He was inconsistent, but in this draft, I think he's probably every bit as good as those around him in the top-10, and unlike some, I don't think he's realized his full potential. Whether he achieves that or not, I have no idea, but that's the problem you have with drafting 19 year olds... who knows what they'll end up being. They may end up 20-30 lbs heavier, 1-3 inches taller, gain a jumpshot, finally understand team ball, etc. by the time they're 22.
Don't fall for the "It's a top 3/4 player draft" agenda that the draft community pushes out every year. 2021: "Top 4 draft" (Cade, Jalen, Mobley, Suggs) Players taken after 4: Josh Giddey, Franz Wagner, Alperen Sengun, Trey Murphy, Quentin Grimes. (And you can technically count Scottie Barnes because Suggs was actually the consensus #4) 2022: "Top 3 draft" (Banchero, Chet, Jabari) Players taken after 3: Keegan Murray, Jaden Ivey, Ben Mathruin, Shaedon Sharpe, Jeremy Sochan, Jalen Williams, Jalen Duren, Walker Kessler, Tari Eason Same with 2023 now being labeled as a Top 2 draft. Promise you there's a potential star available at 4. Or even multiple high-level starters we can trade back for. Hope Stone and the FO do their homework.
I would blackmail San Antonio, Charlotte, and Portland into passing on Wembanyama and draft the Frenchman.
I’m a Memphis fan not a Houston fanboy. He is well worth a top 5 pick. He plays primarily 4-5 on defense, but is agile enough to do ok against 3’s. He is the real deal. Do think you could maybe trade down somewhere in the top 8 and get him. He would be a very good backup center/PF. Jabari is going to put on 20-25 muscle this off-season I bet and he will be able to play defensive center as well. Walker has a good outside shot. A 3 man rotation between those 3 at PF/C would be outstanding.
The GM Stone always wanted a tall, athletic point guard. He begged Detroit for Cade. He wanted to make KPJ out of a point guard but that experiment failed. Stone tried to make Daishen Nix out of a point guard and it was a failure. However, Amen has a elite 1 step, elite vision and will be the most athletic player in the NBA. Great defender, rebounds and a gym rat. Stone is going draft Amen
Something like that. I was thinking more of Jabari at the 5 with Walker at the 4 switching when needed. I just don't see Sengun here long term with a defensive minded coach and Jalen Green to make up for. You need plus defenders on the court that can switch. A Smith, Walker, Tari lineup possibly makes up for having Green in the court.... even better if you can pick up Cam Johnson instead of Tari. Then you'd have shooting potentially AND defense.
Brah there is no such thing as a "great player" that would not immediately start and be the best player on this team. Hell, any markedly above avg PG should come in and start for this team. We have to be realistic or risk getting lost in hyperbole.
Trading down and getting Walker and either Black ir Wallace would do a lot in compensating for Green and Porter defensively.
Many analyst wants Amen to start for the Rockets, but that would be terrible. He such as Scoot Henderson would make too many mistakes and hurt our team. Amen is one year away and we need a veteran point guard to help our starters. Amen needs to be a backup point guard and learn from Harden.
Sincerely love the optimism but why would Jabari put on 20-25 lbs of muscle in 1 offseason when he didn't put on any last off-season? If he's capable of 25 in 1 why couldn't he muster 10 prior to last year? I agree w/ you on Walker's potential. His playmaking chops, court vision, and awareness/iq are very high for his size/age/athleticism combo and those will keep him on the court until his skill level in other areas ascends to match.
Anyone even suggesting we get back in the Harden business after his most recent demands has an automatically invalid position.
If we get Amen I think I'm off the Harden train unless it's somehow a 2-year contract (which I don't think will happen). I wouldn't mind Amen coming off the bench as a rook, but I'd rather have a veteran on a one year deal in front of him so he can start next year--in other words, trade for a guy on an expiring contract given the lack of good free agent options.
I think it’s too early to make a decision. I expect that some exciting players will bubble to the top after a few weeks of workouts. I can’t say there is a free agent I am excited about but every season there is a surprise trade so maybe in a month the Rockets can use the pick to pull a player that fits the roster offensively and defensively.
Who? There is no other point guards out there in free agency except Van Vleet from Toronto. Van Vleet is a professional, championship pedigree to be our starting point guard.
