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Trade winds blowing: Rockets hinting at win-now mindset in deals
Feb 2, 2024, 4:19 pm
Jalen Green is a hot topic when it comes to trades. Composite Getty Image.
The Rockets have been waiting patiently. Their fans have been frothing at the mouth. Finally, they made a move.
The trade to bring in Steven Adams may not have been the type of move many were looking forward to, but it's a move that'll help. Remember, they had Brooke Lopez all but signed on the dotted line until he decided to go back to Milwaukee this past offseason. Knowing Alperen Sengun is limited defensively, bringing in a big who can help was a priority. Lopez was more ideal because he can also hit the three. When that fell through, Jock Landale was the contingency plan.
Fast-forward to the now, and this team is threatening a play-in spot. As of this writing, they're a half game behind the 10th spot. At one point, they were as high as a 6th seed. Head coach Ime Udoka wants to win now. He sees the talent this team has and knows what it's capable of. There were some phases of the plan the organization talked about when he was hired. It seems like the plan is ahead of schedule and the team is ready to accelerate things.
Now, of course Adams wasn't the “star” they're hunting for. The Rockets are most likely looking for a piece to bring that will fit with their young core, as well as the vets they signed this past offseason. Outside shooting is something I feel they need. Yes, they're shooting 35% as a team, but guys aren't as consistent as I'd like. Possibly another shot creator could be in the cards. Not necessarily another guard, so it could be a wing. I can't quite place a finger on what's required most as far as a “star” this team would need to add right now.
When your players are sought after by teams looking to compete for titles, that's a good thing. Especially when said guy (Jae'Sean Tate) plays 18 minutes a game that can be easily given to other guys who the team sees as more of a long term investment. Looking at Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason, and Amen Thompson specifically. Tate, while a solid vet, is already 28 years old. The guys I listed are 19, 22, and 21 respectively. They all can provide the same qualities Tate can in different forms. Given some time to develop, and they'll all be better pros.
Jalen Green is a hot topic when it comes to trades. Some want him to stay and feel he's untouchable. Others want the team to be built around Sengun and feel Green is getting in the way. My philosophy has always been sell high if you're going to sell at all. He has a ceiling of an All NBA/All Star/league scoring leader, and a floor of a 20 PPG scorer who's more Robin or Alfred than Batman. I don't think the organization is ready to hit the eject button on him yet. He was the number two overall pick a couple of years ago. There's still time to see what he can do in the current construct of this team before blowing it up like that.
These are the numbers of every NBA all-star this year when they were 21yo.
I have no idea what Jalen Green is going to turn into, but maybe it's too soon to give up on him? pic.twitter.com/ylJ63og38D
— Jeremy Branham (@JeremyBranham) February 2, 2024
With the deadline being February 8 at 3pm EST, we'll all have to wait and see what takes place. There will undoubtedly be some more movement made by the Rockets. Who, how much, where, and why will all be worked out in the coming days. The rumor that Udoka wants to win now and usher in Phase Two immediately has caused some to think major moves could take place. I'm under the impression that may mean bringing in pieces around the guys they have as building blocks like Green, Sengun, and Jabari Smith Jr. Fred van Vleet and Dillon Brooks, the aforementioned vets they signed, aren't going anywhere. They've proven themselves as valuable pieces so far. If either were ever moved, it would be Brooks since there are guys on the roster that could potentially take his role in the coming years. Trade deadline watch will be fun again for this franchise! So, what are we wearing to the watch party?
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After finishing up with the Guardians the Astros have a rather important series for early May with the Seattle Mariners heading to town for the weekend. While it’s still too early to be an absolute must-win series for the Astros, losing the series to drop seven or nine games off the division lead would make successfully defending their American League West title that much more unlikely.
