Woj: Westbrook to Houston for CP3

[Joseph Kony]

1149474995996749825

[HarlemHeat37]

Damn, Russ to the worst team to watch in the league, so disappointing..

[slick'81]

Makes sense

[ironman2886]

How the fuck is that gonna work on the court?

[DC23]

Will be fun to see Westbrook and Harden play together but this doesn't change anything IMO. 6-8th seed and 1st round exit. Not totally convinced they can coexist unless Westbrook is willing to be a 18-21 PPG player.

[Mr. Body]

Chris Paul gets to end his career on a collapsing, dying team in the middle of nowhere. :lol

[Russ]

The NBA should just conduct all future drafts at the OKC headquarters . . .

[benefactor]

:lol...this is going to be a glorious train wreck

[dbreiden83080]

Lol.. Harden and Westbrook shooting 100 times a game..

[Joseph Kony]

Kinda surprised they couldn't get more for him, and Presti agreed to swap Russ for such a shitty contract. I really don't see Harden/Westbrook as an intimidating duo tbh. Neither of them do shit off the ball and both need to have the ball in their hands constantly

[Mr. Body]

Watch Paul get bought out and go to the Lakers. :lol

[timtonymanu]

:lmao Rockets
:lmao Thunder

[Mr. Body]

Kinda surprised they couldn't get more for him, and Presti agreed to swap Russ for such a shitty contract. I really don't see Harden/Westbrook as an intimidating duo tbh. Neither of them do shit off the ball and both need to have the ball in their hands constantly

I see them as worse with Westbrook than with Paul. Morey is just panicking.

[timtonymanu]

:lmao Rockets
:lmao Thunder

[dbreiden83080]

Chris Paul gets to end his career on a collapsing, dying team in the middle of nowhere. :lol

He deserves it. Bitches and Moans his whole career..

[Dennis the Menace]

Morey ball with Westbrook? LOL

[buttsR4rebounding]

I guarantee his usage rate will drop.

[timtonymanu]

He deserves it. Bitches and Moans his whole career..

[Ron Swanson]

:lmao

[ironman2886]

I see them as worse with Westbrook than with Paul. Morey is just panicking.

[Joseph Kony]

I guarantee his usage rate will drop.
playing next to the highest usage player in the nba? not really going out on a limb there guy

[spurraider21]

wow

[Canyonero]

No way CP plays with the trueno tbh

[Sydcamp]

I feel bad for CP3. He is so desperate for a ring and now has to end up on a team in rebuild mode. He should have stayed on the Clippers.

[DC23]

Austin Rivers no undoubtedly enjoying this.

[sammy]

Two ball hogs fighting over the ball! Both shooting bricks!

[SpurPadre]

LOL at those of you thinking this won't work out for Houston in a season the Dubs will not be favored.

[spurraider21]

presti going full hinkie... lets see if he gets fired early too

[Dancelot]

LOL cp3. Should’ve gone with the spurs when they were after you.

[Chinook]

Suggests Houston was shopping Paul hard if they're willing to give up potentially four firsts for a contract that's not much better. I wonder how different it would be if the Spurs had Paul on a $140M/4 deal or whatever it would have been right now. They'd be half-way through it, but it still would be really ugly, and obviously Leonard would have left anyway. Spurs might be a high-lottery team had PATFO gotten their wish in 2017.

[benefactor]

Lets just take Westbrook and put him in a system that encourages him to shoot more threes. That will work for sure.:lol

[LongtimeSpursFan]

I’m gonna miss them State Farm commercials.

[BatManu20]

Nice. This is a good thing.

[dbreiden83080]

And Paul is doing what? OKC can’t want him either.

[FkLA]

lol Rockets

I don't even think I'd take Westbrook over CP3 straight up and those idiots actually added two 1st Rders+2 pick swaps.

[dbreiden83080]

And Paul is doing what? OKC can’t want him either.

[John B]

If OKC was gonna do that, they could’ve kep PG. It would’ve been better CP3/PG/Adams.

How is WB sharing ball with Harden? :lmao

How many 1st rounds for Adams? Plus Mills, Belli

[Mr. Body]

And Paul is doing what? OKC can’t want him either.

Paul will get bought out and head to the LAL.

[TheGreatYacht]

No way broke ass OKC buys out CP3, right? Fuck the Lakers

[SpurPadre]

lol Rockets

I don't even think I'd take Westbrook over CP3 straight up and those idiots actually added two 1st Rders+2 pick swaps.

In the short term, the Rockets will make it work in a league where the Dubs are no longer the clear favorites.

[Dex]

Houston next year:

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/WellgroomedRadiantAkitainu-size_restricted.gif

[TD 21]

:lmao At the Rockets giving up 2 1sts and 2 pick swaps for probably a lateral move.

So now does Paul get traded to the Heat? Can't imagine he's not getting re-routed.

[apalisoc_9]

OKC will make the playoff now.

The thunder is setup for a player like paul.

[RD2191]

LOL at those of you thinking this won't work out for Houston in a season the Dubs will not be favored.

Tbh.

[Realdeal1]

Oklahoma fire sale continues.. who’s next Steven adams?

[Marcus Bryant]

:lol musical chairs, doesn't really solve anyone's problems.

[dbreiden83080]

Paul will get bought out and head to the LAL.

Buy out? He has like 120 mil
Left on the deal.

[703 Spurz]

Watch Paul get bought out and go to the Lakers. :lol

Exactly my thought as well. NBA is trash.

[timtonymanu]

I feel bad for CP3. He is so desperate for a ring and now has to end up on a team in rebuild mode. He should have stayed on the Clippers.

Nah the POS deserves it. Horrible teammate and bitches his way off of teams, though pretty much every nba star is like that now. But Paul has always been unlikable. Ever since that 2008 series.

[John B]

In the short term, the Rockets will make it work in a league where the Dubs are no longer the clear favorites.
With D’Antoni they might score 140 ppg like Nuggets circa 90’s

[Mr. Body]

Buy out? He has like 120 mil
Left on the deal.

Why keep him? Just go into the tank.

[Nivek_ogre]

Lol. Fuck Chris Paul. And how is this better for Houston?

[timtonymanu]

LOL at those of you thinking this won't work out for Houston in a season the Dubs will not be favored.

Harden and Paul couldn’t even work. One ball hog for another playing to Harden who needs the ball too. Doesn’t solve anything, tbh.

[timtonymanu]

LOL at those of you thinking this won't work out for Houston in a season the Dubs will not be favored.

Harden and Paul couldn’t even work. One ball hog for another playing to Harden who needs the ball too. Doesn’t solve anything, tbh.

[Ocotillo]

Spurs fan is ready to jump off a building because of Trey Lyles, imagine you are an OKC fan........

[Marcus Bryant]

Spurs fan is ready to jump off a building because of Trey Lyles, imagine you are an OKC fan........

:lol

[dbreiden83080]

Why keep him? Just go into the tank.

160 mil left. Last big contract. That would be 1 fucking huge buyout. Even half that..

[gambit1990]

rockets undoubtedly improved.

[gambit1990]

WB is now on a roster that has shooters / obviously younger and more athletic than cp3.

[Birn]

There's no way OKC does the deal with the expectation that CP3 plays for them. It'll be a surprise if he's not bought out.

If the Spurs still have a good chunk of the MLE left after signing Lyles, they can offer CP3 the most of any team in the league. I wouldn't mind CP3 at all. That would accelerate us having to move Beli to make room.

Do it RC!

[SpurPadre]

Harden and Paul couldn’t even work. One ball hog for another playing to Harden who needs the ball too. Doesn’t solve anything, tbh.

They would've been champs last year if Paul didn't go down. They weren't exactly scrubs and it's not like OKC were scrubs when they had Harden and Russ together.

[Nivek_ogre]

One shit contract for another. Not sure Houston got the better deal

[NASpurs]

:lol good thing we're not Houston

[Birn]

There's no way OKC does the deal with the expectation that CP3 plays for them. It'll be a surprise if he's not bought out.

If the Spurs still have a good chunk of the MLE left after signing Lyles, they can offer CP3 the most of any team in the league. I wouldn't mind CP3 at all. That would accelerate us having to move Beli to make room.

Do it RC!

[SpurPadre]

Harden and Paul couldn’t even work. One ball hog for another playing to Harden who needs the ball too. Doesn’t solve anything, tbh.

They would've been champs last year if Paul didn't go down. They weren't exactly scrubs and it's not like OKC were scrubs when they had Harden and Russ together.

