I felt he could be an interesting addition on offense if he got himself in good shape. 6'8" is better than 6'4" at the 4 spot. Defense is his weak spot.
He is everything I wanted Kuminga to be at PF. Both may take different paths, as Kuminga may best play as SF his entire career, while Cam Oliver is more PF. I liked Oliver a ton coming out of college as a Rocket. Better decision making and shot selection and experience than Kuminga right now. If Rockets get top 4 pick, I think they can take Cade or Jalen Green if the pick is #1 or #2. Suggs or Mobley with either #3 or pick #4. Whichever is available. Maybe Jalen Green slips to us at #3 or #4. Sign him to training camp stint please, Patrick/Stone
I think Cam is starting to mature. He is much fitter than he was 3 years ago. I always like a head coach with the ability to teach offense and defense. Silas is a offensive coach, he needs a defensive associate coach to help the youngsters in training camp and in the upcoming season. Cam and so many players could benefit a great deal from that. Kuminga has a decent handle with the ability to post up and pretty good playmaking abiliity. I like him, but Cade is my final first choice followed by Jalen Green. Green and Mobley have the best chances to move up with strong workouts, but Mobley has the hardest job because of his slim frame and his weak jumper. Mobley's post up game is improving, but his jump hook is weak as well. Suggs is a safe player, he has moved to number 3 for me. I fear we will end up with Giddy at 20 or so. Selecting Bassey would be nice with the Milwaukee pick.
Man, just a while ago you said that Kuminga was a better shooting LJ with a dash of Scottie Pippen and now you're saying Cameron Oliver is what you hope Kuminga can be? And are you saying that signing Oliver impacts the rockets plan with a top draft pick?
I haven't backed off that. A try not distort things. I said LJ of UNLV when he played at about 235 pounds. Right now Kuminga is about 224 pounds and Oliver is about 226 pounds. You can see Kuminga in videos speed down court in front of most and gets the ball in the rim in many ways much like Scottie Pippin did. Get a mismatch of 6'8" vs smaller point guard as first defender back. I don't feel Cam Oliver is that good or has the ceiling Kuminga does in the fast break department. That's not to say Kuminga is better. If you want the greater ceiling you may want Kuminga. If you want further along right now...... Oliver. Look at the videos of Oliver recently. Looks like LJ as well. Even has the jersey hanging out often. I'm talking about paying Oliver less than using a top 4 pick on Kuminga which probably starts off at $7M. Oliver can probably be had for $1.8M.......and still have the top 4 pick to use on Suggs. Suggs could replace Augustin. Suggs getting $7M replacing Augustin $7M. Avery Bradley $5M team option can be executed. All in all it would come out: Suggs ($7M) / Khyri Thomas ($800,000) = $7.8M (ball park figure) vs Augustin ($7M) / Avery Bradley ($5M)= $12M (roughly) Saves, let's say approximately$4M........out with the old in with the younger. PG) Wall...Suggs / K Thomas (I prefer my 3rd stringer making $800,000 instead of $7M) The cost put into Suggs/Thomas buys time in keeping Wall $44M. Keeping Wall extended time because no one wants that contract. Not because I like him. That's if we pick #3 or #4. I actually would pick Cade if #1 or Jalen Green if we have the #2 pick. Edited: LaMelo was the 3rd pick last season. Makes $7.83M year one.
Yes, ultimately in have or had #1 Cade Cunningham then Jalen Green #2 on my wish list. Then Kuminga. But with Oliver I feel the Rockets can pass on Kuminga Cade and Green are gone and the Rockets end up picking #3 or #4. Before Oliver I saw it as the Rockets debating between Kuminga/Suggs/Mobley After Oliver, the choice should be either Suggs/Mobley. I strongly feel Cam Oliver would have made the Rockets if he didn't get injured just before the roster was set. Will fit in well with the Silas scheme. Screens, lobs, Cuts, Slashes, receiving the ball near the FT line and passing from there, 3's. More than adequate for 16 points a game. Insurance if Olynyk does not re-sign, as I have Wood/Olynyk penciled in as the PF's next sason
Sweet. A gem from the past! This kid actually showed promise in college from what I recall from his last stint with the Rockets' Summer League team a few years ago, but he got injured and was cut. Then I thought he had a serious injury again somewhere else, then I never heard about him again. All I recall is that he was athletic, had a 40" vertical and a 7' wingspan. That's a good starting point for yet another Rockets GEM.
I wouldn't get too fixated on the coaches just yet; but you may be right. I'm not a fan of Rick Higgins and DeSanga Diop. Sometimes not getting the ball in the hole can send your defensive numbers down the tubes. Like missing 3's, leading to long rebounds, leading to fast breaks. Team Stats (20/21): 3PA.............3rd (40.3, stinks when you are dead last in 3P%) leads to long rebs & 30-pt deficits 3P%.............30th Ast...............25th (ton of guards was suppose to lead to high assist numbers, have to convert) Total Rebs...26th OReb............22nd DReb............24th TOV's...........23rd FG%..............28th FGA..............13th (88.6 per game, good but stinks when you are 28th in %) Points...........24th FT%...............28th FTA...............10th (good, but not a good FT shooting team) Defense (some good) Stls...............14th Blks..............10th