Rebuilding- Houston Style?

[The One]

Is that what Danny is doing?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1981878-houston-rockets-set-standard-for-what-successful-rebuild-looks-like

I don't think the Rockets bottomed out.  If memory serves, they made many moves while getting incrementally better but above all keeping flexible.

Then when the Harden opportunity came up, they pounced.  Grabbing the superstar.

If so, are you cool with this approach?

[BudweiserCeltic]

This is the Celtics/Ainge style... if anything the Houston Rockets copied it, with the difference that Ainge actually got a championship out of it.

[MBunge]

Honestly, Houston is a testament to how much luck matters.  If OKC hangs onto Harden for one more year, which plenty of folks think they should have done, where are the Rockets then?  If Howard doesn't opt in for his final year in Orlando or does take a lot more to stay in LA, where are the Rockets then?

Which isn't to say Ainge hasn't benefited from his share of luck.

Mike

[littleteapot]

Honestly, Houston is a testament to how much luck matters.

And state taxes

[Cman]

Honestly, Houston is a testament to how much luck matters.  If OKC hangs onto Harden for one more year, which plenty of folks think they should have done, where are the Rockets then?  If Howard doesn't opt in for his final year in Orlando or does take a lot more to stay in LA, where are the Rockets then?

Which isn't to say Ainge hasn't benefited from his share of luck.

Mike

Frankly, I think Houston got lucky against the Clippers last year. Anyone else think they'll make the Conference Finals again?

[MJohnnyboy]

Honestly, Houston is a testament to how much luck matters.  If OKC hangs onto Harden for one more year, which plenty of folks think they should have done, where are the Rockets then?  If Howard doesn't opt in for his final year in Orlando or does take a lot more to stay in LA, where are the Rockets then?

Which isn't to say Ainge hasn't benefited from his share of luck.

Mike

Frankly, I think Houston got lucky against the Clippers last year. Anyone else think they'll make the Conference Finals again?

Nope. Heck I think their the 6th best team in the west fully healthy. Warriors thrashed the Rockets and remain the same Lee or no Lee. Spurs and Clippers improved themselves mightily this off-season. OKC's getting Durant back and retained Kanter. Grizzlies improved their roster getting guys who fit their style (Barnes and Wright).

I thought by re-signing Smith and getting a playmaker like Ty Lawson, Houston would be up there with them, but Smith's gone and the Rockets may not get Lawson if he gets waived. If they get another playmaker, they could be up there, but they don't currently have one besides Harden (sorry Dwight).

They better do something soon, because if they get ousted in the first round again, Dwight Howard may not pick up his player option and bolt because he wants to win now.

[DarkAzcura]

Ainge > Morey > Ainge

Morey learned it here.

[TheFlex]

I guess you could say that Morey took note of much of Ainge's strategy towards landing top talent, but Houston's situation pre-Harden is much more similar to Boston's current situation in that neither team had/has a late 20s Paul Pierce on its roster.

[LGC88]

Honestly, Houston is a testament to how much luck matters.  If OKC hangs onto Harden for one more year, which plenty of folks think they should have done, where are the Rockets then?  If Howard doesn't opt in for his final year in Orlando or does take a lot more to stay in LA, where are the Rockets then?

Which isn't to say Ainge hasn't benefited from his share of luck.

Mike

IF Lebron chose to stay 1 more year in Miami, we would have landed Love.
IF the Cavs didn't win the lottery and pick at #9 where they were supposed to, we would have landed Love.

[PhoSita]

As I've said elsewhere, I think the Celtics are absolutely in a very similar position to those Post-Yao, Pre-Harden Rockets.

We've got to hope desperately for a Harden situation to arise.

[Celtics4ever]

Rockets were extremely lucky to get Harden, he fell in their lap.  Also, to be honest, the Rockets were pretenders not contenders with Yao and that crew.   The crew he has now is about the same things.   They will get to the playoffs and lose.

[Csfan1984]

I will be watching Harrison Barnes growth closely this year. Wish we could trade for him already in the Lee deal. I'd give up Dallas pick, Cavs pick and PJ3 for Barnes.