron Holiday. They could start Amen Thompson at point guard but he doesn't shoot. IQ gives them shooting.

For us...we take back Fred who is on contract this season and has a player option for next season (he probably picks up the option). So we take back a shorter deal and get Reed for the future.

Thoughts?

Who are we going to start at PG this season? Shead?

Just no.

Also, Reed has been complete crap outside a few summer league games.

You want us to throw away 25 million this season for a player who won't even play and for another player who has shown nothing so far in the NBA?

Shead to start games isn't the worst situation. And if there is still some potential for Reed to eventually meet which I think there is for a 2nd year player...then there is a case to take a good look at him. And saving on the remaining years of IQ's contract which in the current market looks like a bit of an overpay...it is flexibility for future signings and acquisitions.

I don't think Shead is good enough to start. He's a decent back up calibre guard.

Reed might have potential but he hasn't shown anything so far. He could also be a huge bust. It's somewhat concerning that his own team has little to no confidence in him, especially considering where he was drafted.

I also want no part of the 'secure the bag' version of Freddy back who will be playing for another contract. We already went through that once and know how that went.

[duppyy]

Yes HOW did this happen? Official information plz not speculation don't troll me.

Inquiring minds are curious.

He sneezed too hard.

[ontnut]

IQ for Fred and Reed Sheppard?

Houston is in win now mode and can't waste a year of KD to wait for Fred to come back. We know Ime Udoka won't start Sheppard and otherwise they only have Aaron Holiday. They could start Amen Thompson at point guard but he doesn't shoot. IQ gives them shooting.

For us...we take back Fred who is on contract this season and has a player option for next season (he probably picks up the option). So we take back a shorter deal and get Reed for the future.

Thoughts?

Who are we going to start at PG this season? Shead?

Just no.

Also, Reed has been complete crap outside a few summer league games.

You want us to throw away 25 million this season for a player who won't even play and for another player who has shown nothing so far in the NBA?

Reed I have been super low on since the draft. I don't think of him as an asset in this trade.

He feels like Jimmer 2.0 to me.

[gp2015]

IQ for Fred and Reed Sheppard?

Houston is in win now mode and can't waste a year of KD to wait for Fred to come back. We know Ime Udoka won't start Sheppard and otherwise they only have Aaron Holiday. They could start Amen Thompson at point guard but he doesn't shoot. IQ gives them shooting.

For us...we take back Fred who is on contract this season and has a player option for next season (he probably picks up the option). So we take back a shorter deal and get Reed for the future.

Thoughts?

Who are we going to start at PG this season? Shead?

Just no.

Also, Reed has been complete crap outside a few summer league games.

You want us to throw away 25 million this season for a player who won't even play and for another player who has shown nothing so far in the NBA?

Reed I have been super low on since the draft. I don't think of him as an asset in this trade.

And an injured Fred has negative value right now.

[sidsid]

IQ for Fred and Reed Sheppard?

Houston is in win now mode and can't waste a year of KD to wait for Fred to come back. We know Ime Udoka won't start Sheppard and otherwise they only have Aaron Holiday. They could start Amen Thompson at point guard but he doesn't shoot. IQ gives them shooting.

For us...we take back Fred who is on contract this season and has a player option for next season (he probably picks up the option). So we take back a shorter deal and get Reed for the future.

Thoughts?

I don't think Houston is in win now mode. Or else they would have aggressively looked to trade Fred's contract + picks/prospects to build that team from the deadline onward. I think they ended up pivoting to acquire Booker to grow with their team and when that door closed, only went ahead with Durant after dumping the bad Green contract and minor assets. They're not doing anything different than the Warriors and their 2 track mistakes.

Related, the Fred player option was a mistake. Bidding against yourself in a bad cap space year never makes sense and for a team that's been pretty conservative on the moves/signing front to shield themselves from risk (and getting bailed out on the Green mistake) it's one that's now going to limit their trading options. Should have been a team option and dare to take the MLE somewhere if it was even being offered.

The moment Houston traded for an aging KD...they are trying to win this season and next.

Winning more basketball games, sure. But they haven't looked to do Clippers style Paul George trades. Like I said, they're like the Warriors turning down Siakam for a mid lottery pick and stuff. They're fine playing 8 rookie contracts and watching KD retire.