(The Athletic) Detroit might pass on Cade and take Jalen Green #1?

Like I said, if you don't like what I'm posting there's an ignore button (trust me, I'll be fine). People post their reasoning on why something is a good idea. I post my reasoning on why something is not a good idea and I tend to think that my posts, for the most part, over the past 20 years have been pretty even keeled (e.g. I put some thought into what I post). I've spoilered the below because you might not want to read all of it if my previous posts are so confounding on a forum where people are comparing Mobley to Zhou Qi.

Spoiler

The "same question" regarding value centers around the logistics of Stone using any kind of asset to move up one spot to number 1.

Facts and safe assumptions so far:
1. Cunningham has reportedly said he will only visit one team and one team only. Assuming this is true then Stone will pretty much have only scouting tapes from his college games as a reference.
2. Assuming Stone follows the typical draft process, the Rockets will bring in Green, Mobley, Suggs, etc. to work out as well as interview them.
3. Lip service or not, Weaver stated that trading the 1st is a possibility.

-Now let's say one of the three mentioned in #2 completely wows them. Does Stone stay at #2 to draft someone they personally had a work out with and have vetted out, including interviews, scouting reports/videos? Or do they pick up a phone call and try to trade for the #1 pick to take someone that they didn't personally work out and can only go by whatever tape they have their hands on in Cunningham?

-Now let's say NONE of the three mentioned in #2 completely wows them. Would Stone then call up Detroit offering the #2 and whatever else to get his hands on Cade? I'd say yes that's a possibility, a strong possibility.

-Now let's say Detroit brings in Green for a work out. Weaver now not only has seen Cade but also Jalen. If after assessing their workouts and interviews he wants Green, why would Stone want to help Weaver out by giving up that valuable asset to take on a prospect he couldn't personally vet out? Why couldn't he just call Weaver's bluff and say "Thanks but no thanks. We'll take whoever you won't take at #2 and keep that draft pick and extract more return from you later". If Detroit sees both players as relative equals, what incentive do the Rockets have to make a trade to #1 to help out the Pistons when they won't be able to get a personal visit/workout with Cade? It's like "Stone, you have only two options. Door 1 is a prospect you've personally interviewed and brought in for a work out and passed with flying colors and is also someone the team picking ahead of you brought in and is now considering as a pick. Door 2 is a prospect deemed to be the #1 pick for a while now, but who you could not visit/interview, and is now somehow on the same level with another prospect according to the team picking ahead of you. Which door do you pick?"

-Now let's say Green wows both Houston AND Detroit. Then that's another scenario to play out as Detroit could want to pick Green 1st but Stone would have to trade assets (e.g. the protected pick) to move up to nab Green.

I recognize the assumption, based on performances in either college or G League, that Cade is the player to go at #1. But things can change, especially if the expected #1 pick only works out for one team. That puts pressure on said team to pick that player even if he underwhelms during his visit/workout....unless said team brings in other prospects to evaluate. If the Pistons bring in additional prospects to work out after Cunningham's visit it could look as just "going through the motions" but ultimately it means that they aren't 100% sure on Cunningham, leaving Stone to be in the driver seat of any trade talks between Houston and Detroit. Remember, Cade might be the #1 rated prospect but he hasn't been deemed as a transcendent/generational talent. It would benefit Detroit and Weaver if Cunningham visits Houston or Cleveland or Toronto...basically an additional team so that it could drive up the asking price on the 1st pick.

 

Cade is taking a huge risk for this 1 workout with Detroit. I def can see him getting passed on.

 

What risk? he might purposefully suck so he can come home.

 

Money difference.

The guy's main goal is to be the #1 pick.

 

Cade not working out for the Rockets wouldn't stop me from picking him if he fell to number 2

 

If Detroit doesn't pick Cade, they'll really be making a Luka level mistake.

He may not have the same athleticism as Green but it's clear he understands the game at the level of an elite PG ala CP3.

 

Agreed.

 

the difference is minimal. Im sure Tilman enterprise endorsements can make up for it.

 

Although I prefer Green over Cade, the Rockets can't lose in this situation.

 

being a 17-win team means there's no place to go but up. But Tilly is the X-factor and could still snatch the rug out from under our rebuild.

 

Well we either get Green or Cade

The only way to lose is to draft Mobley lol

 

I didn't watch enough G League to really scout Green but I watched a decent amount of Ok State this year and Cade is not on Luka's level as a prospect. His floor is pretty high but it's very possible and honestly really probable that he's more of a secondary creator in the NBA rather than a primary facilitator.

I'd be surprised if he winds up as the best player in this draft. I'd also be surprised if he's worse than ~5th or so. So he's a very safe pick.

Green seems like there's higher reasonable upside than Cade but a much lower reasonable floor.

 

I'm taking green #1 over case.

He will be a combo of Westbrook & harden.

Not that sold on Cade.

 

Man, just days ago, Cade was the consensus pick for most of CF (Cade or bust). Now, he's just like meh, top 5 maybe. I'm not buying it. There's something more than athleticism that makes him the consensus #1 pick.

 

CF/Rockets twitter has a raging boner for Jalen Green.

Who knew, they were sucking the whole year not for Cade but for Green! “Fade for Cade”…nope, “Suck for Green!”

 

Really? Ask the teams who drafted Fultz, Anthony Bennett, Greg Oden, Kwame Brown, Hasheem ThaScrub, Joe Alexander, Shawn Bradley, Candyman, Darko Milicic, Sam Bowie etc...
The chances for a draft bust is real. The nba combine athletics record holders are all scrubs, not one of them is a decent player.

That said... Cade Cunningham can shoot vs. good college competition which is a very valuable asset. Can he do it vs. nba level defense?, can his body hold up?, will his coaches use him in a way conducive to his success? Best answer is we don't know.

When it comes to potential "bust" traits I think Cade, Green, Suggs have a better chance at success than Mobley. Big men add extra odds for physical issues.

 

I wouldn't mind Mobley.........Isaiah.

Speaking of, if all the mocks and media pundits have the Rockets
getting Evan; wouldn't they be threatening to pick Evan Mobley.

I'm sure others have pointed this out: Detroit picks #1 Green, Houston then
selects #2 Cade.........Detroit (speaking): Cleveland, you don't want to end up
with Mobley do you? You need to step up to the plate and deal with us (Pistons)
for the #1 pick.

Don't @ me, "Team Mobley" lol

 

we adapt to our environment. Be like wata my friend

 

The real NBA money is the second contract, both will be max, and endorsement money. Houston has yielded more endorsement money than Detroit. We've actually got a pretty high profile for recent and former players.

 

Houston is a huge market…that’s why I don’t understand all the media hate and bias.