Guitarsoup said:

---

---

I don't see it that way at all.

Houston peaked with Paul 2 years ago. The chance we get past either LA or even maybe Utah or GS is slim with 35-37 year old Paul. The contract got signed because it was promised to make the trade happen. We took two shots it, and it didn't work. Now you trade an aging Paul for a top 10-15 player (maybe higher, he's only a few seasons removed from an MVP. AD has never received a first place vote for MVP). Sure there is a very obvious question mark of how will he fit with Harden, but this is clearly an option that POTENTIALLY could lead to a title. My money is on it not, but it's 100x better than sitting on your hands.

Farmer1906 said:

---

Guitarsoup said:

---

---

I don't see it that way at all.

Houston peaked with Paul 2 years ago. The chance we get past either LA or even maybe Utah or GS is slim with 35-37 year old Paul. The contract got signed because it was promised to make the trade happen. We took two shots it, and it didn't work. Now you trade an aging Paul for a top 10-15 player (maybe higher, he's only a few seasons removed from an MVP. AD has never received a first place vote for MVP). Sure there is a very obvious question mark of how will he fit with Harden, but this is clearly an option that POTENTIALLY could lead to a title. My money is on it not, but it's 100x better than sitting on your hands.

---

I agree with all that. My biggest concern for Houston is how much more inefficient Westbrook has gotten.

Westbrook shot .208 from 3-10 feet last year. How is that possible?

He dropped from 10.4 FTA in his MVP year to 6.2 FTA last year and his FT% went from 85% to 66% over the same period. True Shooting from .554 to .501.

Seeing if Houston rejuvenates him will be very interesting.

That is a huge concern, but I think his willingness to play with Harden & this system will help his game get back on track. Maybe not MVP level, but enough.

We'll see. His three triple-double seasons seem to demonstrate that getting his numbers are about the most important thing to him. And he's never had good shot selection in his career.

In one year, Kawhi has altered the rosters of the spurs, raptors, lakers, clippers, thunder, and rockets.

He took a while to decide which made the lakers wait rather than signing FAs. He talked George into requesting a trade which then led to the thunder needing to trade both George and Westbrook. Rockets took advantage of that.

flashplayer said:

---

BlackLab said:

---

In one year, Kawhi has altered the rosters of the spurs, raptors, lakers, clippers, thunder, and rockets.

---

Giving him credit for the Lakers and Rockets is a bit much.

---

Kawhi's decision either directly or indirectly impacted the rosters of all those teams.

Guitarsoup said:

---

Pumpkinhead said:

---

Neither a die hard Spurs or Rockets fan, so don't have a dog really in that hunt. Have enjoyed watching either depending on the year.

Westbrook + Harden may work or may be a glorious disaster, but either way the reunion of those two top-12-ish players in the NBA on the Rockets this season will be a more fascinating & entertaining watch and story line Than the Spurs this season (unless you are a die hard Spurs fan).

---

As a diehard Spurs fan, they are boring AF as usual.

---

Agree, the Spurs don't have the top-end talent any more to be a contender, but their system with Pop is still solid enough they can still maybe grind through the dregs of the regular season to earn a 7-8 playoff seed, then bounced out in the first round. Middle of the pack, not good-not bad team who won't generate much national interest, the equivalent of the Pacers in the East. Once Pop retires, which presumably can't be too far off...you wonder whether they will then go ahead and try to be more aggressive in a rebuild.

Rockets on the other hand, may implode with two of the highest usage ball hogs in the league unable to effectively play together, or actually click enough to be a West contender. High possible ceiling, low possible floor. The high end talent is there, you got two guys who won regular season MVP's in the last 3 years, but lots of questions of whether it works. Either way, will be an interesting team to follow.

He needs something like the Fanatics jersey insurance

I don't know why anyone would buy jerseys these days. I bet they're going to start selling jerseys with just player's names on them here soon.

k20dub said:

---

I don't know why anyone would buy jerseys these days. I bet they're going to start selling jerseys with just player's names on them here soon.

---

BRB, going to go put together my shark tank pitch for jerseys with detachable/replaceable name plates

Reminds me of Gaylord Perry's jersey

Pumpkinhead said:

---

flashplayer said:

---

BlackLab said:

---

In one year, Kawhi has altered the rosters of the spurs, raptors, lakers, clippers, thunder, and rockets.

---

Giving him credit for the Lakers and Rockets is a bit much.

---

Kawhi's decision either directly or indirectly impacted the rosters of all those teams.

---

If Kawhi did that, then Lebron has altered the course of nearly every NBA franchise. Indirectly of course.

CFTXAG10 said:

---

k20dub said:

---

I don't know why anyone would buy jerseys these days. I bet they're going to start selling jerseys with just player's names on them here soon.

---

BRB, going to go put together my shark tank pitch for jerseys with detachable/replaceable name plates

---

You're thinking too small

Have to imagine they trade Steven Adams too and then tank, no?

Saint Pablo said:

---

Have to imagine they trade Steven Adams too and then tank, no?

---

Adams and Dennis Schroeder both have to be on the block. Other than rookie contracts, only guys with guaranteed money next year.

flashplayer said:

---

Pumpkinhead said:

---

flashplayer said:

---

BlackLab said:

---

In one year, Kawhi has altered the rosters of the spurs, raptors, lakers, clippers, thunder, and rockets.

---

Giving him credit for the Lakers and Rockets is a bit much.

---

Kawhi's decision either directly or indirectly impacted the rosters of all those teams.

---

If Kawhi did that, then Lebron has altered the course of nearly every NBA franchise. Indirectly of course.

---

Kawhi clearly learned from the master LeBron regarding the 'Superstar Player Empowerment' handbook.

The way he forced his way out of the Spurs, won a title in Toronto while the Raptors catered to his every 'load management' need, and then helped force George out of OKC under everyone's noses so that he could happily go to exactly where he has always wanted to (back home to Los Angeles) WHILE also giving LeBron himself the finger was a very impressive sequence of a player being a master puppeteer.

Normal rules used to be team drafts players, team has most of the control over player. Now, if you are a super star player like LeBron and Kawhi you can say 'No...I am going to play HERE with THIS other particular player(s) and I don't give a f*** what your contract says...this is how it is going to be'. And teams have to put up with it because those particular guys are such rare talents.

Olsen said:

---

---

Should flip him for Kevin Love.

So Nike cockblocked LeBron who was in the process of trading away his jersey number 23 to AD so now LeBron keeps the number 23 and AD will wear number 3 instead.

Not sure if I'm the only one, but it's weird to me when bigs wear single-digit jersey numbers. Especially the number 3. All I see is Iverson, Marbury, Franchise, etc.

Anthony Davis is a 20 at minimum.

Head Ninja In Charge said:

---

Not sure if I'm the only one, but it's weird to me when bigs wear single-digit jersey numbers. Especially the number 3. All I see is Iverson, Marbury, Franchise, etc.

Anthony Davis is a 20 at minimum.

---

As best I can tell, Bill Russell, Moses Malone (at various times), and Walt Bellamy are the only really prominent big men to ever wear single digit numbers.

Barkley

I don't get it.

azulAg said:

---

---