I think some teams are going to get enamored with centers seeing as how flat the draft is this year. Will not be surprising to see the centers go earlier than expected—sort of like a poor man’s QB run in this year’s NFL draft. So, if that happens, it means there should be a trading partner or two available when the Rockets pick.
I think with the hype RS is getting Rox can now trade the 3rd pick to Utah for their 7th and 14th. That'd be my move personally.
You are trading two non-shooters for one who is a better rebounder and passer. Also, Tate, Green, Adams (and potentially Jock) are all expiring contracts. They need to be converted into longer term contracts that can be traded down the road at some point.
He does not get that KAT would not want to be here but on a veteran contender. And reversely the Rockets would want a younger star to team up with Sengün and not dump Sengün.
To Timberwolves: #3 Pick Landale To Rockets: Naz Reid Timberwolves have the highest payroll and are over the cap with just their 2 centers and 2 power forwards. Conley is old and there are replacement level guards in this draft that will be there at 3. They can drop Landale's non-guaranteed deal and move their 3rd center for their future point guard. The rockets would get the reigning 6 man of the year who is 24, just shot 41% from 3, and plays defense. He can play next to Sengun and Jabari or back them up. I feel like he's as good as anything coming in this draft.
#3 pick isn't going to get Mitchell. The Cavs are win now mode. This is the closest I could get... still don't know if cavs do since Ingram could be a rental... To Cavs Brandon Ingram Jalen Green Future Nets pick To Pelicans #3 pick Dillon Brooks JaeSean Tate To Rockets Donovan Mitchell Trey Murphy Rockets: FVV / Thompson Mitchell / Whitmore Eason / Murphy Smith Sengun / Adams Cavs: Darius Garland Jalen Green Brandon Ingram Evan Mobley Jarrett Allen Pelicans: #3 Draft Pick CJ McCollum Dillon Brooks Zion Williamson Jonas Valanciunas
KAT is the 5th highest paid player in the league and he's maybe top 25. It's costing you FVV too so the deal works. It's the contract that makes him undesirable.
And it's costing you the third pick. Even though this isn't the strongest draft that's a huge overpay.
In terms of value, I think this actually is one of the more reasonable deals out there. Murray is the level of player where a #3 pick in a weak draft could net, and also make sense for the Rockets. But after getting the #1 pick I think Atlanta is more looking to keep building rather than tearing it down. The only trade that makes sense for them to rebuild would be to trade Young to SA and get all their picks back so they can tank properly.
I genuinely can’t find a trade with a player that we could realistically get that would be better than the 3rd pick… I’d do it I think if they took Brooks… but green and young would be such a worse combo than Murray and young but they would be able to build around no 1 and no 3
IMO, if they're trading Murray, it would be after a Young trade and they're blowing it up. Trading away Murray for draft assets while keeping Young doesn't make sense, unless they REALLY think Sheppard's the real deal here. Cause none of the other top guys can contribute to winning on day 1 nearly as much as Sheppard (assuming their #1 pick is Sarr). In which case, they'd want Brooks over Green anyways. Unlikely either way, which is why I think the Rockets just keep the pick.
Apologies if I've missed it, but one upside comp to Sheppard I've been thinking about is Tyrese Haliburton. From the plus-plus efficiency, elite shooting, and weird defensive profile, there's a lot of similarity there. See the below pre-draft profile of Halliburton -- https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2020...-state-guard-offense-defense-shooting-passing Taking inspiration from the embedded tweet, I looked at other players with a 40%+ 3P%, +10 BPM, <25 USG, which Sheppard meets. The list is Haliburton (SO), Lonzo Ball (FR), Mario Chalmers (JR), and Ty Lawson (JR). Lee Cummard (JR/BYU in 08 - now an assistant coach there) was the only undrafted player with those numbers. Mario Chalmers feels like a reasonable floor for Sheppard -- 10 year vet, started every game his rookie year and average 10-5 with 2 steals (top 5 in the league). Haliburton feels like an upside case, and Ball and Lawson are the "What if?" cases.
Maybe. I’m not valuing any of these guys very high. I think it’s going to be mostly luck with who the success stories will be. If we keep the pick, I’d be surprised if we get a player that ever averages 22/6/4.
I think there are players available that could put up good counting stats like that if given the freedom Kuzma is on that terrible Wizards team.
