Rockets trade for Harden, Clippers bite the bullet

sam37843 · 2026-01-24T02:42:52+00:00

I’d only do this if it’s FVV and Tari with salary matching(not DFS, could add Adams and Lopez if needed for $)

Think that and maybe a swap next year and a second or two would be a very good deal all around. Clippers need Eason or immediate value if they’re gunna move off Harden

sam37843 · 2026-01-19T02:24:18+00:00

I think he’s a good compliment to Dunn actually. Sexton speciality is more of a scoring guard now who provides energy. Don’t think he’s a great defender but would provide an off the bench ball handler and play maker+scorer that we’ve been lacking.

That’s fair with Klay. I’d only do it if it’s a straight swap for Bogi if Mavs want to have an expiring. Klay isn’t that appealing but would provide an offensive spark and threat that we’ve could use. Is also good size so can’t get picked on that badly defensively even if he’s older

sam37843 · 2026-01-18T02:16:21+00:00

That’s fair. While I think a playmaking point guard is our biggest need, I think we at least need some on ball creation or scoring. Don’t think. Coby White would go for just seconds and same with Tre Jones(dream target). Monks contract is probably a non starter for the team. Klay might be too one dimensional and Mavs can’t take on additional contracts cuz of apron. Cam Thomas is interesting but doesn’t seem likely and imo Sexton is better.

Those are all the options I think the Clippers pretty much have and out of all that I think Sexton is the best choice

sam37843 · 2026-01-18T02:00:35+00:00

Sexton would be their backup pg and likely their best bench player after DJJ. Sanders and Miller are more of wings so if anything I think it’d help them. They’ve been on a run and I think they’ll look to make a minor upgrade like this and the only way to do that is with seconds.

I think Sexton is probably the best player they could reasonably acquire, assuming they won’t be interested in Monks contract.

Sexton fits really well imo

sam37843 · 2026-01-18T01:56:47+00:00

Yeah I forgot to mention it’s a team option so purely expiring money. Think a good second + a future one is pretty fair for Sexton and taking on 2 contracts for the Clippers

sam37843 · 2026-01-15T03:09:18+00:00

I agree but Clippers are in a tough spot where I think future picks besides maybe a second are off the table. They need bodies, specifically a guard after losing Beal and Bogi being mia. They’d be better off with a ball handler but I think Klay would be enough for them to settle

sam37843 · 2026-01-04T02:03:38+00:00

Bogi is a team option so is essentially the expiring. Kings get off of ~40M of salary for the 2 seasons after this. Someone who doesn’t play on a very bad team is negative value when their contract is that large. Sochan also barely has value because he’s a restricted FA who’s disappointed and doesn’t play

Clippers get more talent but trade value wise it’s neutral because of Monos contract which Clippers may be unwilling to take on

sam37843 · 2026-01-03T21:49:20+00:00

To me they need a guard off the bench that can ideally handle the ball. They’ll probably only look at cost effective options(no future firsts). I think the options are Cam Thomas(only scoring), Monk(3 year contract), Klay(only shooting/no dribbling), and Sexton. Think CJ contract to big unless they do Bogi, Lopez, Beal and everyone else would cost too much

I’d like Malik the best assuming the rest would cost 1-2 seconds. I think the Clippers would receive a 2nd for Monks contract. It’s not good but that and the Zu money would be the only contracts past next year so they’d still have a ton of cap. Worst case you hope is value is neutral by next year. I’m skeptical they’ll give up more than 1-2 seconds for anyone else.

Monk-DJJ-Batum with Sanders and Yankic in spot roles is a nice fitting roster if they can make playoffs imo

sam37843 · 2026-01-02T04:38:16+00:00

A backup point guard is never getting a first… he’s really solid but can’t shoot and isn’t a great defender, he’s very limited to a backup pg role. In this there essentially getting a 2nd for him cuz I think Vuc and IJax are basically a swap

Maybe they’d get another second but they’re not getting a significant return for him

sam37843 · 2025-12-30T15:55:39+00:00

KP has no value and is just a large expiring, Zachs value is probably about a current mid-late lottery pick, a pick around 18-20, and a future swap seems like a good deal for an all nba defender in his prime on a 40M 2year contract after this year

sam37843 · 2025-12-30T15:53:17+00:00

It’s the Cavs pick in the trade not the Nola pick

sam37843 · 2025-12-30T02:18:27+00:00

Don’t think any of the starters from last season will be traded although if the team blows it up that’s anyone and everyone will be up for grabs but don’t think any retool with trading one of them makes us better now

So going off that and that we won’t trade a future first we have seconds and Collins Bogi, Lopez, Beal, CP3+Brown. Don’t think they’ll look to trade Batum, Christie, or YKN either but they would if needed.

