If you write any comments I do appreciate any suggestions. To get an understanding of the moves I made I'd suggest to read my explanation for all my offseason transactions.
Also I got a lot of my ideas from this trade machine from https://fanspo.com/nba/s/general/trades/mcON6KQpGoBvpl/what-i-would-do-as-the-houston-rockets-gm-2022-offseason-plan. I did use a lot of my ideas from this trade machine, so I wanna give credit for the inspiration.
This is my second "If I Was The GM Of The _: 2022 Offseason Plans" series and I will continue the series slowly. Please leave comments or suggestions to improve this offseason with. I will be glad to respond to any comments.
Trade John Wall, Garrison Matthews, 2023 First Via BRO, & 2024 Second Via GSW for Buddy Hield & TJ McConnell with the Pacers
Trade Eric Gordan & Christian Wood for Tim Hardaway Jr, Davis Bertans, Marquess Chriss, 2025 First, & 2027 First Top 10 Protected with the Mavericks
Trade David Nwaba, Bruno Fernando(Sign & Trade), & Daishen Nix for the #22 Overall Pick this year with the Grizzlies
Draft Paolo Banchero with the #3 Pick in the 2022 NBA Draft
Draft Ousmane Dieng with the #17 Pick in the 2022 NBA Draft
Draft Andrew Nembhard with the #22 Pick in the 2022 NBA Draft
Sign Thomas Bryant to 3 year deal worth 16M
Explanations:
The Houston Rockets are one of the youngest rebuilding teams in the league. They have quite a bit of potential to go around at multiple positions. Jalen Green near the end of the season put up insane numbers for a rookie & we should all look out for a monster sophomore year. This team is definitely taking strides into the right directions & it might be time to finally make some big moves. The Rockets could have a small shot at being in the play in games next season, but mainly they need to look for improvements with their young core.
Obviously John Wall's contract is probably the biggest overpay in the league & he will accept his player option this offseason. Getting Wall off the team would help Houston's cap significantly & should be their man goal. The trade I have them doing goes
HOU: Buddy Hield & TJ McConnell
IND: John Wall, Garrison Matthews, 2023 First via BRO, & 2024 Second Via GSW
For Houston they desperately need to get off of Wall's contract. Even though they have to get rid of Matthews, a first, & a second they still get a little better. The picks they give up isn't even their first or second, but other teams. Hield is an amazing catch & shoot guard that can be the sixth man on this team. TJ McConnell is a very good all around true point guard that would also play off the bench. These two will bring great play off the bench & veteran leadership to help teach the younger players.
For the Pacers, they are in full rebuilding mode. While yes they get Wall's contract for a year, they get rid of Hield's contract that is for 2 years. The picks they get may not be good, but they are still draft picks. With getting rid of Hield & McConnell, they can now play their younger players more minutes.
Next they need to find a trade to get off of Eric Gordon's big contract. The trade goes
HOU: Tim Hardaway Jr, Davis Bertans, Marquess Chriss, 2025 First, & 2027 First Top 10 Protected
DAL: Eric Gordon & Christian Wood
The thought process for Houston is to get veteran depth to help their roster. Hardaway Jr can be a solid small ball SF & Bertans is a great shooting stretch 4/5. In addition they get 2 first round picks down the road which is great value. Eric Gordon & Christian Wood have been on Houston's trade block & to be able to get off of those contracts for these players & picks is more than enough value.
For Dallas they obviously want to contend. Hardaway & Bertans contracts are ruining their cap space, but with getting Gordon & Wood they not only get a lot better, but you get amazing fits to pair next to Luka. Gordon brings a great off ball as well as a great catch & shoot game, with Luka's playmaking skills Gordon can go back to shooting 7-9 threes a night. Christian Wood also takes a lot of the scoring load off of Luka. Wood is a good stretch 5 that rebounds at a high level & is a good defender. This definitely makes the Mavs a bit better & even though they have to put in 2 first round picks, this trade can make them a legit championship contender.
The final trade is a small one, but serves a purpose to help grow the youth & potential of this team. The trade goes
HOU: #22 Overall Pick
MEM: David Nwaba, Bruno Fernando, & Daishen Nix
Houston gets off three bodies on the roster that aren't playing a big role & can get a higher potential player at #22. Even though this is a small trade it only helps their youth more. Getting rid of these players helps Houston have space for better players that should be getting more minutes.
