[Jonathan Givony] Rockets trying to trade up in the draft

My guess is for Lillard or Sullinger. These guys just may fall low enough for the Rockets to move up. I expect this will be the first year the Rockets are throwing in a player as coveted as Lowry as part of a potential trade up package.

 

Well I dont see how Botson could move up past us with two lower picks. So the Rockets better get that done. Ohh and include Lowry in that deal if you have to. You already know what he wants.

 

In all the previous years the Rockets have tried to move up, they have had a specific target in mind--Cousins, Rubio, Valanciunas.

This year I think they are targeting Sullinger. He is
a) a center (our biggest need and the same position as 2 of our previous draft targets)
b) a bit undersized (Morey loves the undersized players)
c) attainable (likely fall outside the top 8)
d) already established (Morey doesn't draft on potential
e) offensive minded (Morey tends to value offense more than defense in his acquisitions (Valanciunas, Kmart, Budinger, Morris, NeNe)

 

Hornets, Kings and Blazers (all of whom have a high lottery pick) could really use a PG like Kyle Lowry! :grin:

 

Get it done this time Morey. Its your job on the line. No really it is this time. So get it done.

 

Or they could just take Dragic away from us or go after Lin or Williams. I doubt those teams give up that much for Lowry by himself.

 

Right. Thats why people say one draft pick plus Lowry.

 

• Benson will run the Hornets, how?
• Thomas did a nice job in Sac last season.
• W

hen will the Blazers find a GM - - and a direction.

 

Well first of all, free agency signing's aren't guaranteed, any of these teams could lose out on all three PG's. Not to mention Lowry is on a really cheap contract relative to his playing level, probably cheaper then what Williams or Dragic will make.

Additionally Rockets could also provide these teams with an additional mid 1st rounder and/or late lottery pick in a package with Kyle Lowry. Personally, I think their is a trade to be had here, it just comes down to both teams meeting at the middle.

 

But the best players in draft are all arguably in top 5, and some of the players are projected to be very good, like Beal, Gilchrist, Davis, Robinson and even Barnes.

Such players can be risk, yet hard to come by, if they pan out. Lowry is a good player, but he's much easier to replace or make up the difference for.

 

I think that the player Sully is closest to in size and ability is Scola; a little wider, about the same height, about the same range and post up moves, about the same vertical and about the same lateral quickness. I can't see him as an effective NBA center.

 

Uhh yeah, I think most people would agree.. Drummond is going #2 as long as he doesn't take a dump at center court during private workouts, and I could see Rivers moving up in the draft like Curry did a few years ago.

 

Morey should tell the world he's going to trade DOWN just to throw everybody off.

 

Dont you mean knee pads

 

Telling everyone so far never works with this guy. Morey needs to shut up and get it done. He is like the man who cant keep his plans from the hero coming to save the day and then he goes on this long eveil sinister monologue. Before you know it that idiot Morey gave some other person a chance to swoop in and steal away his plans from him. I wish he would just SHUT UP AND DO IT ALREADY!

 

Portland will move up and draft the first 10 picks ... 8 of them will have career-ending injuries within the first 3 years... the other 2 will be traded. The Rockets will end up with a 6'9" PF and a 6'8.5" PF. In the 2nd round they will move up to draft the best player available, who coincidentally will be a 6'8" center.

Bet me.

 

They blew off a number 8 pick in a deep draft for glue. They've got two Lottery picks that can't get onto the court. Or lack productivity and constency if/when they do. They nearly corraled an entire Top 9 Lottery draft via trades. All with zippo results.

They've drafted two 2nd rounders that would get PT on a contender.

With a track record like that...they should be looking to trade down!

 

Sullinger is much better than Scola IMO. He's A LOT wider than Scola and at 286 pounds can bang with centers pretty well. He has a low center of gravity like Chuck Hayes and could be a very good defender. He can also block shots occasionally and rebound much better than Scola. He is slow though, and that's why he'll probably end up being a center.

 

We got that same report last year. And the year before that. And what pick dod we end up with in those drafts? No splash. No splash indeed.

 

If we're going back to Battier days, we should add in Landry as another 2nd rounder that would be in a rotation anywhere (assuming you're currently counting Parsons/Budinger). And Brooks picked in the 20s did more than our lotto picks have.

You may be onto something!