ZephMarshack wrote:
long time guy wrote:
ZephMarshack wrote:
The Rockets trying to get Butler is hilarious to me. Offloading all of your depth to try to add a redass like Jimmy to the already volatile Paul/Harden combo and the lame duck head coach is the best illustration yet of Morey's fancy play syndrome and indifference to things like player relationships and fit.
I actually understand what he is trying to do and if he can pull it off it wouldn't be a bad move.
I'd love to hear how it wouldn't be bad because I see it as an outright disaster and I still really like Jimmy.
Butler is a terrible fit with Paul and Harden both in terms of style and chemistry and Houston gutting their roster (at least 2 of Gordon/Tucker/Capela) to get him does not seem the least bit worthwhile. Paul/Harden/Butler is also a worse Big 3 than Lebron/AD/Kemba (or any other max guy for instance) and the Lakers will have first dibs on the spare parts pile when it comes to filling out the rest of their roster.
Finally there's a risk Butler's contract becomes as bad and unmovable on the back end as Paul's already is. Everyone has been rightly ripping Pelinka for the extent to which he mortgaged the Lakers' future to get Davis but this move by Morey would be even more desperate and short-term (and wouldn't even necessarily make them better in the short term anyway!).
Houston has to go for it now. That is the way they are constructed. "Gutting" the roster to acquire him is a drastic overstatement. Of the 3 players currently on the team only Capela is thought to be part of their long term future. Tucker is a journeyman. Gordon is a glorified 6th man on the other side of 30. They really aren't giving up that much in order to acquire someone of Butler's status. And I say this as a noted Butler detractor.
As far as the fit it can work but not if D'Antoni is the coach and Morey is the GM. Houston has to change their offensive philosophy and simply play basketball. Running an offense which places an emphasis on shooting 3's isn't a way to win a championship.
They also have to get away from running an offense that is Harden dominant. That isn't on Harden as much as it's on D'Antoni.
Houston has to go for it. This is especially so given the recent injuries to G.S. The West is wide open. Anyone claiming to know who the favorite will be is delusional. Go for it now and worry about tomorrow tomorrow.
In addition are Paul and Harden. They're stuck with Paul so it doesn't much matter if the fit is good or bad on paper. They aren't going to improve the chemistry of the team by moving him because he can't be moved. They have to deal with the combustion and hope for the best. If the Warriors can field a team with Boogie and Draymond and make it work then Houston can surely field one with Butler, Paul, and Harden.
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The Hawk wrote:
This is going to reach a head pretty soon.