[cjw]

Spurs fan is ready to jump off a building because of Trey Lyles, imagine you are an OKC fan........


:lol

So they basically got picks that they’ll have to pawn off to get rid of CP3’s deal. What they SHOULD do is move Gallo now for assets, move Adams with Gallo to get off his crappy deal, and then let CP3 train SGA. Then move him in a year when there are less bad years on the deal.

[Chinook]

I don't think OKC buys Paul out unless they can't get out of the tax any other way. They have the assets to move him for an okayish return. They probably can't get a net profit or even break even. But they may get off 50-70 percent of his money by adding in a first or two. They might even get back a worthwhile young player in the exchange.

I think we're safe from PATFO bringing him to the Spurs. With Gasol's money to combine with Mills, where would have been a chance. I don't think they see Paul as an upgrade of DeRozan, especially not enough to trade DeMar or LMA. MAYBE they could have done something around Mills, Bertans and Beli with another filler piece. But obviously, that ship sailed too. Still, if the Thunder can move Paul for any kind of return, that return may find its way to SA in some form. Any Miami deal will likely involve forwards like Winslow or Johnson

[GoSpurs99]

Both teams got worse! lol

How many picks has OKC accrued? 23? haha :blah

[NASpurs]

Is OKC blowing it up? Any way we can trade for Gallo?

[Ron Swanson]

:lmao

[timtonymanu]

They would've been champs last year if Paul didn't go down. They weren't exactly scrubs and it's not like OKC were scrubs when they had Harden and Russ together.

Westbrook is on the decline already and he doesn’t make teams better. He’s the ultimate stat padder. There’s a reason why KD left. Hell, Oladipo became an all star once he was traded from OKC. He will take away more shots from a team already relying on Hardens playmaking. I guess we will see how it turns out. Sure the west is wide open now. But this doesn’t exactly make Houston the favorite

[cjw]

lol Rockets

I don't even think I'd take Westbrook over CP3 straight up and those idiots actually added two 1st Rders+2 pick swaps.

This x100

[OldMan88]

Harden & Westbrook will average 80 ppg combined, but rest of team will never touch the ball.

[Chillen]

This has CP3 buyout and signs with Lakers or Clippers written all over it. No one is trading for CP3 but Presti will try and move Paul.

As for Houston this doesn't improve them much still will be a good regular season team and when playoffs start jack up 3's like it's going out of style.

Houston just wanted to get rid of CP3 and they are still stuck with a crappy contract.

[DAF86]

Are people really laughing at the Rockets and Thunder? :lol

Rockets got the only way to trade Paul away. And the Thunder, in exchange for Westbrook, got Chris Paul and 4 first round picks. Now compare that to what we got for Kawhi, the best fucking player in the entire World.

[Chillen]

Are people really laughing at the Rockets and Thunder? :lol

Rockets got the only way to trade Paul away. And the Thunder, in exchange for Westbrook, got Chris Paul and 4 first round picks. Now compare that to what we got for Kawhi, the best fucking player in the entire World.

Raptors were very fortunate that the stars aligned with Kawhi and they ringed. Spurs couldn't get much for Kawhi because he wasn't going to stay with the team that traded for him. Raptors gambled and lost but won if that makes any sense. He still went to an LA team. Kawhi had the Spurs in a strangle hold and they got what they could get even if we all know it should have been way better.

[paperboy77]

Lets just take Westbrook and put him in a system that encourages him to shoot more threes. That will work for sure.:lol

It will be an interesting experiment. Ultimately it'll be a great big disaster. :spin

[dbestpro]

Maybe they will move Paul for Wall.

[talkspurs]

I am thinking CP3 goes to Miami.
http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine and a first because we know OKC cant do a trade without receiving a first or 2.

[gambit1990]

always thought cp3 would get traded, bought out, and join the lakers...

but that was before the kawhi / PG thing... damn, clips would be so stacked with cp3... kawhi, PG, cp3, beverly, lou williams, landry shamet, montrezl harrell, jamychal green...

[benefactor]

Maybe they will move Paul for Wall.
https://i.makeagif.com/media/9-22-2015/7YMkv4.gif

[ironman2886]

PATFO need to be sliding into some teams DMs. Come on.

[timvp]

1. Presti had Durant, Harden, Westbrook all entering their primes ... and fumbled it away. Amazing failure.

2. I can't picture how Hardenball is going to work with Westbrook on the court. When Harden isos, the player who is defending Westbrook will just sag into the paint and dare Westbrook to win games with his historically bad jumper. At least when the ball is in Westbrook's hands, he's a threat. Take the ball away from him and he's a liability.

3. The picks price the Rockets paid doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It's not like they got out of CP3's contract -- they basically just swapped it for a slightly better contract. Houston's move would make sense if Westbrook >>>>>>>>>>> CP3 but, really, they're pretty close to even ... especially when you factor in fit next to Harden.

4. OKC has a ton of assets but they'll have to use some of those assets to get rid of CP3. I can't imagine that remains a pretty situation ... and there's too much money involved too far out into the future to cleanly buy him out.

5. Reading between the lines, the Rockets were told by Harden that CP3 had to GTFO. This was their best way to do that and still retain equal-ish value, I guess.

6. OKC has 8 first and 4 pick flips or whatever ....... but they'd trade it all for a young Durant or a young Harden. And they had them both. Plus Westbrook. Ouch.

[Big P]

Raptors were very fortunate that the stars aligned with Kawhi and they ringed. Spurs couldn't get much for Kawhi because he wasn't going to stay with the team that traded for him. Raptors gambled and lost but won if that makes any sense. He still went to an LA team. Kawhi had the Spurs in a strangle hold and they got what they could get even if we all know it should have been way better.

They could have traded him to the clips for Tobias Harris/ Avery Bradly and the 13/14 pick last year instead of trying to fuck him over and send him off to nowhere..he was going to end up in la anyway, why not get the best package possible.

[ducks]

Chris Paul gets to end his career on a collapsing, dying team in the middle of nowhere. :lol

Thunder trade him for more picks later

[ironman2886]

Jesus Christ, all the future picks that OKC has acquired will be used on dudes that haven’t even been born yet.

[Dex]

1. Presti had Durant, Harden, Westbrook all entering their primes ... and fumbled it away. Amazing failure.

2. I can't picture how Hardenball is going to work with Westbrook on the court. When Harden isos, the player who is defending Westbrook will just sag into the paint and dare Westbrook to win games with his historically bad jumper. At least when the ball is in Westbrook's hands, he's a threat. Take the ball away from him and he's a liability.

3. The picks price the Rockets paid doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It's not like they got out of CP3's contract -- they basically just swapped it for a slightly better contract. Houston's move would make sense if Westbrook >>>>>>>>>>> CP3 but, really, they're pretty close to even ... especially when you factor in fit next to Harden.

4. OKC has a ton of assets but they'll have to use some of those assets to get rid of CP3. I can't imagine that remains a pretty situation ... and there's too much money involved too far out into the future to cleanly buy him out.

5. Reading between the lines, the Rockets were told by Harden that CP3 had to GTFO. This was their best way to do that and still retain equal-ish value, I guess.

6. OKC has 8 first and 4 pick flips or whatever ....... but they'd trade it all for a young Durant or a young Harden. And they had them both. Plus Westbrook. Ouch.

https://media1.tenor.com/images/3880455b094802062bd1b769622ad2f9/tenor.gif?itemid=7842257

[Mugen]

If all of Oklahoma pooled their money together, they could maybe afford to buy out one month off CP3's contract tbh.

[UZER]

Will OKC fans still do the dumb stand til someone on their teams makes a shot? They’ll be standing for a while.

[RD2191]

Are people really laughing at the Rockets and Thunder? :lol

Rockets got the only way to trade Paul away. And the Thunder, in exchange for Westbrook, got Chris Paul and 4 first round picks. Now compare that to what we got for Kawhi, the best fucking player in the entire World.

86 dropping truth nukes tbh

[FkLA]

Are people really laughing at the Rockets and Thunder? :lol

Rockets got the only way to trade Paul away. And the Thunder, in exchange for Westbrook, got Chris Paul and 4 first round picks. Now compare that to what we got for Kawhi, the best fucking player in the entire World.

Come on, bro. You're a lot smarter than that.

