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Give Harden more years / more money?
Trade Beverley? For what?
Gordon & Anderson... helpful to get where they got but are they harmful for getting further?
Plateaued as is? Vegas line posted recently gave them 2% chance at next title? Do you think it is higher, right or lower? What do they think? What do they think they can push it to?

I don't get the PatBev trade rumors. He's an awesome 3&D PG who fits perfectly next to Harden.

That being said, I do think that last year may have been the peak of the current core unless Capela improves a lot. They had guys with injury histories who were largely healthy all season. People weren't ready for them and I think they are now.

https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/stat ... 4700331008

Well, this is interesting. CP3 to Houston for Beverley, Lou Williams, Dekker and a 1st.

A refreshed storyline. Will be interesting to watch Paul / Harden and how Coach of the Year D'Antoni handles it. Maximize time together or apart? Share the ball equally or one defers more? At beginning and at the end? Any "blow-ups"? A few or a pattern?

Paul hitting Harden on cuts might be lethal. Maybe more so than the dribble, dribble, get my breath and then charge in Harden drive?

Best strategy has to be stagger them to always have an elite pg on the court. Would shred bench units defensively.

By doing it this way, Paul retains flexibility. Intends for it to work but we' see.

Back to the Lakers is not impossible. Probably not New Orleans but see what happens with Holiday. NYK? Not for a title. At least unlikely... as,a player. As a future GM? Possibly.

Gut reaction is this is a lose-lose trade. This seems like the kind of move that would work fine in a video game, but not in real life.

shadow wrote:Gut reaction is this is a lose-lose trade. This seems like the kind of move that would work fine in a video game, but not in real life.

It's impossible for this to be a loss for the Clippers. Paul said he was leaving. Getting Beverley, Dekker, Lou Williams and a pick is a great haul. They could easily flip Beverley and Lou for more future assets.

Where was it reported that it was guaranteed Paul would leave? The Clippers could have paid him more than any other team. I realize money isn't always the most important factor for players of his age, but I don't recall reading anything that he was definitely gone for good once he opted out. Woj reported that he met with the Clippers yesterday to discuss his future, but that was the extent of what was made public as far as I can tell.

shadow wrote:Where was it reported that it was guaranteed Paul would leave? The Clippers could have paid him more than any other team. I realize money isn't always the most important factor for players of his age, but I don't recall reading anything that he was definitely gone for good once he opted out.

I'm pretty sure I read a tweet (maybe Woj, but I can't remember) saying he told them he was going to sign with HOU. He opted in to his player option for this deal, meaning he was willing to sacrifice money to make this deal happen. The Clippers had no flexibility moving forward. They had no ability to challenge the Warriors. Instead of locking CP3 into a 5-year MAX deal, they were able to turn him into smaller assets.

Did the Rockets set records for most deals / most players moved in a day? Seems likely.

At first glance, their bench seems pretty limited, especially after 8th man. Can't afford significant injury. Probably counting on getting buyout guys.

Between the Rockets, the shoe deal and other endorsements Harden has over a 1/2 billion coming to him from here. How many titles will he win? I saw some Rockets fan predicting 6. That seems to be typical for super-hyped fans or at least the most exuberant. But really... one or none? Anybody here predicting 2 or more? One?

None, he's going to peak at the wrong time, as will his team.

Maybe one, if everything goes their way. Really all depends on the Warriors. I think he'll age pretty well, but if the Warriors are still around it probably won't matter.