For comparison purposes, here are Taylor's and Payton's stats with the Vipers... Their MPG is almost exactly the same, although Taylor's sample size is much smaller. TL;DR: Specs-wise, Taylor seems like a better scorer, PG and 3-point threat, while Payton is a better defender. Taylor Played in 12 games, started 7. 33.3 minutes per game 21.1 pts 2.6 rebounds 6.1 assists 2.6 turnovers 0.7 steals .497 FG% .413 3P% .529 2P% .795 FT% Payton Started all 37 games. 33.7 minutes per game 14.7 pts 6.6 rebounds 3.5 assists 1.8 turnovers 2.1 steals .476 FG% .303 3P% .618 2P% .699 FT%
No idea if he will work out but I like the signing. I watched Taylor at UT and he was a projected lotto pick type talent for a bit. If he had a shot like this at UT he would have been a late lotto pick.
Weren't Aaron Brooks, Kyle Lowry, and Pat Beverly also Morey's scrubby point guards at some point? Jet was good for what he was, Prigioni wasn't bad, Huertas doesn't count (was a Rocket for an hour), Ennis doesn't look good but the book isn't closed on him, and Brown sucks. i trust Morey with PG spot. Also - random point: the new CBA apparently allows for 17 players on a roster with 2 of them being "2 way contracts" - basically D-League stashes. i think they're only allowed to spend ~40 days on an NBA roster per season or else they get a *real* roster spot. Morey just getting ahead of the curve with this signing.
I am a big UT basketball fan. Taylor may have more foot speed than any guard on the Rockets. From watching the videos I was shocked at how much more developed his body looks and it appears he is starting to shoot better. If this is true, he definitely can be a NBA point guard. His court vision while not Harden level is probably good enough for an NBA point guard. The guy was a late bloomer who was not heavily recruited for college, so maybe he is still developing more than usual. However, I wonder if his shooting percentage is jacked up by his always ability to use his blazing speed to get to the basket.
True. It might be harsh to judge either this early in their career but it is clear they aren't going to be NBA ready this season. I doubt any other team would sign them this year. Wouldn't the 14th and 15th spots be best filled from veterans who can fill in for spot minutes or if injury occurs (Calderon, Sullinger, Chalmers, Jarret Jack, Scola)? We are in WIN NOW mode.
He's not a combo, he's a pure point. Great ball handler and high basket IQ, plays very well in transition and the p&r. Explosive first step. Puts very solid effort defensively, very active. Reminds a little bit to Ish (very good natural passer), but seems to have worked a lot in his shooting...he was a poor shooter at college, not a very good finisher. Looks very improved, props to him. Promising PG. And yeah, his SL was terrible, but you do good scouting to appreciate talent beyond that. Props to the Rockets organization.
Yeah, I'm guessing the reason Morey wanted to lock him up is because he's impressed by Taylor's progress between summer and now. Payton, on the other hand, doesn't look that much better.
Hmm. I would have expected, in the event of failure of our first win-now target, to continue looking for win-now moves. If the backup plan was to sign back-bench players on cheap, long-term deals to prepare for the future, we'd have been just as well off holding on to KJ and Ennis. I'm not mad, just figured that if you're giving away young guys for roster space that you'd use the space for veterans, not more young guys.
Good potential cheap Lou Williams replacement if we need the capspace to make a major FA addition this offseason. Obviously he is not as good as Lou but gotta have options for opening up that cap space. Outside of Bogut I don't know how much impact we would see from any of the buyout guys but who knows, still a spot left.
