They change their mind every day who they like. I have a feeling until Detroit closes the door on a trade, a lot of smoke is going to come out. Hopefully we know more soon.
Strengths: Green is a high upside prospect with elite athleticism and intriguing shooting and scoring ability … he is a fluid and natural scorer, with a wide arrange of ways to score … Can confidently knock down shots from all three levels of the court … One of his best assets is his incredible athleticism and leaping ability … The former consensus five-star recruit finished plenty of alley-oops, dunks, and difficult layups due to his high-flying ability … Green’s hops should translate to easy transition buckets … He also scored with good efficiency, hitting over 46% of his field goals and 36% of his three-point attempts…Despite his young age, Green plays with great maturity, and shows solid understanding of when to hunt his own shot versus look to pass … Has a variety of moves to attack the basket, and has the speed and quickness to blow past defenders … Is extremely comfortable finishing through traffic … He is an excellent free throw shooter, adding even more hope that he can become a dominant threat from behind the perimeter to add to his inside game … He is an active and engaged defender, and averaged 1.5 steals per game … His long arms, quick reflexes and attention to detail should continue to bolster his case as an above average defender in the NBA … Those steals often led to immediate transition throw downs, a specialty of Green through his 15 games in the G League … While averaging less than three assists per game, Green has enough passing ability at the shooting guard spot to run an offense in spurts at the next level … He can run the pick and roll effectively, in part because he is comfortable throwing accurate, well-timed passes to his running big man … Green does everything you would like out of a NBA shooting guard: knocks down shots, can attack the rim, and set up teammates when needed, while blending in some insane dunks, and athletic ability … Should quickly be a 18-20 point per game scorer, and could lead a team in points per game as a rookie … Went from playing in high school to the G league, and was still one of the league’s best players despite a younger age and significantly less experience than many other players … Has immense potential to be a star at the next level. Quite possibly the player with the highest ceiling in this year’s draft …
Hell no to Suggs. If the Rockets liked Suggs so much then they would be looking at trading down to the #4 pick as no way he's taken in the top 3.
Cade will go #1 regardless of who picks him. If Detroit trades the pick it's because the team getting the #1 wants CADE. If Detroit keeps the pick it's because they want CADE otherwise they would trade down with the Rockets or Cavs.
I have much more confidence in Mobley being a positive impact player in this league, but I don’t trust his intangibles vs Green’s. I actually wouldn’t mind handing the Raptors Mobley and picking up Suggs+assets. Or trade for Cade.
As for pick Nos. 1-3, the assumption is still the Detroit Pistons will take Cade Cunningham, even if they entertain trade calls or smoke leaks out about interest in Jalen Green and Evan Mobley. Most seem to think Green will go second, given the value tied to creators and scoring wings, plus the high likelihood Green's elite athleticism, separation skills and shot-making translate. A hint of fear about drafting bigs early and Mobley's thin frame are reasons why scouts think he'll be available at No. 3. And for the Cleveland Cavaliers, he's simply the best-player-available answer. Logic suggests Suggs will go fourth to the Raptors with 35-year-old Lowry entering free agency and Toronto coming off a 27-win season. But it also sounds like Barnes has become a hot enough name for the Raptors to think about. Otherwise, he's the new favorite at No. 5, either to Orlando or a team looking to trade up for someone rare and more exciting. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2945858-2021-nba-draft-buzz-sources-say-scottie-barnes-could-go-top-5
13 days until the Rockets draft Jalen Green. Can't get here soon enough. City of Houston going Green.....again (Gerald/Jeff)
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
Sorry @J.R. didn't mean to cut you off with post #1770 Thank you for all you have done and presented in terms of combine news and draft takes. Much obliged.
I do worry a bit with so much out there about the Rockets preferring Green that it's just to bait a team just behind us into giving up a lot to move up to our spot for Green. There's just too many what-if scenarios for it to make too much sense unless they're equally high on Suggs or Barnes/Kuminga. If you take #4 in a trade down + more and Toronto gets Green, Cleveland likely takes Mobley if thats who you wanted. Now you got a choice to make with Suggs and KPj calling himself the point. From what i get, it would seem Tillly would be the most chatty and leak things behind the scenes and Tilly probably does prefer Green for his marketability factor and Filipino/Asian cash cow. I have no idea what Stone would prefer, but i don't think he's going to be one of those asset hoarders like Ainge. Silas clearly seems a Cade or Mobley type.
It was selfish and self-serving of you to interrupt J.R. "The Machine", but you owned up to your error, and now we can move on. (sigh) 13 more days............
https://www.espn975.com/bench/ Chad Ford: LZ: Jalen Green,…I asked a NBA executive, what was more competitive, high end college basketball or the G League? His opinion was G League. What do the insiders say about Green’s maturity, basketball maturity and upside they see in him and maybe a player comp? He projects as the best scorer in this draft. Effortless, instinctual scorer. He can score any way. He can take his guy off the dribble, finish at the rim with explosive athleticism. Jump shot, which was little bit of a question in HS, looked good in the G League. Will continue to develop. He can do step backs, can shoot off the bounce. Can shoot with his feet set. He’ll score 20 a night in the NBA and might end up 25-30 if he really hits his stride. One thing sexy about Green is the first thing you think about is “Who is gonna be a star?” Who leads the league in scoring? Green has enough talent where at some point in his career he might lead the league in scoring. That’s really intriguing. Explosive laterally, explosive vertically. I’ve talked to Brian Shaw & others around the G League. They love his mentality. They love his approach to the game. Think he’s dedicated to being great. He studies film. Very aggressive. Very confident. Puts in the work. They loved him on the G League team. Shaw talked about an “it” factor with him you’ve seen with just a handful of prospects that there’s something about him that screams star. One thing the Rockets, not saying they’ll take this into consideration, when trying to rebuild your franchise and build it around someone, he’s a sexy prospect. He a guy who sells sneakers, gets commercials, in highlight films. With Mobley, you don’t see it as much. One great thing about watching Mobley is he rarely makes mistakes. He almost always makes the right play but it’s hard to put a highlight film together of a guy who always does the right thing. Where Jalen Green will make more mistakes but when he does something, it’s often spectacular. The question for him is what else is he going to bring? If he becomes a lockdown defender, he should maybe be the number one pick in the draft but he’s not that yet and in fact, I don’t think he’s a very good defender right now. If he could become a secondary ball handler, then he becomes more intriguing but he’s not that yet. Right now, he’s a one-dimensional player in that he can put the ball in the basket. I’m very confident he’ll be a huge scorer but if that’s all he is and doesn’t develop other parts of his game, not saying he won’t but didn’t show it in the G League or HS, do you pass on a 7-footer who checks 7 maybe 8 boxes for a 6’4 super athletic guard who checks 2 boxes: crazy athlete and can score the basketball. That’s a legitimate question the Rockets are gonna have to ask themselves and why I believe at the end of the day it’s going to be Mobley. I think all the Green smoke coming out of Houston right now has more to do with the fact Detroit really likes him and know Detroit is out there considering what if we move back 1 spot or 2 spots. If the Pistons are thinking about moving down to Cleveland at 3 but want Green, the Rockets just sent the signals he’s not gonna be there so you have to deal with us. Houston, if they have a chance to get Cade, I think they do it.
