ESPN: Rockets talking trade-up with Kings, Raptors -- targeting Dwight or Drummond?

[ROXTXIA]

Update:

UPDATE (12:48 a.m. ET): Upon hearing of Sunday night's developments, one rival general manager told ESPN.com that he believes Houston's real aim is acquiring two top-10 picks this week to turn around quickly and offer both to the Orlando Magic as part of a considerable trade offer for Dwight Howard. The Rockets' willingness to trade for Howard -- even without the All-Star center's signature on a contract extension -- is an open secret around the league. But it's believed that two top-eight picks, assuming Houston managed to complete trades with both Sacramento and Toronto, would seriously pique the interest of new Magic general manager Rob Hennigan, who could then quickly start following the same sort of roster-building blueprint relied on by his previous employers in Oklahoma City. Acquiring those early lottery picks, though, only represents half of Houston's challenge if Howard is indeed the Rockets' target. The other hurdle is convincing Hennigan, who hasn't even been on the job for a week in Central Florida, to part with Howard so quickly. As much as he's been schooled in building through the draft while working alongside Thunder GM Sam Presti, Hennigan could opt to take a more measured approach, make one more run at trying to convince Howard to sign an extension before entering the final year of his contract and then trade him later in the summer if those efforts go nowhere.

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http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/pos...ng-up-in-draft

June, 24, 2012 10:41 PM ET
Rockets set sights on moving up in draft

By Chad Ford and Marc Stein
ESPN.com

For the last several years, Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has been trying to package assets together to make a big deal on draft night. The 2012 draft is no different.

Sources say that Houston has discussed deals with several teams in the top 10 about moving up in the draft. And the Rockets might have found two willing partners.

Although sources stressed that no deal is imminent, Sacramento (No. 5) and Toronto (No. 8 ) have let Houston know that their top-10 selections are available. Sources say that the Rockets, in turn, have made both of their first-round picks available (No. 14 and No. 16), but the key to any trade going through could be point guard Kyle Lowry.

The Raptors have been especially fond of Lowry, who has been regarded for months as a borderline untouchable in Houston but more recently has publicly expressed his disastisfaction with Rockets coach Kevin McHale. Whether the Rockets are indeed prepared to part with Lowry, as talks with the Kings, Raptors and other teams continue, figures to be one of the bigger stories of draft week.

What’s clear from the Rockets’ end, sources say, is the player they’re fondest of in the upper reaches of the draft: UConn big man Andre Drummond. Many scouts believe Drummond has the second highest upside of any player in the draft behind consensus No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis, but the 7-foot, 279-pounder would almost certainly still be available at No. 5.

Drummond, as the second youngest player in the draft at 18, registered an impressive 7-foot-6 wingspan at the NBA Draft Combine earlier this month. Personnel experts regard him as an elite athlete and shot-blocker who moves laterally especially well. But Drummond’s inconsistent play as a freshman, combined with questions about his passion for the game, have caused his draft stock to take a slight hit in recent weeks.

The tipoff that the Kings are likely to deal the No. 5 pick between now and Thursday night, sources say, is the handful of players they’ve brought in that are expected to be drafted in the middle of the first round. Sources say two of those players in particular – North Carolina’s John Henson and St. John’s Moe Harkless – are high on the Kings’ draft board.

Henson has already worked out for the Kings and Harkless is scheduled to work out on Monday. Sacramento has also tried to get several other candidates for the middle of the first round, including UConn’s Jeremy Lamb and Washington’s Terrence Ross, into town for 11th-hour workouts.

[t0mdotcom]

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/pos...ng-up-in-draft

By Chad Ford and Marc Stein

For the last several years, Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has been trying to package assets together to make a big deal on draft night. The 2012 draft is no different.

Sources say that Houston has discussed deals with several teams in the top 10 about moving up in the draft. And the Rockets might have found two willing partners.

Although sources stressed that no deal is imminent, Sacramento (No. 5) and Toronto (No. 8 ) have let Houston know that their top-10 selections are available. Sources say that the Rockets, in turn, have made both of their first-round picks available (No. 14 and No. 16), but the key to any trade going through could be point guard Kyle Lowry.