[Chinook]

1. Presti had Durant, Harden, Westbrook all entering their primes ... and fumbled it away. Amazing failure.

2. I can't picture how Hardenball is going to work with Westbrook on the court. When Harden isos, the player who is defending Westbrook will just sag into the paint and dare Westbrook to win games with his historically bad jumper. At least when the ball is in Westbrook's hands, he's a threat. Take the ball away from him and he's a liability.

3. The picks price the Rockets paid doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It's not like they got out of CP3's contract -- they basically just swapped it for a slightly better contract. Houston's move would make sense if Westbrook >>>>>>>>>>> CP3 but, really, they're pretty close to even ... especially when you factor in fit next to Harden.

4. OKC has a ton of assets but they'll have to use some of those assets to get rid of CP3. I can't imagine that remains a pretty situation ... and there's too much money involved too far out into the future to cleanly buy him out.

5. Reading between the lines, the Rockets were told by Harden that CP3 had to GTFO. This was their best way to do that and still retain equal-ish value, I guess.

6. OKC has 8 first and 4 pick flips or whatever ....... but they'd trade it all for a young Durant or a young Harden. And they had them both. Plus Westbrook. Ouch.

Yeah, on RealGM, some are jacking Presti off for the trade, but eventually you gotta just win games. Hinkie also won every trade he did, but he wasn't a winning GM either. Players aren't trading cards. You can't just keep buying and dealing until something works out.

I'm thinking it'll be Paul, a first and a swap for a bad contract, a meh contract and a young player with okay value. Something like Paul, one of the Heat picks and a Houston swap for Olynik, Waiters and Winslow. Miami would have Dragic's expiring and some assets left to chase a third piece, and OKC would still have a good net-victory from the Westbrook trade. Hell, Winslow may get a first back in a trade by himself.

[Mugen]

Inherit Durant, draft 2 future MVPs, guys like Adams/Ibaka, get the most bullshit calls in the last 10 years...and absolutely nothing to show for it.

:lmao RefKC

[Trainwreck2100]

Why keep him? Just go into the tank.

because they'd have to give him 9 figures to go somewhere else. Buy outs aren't some magic tool, you still have to pay the player to leave.

[td4mvp2k]

morey :lmao

[Ron Swanson]

:lmao

[MaNu4Tres]

1. Presti had Durant, Harden, Westbrook all entering their primes ... and fumbled it away. Amazing failure.

2. I can't picture how Hardenball is going to work with Westbrook on the court. When Harden isos, the player who is defending Westbrook will just sag into the paint and dare Westbrook to win games with his historically bad jumper. At least when the ball is in Westbrook's hands, he's a threat. Take the ball away from him and he's a liability.

3. The picks price the Rockets paid doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It's not like they got out of CP3's contract -- they basically just swapped it for a slightly better contract. Houston's move would make sense if Westbrook >>>>>>>>>>> CP3 but, really, they're pretty close to even ... especially when you factor in fit next to Harden.

4. OKC has a ton of assets but they'll have to use some of those assets to get rid of CP3. I can't imagine that remains a pretty situation ... and there's too much money involved too far out into the future to cleanly buy him out.

5. Reading between the lines, the Rockets were told by Harden that CP3 had to GTFO. This was their best way to do that and still retain equal-ish value, I guess.

6. OKC has 8 first and 4 pick flips or whatever ....... but they'd trade it all for a young Durant or a young Harden. And they had them both. Plus Westbrook. Ouch.

To be fair, OKC was dealt a lot of tough hands with injuries. Let's not forget the runs they played without KD, Westbrook, and Ibaka for the first 2 games vs. SA.

And OKC got likely 4 lottery picks( 2 1sts and 2 pick swaps) since Harden will be on the decline.

Presti does deserve blame for paying Perkins and letting Harden go. But yeah, OKC had tough breaks those runs with KD, Westbrook.

[slick'81]

86 dropping truth nukes tbh


When in doubt make fun of laker or rockets tbh

[MaNu4Tres]

1. Presti had Durant, Harden, Westbrook all entering their primes ... and fumbled it away. Amazing failure.

2. I can't picture how Hardenball is going to work with Westbrook on the court. When Harden isos, the player who is defending Westbrook will just sag into the paint and dare Westbrook to win games with his historically bad jumper. At least when the ball is in Westbrook's hands, he's a threat. Take the ball away from him and he's a liability.

3. The picks price the Rockets paid doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It's not like they got out of CP3's contract -- they basically just swapped it for a slightly better contract. Houston's move would make sense if Westbrook >>>>>>>>>>> CP3 but, really, they're pretty close to even ... especially when you factor in fit next to Harden.

4. OKC has a ton of assets but they'll have to use some of those assets to get rid of CP3. I can't imagine that remains a pretty situation ... and there's too much money involved too far out into the future to cleanly buy him out.

5. Reading between the lines, the Rockets were told by Harden that CP3 had to GTFO. This was their best way to do that and still retain equal-ish value, I guess.

6. OKC has 8 first and 4 pick flips or whatever ....... but they'd trade it all for a young Durant or a young Harden. And they had them both. Plus Westbrook. Ouch.

To be fair, OKC was dealt a lot of tough hands with injuries. Let's not forget the runs they played without KD, Westbrook, and Ibaka for the first 2 games vs. SA.

And OKC got likely 4 lottery picks( 2 1sts and 2 pick swaps) since Harden will be on the decline.

Presti does deserve blame for paying Perkins and letting Harden go. But yeah, OKC had tough breaks those runs with KD, Westbrook.

[paperboy77]

WB is now on a roster that has shooters / obviously younger and more athletic than cp3.

Yeah that sounds logical but it's going to require WB to fundamentally change his game. Good for Houston if that happens or if Harden fundamentally changes his game... then it may work. I just doubt it. Nothing about those two players tells us they can change.

MAGA!

[DAF86]

Come on, bro. You're a lot smarter than that.

I still can't get over the fact that we traded the best player in the World for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and Keldon Johnson. And, in top of that, we had to pay 5 millions over it.

And anyone saying we couldn't have done better, just shut the fuck up.

[3&D_TBH]

Chris Paul gets to end his career on a collapsing, dying team in the middle of nowhere. :lol :lol

[poopbox]

Suggests Houston was shopping Paul hard if they're willing to give up potentially four firsts for a contract that's not much better. I wonder how different it would be if the Spurs had Paul on a $140M/4 deal or whatever it would have been right now. They'd be half-way through it, but it still would be really ugly, and obviously Leonard would have left anyway. Spurs might be a high-lottery team had PATFO gotten their wish in 2017.

Can you imagine a world where we don't have Murray or White...or they are both rotting on the bench since we have to play chris paul and justify his contract?

Yikes...

[slick'81]

I still can't get over the fact that we traded the best player in the World for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and Keldon Johnson. And, in top of that, we had to pay 5 millions over it.

And anyone saying we couldn't have done better, just shut the fuck up.


Some here say lac offered nothing and that was all...ok ill stop

[99 Problems]

Wot platform is CP0 train leaving from? Was going to wish him all the best out there in case never seen again.

[tbdog]

Gali would be perfect for us. Unfortunately a Mills and Beli deal would almost certainly require a pick and they have too many picks.

[EricB]

I still can't get over the fact that we traded the best player in the World for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and Keldon Johnson. And, in top of that, we had to pay 5 millions over it.

And anyone saying we couldn't have done better, just shut the fuck up.


That was the best deal available. So, just deal with it.

[tbdog]

And LAL will get him for free, ffs.

[mo7888]

Yeah, on RealGM, some are jacking Presti off for the trade, but eventually you gotta just win games. Hinkie also won every trade he did, but he wasn't a winning GM either. Players aren't trading cards. You can't just keep buying and dealing until something works out.

I'm thinking it'll be Paul, a first and a swap for a bad contract, a meh contract and a young player with okay value. Something like Paul, one of the Heat picks and a Houston swap for Olynik, Waiters and Winslow. Miami would have Dragic's expiring and some assets left to chase a third piece, and OKC would still have a good net-victory from the Westbrook trade. Hell, Winslow may get a first back in a trade by himself.

I'd give a 1st for Winslow right now

[Chachachango]

Lol how there only one ball for the two. I can see them fighting over the ball during a game. Going to be fun.

[kobyz]

Nice gamble for Houston

[weebo]

Watch Paul get bought out and go to the Lakers. :lol

[Nivek_ogre]

They could have traded him to the clips for Tobias Harris/ Avery Bradly and the 13/14 pick last year instead of trying to fuck him over and send him off to nowhere..he was going to end up in la anyway, why not get the best package possible.

