triplebogey
03-31-2006, 03:22 AM
Okay, there's plenty of talk about a possible first round pick on this board, but as we all can see, the Rockets need multiple parts/upgrades to the roster in order to take the next step. So which players that fall out of the first round could the Rockets look at and who would fit with the team's needs?
First, I think two major areas of need are:
1) a big man who can shoot and stretch the defense
2) athleticism off the bench and a defensive stopper
This isn't all that the team needs, but we're not likely to find a starting 2 guard in the 2nd round/FA pool.
For the first area, I would go hard after a guy like Steve Novak, from Marquette. He's got one of the prettiest strokes from the outside I've ever seen. He's a skinny 6-10, but we don't need a person in this role to bang. Scott Padgett x3, in my opinion. If you watched the skills competition on ESPN last night, you saw him in the 3pt competition and you know what I'm talking about. He'd be a great role player. A guy like Kevin Pittsnogle works here, too.
For the second area, I think you can find a guy like James White from Cincy to be a defensive stopper, energy guy off the bench. He's limited in his offensive game and isn't a 3pt shooter, but I think he's an upgrade from Keith Boggans in his athleticism. The Rockets can't continue to rely on David Wesley to be their defensive stopper in the backcourt. He's on his last legs and isn't big enough to trouble big SG's anyway (last season's Dallas playoff series is an example as he couldn't contain Stackhouse). We keep hearing how the team wants to get younger and quicker...this offseason is the time to do it.
First, I think two major areas of need are:
1) a big man who can shoot and stretch the defense
2) athleticism off the bench and a defensive stopper
This isn't all that the team needs, but we're not likely to find a starting 2 guard in the 2nd round/FA pool.
For the first area, I would go hard after a guy like Steve Novak, from Marquette. He's got one of the prettiest strokes from the outside I've ever seen. He's a skinny 6-10, but we don't need a person in this role to bang. Scott Padgett x3, in my opinion. If you watched the skills competition on ESPN last night, you saw him in the 3pt competition and you know what I'm talking about. He'd be a great role player. A guy like Kevin Pittsnogle works here, too.
For the second area, I think you can find a guy like James White from Cincy to be a defensive stopper, energy guy off the bench. He's limited in his offensive game and isn't a 3pt shooter, but I think he's an upgrade from Keith Boggans in his athleticism. The Rockets can't continue to rely on David Wesley to be their defensive stopper in the backcourt. He's on his last legs and isn't big enough to trouble big SG's anyway (last season's Dallas playoff series is an example as he couldn't contain Stackhouse). We keep hearing how the team wants to get younger and quicker...this offseason is the time to do it.