The Raptors have been especially fond of Lowry, who has been regarded for months as a borderline untouchable in Houston but more recently has publicly expressed his disastisfaction with Rockets coach Kevin McHale. Whether the Rockets are indeed prepared to part with Lowry, as talks with the Kings, Raptors and other teams continue, figures to be one of the bigger stories of draft week.

What’s clear from the Rockets’ end, sources say, is the player they’re fondest of in the upper reaches of the draft: UConn big man Andre Drummond. Many scouts believe Drummond has the second highest upside of any player in the draft behind consensus No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis, but the 7-foot, 279-pounder would almost certainly still be available at No. 5.

Drummond, as the second youngest player in the draft at 18, registered an impressive 7-foot-6 wingspan at the NBA Draft Combine earlier this month. Personnel experts regard him as an elite athlete and shot-blocker who moves laterally especially well. But Drummond’s inconsistent play as a freshman, combined with questions about his passion for the game, have caused his draft stock to take a slight hit in recent weeks.

The tipoff that the Kings are likely to deal the No. 5 pick between now and Thursday night, sources say, is the handful of players they’ve brought in that are expected to be drafted in the middle of the first round. Sources say two of those players in particular – North Carolina’s John Henson and St. John’s Moe Harkless – are high on the Kings’ draft board.

Henson has already worked out for the Kings and Harkless is scheduled to work out on Monday. Sacramento has also tried to get several other candidates for the middle of the first round, including UConn’s Jeremy Lamb and Washington’s Terrence Ross, into town for 11th-hour workouts.

[acshen]

This would be awesome.

[Dreamin]

Lowry+14+16 is a pretty sweet package. Martin and Dalembert could be used with the picks as well as alternatives. Id love to see us use Morris too.

[JMAD21]

My guess is we'll hold out on trading Lowry (to move up) till the last second because we want to package him for Gasol.

[thumbs]

Originally Posted by JMAD21 My guess is we'll hold out on trading Lowry (to move up) till the last second because we want to package him for Gasol.

I hope Morey forgets about Gasol. He is beginning the downhill slope of his career and is very, very expensive. Also, he doesn't want to play here in Houston.

[jacoby]

Sources: Rockets talking draft trades w/ Kings & Raptors. Is Drummond the target? (via @ESPNSteinLine & I) espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/… (free)

— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) June 25, 2012

I'm sure Morey has been in touch with every GM and their mothers about moving up, but I'd figure I shared. I'd be ecstatic if Morey pulled off Drummond. We need a guy on the roster who has star potential.

[jacoby]

I'm an idiot. You can lock this.

[mikol13]

Sources: Rockets talking draft trades w/ Kings & Raptors. Is Drummond the target? (via @ESPNSteinLine & I) espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/…

[coachbadlee]

Well, #5 and #10 here we come!!!

Yeeeeeee-haaaawwwwwww!!!!!!

[RedNation]

Cousins for the 16 coming true?

[redhotrox]

Drummond? Jopatmc faints.

[True Rocket]

Get Andre the giant Morey!!

[Carl Herrera]

Portland AND Blazers?!

[coachbadlee]

[Chad Ford] Rockets in talks with Portland and Blazers for higher pick

Wow!!! We want picks from the Portland Trailblazers and the Blazers Portlands???!!!!!

[Carl Herrera]

Originally Posted by coachbadlee Wow!!! We want picks from the Portland Trailblazers and the Blazers Portlands???!!!!!

Maybe we can give one of them the 14th pick and the other one the 16th pick and they can draft Royce White twice.

[jacoby]

Wow. I meant to say Raptors and Blazers. My mind is somewhere else tonight.

[rocketblaze]

Awesome.

Goodbye, Lowry!

[Moonscope]

But it is Kings and Raptors. The article doesn't even mention Portland....

[chief]

Originally Posted by jacoby Sources: Rockets talking draft trades w/ Kings & Raptors. Is Drummond the target? (via @ESPNSteinLine & I) espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/… (free) — Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) June 25, 2012 I'm sure Morey has been in touch with every GM and their mothers about moving up, but I'd figure I shared. I'd be ecstatic if Morey pulled off Drummond. We need a guy on the roster who has star potential.

im not sure the rockets should throw everything at drummond..too many busts come to mind..beal looks good as does jeremy lamb. also shouldnt rely too much on dhoward trade for all its gonna take..(alot)..but guys like roy hibbert and nick batum may be more realistic targets