The Rockets are ready to move past the rebuilding stage and may be willing to include Jalen Green in an offseason trade for veteran help, sources tell Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. Fischer notes that new head coach Ime Udoka, general manager Rafael Stone and owner Tilman Fertitta all mentioned the team’s available cap space — which could be in the $60MM range — during Udoka’s introductory news conference this week.
The Rockets are determined to upgrade their roster, whether it’s through free agency or the trade market. There have been long-running rumors that Sixers guard James Harden is interested in a return to Houston, and Fischer hears that Bucks wing Khris Middleton was mentioned as another possibility during discussions with coaching candidates. Harden and Middleton both hold player options for next season — Harden is considered likely to opt out and Middleton is a candidate to do so too.
Fischer points out that Udoka was an assistant in Brooklyn when Harden arrived there. He has obviously worked closely with another potential target, Celtics wing Jaylen Brown, who may be made available when he becomes eligible for an extension this offseason.
Green averaged 22.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists during his second NBA season, but he continues to be plagued by efficiency questions, as he shot just 41.6% from the field and 33.8% from three-point range. He was billed as a potential scoring champion when the Rockets drafted him in 2021, but it appears the organization may no longer be content to wait for the development of Green and its other young players.
Here are several more rumors from Fischer:
- Nick Nurse was considered to be a strong candidate in the Rockets‘ coaching search after he parted ways with the Raptors last week, but he never figured into the team’s interview process. Fischer states that former Lakers coach Frank Vogel and ex-Hornets coach James Borrego were the other leading contenders along with Udoka.
- Mike Budenholzer‘s job may be in jeopardy after the Bucks‘ early playoff exit, but Fischer doesn’t believe a coaching change is a sure thing. He notes that the push to replace Budenholzer before Milwaukee won the title two years ago largely came from co-owner Marc Lasry, who sold his stake in the team earlier this month. Fischer also points out that assistant Darvin Ham would have been a leading contender to replace Budenholzer at the time, but he has gone on to become head coach of the Lakers. Current assistant Charles Lee is a finalist for the opening in Detroit, and Fischer isn’t convinced that Milwaukee will make a coaching move without an obvious replacement for Budenholzer.
- Sources tell Fischer that the Raptors are planning a thorough coaching search that may extend through the draft combine in mid-May. Several potential candidates were reported Thursday night, and Fischer hears that former Toronto assistant Sergio Scariolo, who runs the Spanish national team, could get an interview as well. Scariolo currently coaches Virtus Bologna in Italy.
Don’t get me wrong. Austin Reaves is far better than Jalen Green
2021 nba draft (same draft)
Jalen Green: #2 pick
Austin Reaves: undrafted
Factors to be considered
1. offensive efficiency
2. defensive efficiency
Reaves is in no way better than Green. He’s just on a better team. Based on your “factors” we might as well say Kennard is better than Steph Curry because his efficiency is better. No, just no.
If you’re the only player on a team getting doubled on every possession but still putting up 22+ppg and nearly 4 assists & rebounds in year 2 on a very bad team I’d be impressed. bad efficiency or not that’s a very good return. Most of his poor shooting is team over reliance on him in bad possessions, or teammates throwing bombs to him with 1 second in the clock too jack up poor shots.
Reaves looks great, and I agree he’s a good prospect, but RN he’s not even 3rd option meaning the space he gets is going to result in good efficiency. Like the other night, if it’s not against 2nd unit, it’s after Lebron is being doubled giving, as I said, insane amounts of space.
He is good, no disrespect but most top 10 of 21 draft are still better than him, with exception of Suggs RN. Mobley, Cade, Barnes, Green, Franz, Giddey are better. And there’s still about 5-10 others from the draft who are also better players.
Green’s poor efficiency is his tendency to play 1 on 5, stopping the ball to try to beat his man off the dribble and then forcing up horrible shots as the time clock runs out.
He needs to learn to collapse the D by driving to the hoop then dishing to the open shooter. His teammates just stand around because they know when he gets the ball there’s only two possible outcomes. One he makes the shot or more likely he misses 58.6% of the time.
Sounds like KPJ more than Green, you’re more likely to to get a pass from Green. His passing was much better in the close of the year but I do agree, and the biggest factor is the plays Silas wrote up. He just copied and pasted the over the top ISO plays he did for Luka in Dallas but they would never work in Houston because they ain’t Luka.
They’re both the same player, which is why I never understood selecting Green over Mobley. Assists by Green are usually turnovers that accidentally fell into a teammate’s hands as they took advantage of the occasion.
