Let’s start with the first pick. This week there were reports that the Rockets, who hold the no. 2 pick, may want to trade up to no. 1, currently held by the Detroit Pistons. Houston would love to select Cade Cunningham, a 6-foot-8 playmaker from Oklahoma State. But league sources have emphasized in recent days that it’s highly likely the Pistons will just stay put and take Cunningham. Teams think Cunningham will go first, whether or not a trade were to happen. But the selection at no. 2 will cause ripple effects throughout the draft. Will the Rockets’ choice be Jalen Green, a 6-foot-5 scorer who played in the G League? Evan Mobley, a versatile big man out of USC? Jalen Suggs, a floor general from Gonzaga? Or will they trade down? League sources say the Rockets prefer Green. Selecting him would make perfect sense: Not only is scoring a premium skill, he’s also flashed playmaking ability. Green is raw, but the Rockets have a young team that doesn’t need to worry about contending anytime soon. He’s a hard worker, and at just 19 years old, he’s only starting to tap into his full potential as an elite athlete with shot-creation skills. It would not be a shocker if he ends up as this draft’s best player. Though Mobley and Suggs remain in consideration, teams are planning for scenarios in which Houston will pick Green. https://www.theringer.com/2021/7/16/22579643/nba-draft-houston-rockets-cade-cunningham-jalen-green-evan-mobley
Francis is a loser, hopefully the only thing Francis and Green have in common is insane athletic ability and not alcoholism/drug addiction.
(Don’t have insider…) Detroit Pistons receive: The No. 2 pick, the No. 24 pick, return of their protected 2022 first-round pick Houston Rockets receive: The No. 1 pick, the No. 37 pick Kevin Pelton: Although we've seen teams move up from No. 3 to No. 1, there has never been a swap of the top two picks in the same NBA draft like I'm proposing here. Part of the issue, I'm sure, is agreeing to the right compensation. After all, if the Pistons really prefer Jalen Green (or Evan Mobley) while the Rockets think Texas native Cunningham is the clear top prospect, why move up at all? Houston would in that scenario assure Detroit doesn't trade the pick to someone else, and I think there's a reasonable package to be found. https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/31824651/2021-nba-draft-the-detroit-pistons-get-traded-no-1-pick
KOC being a little bit dramatic here because the "ripple" isn't even that big. Cleveland shouldn't take another point guard so Suggs at #3 is highly improbable. So they'll pick whoever the Rockets won't select between Green and Mobley. Toronto needs an heir apparent to Kyle Lowry and Suggs fits that role perfectly. If Green somehow slips to #4 it wouldn't be a bad thing at all for the Raptors. 1. If the Rockets take Green, Cleveland will take Mobley and Toronto will take Suggs 2. If the Rockets take Mobley, Cleveland will take Green and Toronto will take Suggs 3. If the Rockets take Suggs, Cleveland will take Mobley and Toronto will take Green The top 4 prospects, imo, aren't slipping out of the first four picks. The biggest ripple will occur at #5 with Orlando as they can go any which way.
Well so much for that. Still will be an interesting next 2 weeks with Rockets still potentially looking to move up from 23/24. Advanced stats are intriguing on Mobley which really bodes well for his future in the NBA. I assume both Green and Mobley have worked out for the Rockets or does the public just not know for sure if that has happened? Would like to hear if there are any leaks from their workouts. As for picking in the top 15 or even if we stay pat at 23 and/or 24, I am hopeful that our scouting department will get good value at wherever we end up picking. They identified an underrated talent in Tate to come in and contribute right away and also made a trade to go get KMJ last year which could turn out to be one of the better steals in recent memory. His progression was surprising last year but given his surprising work ethic, pedigree and ability to improve so quickly bodes well for his future. Hoping for a Shawn Marion jack of all trades type of career which is a lofty expectation/hope but he does seem to have the all around potential on offense and defense not seen since the matrix retired. There are valuable players every year that turn out to be solid starters or even all stars that are picked later in the draft. Most notable players that got overlooked by NBA scouts which was baffling to me was Khris Middleton and Draymond Green who were both taken in the 2nd round in the same draft somehow. I wanted the Rockets to somehow get one of these guys as I could tell their games would translate extremely well to the NBA. The crowdedness/lack of spacing of the college game really limits certain players ability to excel in the college level but the players with the best all around skills end up doing pretty well for themselves. Chandler Parsons was another one that was destined to be a better NBA player than college player although his success was brief. Rockets front office can hopefully identify 1 or 2 of these guys and go for it. Would be huge for our rebuild if we hit on any other prospects in the draft which I am confident our scouting department and Stone will do. Hoping we get 1 high upside young guy later in the draft and 1 seemingly mediocre upperclassmen college player that is projected to be a better NBA player than college player based on scouting and advanced stats.
This offer makes sense. Most of us have thrown around this offer before and I think it's the most reasonable offer Stone can send to Detroit. #2 and Detroit's unprotected pick for #1 wouldn't be enough (I'm thinking from Weaver's POV here). At least this will return back a high 2nd round pick that Stone can use on BPA. It's a small sample size but he hit on KMJ so there's reason for optimism and, plus, that player won't make 1st round money which makes Fertitta happy.
That 2012 draft was weird and was heavily influenced by Kentucky's NCAA championship. AD was the consensus pick for sure but MKG at #2 was a head scratcher for me anyways.
It’s insane there’s a real chance Kuminga could drop all the way down to 8 or 9. All depends on Orlando. If we move up to pick 13, I’d try everything possible to trade up again to the 7-9 range and draft Kuminga. Walking away with Green and Kuminga from this draft would be a steal.
well yea things are going to be in flux if a trade or trades occur. But if the teams are staying pat at where they are it's not hard to see where these guys will go. I think Cleveland's front office is mediocre but they aren't dumb enough to take a point/combo guard for the third time in four years. If they do, well, I'm an idiot.
Orlando is the first domino. They have a roster full of point guards and centers. They really need a wing who can score until Fultz comes back but they could also go big because you got a great talent like Isaac at the end of this rookie deal and do you want to give him a huge extension with the injuries he's had? Then if Orlando bypasses Kuminga do they take Jalen Johnson or Zlaire Williams at 5, leaving Presti with a chance to take Kuminga and turn him into an ultimate 3&D player next to SGA?
I am starting to come around to idea of Suggs if the Rockets can trade down. Initially I was only thinking don't trade out of the top 3 but it would be interesting to see what Cleveland and Toronto's interest is in moving up to 2.
So much for “I’m just happy we got the number two pick and I’ll be happy with whoever we select, whether it’s Green, Mobley or Suggs. In Rafa’s stones I trust.”