Why the fuck would we want Tobias Harris and avery Bradley?

[FkLA]

I still can't get over the fact that we traded the best player in the World for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and Keldon Johnson. And, in top of that, we had to pay 5 millions over it.

And anyone saying we couldn't have done better, just shut the fuck up.


Yeah, we got pennies on the dollar but was it because PATFO was stupid or because that's what the circumstances dictated? Was Tobias Harris (another fake star who just got a massive contract) plus two picks really that much better? That would've been pennies on the dollar too.

My issue with your post though was acting like this was a win-win for HOU and OKC front offices and like those front offices are better than PATFO. That's the type of conclusions I'd expect dumb dumbs on this site to come up with but you're a good poster.

[rjv]

Lmao at state farm commercial with the beard and CP3 while details of trade are at the bottom of the screen.

[Big P]

Why the fuck would we want Tobias Harris and avery Bradley?

Because now we have demar...if they did not work out, we could have let them walk and have some real capspace to sign a real fa and have the 13/14 pick...it's a no brainer the clipps trade was the better way to go but patfo are too full of themselves to trade with an la team or trade kl to where he wanted to go.

[Marcus Bryant]

Typical NBA Offseason

✔ Rockets make big splashy trade for player past his prime.
✔ Thunder make big trade and end up with multiple picks.
✔ Neither improves.

[vy65]

Really curious to see all the FAs that are going to choose SA in 2021, especially if Pop is gone.

[Marcus Bryant]

Yeah, we got pennies on the dollar but was it because PATFO was stupid or because that's what the circumstances dictated? Was Tobias Harris (another fake star who just got a massive contract) plus two picks really that much better? That would've been pennies on the dollar too.

My issue with your post though was acting like this was a win-win for HOU and OKC front offices and like those front offices are better than PATFO. That's the type of conclusions I'd expect dumb dumbs on this site to come up with but you're a good poster.

:tu Indeed. The legend of that rumored Clippers' offer grows by the day when it was at best marginally better. But then you'd have to resign Tobias Harris to a nine figure contract. :lol

[offset formation]

I’m gonna miss them State Farm commercials.

Klutch...NO!

[ducks]

Conversation

Adrian Wojnarowski
@wojespn
I left out Thunder's Jerami Grant deal with Denver: OKC has acquired EIGHT first-round picks since draft night: 2020: Denver (1-10), 2021: Miami; 2022: LAC; 2023: Miami (1-14), 2024: LAC; 2024: Houston (1-14); 2026: LAC; 2026: Houston (1-4).

[ZeusWillJudge]

And the 26th pick goes to... Houston
And the 27th pick goes to... Houston.
And the 28th pick goes to... Houston.
And the 29th pick goes to... San Antonio.


We'll always have 29.

[FkLA]

:tu Indeed. The legend of that rumored Clippers' offer grows by the day when it was at best marginally better. But then you'd have to resign Tobias Harris to a nine figure contract. :lol

If that LAC offer would have been accepted and Harris is resigned, the reaction today would be something along the lines of:

"As if giving Kawhi exactly what he wanted wasn't bad enough, we also signed a fringe all-star to the worst contract in the NBA." :madrun


If Harris was let go, it'd be:

"PATFO gave Kawhi exactly what he wanted and only got two first rounders in return." :madrun

[Biggems]

RC gets absolutely lambasted on this sight, but he sure as Hell has scoreboard on Presti and Morey. RC makes his fair share of mistakes, but at least he is fiscally responsible for the most part. Also, he has 5 O'Briens in his trophy case, the other 2 have combined to provide 0 for their franchises.

[Nivek_ogre]

Because now we have demar...if they did not work out, we could have let them walk and have some real capspace to sign a real fa and have the 13/14 pick...it's a no brainer the clipps trade was the better way to go but patfo are too full of themselves to trade with an la team or trade kl to where he wanted to go.

People undervalue derozan. He's not ideal but he's definitely not Tobias Harris awful. And let's not pretend we would sign anyone of any value with cap space.

[cjw]

Glad this Westbrook thing is finally done and it becoming next to impossible for Spurs to get Russ or Paul.

I’ll take Murray, White or Walker over either of them going forward. And we have all three.

[CGD]

CP3 gets flipped to MIA in 3...2...1

[Marcus Bryant]

If that LAC offer would have been accepted and Harris is resigned, the reaction today would be something along the lines of:

"As if giving Kawhi exactly what he wanted wasn't bad enough, we also signed a fringe all-star to the worst contract in the NBA." :madrun


If Harris was let go, it'd be:

"PATFO gave Kawhi exactly what he wanted and only got two first rounders in return." :madrun


:lol Harris' total contract, guaranteed, was $180 million. F that.

[Marcus Bryant]

RC gets absolutely lambasted on this sight, but he sure as Hell has scoreboard on Presti and Morey. RC makes his fair share of mistakes, but at least he is fiscally responsible for the most part. Also, he has 5 O'Briens in his trophy case, the other 2 have combined to provide 0 for their franchises.

People just want to bitch. The ideal team for some in here would be the Knicks.

[Ron Swanson]

:lmao

[NameLess Scrub]

In before State Farm ads with Westbrook breaking a window with one his bricks.

Oscar: " I can help with that"

[Light]

Because now we have demar...if they did not work out, we could have let them walk and have some real capspace to sign a real fa and have the 13/14 pick...it's a no brainer the clipps trade was the better way to go but patfo are too full of themselves to trade with an la team or trade kl to where he wanted to go.

Say things played out like you said, which free agent SG/SF could we have realistically gotten this summer to where we'd be in a better position going into next season?

[cool cat]

So when our children ask "what happened to CP3"?

It won't be a complete lie to tell them we sent him off to a farm where he can be happy. But in truth he was sent there to die in peace.

[timvp]

So when our children ask "what happened to CP3"?

It won't be a complete lie to tell them we sent him off to a farm where he can be happy. But in truth he was sent there to die in peace.

It's like that Lil Dicky track "Russell Westbrook on a Farm" but backwards :lol

[ducks]

Adrian Wojnarowski
@wojespn
·
22m
Houston hoped to find third-team destination preferable to Chris Paul, but ultimately leaves it OKC to execute next step once Presti confers w/ CP3 agent Leon Rose. Miami remains possibility for Paul (3 years, $124M) -- and OKC obviously has picks to incentivize deal, if needed.

[apalisoc_9]

Adrian Wojnarowski
@wojespn
·
22m
Houston hoped to find third-team destination preferable to Chris Paul, but ultimately leaves it OKC to execute next step once Presti confers w/ CP3 agent Leon Rose. Miami remains possibility for Paul (3 years, $124M) -- and OKC obviously has picks to incentivize deal, if needed.

Lol at thinking paul wont get traded.

Sam Amick :lmao

Paul is likely heading to Miami so everyone in OKC is gonna be tradable

[GreekSpursfan]

So when our children ask "what happened to CP3"?

It won't be a complete lie to tell them we sent him off to a farm where he can be happy. But in truth he was sent there to die in peace.

While making 124m on a tanking team, easiest money ever. I would like to metaphorically die like that too. Yeah they will try to trade him to the Heat probably but still...

[Dverde]

Lol at thinking paul wont get traded.

Sam Amick :lmao

Paul is likely heading to Miami so everyone in OKC is gonna be tradable

I say he’ll be sent to Minnesota for Teague, Wiggins, shit load of picks. OKC getting picks left and right.

[Marcus Bryant]

Say things played out like you said, which free agent SG/SF could we have realistically gotten this summer to where we'd be in a better position going into next season?

Ah, the front office hater conundrum. Now we get to hear how the front office which can't ever recruit free agents in another thread now is magically able to in this thread.

[gilmor]

So in retrospect Parker >> CP3 >> Russ..

[poopbox]

Once Paul gets traded for more picks they probably going to have to make a okc you can't have more than X amount of picks in X amount of years...

Somewhere Hinkie is looking at his phone smiling...

[CGD]

Adrian Wojnarowski
@wojespn
·
22m
Houston hoped to find third-team destination preferable to Chris Paul, but ultimately leaves it OKC to execute next step once Presti confers w/ CP3 agent Leon Rose. Miami remains possibility for Paul (3 years, $124M) -- and OKC obviously has picks to incentivize deal, if needed.

I still think the Spurs are a 3rd team to watch in an OKC-MIA deal. Now deal will strictly be salary dump and MIA must send out 38M with only a handful of combinations to do it.