Likely because Porters ceiling was much lower than Greens. I doubt KPJ will be in Udokas plans he’ll be more likely gone than Jalen.
Houston were still suffering from the Harden hangover and they saw green as a chance to replace his irreplaceable offence and draw, green still could be.
but Mobley looks like the better option right now. In a few years we’ll see. Green/ SmithJr or Mobley/Ivey(which would likely be the other route).
Rockets are just not lucky in the nba drafts
Celtics ger Tatum and Brown
Rockets get Smith and Green
Rockets can’t even draft the players like Jalen Brunson and Desmond Bane
Houston, you have a problem.
Rockets fans have agreed that they have poor talent evaluation in the nba drafts.
Tatum and Brown in their first two years weren’t exactly “elite”.
Their drafting hasn’t been bad, Green over Mobley, yes I’ll give you that is a fair debate.
But in comparison Green had a better offensive 2nd year then everyone in the 21 draft and Brown and Tatum at the same time in their careers(efficiency wasn’t great but that’s bad tactics and selection).
Smith looked the #1 until draft night and will improve. I wouldn’t take anyone not named Paolo or Chet in a redraft.
Don’t forget Eason and Sengun both being found in the late teens. I think their drafting hasn’t been that bad in comparison. Plus Christopher, Garuba, TyTy all showing promise. And a solid player in KJMartin late 2nd pick. They have done alright selecting.
Tatum nearly took his team to the finals his rookie year. Stop.
Not on a tank team though. they were a top team with good young talent and multiple all stars. Kyrie was the reason they made it to the POFFs Tatum was okay, not amazing. Then his rook postseason Tatum stepped up after Irvings injury, I completely agree.
But not without Horford, Brown, Smart, Rozier, Morris etc all stepping up and performing too.
That’s was a good team, had Kyrie not got injured who knows how far they’d gotten. Let alone Haywoods career changing injury.
Sixers fans won’t shed tears if the beard and his inability to finish at the rim,his lackadaisical turnovers and complete disinterest on defense returns to the lottery bound rockets. Not aging well,Harden isn’t about sacrificing scoring more about cant.
And yet without him they don’t even sniff the playoffs this year. *shrugs*
Brad Stevens coached Brown and Tatum. Houston one more year use the cap on many vets.
Looks like the writing is on the wall with regards to James. I can see then working out a sign and trade using KPJ’s contract.
Always thought Mobley was the way for them to go if they intended to keep Porter. Green is a good player on a bad team, or the reason a good team went bad.
Please do not bring back Harden. Game 6 Rockets/Spurs. He quit. Very talented very expensive quitter. And if he just ran out of gas – his tank is more depleted now than then.
Harden or Middleton to Houston would be a disaster. What’s the point? Just keep Green.
Now Jaylen, that’s another conversation.
Harden is washed …… only idiots would want him back. Serves no purpose.
Green is going to be a Major star. Rockets aren’t nowhere near building a core. You draft 19 yr olds. Then you have to develop and WAIT. At least 4-5 yrs. So stop clowning yourselfs. And just stick it out.
Really !!!!!! seriously, why would Jalen Brown want to play in Houston ……
What if they get a top two pick. Then this whole take Goes Away …… lols
Press already trying to sow division between Brown and Celtics, and reading in a lot to fact he likely won’t sign extension now (even though that more about the new CBA) + comments he’s made about racism in Boston.
Unfortunately I think there a “there there” and could see him wanting his own team. But Houston? Not sure
I’ll lay u a dollar to a donut this new Rocket coach won’t trade Green. Coach will utilize his talents and shape his skills.
I really don’t understand why teams rebuild and then try spend up the process
You’ve spent years being bad to acquire good picks and get good young talent. You build out this young roster and eventually a couple players take off and you build around them.
You don’t trade your young star for a old guy to play with this young roster that’s not ready to compete.
Just for example James Harden for Jalen Green.
Yes harden probably gives you 10 more wins a season but your not going to compete with all those young players and by the time they are ready Harden is going to retire. Meanwhile Jalen who started off slow in a couple years would be entering his prime as probably a fringe all star.
Going for Harden or Middleton would be a terrible decision. Jaylen Brown I could get behind but Boston isn’t giving him up for cheap as they compete for a title yet again.
Ultimately I think they are better off staying as they are with their young core.
I think Scoot Henderson would be a great fit with Jalen Green and Jabari Smith. Sengun I’m not sure if he would be a good fit with this group but he’s building a good rep around the league and would get a good return in any deal you make.