Williams is a great pick here, if you lock up your starting center picking at 17 that’s a definite win.
that's fine. we have time to build a roster with our army of picks the next 4 years. we don't need to have the perfect roster next year. i am projecting green to eventually be an upper 30 - lower 40% 3 point threat on volume. that alone adds a lot of space for banchero to operate. the questionable fit is always Sengun but his shot mechanics are actually quite good. he could potentially be a decent shooter in a couple years.
Dyson AND Banchero AND Sengun lineup will be even WORSE spacing than Tate-Theis-Green lineup that we witnessed first hand with disgust early last season.
Forget this nonsense, we need to draft an all star with this top 5 pick, and when the stakes are high the debate will naturally be robust. Green + 2022 pick + 2023 FA … that could be our ‘Big 3’ and ticket to a quick rebuild. We have to hit big on this pick.
They have the worst record for 2 years, and our defense is very weak, however our rookies are showing great to very good promise. KPJ and KJM are improving too. Tate is useful too. We have a good base to build on. Any if the 3 top prospects will help on both ends, and we can fly once Wall, Gordon and Wood are no longer on the team. Stone is a good drafter, but he needs to look at the longer picture.
I agree. But the best way to improve defense is by adding elite LONG defenders. Elite defenders that are also efficient offensive players would be even better. Adding average to below average defenders who are skilled but inefficient offensively is not the most elegant solution imo.
he'll be lucky to get drafted in the 2nd round on another note, Johnny Juzang declaring for the draft and not returning for 1 more year is a puzzling decision. He didn't have a good year
I don't know how good his shooting would translate in the NBA. I do like his form and he can pass/ finish at the rim.
Definitely not better than Mark Williams. Mark Williams is like a 7 foot Clint Capela. Pure energy player who sprints from rim to rim. Not only uber athletic but also sports 7'7 wingspan. Can switch but maybe most effective defensively if used in similar scheme/role as JA or Mitch Robinson. May have more offensive upside than any of the guys mentioned above due to his great FT% and his ultra efficiency around the rim. And his ability to provide elite rim protection without fouling is also extremely underrated. It speaks to his high IQ and technique.
I’m always surprised by guys projected as 2nd round or UFA’s coming out early. It rarely seems to work out.
Sure, but is there REALLY that much separation from the top 5 players this year? IMO there isn't. They all offer a unique skillset that can be tailored to whatever the vision for the Rockets is moving forward. Do you value shooters and rim protectors? Do you value shot creators and ISO monsters? Leadership vs role player? My point is that this draft offers anything you want at the top. All of the players (minus Ivey to a certain degree) would mesh well with Jalen. There is no "star power" this year. I believe that Chet, Jabari, Paolo and Ivey will be all stars at some point in their respective careers so when all things are equal you have to make a choice. Will Stone want to go offense vs defense? Its a good problem to have. Team is still a couple of years away so fit and chemistry should be important aspects vs just going BPA blindly without having any relevant foundational pieces. Im fond of debate, but not so much of the absolute statements that "Player X will never be this .. or never amount to that". I just expected there to be less of that this year after so many people had to eat crow last draft. I trust Stone and if he has a draft similar to 2021 it will be a win regardless of who the players are.
In general I agree that the top 4 are roughly equal but that is from an armchair perspective. Most likely one or more will never achieve an all star level. My argument is we have to hit on this pick to accelerate the rebuild, so it matters. The stakes are high. Hopefully we won’t see a vitriolic debate like last year but there’s nothing wrong with a hearty back and forth … as long as it remains respectful. Ultimately the FO is well compensated for making these decisions and we should trust their choice and avoid infighting as we debate. We are Rocket fans who ultimately have the same goal after all.