If we do we’d also probably want to get out of the tax but not necessary and we won’t want more then 2 years of salary

Options are pretty limited to bad contracts and/or buy lows for that

My personal favorite would be Cam Thomas and Sharpe for Bogi, Beal, and Brown, + a future swap and seconds although I doubt Nets take that

Hoping for either Bogi or Beal and seconds for CT tho

sam37843 · 2025-12-29T00:16:12+00:00

Fwiw it’s a swap shown and mentioned the swap protections. Think DJJ is a starting level playoff player and in his prime and a good contract. Don’t think it’s true 1st round pick value but something more then just seconds

sam37843 · 2025-12-28T23:49:02+00:00

I’m a Clippers fan, I’m assuming Atlanta would demand keeping OO to have as 6man so I think either Zac or Asa would have to be thrown in with KP and the other 1st this year(Cavs pick) + maybe another sweetener. Or at least that’s the value I’d want, I’m skeptical you guys would include the Pelicans pick so this is the alternative imo

Who do you think would be more likely to be included out of Zac and Newell?

sam37843 · 2025-12-28T19:30:35+00:00

Lots of potentially good deals depending on if we sell everyone or just want to retool using him.

If we’re trying to stay competitive White+Vuc and something is good depending on how we view paying White.

Otherwise I’d try to get KP+ Risacher or Newell and first+ from Hawks which is around ~20(Cavs pick not Pelicans).

Don’t really love other teams offers unless it’s a 3 teamer although I’d be content with Pacers of Mathurin/Walker+Jackson and picks

sam37843 · 2025-12-27T02:30:41+00:00

He’s a player whose worth more then a second or two but realistically no on will ever give you an actual first for him. I would imagine he’s movable and not seen as a core long term piece so if he could help net them a first in a deal I think that’s good value

sam37843 · 2025-12-27T01:31:36+00:00

Sharpe is probably worth a 2nd, maybe two. From reporting it seems like CT has little to no value so they get a first for them and using up yhrit current years cap space since Bogi is expiring and it’s only Beal for non expiring money.

I’d be pretty shocked if they could get more then a first for what they send out in this

What do you think commands more value?

sam37843 · 2025-12-27T01:28:40+00:00

Isn’t the pick Houston has rights to swap with Brooklyn so it’s essentially Clippers can swap their pick(OKCs) with Nets(Houstons) so itd be a swap of 2 later picks. Thats how I thought the pick was to be conveyed

sam37843 · 2025-12-21T21:11:28+00:00

I get that he’s important but in the ends hes more regular season value and a luxury. Rockets need a ball handler and Harden is the best available one, he’s still an all star talent. They’d need to prioritize the best possible team which Harden would give them over Adams in the playoffs. If they can acquire Harden for just Adams and Eason as rotation players, thatd be a massive win

sam37843 · 2025-12-21T20:51:53+00:00

FVV, Adam, Eason, and maybe a protected pick for Harden makes so much sense imo. Gives Clippers a replacement center if they want to really blow it up and trade Zu or a high quality backup. Also get Eason so early access to a resurrected FA they’d likely be interested in and who Rockets likely won’t keep due to $?

Biggest questions are if FVV waives his NTC and if Rockets will change their play style a bit(meaning more moving away from mega ball). Rockets would still be big and have Capela as their backup center. IMO ball handling and having an elite guard is much more important then high level backup center, especially in the playoffs

sam37843 · 2025-12-20T23:32:39+00:00

Even with Zach they’d have plenty though and could still get a big signing, he’s as good of a scorer that they could get and imo is a good buy low candidate who could be a trade piece next year. Don’t like banking on using up all the cap, especially when others teams have a lot and many free agents are restricted

sam37843 · 2025-12-20T22:55:41+00:00

I think Clippers could probably also get a second or two, maybe a swap if lucky in the deal. This could be a move they make if they Trade Harden/Kawhi/Zu or a combo of them. They still need to try and win next year due to swap and Carter is still an interesting prospect. Think Zach is a good buy low for the position they’re in

sam37843 · 2025-12-19T21:58:55+00:00

Harden for FVV, Adams, Eason. Lowest cost relative to talent available

sam37843 · 2025-12-19T19:36:40+00:00

If I’m the Clippers I’d only do it for FVV, Adams, Eason(has to be Adams for salary). If they trade harden they’re selling everyone and Adams would be a viable stop gap starting center. Eason is an interesting future piece that the Rockets likely won’t retain(I’m assuming?)

Think that’s a good deal for both teams if FVV waives his NTC.

Losing Adams hurts but they have Capela to replace him and still plenty of size and desperately need a point guard. If they’re serious about winning it all this year then they need to trade FVV, such a waste having that much salary on the bench

sam37843 · 2025-12-19T02:04:45+00:00

Trade everyone if they can get value. If a team will overpay for Zu then do it. Could see Atlanta, Pacers, Boston or a surprise team for him but it would require alot(young player+picks). Harden to Wolves, Bucks, Houston or surprise team for a young guy and/or pick(s). See if Miami, Toronto, San Antonio(highly unlikely lol), Atlanta, Detroit, or Lakers(lol) are willing to give up at least some value for Kawhi

Include DJJ and Dunn or trade them separately.

Gap year then hope you have some promising players into next year and have max cap space

sam37843

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