if we don't get a top 4 pick I'd consider trading out. See if any combo of #5, #16, wood, tate, gordon, bucks pick, can bring back someone proven and still young-ish, like turner, ingram, or siakam. I don't think they'd be great fits, or fit our timeline, but it might just be good asset management. if the second tier in this draft doesn't have the ceiling to become this type of player, and its an upgrade from wood, maybe just take the most valuable asset you can find and build towards the 2024 playoffs. I don't love that option but I really think picks 5-10 in this draft is looking like high end rotation guys or low end starters. if I can use that to upgrade wood I'd do it.
For me, the only things I'd say are incredibly surface level observations as of right now. I haven't taken a deep dive into any of the top prospects. So from that 10,000 foot view, I'm happy with ANY of the top 4 guys. Once the draft lottery happens and I find out exactly where the Rockets will be picking, I'll put more effort into looking at the prospects in greater detail. As of right now, I think Ivey has the worst fit with the current team.....but picking a redundant palyer like that could help the Rockets be in position to get a top pick for a 3rd year in a row....so maybe that would mitigate it a bit. Any of Chet, Banchero, or Jabari likely moves the needle officially ending tanking.....though I could certainly see Chet struggling his first season due to desperately needing to bulk up.
Can’t add much to that toothpick frame. He did well during games against mid-major teams. There are no mid-majors in the NBA.
After watching all 4. Chet Ivey Banchero Jabari Smith I think Smith has the highest bust potential of the above. Way too reliant on outside shooting. Chet is Defensive player of the year material with a shot Ivey is Ja Morant/Dwayne Wade level of potential Banchero reminds me a bigger Carmelo Anthony Smith gives me Lamarcus Aldridge vibes
lol we could have been a nice playoffs team this year or even the last year already if we just tried some coaching lololl
Banchero, Holmgren, and Smith ruin our hair game. It has to be Ivey. We are trying to establish a culture people.
I think it's important to realize that he's not featured on his team, they don't play to his strengths, they center the offense too much around Drew Timme.....and that's part of why they lost. Also, defensively, Chet had an amazing game. Then again, he always does.
Its always fascinating to see people talk themselves out of sure things because their mind wanders and wants to wish for the "next unicorn" or to be in on a hype train for a player that will supposedly change the sport because of a past event or perceived draft error (Green v Mobley). Banchero is out there excelling in the very things he's been criticized for (shooting and defense) against the very best defense in the country (since he "didnt play against any good defenses all year ) and now the issue is that his defense just isnt as good as Chets (duh)??? SMH LOL just makes me chuckle a little bit. People so easy to brush off a pattern of bad games and still cling to projections just seems emotional. If Paolo played like ass it would have been easy to call him out too, but he's led that Duke team and when they play through him they win, yet for Chet its an excuse train and validating average results - Chet had foul problems in several of his final games in college - not saying that it will follow him around, BUT IF IT DOES - it would kinda suck because Sengun can also be a foul machine at times. Just something that I was looking at from different angles while Paolo plays in control and is rarely in foul trouble. Guys who "dont want bully ball" apparently arent watching the NBA. Banchero changes the game just by playing it. Get the right mismatch and defenders will just bounce off him as he gets to the rim at will. His IQ and innate feel for the game elevate players around him. Its not the peripheral players that create Paolos game - its the exact opposite. I've seen enough to slot Paolo ahead of both Jabari and Chet - now it boils down to Ivey or Paolo for me personally. Comps to Blake are in the ballpark, but Blake was never the willing passer and play creator that Paolo is when comparing their college season(s). He was a much better general scorer and dunker, but overall he wasnt keeping the team flowing and on time as the offensive hub - he was playing his role as alpha scorer. Blake became a much better passer into his NBA career and his defense became adequate which offers me a blueprint for Paolo to keep adding to his game as well.
when this season begun jaden ivey was nowhere to be found...chet and victor wembayana were the biggets names and now the ivey arises as a cant go wrong guy...... whos to say at pick no 15 or even later wont arise someone who will be better than all these empty names someone like devin boker 13 yanis pick 15 sengun 16 draymond green 34 jokic 40 something midleton 20 something kawhi lenard pick no 15 gobert 20 something jimmy butler 30 iasaah thomas pick no 60
lol i am sure sengun played under control and wasnt in foul troubles when he won turkish league MVP at 18 years old
I missed the Duke game as I was watching my Coogs tear up Arizona. I did catch the 2nd half of the Gonzaga game. Kneejerk reaction to Chet's performance: 1. Kid got hosed, like completely hosed, by the refs. The fouls they called on him were abysmal. 2. My feelings in regards to his defense prior to last night's game still remains the same: he's got potential to be an elite defender in the NBA, even with the slender build. He's smart/savvy enough to know where to position himself around the basket, he has a volleyball-like approach to going up to contest shots where he's almost perfectly vertical with his arms towering over the opposition. 3. He's going to be at least an 18 ppg scorer in the league. Like the guys/gals on here who watch more college bball than I do, they can attest that Chet's not even featured on offense but, just from seeing his shooting form tonight, he's not going to be deficient on the offense end in the NBA. His height and point of release is so high that he can get his shot off over most defenders in the NBA. He also finishes well around the basket. I don't know if it was on here or a scouting/prospect website but whoever said that Chet could be a taller Pau Gasol deserves some kudos.
just a little gentle reminder that tatum is one of the most overrated nba players.... he never did anything despite playing on stacked rosters and surrounded with different multiple allstars, vets and young, and great role players, with a great homecourt, refs advantage, great coach, GM and preferential commissioner treatment... most his playoffs were 1st round fodder and best he did was his rookie year, 4/5 years ago(!) when he was carried by pick no 60 isaah thomas to wcf...it was all downward after that.... so whether CHET or BANCHERO its all of the moment prisonero... TAKE THAT FOR DATA
Chet has defensive instincts that are rare to pair with that size. He also has a jumper that will play at the next level. He’s by far the best prospect in this draft. This isn’t football. He’s going to struggle with Giannis and Embiid sure, but so does everyone else. Other then that I largely agree. Wood Chet Need Upgrade Green Need Upgrade I think at this point you would be a couple free agent acquisitions from serious contention in a few years. I’m very flip floppy on Christian due to his effort levels. Bring in a defensive coach, light a fire in to Christian Wood on the defensive end. Go after Zach LaVine and find 3/D for the small forward. Rockets could be great if Christian Wood buys in and you land a great free agent.
