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I don't get it. Didn't they just improve by leaps and bounds by making Harden the primary ballhandler? Admittedly I'm no Morey or D'Antoni, so I assume I'm missing something. And obviously you have to have more than one superstar to truly contend, and players of that caliber are hard to come by so you jump when you get the chance. Still, the fit seems super weird.
I'd think of it this way, Paul is a really upgraded Beverly. Of course this should put them at salary cap, so I don't know where they go from here to fill out the roster, but that's a high level problem to solve.
I think it's strange. It's costly, yet I don't think it puts them any more than a smidgen closer to competing with the Warriors.
They need a ball handler for 48 minutes a game. Paul averaged 31 minutes last year (down from 36-38), Harden played 36. That's 67, so there's really only overlap in 19 minutes a game and as shown by the playoffs Harden was worn out by the end of the season. Plus Paul was a 41% 3-point shooter last year. Will it be prefect, no, but if Paul ends up playing 28-30 minutes as he ages and Harden goes down to 32-34 during the regular season, the overlap (60-64) is a high level problem to have.
Paul and Harden are a terrible fit, but they gave up a mediocre starting PG, a couple of backups, and a first round pick that isn't going to be worth hardly anything. They can figure out how they fit later. Harden and Paul should both be able to play off ball well if their egos allow and they'll probably only play together for 20mpg or so.
Obviously the Rockets are going for it, but they have to add another guy. Blake, Millsap, Ibaka, Hayward, PG13, LMA.
i think they did this just to get possibly the only player in the entire stretches of the known galaxy who is a bigger flopmaster than poopbeard on the team so that now maybe the refs will just think that is how fragile everyone is when stiff breezes flow poopbeard and crybaby paul over so that they get calls take to the bank brochachos
Based on the fact he was an 18 year old 6'6" with a 7'0" reach PG that held up well playing against men last year. He may flame out if his offense doesn't develop, but analytically guys with his athletic characteristics have high upsides.
I agree. Paul is a nice name to add, but does it really make the Rockets much better than last season? Their ceiling now is the #2 seed out West. Which I guess isn't bad, but GS is still the heavy favorite.
First, I'd say they really didn't...second I'd say it was very important for Houston to get to the apron to use the MLE (which is why they shipped out what they did) and to have him opt-in for the year.
Sure, but that series is at least a little more fun to watch now. Rockets can go small with Paul, Harden, Gordon, Ariza, and Anderson, bomb threes and still have good defenders to throw on Curry and Durant.
It would be a fun series, but Curry had made a living abusing Paul and no one can stop Durant. The Rocket might be able to out score them to force it to 6 games.
Clippers could have easily got nothing for Paul. So, anything is better than nothing.
Both Beverly and Lou are on nice deals and should be able to net the Clippers something back near the trade deadline.
They didn't improve by leaps and bounds if the West elite knew exactly how to shut down Harden and the Rockets offense.
Good thing the Clippers Top 14 protected that 2019/2020 pick they sent Boston for Doc.
They also had no money to sign him as a FA. Morey is $$$
The Rockets should be fun to watch, no doubt. I just don't think Paul is enough to put them over the Warriors.
Not apples to oranges in any way shape or form.
The Clippers will have a lot of cap room and LA is an attractive destination for free agents. Their bench can't be much worse than it was last year.
Hot take: this is going to make them less fun to watch. Maybe better, but not as fun.
Because they traded for him after he opted in. As a true FA he would have passed up tens of millions.