[mo7888]

I still think the Spurs are a 3rd team to watch in an OKC-MIA deal. Now deal will strictly be salary dump and MIA must send out 38M with only a handful of combinations to do it.

Let's get Winslow out of that deal...

[John B]

This is terrible for OKC... could lose to Seattle tbh

[Seventyniner]

Once Paul gets traded for more picks they probably going to have to make a okc you can't have more than X amount of picks in X amount of years...

Somewhere Hinkie is looking at his phone smiling...

I think this is self-correcting. A team could have 10 first-rounders in a single draft but would never be able to keep all of them. And even if they tried, imagine 4 years later when all of them are up for extensions. Most of OC's extra firsts are years out and they still make for great assets in deals.

[CGD]

Let's get Winslow out of that deal...

Yes please.

MIA—> Paul
OKC—> Dragics 20M expiring, Bryn, Belli
SAS —> Winslow

Picks from OKC to MIA to facilitate deal both to (1) entice MIA taking on cp3 risky deal and include Winslow, and (2) recruit spurs to help them save 13M this year.

[mo7888]

Yes please.

MIA—> Paul
OKC—> Dragics 20M expiring, Bryn, Belli
SAS —> Winslow

Picks from OKC to MIA to facilitate deal both to (1) entice MIA taking on cp3 risky deal and include Winslow, and (2) recruit spurs to help them save 13M this year.

Even if we have to include a 1st to Miami to get it done I'm down with it.

[CGD]

I think this is self-correcting. A team could have 10 first-rounders in a single draft but would never be able to keep all of them. And even if they tried, imagine 4 years later when all of them are up for extensions. Most of OC's extra firsts are years out and they still make for great assets in deals.

Yup, see Boston. At some point the long jam makes them less valuable to the holder by default.

[MannyIsGod]

This straight up makes the Rockets worse. Its insane that they gave up maybe up to 4 picks for a player that is going to be worse in their system and also has a longer contract.

I know they love to make moves, but this one is absolutely atrocious for them. I don't understand it. Paul and Harden must have really hated each other.

[EricB]

This will end up being the death blow to Morey. He’s already the laughingstock around the league for the Paul contract.

[Capt Bringdown]

Epic move by the Rockets.
Westbrook is a huge upgrade over CP3.
Biggest move since monsieur Drexler came back to town.

[Budkin]

The Houston Wreck-ettes

[Biggems]

Dammit, now I need to go research Winslow.......

[EricB]

Epic move by the Rockets.
Westbrook is a huge upgrade over CP3.
Biggest move since monsieur Drexler came back to town.

Lmfao you would like that trade.

[gambit1990]

great trade for the rockets... they've solidified themselves as the 2nd best team in the west. #1 if kawhi goes down.

[MannyIsGod]

Epic move by the Rockets.
Westbrook is a huge upgrade over CP3.
Biggest move since monsieur Drexler came back to town.

Westbrook numbers are only better because of his insane usage. Paul was more efficient With Harden on the team, you want more efficient. For the money I'd want neither. Rockets are fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucked and are going to be fucked for a long time with no picks.

[gambit1990]

okc isn't done... i really wanna know where cp3 and adams end up... maybe gallo even gets moved.

okc can go young, tank, get high picks this season and the season after that... in addition to all the picks they already have.

[gambit1990]

but yeah, total and utter failure for okc to have had westbrook, harden, durant... and end up this way :lol

[Biggems]

Winslow seems to have a nice all around game. He fills up the stat sheet. However, he is very underwhelming at the FT line. IMO, no wing player should ever shoot less than 75% from the line, and he is in the high 60s. Actually, I feel all PG, SG, and SF should hit 80 or above at the line at the NBA level. Still, his size and all around game is intriguing. I would hate to lose Forbes though, his passion, hustle, and fearless play during the playoffs grew on me. He has a feisty bulldog mentality.

[Nivek_ogre]

great trade for the rockets... they've solidified themselves as the 2nd best team in the west. #1 if kawhi goes down.

Fuck no. Westbrook had arguably a more complete player next to him the past few years (Durant, George) and did nothing. Now he's on the decline with probably the most ball dominant player in the league. The 2017 - 18 rockets were deadly in the playoffs because they switched back and forth between harden isos and Paul being a playmaker.

[exstatic]

because they'd have to give him 9 figures to go somewhere else. Buy outs aren't some magic tool, you still have to pay the player to leave.

Psssst. The buyout Money stays on your cap for as long as the contract lasts.

[gambit1990]

Westbrook had arguably a more complete player next to him the past few years (Durant, George) and did nothing.
agree.

The 2017 - 18 rockets were deadly in the playoffs because they switched back and forth between harden isos and Paul being a playmaker.
true. but the reason why the rockets are in a great spot now is because westbrook has 3 point shooters. he didn't have that in okc. he can collapse the defense and kick the ball out to wide open harden, gordon, tucker.

not nearly as good of a playmaker as cp3 but can still lob it to capela.

[Big P]

Winslow seems to have a nice all around game. He fills up the stat sheet. However, he is very underwhelming at the FT line. IMO, no wing player should ever shoot less than 75% from the line, and he is in the high 60s. Actually, I feel all PG, SG, and SF should hit 80 or above at the line at the NBA level. Still, his size and all around game is intriguing. I would hate to lose Forbes though, his passion, hustle, and fearless play during the playoffs grew on me. He has a feisty bulldog mentality.

We are not getting Winslow for Beli and Forbes, just not gonna happen..OKC and MIA would cut the Spurs out, OKC would just take Winslow for themselves.

[gambit1990]

harden wasn't going to adjust his game like cp3 wanted (he should have) so rockets shipped out cp3 for WB. if you think WB is on the decline, uh, not nearly as much as cp3.

[Biggems]

We are not getting Winslow for Beli and Forbes, just not gonna happen..OKC and MIA would cut the Spurs out, OKC would just take Winslow for themselves.

Of course we aren't, but it still doesn't mean that discussing the scenario is off limits

[Payote75]

I don't understand this trade. Literally makes no sense. Forgetting fit for the rockets I just don't get how OKC would take on a worse contract for a way worse player. I don't care how selfish a player Westbrook is the fact he can average a triple double with the athletes in this league is still an impressive feat. That being said Presti what??????? Not advocating either way but your telling me the Spurs offering derozan and picks could of gotten Westbrook? Why wouldn't OKC do that then if it was ever offered???? Saving a franchise like over 100 million over the long haul and then opening up tons of cap space in two years maybe one if derozan opts out. All that aside how do you take Chris Paul he is washed up and his contract is even worse due to his deterioration and age. I am literally in shock. Sometimes I think there is more shady shit that goes on behind the scenes than even we can drum up. This for real makes no sense value wise money wise ownership wise ticket sale wise everything wise. WOWWWWWW!!!!!

[MannyIsGod]

I don't understand this trade. Literally makes no sense. Forgetting fit for the rockets I just don't get how OKC would take on a worse contract for a way worse player. I don't care how selfish a player Westbrook is the fact he can average a triple double with the athletes in this league is still an impressive feat. That being said Presti what??????? Not advocating either way but your telling me the Spurs offering derozan and picks could of gotten Westbrook? Why wouldn't OKC do that then if it was ever offered???? Saving a franchise like over 100 million over the long haul and then opening up tons of cap space in two years maybe one if derozan opts out. All that aside how do you take Chris Paul he is washed up and his contract is even worse due to his deterioration and age. I am literally in shock. Sometimes I think there is more shady shit that goes on behind the scenes than even we can drum up. This for real makes no sense value wise money wise ownership wise ticket sale wise everything wise. WOWWWWWW!!!!!

It makes great sense for OKC because they get 2 picks and 2 pick swaps plus they can still move Paul for more assets

[cjw]

I don't understand this trade. Literally makes no sense. Forgetting fit for the rockets I just don't get how OKC would take on a worse contract for a way worse player. I don't care how selfish a player Westbrook is the fact he can average a triple double with the athletes in this league is still an impressive feat. That being said Presti what??????? Not advocating either way but your telling me the Spurs offering derozan and picks could of gotten Westbrook? Why wouldn't OKC do that then if it was ever offered???? Saving a franchise like over 100 million over the long haul and then opening up tons of cap space in two years maybe one if derozan opts out. All that aside how do you take Chris Paul he is washed up and his contract is even worse due to his deterioration and age. I am literally in shock. Sometimes I think there is more shady shit that goes on behind the scenes than even we can drum up. This for real makes no sense value wise money wise ownership wise ticket sale wise everything wise. WOWWWWWW!!!!!

