Golden State absolutely scares me. The best player in the series is still Steph, their depth matches (if not exceeds) Phoenix's, and Kerr is a better coach than Monty.
If we’re gonna get to the Finals, we’re most likely going to have to go through them. I think it’s a 6-7 game series for sure. Steph obviously can get crazy hot but with Klay back, we’re going to have to be on a string defensively. If DA wants a max contract, this is where he’s going to have to earn it. I’m talking 25-15 type numbers. Bridges has to be a threat offensively. We’re gonna have to play our best basketball to beat them. Luckily, we’re still getting better and hopefully we stay healthy and peak at playoff time.
Yup. We will have to be fully healthy and all of our top players will have to play their best and we will likely need a couple/few surprise performances like Payne came up with last year to beat the warriors. But it absolutely can be done. And the warriors will have to bring their A game to beat us as well.
Taking on Gordon's remaining $40M while declining Smith's option makes no sense to me especially when we already gave Shamet a huge extension.
True but we all know Gordon is FAR more desired and valuable by any team than Smith is. So while you are right I don’t think they are comparable situations.
I think Smith will have a number of suitors being an UFA under the age of 22 years old. I think he could get at least a Christian Wood type contract. Gordon is 33, injury prone, isn't a defender and adds another huge contract that PHX will be on hook for another 2 years. If we are going to add another piece, it should be a cheap wing defensive specialist.
Like who? It’s easy to throw out name after name but there has to be some realistic expectations. I hate Gordon’s contract but I love his potential fit on our team. Much more so than Jalen Smith.
Robert Covington would be ideal. Expiring, good defender but is UFA and hasn't been playing well as of late.
I agree that is why I don't see PHX dealing for Gordon. You would have to make numbers work and I don't think HOU takes back either Shamet or Saric unless we are attaching Smith and / or a 1st rounder.
Oh I don't think there's any doubt we'd be including a future first.
His contract isn’t bad considering 23-24’ is a team option. He’d be the final piece to our championship puzzle.
If you’re Houston how many picks would it take to accept this deal over other offers they’d get for him?
Almost no matter the cost (Shamet, Smith and whatever picks it would take to make it happen), adding Gordon is exactly the kind of all-in move we should make. It's always a risk upsetting a roster this late in the year but Gordon, when healthy, fits perfectly into our scheme and he'd still earn minutes even once the entire team gets healthy. Spending capital on a depth player that will sit the bench once our guys return to the court helps us less than just keeping Saric would IMO.
I can't imagine finding a better option than Gordon. He defends both guard spots and is hitting 3's at a very high clip. The two negatives are his contract and his injury history but he gives us the best chance IMO to win a ring this season and probably next. He'd also probably cost us the most.
