There have been, as there are every year, several mid-first type picks who have seen their stock improve dramatically after the combine, private workouts, and agency-related propaganda. This, IMO, really helps a team picking at a spot like #17 if they are able to avoid falling for the hype. This year, there are several players in just the last 2 weeks who I would say have improved their draft stock enough to be at least considered in the lottery, when they were not sniffing that conversation before: Jalen Williams Jaden Hardy Mark Williams There are also several players who were always considered lottery-adjacent but who in recent weeks have improved their stock and are now called "locks" for the lottery, or at least the first 17 or so picks: Tari Eason Dyson Daniels Ousmane Dieng Consider, then, these virtual locks for the top 17: Jabari Smith Chet Holmgren Paolo Banchero Jaden Ivey Shaedon Sharpe Keegan Murray Benedict Mathurin Jeremy Sochan A.J. Griffin Jalen Duren Johnny Davis Ochai Agbaji That's 18 players. Of those 18 listed, one of them is guaranteed to be available at #17 for the Rockets. With that in mind, I think there are several implications: 1) If we stay at #17, we are likely to get a high upside, talented players; 2) if we trade #17, it now has more value as several players have improved their draft stock; and relatedly, 3) if there's a guy in that top 18 who we really really like, it will probably be easier for us to get him using the #17 pick, as there are now more guys in the top 17 that teams like in general. Also, another potential benefit - maybe the Rockets are high on somebody else - the following players are highly regarded and not even in the top 18 I listed above: TyTy Washington Walker Kessler Blake Wesley Malaki Branham Nikola Jovic Terquavion Smith It just takes one team in the top 16 to like one of those guys listed, and even more talent will be available. Or maybe the Rockets really like TyTy or Jovic. Either way, the lead-up to this year's draft has been, IMO, particularly kind to the Rockets and has greatly increased the value of pick 17 relative to just a couple months ago.
I'd be rolling the dice. Wood (I don't believe) is in the long term plans and his minutes could go to the rookies to aid their development.
I have settled mentally on Beauchamp at 17. He's a two way wing with some potential. His jumper is correctable. KJM couldn't shoot a lick, he's improved quite a lot.
I'd go all in on Daniels. especially now that he's close to 6'8, over 200lbs and getting bigger. scouts think he can eventually defend 1-4 and run point. he shot it well during his pro day, which means he can shoot over a chair, but it also means his shot has some promise. what do you think of this: Wood, Tate, Gordon, #17 for TE (Wood fits into), Bledsoe, #7, *rights to swap MIL '23 with POR '23 lotto protected. sengun-garuba banchero-KJM Daniels-matthews-Nwaba green-JC KPJ-Nix that might be the best passing front court in the league on day 1. that allows jalen and KPJ to cook off ball as much as on ball.
A Sengun/Banchero frontcourt would/will have a lot of growing pains. Everyone would have to be patient. Daniels has that 8'9 standing reach and 6'10.5 wingspan which means he can play the 3, but he's much better suited as a multi-tool point guard. That said, you can probably play Daniels at that spot, as he would match up reasonably well with many of the small forwards in the West (like Thompson, Booker, or Dillon Brooks). Daniels's quickness would be the key. The trade itself is a little rich to move up 10 spots.
I would like to pick Mark Williams from Duke for our backup center. I thought Williams was only a center who only play in the paint. You know Silas want his Centers to have some handles and must shoot from outside. At the combine, Williams is showing that he can really shoot from outside and can hit from the 3-point line. He is a rim protector and rim runner; he would be a nice backup behind Sengun. Also, I believe Wood and maybe Tate might be traded on draft night. I think we might trade with Portland for their pick for Wood and Tate. OR. trading with Charlotte for their 13 pick for Wood and we would get PJ Washington. NBA insiders are saying Wood's value is going up: STATS Regular Season GP MIN FG% 3P% FT% REB AST BLK STL PF TO PTS 68 30.8 50.1 39.0 62.3 10.1 2.3 1.0 0.8 2.5 1.9 17.9 We do not like Wood because he is soft, never play defense and his personality(selfish) but he is a very efficient player. There are not many BIG MEN in the NBA that has 50% of FG% and close to 40% behind the 3 point line. He is really a 20 and 10 guy and if he was on a veteran team they would make him play defense(effort). He has the length to block shots frequently, he is a solid player. However, he does not fit on our team so we should get GOOD value for him. It should be a GREAT night for us on DRAFT NIGHT!!!!!
Might be true for Christopher, I wasn't enthused about it, but there were predictions threads on Sengun and we traded up for him.
I just seen tape on Tari Eason going against Auburn and Tennesse, this guy plays bigger than 6'8 and he can knock down 3 pointers. i like his defense, shooting, very athletic and his handles are O.K., Also, when Jabari was playing defense against Tari Eason, Jabari shut him down every time on the court. Jabari is a very good defense player and shooter, but he cannot dribble at all.
@napalm06 Larry Bird looked like Big Bird's (Sesame Street) long lost love child. Nick named the, "Hick from French Lick," for a reason.
That is a ball dominant starting 5. And only 1 near elite but inconsistent 3ball shooter. Spacing would be hellish. And I havent even talked about defense yet.
You should be able to get #15 outright from Charlotte for Wood. Wood's value is a LOT lower than we believe if we can't even get that. In: Pj Washington, Plumlee, #15 Out: Wood So the question might be how high can you get with #15 and #17. I would think somewhere in the 9-11 range. Jabari Chet Banchero Ivey Sharpe Duran Murray Daniels Those 8 are kind of the consensus top players in this draft. I won't be surprised if Sharpe and Griffin drop depending on workouts. I don't expect we will be willing to pay what it will take to get a 2nd player from this list unless we throw in the Milwaukee 1st. I could see #15 + #17 + Milwaukee 1st getting you in the Duran/Murray/Daniels group.
I think you have to throw a future pick in for it to make anything close to sense for the other teams. I have to think WAS and NYK are looking to add win-now players in exchange for their picks, not add additional rookies. Not really sure about the Spurs’ approach.
This is certainly true. Yet I can't help but seeing the potential of a Divac/Webber type dynamic developing here. Those Kings teams were Championship caliber, I think it's premature to presume Banchero and Sengun won't develop similar chemistry and play well together.
Just give up Tate+Wood and #17 to get as high as possible. Give up the MIL pick if that gets you to #7.
I agree, frees up roster cram. Draft Paolo, Eason and slide them in at the 3/4 with Sengun at the 5. Garuba and Fernando backing up
