Yeah Harden and Westbrook are the two best players in the league that I hate watching. I really think that Simmons is such a great talent he's like Giannis if you just changed the fact that Giannis is stronger defensively and Simmons is stronger offensively. The team the Rockets would be putting around Simmons would be a lot like what Giannis has in Milwaukee. The West is more competitive than the East so I don't think Houston would beat out the Lakers but they would be in the running with the likes of us, Utah, Denver and even the Clippers for those 2-6 spots. The Simmons led team is better in my opinion than the team they would have with all of the depth the Nets are offering but maybe they can get another team to take all of that Nets talent for one or two big difference makers that they feel are better than what Simmons can bring.
How about a 3-way? (Would have to wait until after Melo can be traded...) Houston: Harden -> CJ + Seth Curry + Philly '21 pick + Blazers '24 Pick CJ & Seth provide great shooting for Houston. I'd REALLY like the team after this type of trade. Wall, CJ, House, Tucker, Wood Bench: Curry, Gordon, Brown, Green, Cousins Philly: Simmons + Curry + Milton + Philly '21 pick -> Harden + Melo Philly goes all in. It might work & it could absolutely implode... Either way, it'd be fun to watch. Harden, Thybulle, Green, Harris, Embiid Bench: Maxey, Korkmaz, Melo, Howard Portland: CJ + Melo + Blazers '24 Picks -> Simmons + Milton This is an obvious move for the Blazers. Look at this lineup! Dame, Trent, Simmons, RoCo, Nurk Bench: Milton, Hood, Jones, Giles, Zach
You're obviously right. The trade, with all of the shooting that Houston has on that roster, is obviously Harden for Simmons and filler. If Houston is trying to extract more from Philly they need to get real and if Philly is trying to get a first from Houston, Houston should do that... with the firsts they have to spare. Wall, Gordon, Simmons, Tucker, Wood, House, McLemore, Cousins, Brown and whoever they get as filler is a spectacular rotation that should compete for the 2-6 seed better than the current Rockets rotation. More importantly, Simmons and Wood is an amazing pairing to build on a little at a time for the teams future over the next six or so years which is more than most teams can plan out. I would actually get Wall some run if I were the Rockets and then try to trade him at the deadline for someone that fits better. Eventually Gordon, House, Simmons, a new PF or C with MLE or what they get for Wall and Wood is an excellent starting lineup... they would still have a solid chance at a good first rounder, the MLE or what they get for Wall and players they could re-sign to round out the rotation. Harden, Curry, Green, Harris, Embiid, Thybulle, Milton and Howard makes a lot more sense than Philly's current rotation. They will have intact Harden, Curry, Thybulle, Harris, Embiid, Milton and Maxey to build around for the next few seasons. I think that makes sense for them. I think it's a really good trade straight across but if either team would squeeze a little more out of it, that would be Philly because of Simmons youth but I think the two teams should stop posturing and just make the trade... Harden for Simmons and filler.
Why would Morey want to trade for Harden, when he plays and contributes on his own terms. Id think he'd be the last GM to go after Harden.
You're a bit behind on this. When Morey left Houston, he posted a full page ad saying that Harden was the best thing to ever happen to him.
This crap is gonna be stretch out until trade deadline. Soaking up headlines from otherwise more interesting events this season..... and I bet Hardon is gonna love every minute of it....
Morey wants him, he may just be posturing, trying to see what more he can get out of the Rockets. That being said I actually believe the story I read that Morey was willing to do Simmons and filler for Harden and the dumbass Rockets told him that wasn't enough. The puzzling thing is, why do the Rockets think Harden is more valuable than Simmons? Maybe you're right, the reporters have it reversed and Morey is the one asking for additional compensation but that is not what is being reported.
just about every season lately, there seems to be a super-star on the block during the season, or at the beginning of the off-season. PG13 - Butler - Kawhi - Westbrook - AD. Inevitably, the league gets trade constipation approaching the deadline, or signing constipation during the moratorium till it's clear where the super-star will end up. The first and biggest domino needs to move. Harden will probably be the blockage this season
