They finished 2nd in the West, but there was only 4 games between 2 and 8. I think it came down to the fact that they were young and healthy,not that they were so much better than the 6 teams below them.
Houston's issue is they're building around 2 non-shooters. This is a huge handicap nowadays, so they have to figure something out.
If they're smart they should have clarity which one of the two is their future and trade the other at peak value. The more they wait it out and try to improve organically the worse for them.
I don't think Sengun will be there long term. Having a non-shooting big who can't protect the rim well severely handicaps the team in the playoffs.
I think Sengun will be gone before Amen's extension kicks in, two more years in Houston at the most, maybe he's gone even before that.
They don't really have cap space even if they decline FVV's $45M option, it wouldn't surprise me if they take it and then trade him and assets to a tanking team.
I agree about Sengun, he's the wrong archetype, but Amen isn't an easy one to build around himself. Currently he's an awesome defensive player who is at best an opportunistic scorer. If they want to unlock some superstar upside he has to become a Giannis like scorer who attacks constantly and overwhelms people with sheer athleticism. Then surround him with a very specific cast, probably a 1A or 1B scorer too. In any case he's years away.
Agreed, if he doesn't develop a jumpshot, Amen is the second option, best case scenario. Maybe something of a modern Pippen.
Rockets looked like a good team that's missing their best player.
Getting Booker just makes too much sense for both them and the Suns.
They can blow their load on Giannis if he becomes available, but what then? They'd have to get at least two elite shooters, they have none right now.
Booker does make sense, but I don't think the Suns will let him go. Durant will more likely be the piece they go after imo.
Where do you think Durant wants to go? I think he might want to play with Ant in Minnesota, but they're not likely to want to waste assets trading for him, so I am guessing Houston would be his second choice.
As for Houston, I think they'd want Giannis first, Booker second and then maybe Durant would be third on their list if they strike out on the first two.
Agreed on Houston especially when their fans are running with 'they are ahead of schedule' narrative. They have lowkey fumbled the draft going 1 of 4 on Top 5 picks (Amen is a hit vs the high bust potential of Green, Reed and the low ceiling of Jabari Smith). My cardinal rule for 'nailing the draft' is if you dive into the high lottery (Top 5 pick), the player you draft should have at least an (multiple) All-Star ceiling. I would say the Spurs most likely nailed it with Wemby and Castle, the former being a slam dunk case.
Last edited by spursistan; 05-05-2025 at 11:08 AM.
Houston probably did themselves no favors with the flukey #2 seed finish. They’d probably been better served with a Detroit like 6th seed. They’d probably would have progressed, and it wouldn’t be a surprise that they went out in the first round.
I see Amen in a sort of Ben Simmons mold, before he decided to stop playing basketball. A strong defender with playmaking chops.
That type needs a good shooting big, which they don't have.
I do think the Rockets can make Sengun-Amen work together, but need some actual shooters, like what Green and Reed were supposed to be. Reed can still do it, but Green is so inconsistent and uncompe ive.
Been thinking about this thread lately with the Rockets (somewhat) ascendance and the Mavs getting Flagg. I really don’t have a good sense as to what Flagg will look like in 5-7 years—if he’s a Tatum-tier star, that doesn’t really bother me as I don’t think Tatum is a top 5-7 player. And, I have serious doubts as to the Adelson’s intentions vis-a-vis basketball (I think they’re intent on using a sports team as a lever to get gambling into Texas). Also, Nico is an idiot.
I also don’t have a good grasp on what Wemby/Harper/Flagg will look like in 5 years. What are the comp’s for that core? It feels like that big 3 will be more talented than whatever Dallas can put around Flagg and Houston can put around Amen, but the gaps between the teams will be pretty narrow.
Tatum is a 4 time, including the last three years, first team All NBA. He’ll probably get it this year, too. He’s certainly top 5 of the current player crop.
No one has pulled a 3 year draft crop like this since SEA/OKC picked Durant, Harden, and Russ.
Luka, Jokic, Ant, Giannis, SGA, and Wemby are better.
I’d put Tatum at the next level down: Booker, Brunson, Halliburton, Donavan Mitc , Tatum.
Spurs have the best future in their division
Wemby still has to do it for a full season before I'll call him better than Tatum. Don't know if it was some mystery illness like what Porzingis had been dealing with last round or if he was just getting worn down but Victor's play dropped off hard 3-4 weeks before the DVT.
Yeah, if things work out, Wemby stays healthy, and we have this jumbo Castle-Harper backcourt and can fill in the spots, including Fox, this is a headache of a team to handle.
Agreed, hopefully with more help he can put the conditioning issues behind him as he's being asked to do a ton.
Wembanyama probably would have passed Tatum next season even had he not torn an Achilles, but for now the latter deserves the edge on body of work. He's also still better than Edwards.
The only MVP caliber players at the moment are Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander, Antetokounmpo, Doncic (though not this season). Embiid's health probably precludes him from getting back in.
I generally think The Ringer's Rankings are pretty accurate, once you account for the heavy Boston-bias.
They have Tatum at #4, which is probably equivalent to a real person's #6-8. Seems about right.
Factoring in age and potential, I'd rank them like this:
1. Jokic
2. SGA
3. Giannis
4. Luka
5. Wemby
6. Ant
7. Tatum
8. Paolo
So this is more of a value ranking as opposed to a "best players" ranking, but that's how I'd have them
He's been struck by a virus for about a month and the best doctors and medical labs in the Boston area and the East Coast can't seem to figure it out. As much as we hate to admit, these giant unicorns with their unique and abnormal built have a distinctly different immune system from us normal human beings. it is just how it really is. The long term health prospects of Wemby and his ilk will always remain iffy until it is not. It is the one single reason why i am drafting Harper with my eyes closed-- which is to have a fallback on plan if the worst case scenario materializes..
Honestly if you're that worried about Wemby's health trading for Giannis is probably the best bet to try to win right now while Victor is young.
Maybe Lyme diesese
Whatever they do, Jalen must be gone. I really don’t have the confidence that they will actually trade him.
Herb Jones has also made a first team All D, can actually shoot the ball, and is making 14 and 15 million next two seasons.
I’d wait to see if he ever develops a shot before breaking the bank.
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