You are not going to get anyone in their prime with this package. But you might get a team to bite that has resigned themselves to rebuilding and that letting go of that one final piece only helps move that process along. Barton, McCollum, Leonard and Crabbe are decent young players with reasonable playing time might turn into something.
As a Rocket fan you are lucky he hasn't tainted your franchise yet. Fisher was a Rocket for all of about a day or so and we still lament that fact. Luckily he never wore the jersey.
Think you gotta look at luol deng, Kyle Lowry, spencer hawes, marcin gortat, and maybe look at a sign and trade for Greg Monroe.
A vet big is a must. Assuming we keep the team together, they need some guys with playoff experience then nothing but defensive players
Okafor is a guy I would consider, need to make sure is injury is healed but IMO he'd be a very good backup C
Need to aim higher than a very good backup C, we've already got a decent backup C who is unfortunately starting and playing big minutes.
Bench production is the main problem with this team. I want us to get a backup PF/C. Pau Gasol - I would offer the max MLE but he probably goes to Memphis or a team with cap room. Emeka Okafor - He would probably be my main target. I doubt anyone pays him more than the MLE and he could be a valuable addition like the Mavs buying low on an injured Tyson Chandler. Andray Blatche - He only makes 1.3 million this year, I think we could offer him more than Brooklyn. Spencer Hawes - He could be a good option for the MLE, but may earn far more money. He lacks the defense we'd idealy want out of a backup big. I think I'd rather try and get Okafor but if Hawes is available he would provide production off the bench and be able to take LaMarcus' spot in the offense as a jump shooting big. Jermaine O'Neal - Could be a great option as an end of the bench veteran big man although I wouldn't give him the MLE. Jordan Hill, Jason Smith, Boris Diaw are other big men I would show interest in. I think Mo will opt out of his contract, if he wants to resign in the $3 million range that is fine but I would not use the full MLE on him. I don't think anyone offers him more than $3 million. If he leaves I think CJ could fill much of his role. We should let Earl Watson become an assistant coach. If Mo goes to another team we will need to add another PG to the roster. I would see if Claver accepts a buy out, he will be in the final year of his contract and can earn the same money but have far more playing time oversees. We could use his roster spot. Are we going to extend Meyers Leonard rookie contract another year? We have to make a decision on that this summer. I would think we will decline just as we did with Nolan Smith. We should probably consider trading him to free up a roster spot if that is the case. I'd rather have a player like Jermaine Oneal who I'm confident with a 15mpg stretch than Meyers. So we only have one roster spot as is but could have as many as four if Neil does all of the above.