No smart GM wants Westbrook. The Rockets just saw him as a get out of jail free card. He’s a horrible shooter and as soon as his athleticism goes, he’s going to be unplayable.

The Thunder did the deal to (1) do right by Russ, (2) get two picks and two pick swaps when the Rockets likely will no longer be picking in the late 20s, and (3) have a better player fit next to their young core if they keep him. But more likely they attach the Miami pick to CP3 and get back a platter of a contract, a vet and a young guy.

[Payote75]

It makes great sense for OKC because they get 2 picks and 2 pick swaps plus they can still move Paul for more assets

Not really cause even if Houston get 4 years out of Westbrook how bad will they be? And as far as OKC that contract is even worse to move and if Westbrooks contract was hard to move and the best you could do was a washed up Paul who would trade for Paul for that money????? Look at age and diminished skill set they basically took on a worse contract due to age and eroding skills an over all much worse player at this stage for what???? What ever they get for Paul if they can get a bag of wristbands they should of gotten more for Westbrook. I have to totally and emphatically disagree this is a pure head scratcher. Watch the Spurs trade for Paul if that happens I would jump off a bridge.

[cutewizard]

rigodon galore

[cutewizard]

just eat humbergers guys, and watch all these trades go pppfffttt

[cutewizard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0IFe2YUx00

[tbdog]

Not really cause even if Houston get 4 years out of Westbrook how bad will they be? And as far as OKC that contract is even worse to move and if Westbrooks contract was hard to move and the best you could do was a washed up Paul who would trade for Paul for that money????? Look at age and diminished skill set they basically took on a worse contract due to age and eroding skills an over all much worse player at this stage for what???? What ever they get for Paul if they can get a bag of wristbands they should of gotten more for Westbrook. I have to totally and emphatically disagree this is a pure head scratcher. Watch the Spurs trade for Paul if that happens I would jump off a bridge.

Every year that goes on will make CP easier to move. I can see that the idea is that can package picks to move him, and they'll have a better idea on value next draft. Prestie is betting on his drafting. I think he is overrated at end of the draft picks which is what Clippers and Rockets picks will be.

[Ignazzz]

Whats about D fense with Harden and RW?
awfull fit for Rockets and 2024 2026 pick and swapa can be very solid ( Harden after prime)

[monty4329]

Are people really laughing at the Rockets and Thunder? :lol

Rockets got the only way to trade Paul away. And the Thunder, in exchange for Westbrook, got Chris Paul and 4 first round picks. Now compare that to what we got for Kawhi, the best fucking player in the entire World.

That

[venitian navigator]

like Westbrook before him, Paul makes a lot of sense for Detroit...back with his old friend Griffin?

[rascal]

Great trade for Houston.

[Gervin44Silas13]

Houston just got Cancer....there is gonna be no Chemo to cure this one!!!!:lmao

[Dirks_Finale]

Chris Paul gets to end his career on a collapsing, dying team in the middle of nowhere. :lol:lol

[Dr. John R. Brinkley]

I guess I’m impressed Presti pulled that off. Westbrook’s contract was worse than CP3’s. At least OKC is rebuilding. Morey is begging to get fired, I guess.

[Kerr]

Morey definitely got the better part out of this deal. Remember, RW is younger than CP3 and also has more value on the market. Those picks HOU gave up are all late picks and there are not many superstar FAs willing to sign in a place like Oklahoma. POS Presti should be fired for this shit he has pulled - they had KD, Harden, RW, Oladipo, Ibaka, Sabonis etc and achieved nothing. The amount of picks OKC now has looks good on paper, but it's not a fantasy. Phila has not achieved anything apart from one EC Finals appearance, despite having multiple no 1 and top 10 picks and they have been rebuilding how long - 6-7 years?

The pressure to get rid of CP3 is solely on OKC, because there are very few teams in the league who would give up some assets to acquire him. No way Heat is giving up Hierro or Adebayo. Maybe Johnson, Winslow or Dragic if they wanna get Wade out of retirement and put 3/4 of the brotherhood with CP3 and Melo on the floor for a 4-8 seed in the East. That will probably help to fill the arena as well.
,

[HarlemHeat37]

like Westbrook before him, Paul makes a lot of sense for Detroit...back with his old friend Griffin?

I'd bet that Blake hates Paul more than anybody:lol

[RC_Drunkford]

the Rockets didn't improve with this move. Westbrook can't shoot and Harden won't move without the ball. They will probably just be worse from 3 while everything else remains the same

[YGWHI]

LOL at those of you thinking this won't work out for Houston in a season the Dubs will not be favored.
In regular season? Sure. It will work. In playoffs? D'Antoni-Harden-Russ...Nah. They're three of the biggest playoffs chokers in the league.

[Payote75]

Yea the rockets are better today much better than they were yesterday. And yes draft picks are huge but they can just be air if they don't pan out. My issue is the player they got back. If I were an owner maybe a Derozan-esque type of contract and player where I save over 100 million get an asset to trade that contrary belief has more value than Paul lol and worm draft picks as well. All while save a shit ton of money and maybe keeping ticket sales alive. If I had to take a contract on like that honestly I know he is scum to trade with but just an example of rather take a Gordon Hayward from Ainge and yes I know they have kembra just an example bit if I'm not going to save the 100 million I'd roll the dice on someone who could be part of my rebuild or a derozan type playe/contract. Just doesn't seem like a real trade seems like a fantasy trade.

[Uriel]

:lol at people saying this is a lateral move.

Chris Paul was damaged goods that could barely be counted on to last a full playoff run. Westbrook is a massive upgrade just by virtue of the fact that he can be counted on to stay healthy.

[Mugen]

Wonder if Milwaukee has the contracts to match Paul. I could see them making a move tbh.

[Extra Stout]

I guess Houston had to do “something” since they were at a dead end.

But we’ve already seen the ceiling of teams with Russell Westbrook. Last year, he already began showing the first signs of athletic decline. Normally, with a 30-year-old, the wisdom gained from experience more than offsets the coming off the athletic peak, but he’s never had much going on between the ears.

What Rockets fans can look forward to is a second-round elimination game in which James Harden is on fire through three quarters, but then Westbrook hogs the ball the entire fourth quarter shooting airballs and turning the ball over, and the Rockets blow a lead and lose.

As he ages, he’ll be “Bad Russ” more and more, with only flashes of “Good Russ.”

[exstatic]

I guess Houston had to do “something” since they were at a dead end.

But we’ve already seen the ceiling of teams with Russell Westbrook. Last year, he already began showing the first signs of athletic decline. Normally, with a 30-year-old, the wisdom gained from experience more than offsets the coming off the athletic peak, but he’s never had much going on between the ears.

What Rockets fans can look forward to is a second-round elimination game in which James Harden is on fire through three quarters, but then Westbrook hogs the ball the entire fourth quarter shooting airballs and turning the ball over, and the Rockets blow a lead and lose.

As he ages, he’ll be “Bad Russ” more and more, with only flashes of “Good Russ.”

As he ages, he'll become DWade, who went from All Star to borderline starter in a season, or season and a half. Degenerative knees are a bitch, and RW has had like 4-5 surgeries and cleanouts on just the one knee.

[Marcus Bryant]

I guess Houston had to do “something” since they were at a dead end.

But we’ve already seen the ceiling of teams with Russell Westbrook. Last year, he already began showing the first signs of athletic decline. Normally, with a 30-year-old, the wisdom gained from experience more than offsets the coming off the athletic peak, but he’s never had much going on between the ears.

What Rockets fans can look forward to is a second-round elimination game in which James Harden is on fire through three quarters, but then Westbrook hogs the ball the entire fourth quarter shooting airballs and turning the ball over, and the Rockets blow a lead and lose.

As he ages, he’ll be “Bad Russ” more and more, with only flashes of “Good Russ.”

Couldn't happen to a better fanbase. :hat

[baseline bum]

LOL cp3. Should’ve gone with the spurs when they were after you.

Thank fucking god he didn't.

[Dex]

D'Antoni's Gameplan:
1) Harden stepback 3
2) Harden flop
3) Harden dribble-dribble-pass to Russ for a 29% 3-pt attempt

[exstatic]

Thank fucking god he didn't.

