Better Big 3 - Rondo/Harden/Howard OR Melo/Harden/Howard

[perks-a-beast]

Rondo and Melo are two guys that Houston has been rumored to covet over the past few moths. The front office of Houston has done a tremendous job of stock piling talent and will also have two lucrative expiring contracts in Lin and Asik to use as the building blocks in blockbuster deal if they choose. 

If you're Houston, who would you rather go after? On one hand, Rondo has championship experience and a rugged, no-quit demeanor that Kevin McHale would love on a Houston roster who he has often called soft. On the other hand, the Harden/Carmelo combo would be hell for any team in the league to contain. Would be like Pierce/Allen on steroids.

Houston would ultimately have to give up less for Rondo, (Asik, Parsons, Beverley, and a 1st should get it done) and any deal for Carmelo would have to be a sign and trade scenario.

[Moranis]

Assuming you give up the exact same thing to acquire Rondo or Anthony, then you acquire Anthony and it isn't close. 

[Donoghus]

Assuming Melo's head is screwed on straight for the situation;  Harden/Melo/Howard.

[D.o.s.]

Assuming you give up the exact same thing to acquire Rondo or Anthony, then you acquire Anthony and it isn't close.

Assuming Melo's head is screwed on straight for the situation;  Harden/Melo/Howard.

yup.

[pearljammer10]

As much as I love and support Rondo I'd say Melo/Harden/Howard... Melo and Harden work better with the ball in their hands and Rondo wouldn't allow that to happen.

[gpap]

Hands down, Melo/Harden/Howard and actually (IMO) that would be a scary good team.

Melo and Harden bring the offense (and what an offensive 1-2 punch that would be) and DH brings the defense.

Wow, that happens and on paper, Houston is one of the three best teams in the league next year.

And because I like Kevin McHale, I actually wouldn't mind seeing that happen

(or seeing a Celtics/Rockets finals match-up one year )

[moiso]

I can't see Melo and Harden happy on the same team.  There aren't enough shots.

[LilRip]

I can't see Melo and Harden happy on the same team.  There aren't enough shots.

I don't think Harden is the type to gripe about shots. I mean, he came off the bench and played with Durant and Westbrook. If anything, it'll be Dwight who'll be grumbling.

[Who]

I take Melo over Rondo as third wheel but that is a title-winning nucleus either way.

[slamtheking]

I can't see Melo and Harden happy on the same team.  There aren't enough shots.

I don't think Harden is the type to gripe about shots. I mean, he came off the bench and played with Durant and Westbrook. If anything, it'll be Dwight who'll be grumbling.

I don't know about that.  he's the big cheese now in Houston.  Melo would cut into that drastically.

from a talent perspective, adding Melo gives them a scoring powerhouse but I actually think if they added Rondo they'd be better off.  Rondo will make the rest of that team better and can play really good D whereas Melo is pretty much all scoring and not a lot else.  Rondo is a triple double threat in every game and can get DH the passes he needs where he can be most effective.  Melo won't make anyone on that team better.

I'm not as high on Melo as many others are.  From a talent perspective, I'd go with Melo.  In terms of team fit and chemistry, I'd go with Rondo.

[CFAN38]

Melo is the better fit. Rondo and Harden both are ball dominate guards. Assuming Parsons is still there he and Melo could float between 3-4 and be a tough matchup for most teams.

[jaketwice]

Rondo/Harden/Howard.

Houston has the third highest ppg already. What, aside from scoring, does Melo really bring to his team? Rondo makes each player on the floor more of a threat, Melo just adds another threat. Free throw shooting would be a huge issue with that team (which would be dead last instead of second to last, with the addition of Rondo). Rondo defends his position, rebounds well, and is a massive upgrade over Beverly. Melo is a clear upgrade over Parsons - but with Harden around, you basically just need a guy to do what Parsons does: take corner threes.

[Fafnir]

2 3 point shooters is a better fit around Howard than 1.

[KGs Knee]

Not that it's on the table, but I might be most impressed with a trio of Rondo/Melo/Howard with Melo as a stretch 4. Put a couple 3 n D wings along them, and wow.

[PhoSita]

Melo, Harden, Howard.

It'd be relatively easy to get a competent point guard to put next to those guys.  Harden can handle the ball plenty.