Since their own stumble out of the gate to a 6-10 record the Mariners have been racking up series wins, including one this week over the Atlanta Braves. The M’s offense is largely Mmm Mmm Bad, but their pitching is sensational. In 18 games after a 4-8 start, the Mariners gave up five runs in a game once. In the other 17 games they only gave up four runs once. Over the 18 games their starting pitchers gave up 18 earned runs total with a 1.44 earned run average. That’s absurd. Coming into the season Seattle’s starting rotation was clearly better on paper than those of the Astros and Texas Rangers, and it has crystal clearly played out as such into the second month of the schedule.
While it’s natural to focus on and fret over one’s own team's woes when they are plentiful as they have been for the Astros, a reminder that not all grass is greener elsewhere. Alex Bregman has been awful so far. So has young Mariners’ superstar Julio Rodriguez (though not Breggy Bad). A meager four extra base hits over his first 30 games were all Julio produced down at the ballyard. That the Mariners are well ahead of the Astros with J-Rod significantly underperforming is good news for Seattle.
Caratini comes through!
So it turns out the Astros are allowed to have a Puerto Rican-born catcher who can hit a little bit. Victor Caratini’s pedigree is not that of a quality offensive player, but he has swung the bat well thus far in his limited playing time and provided the most exciting moment of the Astros’ season with his two-out two-run 10th inning game winning home run Tuesday night. I grant that one could certainly say “Hey! Ronel Blanco finishing off his no-hitter has been the most exciting moment.” I opt for the suddenness of Caratini’s blow turning near defeat into instant victory for a team that has been lousy overall to this point. Frittering away a game the Astros had led 8-3 would have been another blow. Instead, to the Victor belong the spoils.
Pudge Rodriguez is the greatest native Puerto Rican catcher, but he was no longer a good hitter when with the Astros for the majority of the 2009 season. Then there’s Martin Maldonado.
Maldonado’s hitting stats with the Astros look Mike Piazza-ian compared to what Jose Abreu was doing this season. Finally, mercifully for all, Abreu is off the roster as he accepts a stint at rookie-level ball in Florida to see if he can perform baseball-CPR on his swing and career. Until or unless he proves otherwise, Abreu is washed up and at some point the Astros will have to accept it and swallow whatever is left on his contract that runs through next season. For now Abreu makes over $120,000 per game to not be on the roster. At his level of performance, that’s a better deal than paying him that money to be on the roster.
Abreu’s seven hits in 71 at bats for an .099 batting average with a .269 OPS is a humiliating stat line. In 2018 George Springer went to sleep the night of June 13 batting .293 after going hitless in his last four at bats in a 13-5 Astros’ win over Oakland. At the time no one could have ever envisioned that Springer had started a deep, deep funk which would have him endure a nightmarish six for 78 stretch at the plate (.077 batting average). Springer then hit .293 the rest of the season.
Abreu’s exile opened the door for Joey Loperfido to begin his Major League career. Very cool for Loperfido to smack a two-run single in his first game. He also struck out twice. Loperfido will amass whiffs by the bushel, he had 37 strikeouts in 101 at bats at AAA Sugar Land. Still, if he can hit .225 with some walks mixed in (he drew 16 with the Space Cowboys) and deliver some of his obvious power (13 homers in 25 games for the ex-Skeeters) that’s an upgrade over Abreu/Jon Singleton, as well as over Jake Meyers and the awful showing Chas McCormick has posted so far. Frankly, it seems unwise that the Astros only had Loperfido play seven games at first base in the minors this year. If McCormick doesn’t pick it up soon and with Meyers displaying limited offensive upside, the next guy worth a call-up is outfielder Pedro Leon. In January 2021 the Astros gave Leon four million dollars to sign out of Cuba and called him a “rapid mover to the Major Leagues.” Well…
Over his first three minor league seasons Leon flashed tools but definitely underwhelmed. He has been substantially better so far this year. He turns 26 May 28. Just maybe the Astros offense could be the cause of fewer Ls with Loperfido at first and Leon in center field.
Catch our weekly Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and I discuss varied Astros topics. The first post for the week generally goes up Monday afternoon (second part released Tuesday) via YouTube: stone cold stros - YouTube with the complete audio available via Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.