He was never coming here, because he knows that our FO is too smart to tie up $160M/4yrs in a chronically injured 30-something player.

[Mr. Body]

I guess Houston had to do “something” since they were at a dead end.

But we’ve already seen the ceiling of teams with Russell Westbrook. Last year, he already began showing the first signs of athletic decline. Normally, with a 30-year-old, the wisdom gained from experience more than offsets the coming off the athletic peak, but he’s never had much going on between the ears.

What Rockets fans can look forward to is a second-round elimination game in which James Harden is on fire through three quarters, but then Westbrook hogs the ball the entire fourth quarter shooting airballs and turning the ball over, and the Rockets blow a lead and lose.

As he ages, he’ll be “Bad Russ” more and more, with only flashes of “Good Russ.”

Harden is already one of the worst clutch performers I've seen in a long time, maybe worse than Karl Malone. His sequences at the end of the Golden State series this season were atrocious. He even lazily inbounded a ball directly to Golden State when possessions were vital. He's a tremendously stupid individual.

Watching him and Westbrook crap the bed down the stretch of important games will be amazing to see. Which one will be worse? Which one will invent new ways of screwing their teams? Paul, for all his faults, could actually control a game down the stretch.

[dbreiden83080]

Wonder if Milwaukee has the contracts to match Paul. I could see them making a move tbh.

God no.. He is washed up. No contending team should want him..

[gambit1990]

Wonder if Milwaukee has the contracts to match Paul. I could see them making a move tbh.
they can’t move bledsoe and hill until december iirc.

[gambit1990]

okc looking to move cp3 soon.

[playbonner15]

okc looking to move cp3 soon.
Heard it was with the Heat. But I'm still expecting for cp3 to somehow end up with the Lakers

[cjw]

Anyone who thinks either Westbrook or Paul had or have significant positive value in a trade need to get head examined. The fact that this was the best deal available for Russ is pretty telling. He’s an awkward fit with most teams on a bad contract. By years 3 & 4 of that deal, he’s an albatross once his athleticism is sapped. He already can’t shoot.

Of guys who have chucked 5+ threes per 100 possessions (342 players NBA history, 5,000+ minutes), only Ronald Murray, Ronnie Price and Stanley Johnson are worse at it than Russ.

Of guys who’ve played 5,000+ minutes, Russ has the third highest turnover percentage in NBA history behind Robert Pack and Ernie DiGregorio.

[Dverde]

Pelicans seem to be a decent spot for CP3. He can yell at rookies all game.

[John B]

Missing out on Morris, can Spurs PATFO help facilitate CP3 trade to Miami (or any team) with a 1st round pick and get Winslow or Adebayo?

[cjw]

Missing out on Morris, can Spurs PATFO help facilitate CP3 trade to Miami (or any team) with a 1st round pick and get Winslow or Adebayo?

Great question:

1.) Miami is hardcapped so basically would need to shed salary in any trade
2.) OKC is only going to look to shed salary to get below tax, and there is the complication that CP3 cannot be packaged with another player in a trade for 60 days
3.) Spurs are far enough below apron where they can take on additional salary in a trade, but limited to:
- 175% of outgoing salary plus $100k if sending $6.53mm or less
- Outgoing salary plus $5mm if sending up to $19.6mm
- 125% of outgoing salary if above that

So as parameters, OKC would only send out Westbrook and the Heat would need to send out at least his salary equivalent plus a bit to account for roster holds if going below 12 players. They’re currently at 14.

So one that works as a strawman:

OKC gets James Johnson, Courtney Lee and Belineli (expiring) and Justin Jackson - save $1.3 million
MIA gets CP3 - save $7.3 million
SAS gets Olynyk - costs $4.0 million more this year
DAL gets Dragic and Metu - costs $4.6 million more this year

OKC: gets off CP3 for expiring contracts, some of which may have value at the deadline. Jackson could be replaced or supplemented by someone more exciting. Should help get them below tax

MIA: turn their crap sandwich into a better player

SAS: Olynyk is a decent floor spaced but significantly overpaid, and not expiring for another year. Spurs would free up a roster spot in the process plus get draft pick compensation to facilitate. I’d want at least one first rounder in that deal. Could also swap Olynyk for Winslow; basically same salary and length remaining

DAL: upgrade at PG and Doncic’s countryman

[poopbox]

:lol at people saying this is a lateral move.

Chris Paul was damaged goods that could barely be counted on to last a full playoff run. Westbrook is a massive upgrade just by virtue of the fact that he can be counted on to stay healthy.

The rockets want to shoot a lot of 3's and they traded for arguably the worst volume 3 point shooter in the league...

So for this to work they have to change their offense pretty drastically...

Do you think harden is going to be okay with that? i don't...

Whenever Chris had the ball Harden was just kind of standing around doing nothing...not sure how that changes now that westbrook is in houston and he has th ball...

So it seems like you run the offense like Harden wants to and you are okay with a terrible shooter jacking up catch and shoot 3's from harden all game...

Or change it to suit westbrook and harden is just standing around watching westbrook do stuff...

I wouldn't want either one of those alternatives...

[mo7888]

Great question:

1.) Miami is hardcapped so basically would need to shed salary in any trade
2.) OKC is only going to look to shed salary to get below tax, and there is the complication that CP3 cannot be packaged with another player in a trade for 60 days
3.) Spurs are far enough below apron where they can take on additional salary in a trade, but limited to:
- 175% of outgoing salary plus $100k if sending $6.53mm or less
- Outgoing salary plus $5mm if sending up to $19.6mm
- 125% of outgoing salary if above that

So as parameters, OKC would only send out Westbrook and the Heat would need to send out at least his salary equivalent plus a bit to account for roster holds if going below 12 players. They’re currently at 14.

So one that works as a strawman:

OKC gets James Johnson, Courtney Lee and Belineli (expiring) and Justin Jackson - save $1.3 million
MIA gets CP3 - save $7.3 million
SAS gets Olynyk - costs $4.0 million more this year
DAL gets Dragic and Metu - costs $4.6 million more this year

OKC: gets off CP3 for expiring contracts, some of which may have value at the deadline. Jackson could be replaced or supplemented by someone more exciting. Should help get them below tax

MIA: turn their crap sandwich into a better player

SAS: Olynyk is a decent floor spaced but significantly overpaid, and not expiring for another year. Spurs would free up a roster spot in the process plus get draft pick compensation to facilitate. I’d want at least one first rounder in that deal. Could also swap Olynyk for Winslow; basically same salary and length remaining

DAL: upgrade at PG and Doncic’s countryman

If you substitute Winslow for olynyk we'd have to do that. Even then, I think we have to give next years 1st to get it done.

[JeffDuncan]

Have people seen this?

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/254861/22-Percent-Stake-In-Thunder-Available-For-Sale

Want to buy part of the Thunder?

[gambit1990]

cp3 is a buyout away from at least a conference finals.

[buujness]

Great question:

1.) Miami is hardcapped so basically would need to shed salary in any trade
2.) OKC is only going to look to shed salary to get below tax, and there is the complication that CP3 cannot be packaged with another player in a trade for 60 days
3.) Spurs are far enough below apron where they can take on additional salary in a trade, but limited to:
- 175% of outgoing salary plus $100k if sending $6.53mm or less
- Outgoing salary plus $5mm if sending up to $19.6mm
- 125% of outgoing salary if above that

So as parameters, OKC would only send out Westbrook and the Heat would need to send out at least his salary equivalent plus a bit to account for roster holds if going below 12 players. They’re currently at 14.

So one that works as a strawman:

OKC gets James Johnson, Courtney Lee and Belineli (expiring) and Justin Jackson - save $1.3 million
MIA gets CP3 - save $7.3 million
SAS gets Olynyk - costs $4.0 million more this year
DAL gets Dragic and Metu - costs $4.6 million more this year

OKC: gets off CP3 for expiring contracts, some of which may have value at the deadline. Jackson could be replaced or supplemented by someone more exciting. Should help get them below tax

MIA: turn their crap sandwich into a better player

SAS: Olynyk is a decent floor spaced but significantly overpaid, and not expiring for another year. Spurs would free up a roster spot in the process plus get draft pick compensation to facilitate. I’d want at least one first rounder in that deal. Could also swap Olynyk for Winslow; basically same salary and length remaining

DAL: upgrade at PG and Doncic’s countrymanThank you for your breakdown of the trade rules and cap situations.

