The thing that kills this thinking is that there hasn’t been anything to show that we don’t want one of the 3 big kids. All 3 fit this team in some way, shape, or form and getting one of the 3 equals a win for the night. The Rockets won the draft the moment they were given the 3rd draft pick in the lottery
Could definitely be his strategy though probably just coincidence. Trade him the day he meets with Paolo to give the others something more to think on. I doubt it, but never know. Regardless, nothing is set in Stone. Paolo may not be there at 3.
I think it's because Stone knows how hard to trade Wood at least right now if you let it simmer more. He also sees the pick that went with the trade is valuable to draft somebody.
Houston has no choice in the matter. We're going to take one of the top 3 in the draft. They're all bigs. Since we pick 3rd, then we get whomever is left. How does the Wood trade change anything? Houston, may actually prefer Smith or Chet, they just don't have any control on which one will be available. Houston seems to be fine with selecting Banchero. Jabari and Chet actually fit better with Sengun than Banchero so how is this a problem? We either get the guy that everyone and their brother are predicting that we take or we actually get a big that fits better and that the Rockets might actually prefer. There's two outcomes, we get a great player or we get a different great player who likely fits better. Neither of those are bad things.
You don't wait because Dallas would likely move onto other deal options, and honestly I'm still nervous about this deal falling apart because it can't be made official for some time. As others said the top 3 picks are all forwards so you aren't telegraphing anything unless teams thought you might take Ivey... and even then you could still spin the deal as being one to unlock Sengun... and even then you could still spin that the Rockets are the worst team in the league and it really really doesn't matter at all at this point.
No FO will draft a player ANOTHER team wants IF their player is available. That said, I could see a pre-arranged agreement where the preceding pick team tries to secure player for the other team in trade of an additional asset. But picking another player out of spite or a nervous hunch will never happen.
I think Stone's trying to find another team to send those Mavericks players to. A scenario like this: Houston receives: Horton-Tucker Lakers 2023 2nd round Dallas 2022 1st round Dallas receives: Christian Wood LA receives: Boban Marjanovic Trey Burke Sterling Brown Marquese Chriss Would work and is reasonable for all three teams. The Lakers shed themselves of THT's contract while picking up 4 expiring contracts that fill out their depleted roster. Houston get's THT in hopes to trade him down the road for something worthwhile. Dallas gets their newly appointed savior/sidekick. With at least 2 incoming rookies I don't think we have enough roster spots to take on those 4 Mavericks players without waiving (e.g. eating their salary) them.
it must be comedy hour on the GARM all this constant crying over irrelevant things needs to end Rockets been shopping Wood for months, a team finally offered something Rockets were always taking 1 of the 3 bigs once the lotto order had been established U think the rest of the league didn’t know? Stop being so naive
This. We should have gotten a better 1st. We should have waited for Wood to up his value. We showed our hand. Blah Blah Blah We took the first 1st rounder offered. We did the smart thing.
As others have noticed, it's been announced but not finalized. Right now, it's a big blank canvas for other teams to try to use and of course the Rockets would get something more out of it if that happens. If you announce it on draft day there's not a lot of time for other teams to do their math and get in the deal. Pretty smart I'd say.