Memphis is a contending team & David Nwaba brings solid defense, rebounding, off ball movement, good finishing, & versatility. He's a veteran that Memphis would much rather have then trying to develop a young player who won't get minutes. Fernando is also small ball center that brings really good finishing & shooting within the paint as well as very good rebounding & defense in limited minutes. Nix is a young shooting guard that can bring decent scoring & passing abilities, but he'll most likely be in the G-league. Overall this trade improves their depth & mainly their bench defense which will help them contend faster.
Next we get to the NBA Draft where Houston now has #3, #17, & #22. At three I think the best fit next to Jalen Green is Jabari Smith Jr, but including that the Magic at #1 is very strong on Smith, I think realistically the Rockets will select Paolo Banchero. Banchero brings an amazing offensive game. He can create his own shot & shots for others with ease. While Banchero's defense might not be great, Banchero's offensive game easily makes up for it.
With #17 I think the Rockets should look to draft Ousmane Dieng. Dieng is a lengthy point forward that has solid scoring & passing abilities. He brings very good off ball movement, versatility, & decent defense. While he's not a great three point shooter, his shot definitely has the potential to improve. He's a solid athlete that would bring a lot of skills the Rockets would be interested in.
For #22 it is the Rockets last pick in the draft for them. With this pick I think they should go for a true point guard that has passing skills like Andrew Nembhard. He's 22 years old & will be able to play at an NBA level pretty quickly & smoothly. He brings a smooth yet inconsistent shot, the ability to post up smaller players, good passing, solid defense, & off ball movement. Nembhard is a solid player that has the potential to be a decent starting PG in today's league.
Finally we end with Free Agency & the Rockets have money to spend. The only solid free agent I have them getting is Thomas Bryant. Bryant is a solid shooting center that is 6'10 250 lbs. He's a very efficient scorer, especially in the paint, but on low volume. He's a solid rebounder, good shooter for his size, & a good shot blocker as well. He has been injury prone his entire career so he'd be getting limited minutes, letting Alperen Sengun play more minutes. Bryant would come in as the starting center & help be a leader to Sengun. Even though Sengun has potential to be way better than Bryant, Bryant will serve the role as a mentor. Bryant will be our day one starting center, but Sengun will most likely take that spot by the end of the year. Bryant is going to be paid for cheap & would really help Sengun before he gets the full starting job.
Another addition the Rockets should make is to sign Undrafted Free Agent David Roddy to help finish out the lineup(Assuming he goes undrafted). Roddy was a phenomenal scorer with a great three point shot. He's a solid athlete with the ability to rebound, pass, & defend at decent levels. He's a physical specimen at 6'5 250 lbs. With his strength he won't get bodied by bigger guys defensively. With his level of motor he has the potential to go off in games scoring the ball.
Roster:
Starting Lineup:
Kevin Porter Jr, Jalen Green, Jae'Sean Tate, Paolo Banchero, Thomas Bryant
Bench:
TJ McConnell, Tim Hardaway Jr, Buddy Hield, Davis Bertans, Alperen Sengun
Rest of Bench:
Andrew Nembhard, Josh Christopher, Kenyon Martin Jr, Ousmane Dieng, Marquess Chriss
Two-Way/G-League:
Usman Garuba & David Roddy
Negatives:
The starting rotation defense: Of course the defense is a bet sketchy & even the bench's defense isn't too great. This will continue to be a high pace team & only a small shot to make the play-in game. Ja'Sean Tate is the only true lockdown defender on the roster, but this team made a huge strides with their offense & depth. With the bench being dramatically improved they can run a lot of different players in the starting lineup which is a positive.
They are super young: This is a very young team & it's a team that needs to develop for a few years. Paolo won't be a star off the bat, Sengun is still very young & his skills need to be polished, Jalen Green might have a good sophomore year, but needs consistency, & KPJ is very inconsistent so we don't know what his potential may be. This team has taken great strides since their rebuilding after the Harden era, but the youth on this team might be a liability this year.
Thanks for reading! Please share your opinions in the comments.
Also, What Record Do You Believe This New Look Rockets Will Get?