But why in the hell would the Spurs want Olynyk? Complete waste of assets and time, to be frank. The only reason for the Spurs to be involved in a trade like this would be to get a significant upgrade, so it would have to be Winslow. Or, find it in their guts to trade Mills for James Johnson. Otherwise, they would be making a move without moving the needle.

[spurraider21]

its a complete desperation move by HOU... sure they wanted to move off CP3 but when considering fit/defense, westbrook is barely even an upgrade for him. plus OKC got a lot of picks.

for OKC, they were a treadmill team with russ's triple doubles, so nice to move off him and get a bunch of picks. if they can re-route paul for more value, they will have done well for themselves in a vacuum

[Fusternino]

OKC won every part of this trade. Will go down as worse than the Kawhi trade, tbh.

[cjw]

Thank you for your breakdown of the trade rules and cap situations.

But why in the hell would the Spurs want Olynyk? Complete waste of assets and time, to be frank. The only reason for the Spurs to be involved in a trade like this would be to get a significant upgrade, so it would have to be Winslow. Or, find it in their guts to trade Mills for James Johnson. Otherwise, they would be making a move without moving the needle.

Yeah, I was trying to get a first rounder routed back to the Spurs. Olynyk is a decent floor spacer, but agree not my favorite use of Beli’s contract.

Mills/Johnson is more interesting. Basically, try constructing a trade where (1) CP3 is dealt alone, (2) OKC and Heat shed money and (3) Spurs don’t take on more than $5mm extra (give or take depending on money going out)

[Sean Cagney]

I feel bad for CP3. He is so desperate for a ring and now has to end up on a team in rebuild mode. He should have stayed on the Clippers.

Agreed.....

[JuneJive]

Westbrook kinda has a fit in the Moreyball system as he feeds the paint and corners a lot.

Staggerring his and Hardens minutes should do the trick in having an offensive dynamo yet again.

[cjw]

https://www.theringer.com/platform/amp/2019/7/16/20695381/houston-rockets-russell-westbrook-james-harden (https://www.theringer.com/platform/amp/2019/7/16/20695381/houston-rockets-russell-westbrook-james-harden#click=https://t.co/B8EbeJn2i1)


Pretty damning numbers here on Russ and the horrible fit. But we all knew this

[gambit1990]

rockets are the second best team in the league now.

if kawhi gets hurt, they're champs.

[Mr. Body]

rockets are the second best team in the league now.

if kawhi gets hurt, they're champs.

Last year proved to me they have no chance. Harden is the least clutch player since Karl Malone. He was just shit at the end of this last series and now they added another terrible clutch performer.

[Chillen]

I wouldn't count Houston out but Harden is going to have to play unselfish in clutch situations and get his teammates involved more. He usually just makes some flashy move and chucks up a hero 3. If Houston wants to win the NBA title they have to go all in and play smart the same way the Toronto Raptors did with Kawhi. It's got to be about the team and the stars take the shots when needed instead of trying to stat pad. They could turn the corner this time and be hungry and have a great season.

[sasaint]

Last year proved to me they have no chance. Harden is the least clutch player since Karl Malone. He was just shit at the end of this last series and now they added another terrible clutch performer.

Swapping CP3 for Westchuck is jumping from the frying pan into the fire. CP3 was clutch and unselfish compared to Westchuck. Rockets are doubling down on selfish, unclutch stat-padders.

[ZeusWillJudge]

I wouldn't count Houston out but Harden is going to have to play unselfish in clutch situations and get his teammates involved more. He usually just makes some flashy move and chucks up a hero 3. If Houston wants to win the NBA title they have to go all in and play smart the same way the Toronto Raptors did with Kawhi. It's got to be about the team and the stars take the shots when needed instead of trying to stat pad. They could turn the corner this time and be hungry and have a great season.

I watched Harden hold the ball and dribble out entire shot clocks, over and over, and chuck it toward the rim at the buzzer. I've seen selfish play before, but never anything to compare to that. It was like Harden was the only player on the offensive end for long stretches. I swear he doesn't care about winning, if he's not the one doing it.

I did see a story today that CP3 will at least be starting the season with OKC. A free agent who signs a new contract can't be traded until Dec. 15, so I'm sure the pool of potential matching salaries is limiting the chances of making a deal before then.

[gambit1990]

the ST doubt in regards to the rockets is pretty silly. and that’s coming from someone who hates harden.

[hombre]

Houston are front runners from the coach down.

[exstatic]

the ST doubt in regards to the rockets is pretty silly. and that’s coming from someone who hates harden.

Harden has huge usage numbers, and hardly moves at all when the ball is not in his hands.

Westbrook has huge usage numbers, hardly moves without the ball, can’t shoot, and has a knee that has had multiple surgeries on it and is a ticking time bomb.

There is only one ball.

[Harry Callahan]

Thats what happens when you murder your business partners, allegedlly supposidly.


Clay Bennet is a mob boss.

Sounds like a case of Arkancide. That used to happen a lot in the 1990s.

[baseline bum]

I watched Harden hold the ball and dribble out entire shot clocks, over and over, and chuck it toward the rim at the buzzer. I've seen selfish play before, but never anything to compare to that. It was like Harden was the only player on the offensive end for long stretches. I swear he doesn't care about winning, if he's not the one doing it.

I did see a story today that CP3 will at least be starting the season with OKC. A free agent who signs a new contract can't be traded until Dec. 15, so I'm sure the pool of potential matching salaries is limiting the chances of making a deal before then.

Westbrook is even worse tbh.

[baseline bum]

Harden has huge usage numbers, and hardly moves at all when the ball is not in his hands.

Westbrook has huge usage numbers, hardly moves without the ball, can’t shoot, and has a knee that has had multiple surgeries on it and is a ticking time bomb.

There is only one ball.

https://i.ibb.co/6nYjFLG/D-PIp-WVU4-AAi-Dq-E.jpg

[Trueblood]

the ST doubt in regards to the rockets is pretty silly. and that’s coming from someone who hates harden.

I don't clarify it as doubt, it's an educated guess.

Harden is a ball dominant player who thrives in isolation, doesn't pass or play defense, pads his stats at the expense of winning and has a history of choking when it matters most.

Westbrook is a ball dominant player who thrives in isolation, doesn't pass or play defense, pads his stats at the expense of winning and has a history of choking when it matters most.

The only difference is their name.

Either one would thrive on a team filled with three and D players with high basketball iq that could get them the ball in good situations and spread the floor with their shooting. But together this just doesn't seem like a combination that will work (on paper at least). Maybe we're wrong, but the evidence points against it.

Houston's owner reminds me of a bad fantasy manager that drafts off names instead of numbers.

Edit: While I recognize that Westbrook gets enough assist to get those triple doubles he loves so much his poor shooting percentage proves that he shoots far more than he should and doesn't pass enough. So while I digress to the fact that he does pass I believe he only does enough of it to pad his stats.

[Dex]

This season is gonna be weird, tbh.

[OldMan88]

Yep.

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

harden can’t shoot 3s and westbrook can’t make assists ..................................………………

[Dex]

Edit: While I recognize that Westbrook gets enough assist to get those triple doubles he loves so much his poor shooting percentage proves that he shoots far more than he should and doesn't pass enough. So while I digress to the fact that he does pass I believe he only does enough of it to pad his stats.

He also got all those triple-doubles because he had the 10th highest usage in the league. He's not gonna have the ball in his hands enough to pad those stats anymore with Harden using up 35-40% of possessions.

[rascal]

Last year proved to me they have no chance. Harden is the least clutch player since Karl Malone. He was just shit at the end of this last series and now they added another terrible clutch performer.

Houston will be better than the Spurs.

[rascal]

:lol...this is going to be a glorious train wreck

No it won't. Houston will be better than the Spurs.

[gambit1990]

No it won't. Houston will be better than the Spurs.

[FutureMan]

Houston shoots so many threes and Westbrook has become a god awful three point shooter. It’s very easy to see why people aren’t threaten by them.

[gambit1990]

^ rockets didn't get WB to shoot 3s :lol

what everyone seems not smart enough to understand is WB will attack the rim relentlessly when the rockets go cold from 3. huge cp3 fan but that's something he can't do.

worse comes to worse, WB will collapse the defense then kick it out to harden who could attack and collapse the defense again. the defense will be scrambling.

[gambit1990]

dallas is rumored to be interested in cp3 if they’re in the PO hunt near the trade deadline.

cp3 / luka / (healthy) porzingis would be a really fun trio to watch.