Yeah, and if you watch the highlights only everyone looks great. I've said watch entire game and tell me Amen doesn't struggle vs half court defense. Yeah he looks great with an open path to the rim vs G-league talent....but how often will you the NBA give him a red carpet path to the rim. With the Rockets current 3-pt shooters, not often. I just don't get why some of you think the G-league talent are equal or better than NBA players? Somehow KPj tore up the G-league but is a bust for not sporting the same stats. J Christopher had better numbers than Scoot (at 18) but is a bust for not doing equal stats at the NBA level. TyTy tore up the G-league so he must be a bust because his stats are sub par at the NBA level. Scoot and Amen did good vs G-league competition therefore they will succeed where KPj, JC,TyTy can't. Did you see Scoot get 28 points vs Wemby......he was guarded by a Chris Brussard look-a-like 5'10" Tremont Waters. Not too many 5'10" Brussard looking ng players in the NBA. I've called RJ Barrett over Zion. I said Zion would be hurt often and the best ability is availability. I've been correct so far. No to Banchero because Sengun-Banchero would not work. Chet would be hurt often....then Chet got hurt. Mathurin and Keegan Murray and Tari would be good in the NBA from last year's draft. I stand by my assessments. I would go Whitmore/Jarace/T Hendricks before Scoot/Amen/Ausar. To each their own (opinion).....but it looks like Harden/Beverley might be coming back. Why do I need Amen if TyTy is so good in that minor league you value so high....known as the G-league. I want my wings to shoot some. Shooting guards to actually.... you know.....SHOOT.....some.
Yeah, and if you watch the highlights only everyone looks great. I've said watch entire game and tell me Amen doesn't struggle vs half court defense. Yeah he looks great with an open path to the rim vs G-league talent....but how often will you the NBA give him a red carpet path to the rim. With the Rockets current 3-pt shooters, not often. I just don't get why some of you think the G-league talent are equal or better than NBA players? Somehow KPj tore up the G-league but is a bust for not sporting the same stats. J Christopher had better numbers than Scoot (at 18) but is a bust for not doing equal stats at the NBA level. TyTy tore up the G-league so he must be a bust because his stats are sub par at the NBA level. Scoot and Amen did good vs G-league competition therefore they will succeed where KPj, JC,TyTy can't. Did you see Scoot get 28 points vs Wemby......he was guarded by a Chris Brussard look-a-like 5'10" Tremont Waters. Not too many 5'10" Brussard looking ng players in the NBA. I've called RJ Barrett over Zion. I said Zion would be hurt often and the best ability is availability. I've been correct so far. No to Banchero because Sengun-Banchero would not work. Chet would be hurt often....then Chet got hurt. Mathurin and Keegan Murray and Tari would be good in the NBA from last year's draft. I stand by my assessments. I would go Whitmore/Jarace/T Hendricks before Scoot/Amen/Ausar. To each their own (opinion).....but it looks like Harden/Beverley might be coming back. Why do I need Amen if TyTy is so good in that minor league you value so high....known as the G-league. I want my wings to shoot some. Shooting guards to actually.... you know.....SHOOT.....some.
Everyone wants their wings to be able to shoot but sometimes it's worth gambling on a player that will be the best athlete on the court almost every night while also being one of the best playmakers on the court. We finally have a coach that comes from a system that has developed several players that weren't great shooters coming into the league. Amen could definitely be a bust but I'd swing on a guy that has elite athleticism, great size, and great court vision and passing at his age.
My understanding is that they skipped their senior year of HS and signed with OTE. You're not eligible for the NBA draft until 1 year after your HS class graduates. Their HS class would have graduated in '22 so this would be the first year that they are eligible for the draft. Is that not correct? They played for OTE in what would have been their senior year and the year after.
That is correct. He signed a two year deal with OTE after his junior year in high school. I actually think it's more of a positive than a negative. He fully committed to basketball and trying to make it to the league. That's probably not a decision you make unless you are serious about hooping for a career.
That's what I thought. Same as Scoot Henderson. They went pro after their Jr year in HS and weren't eligible for the draft for another 2 years.
They were also old for their class. They are 20 now, a full year older than they should be. Jabari Smith is 5 months younger than Thompson. Just a completely wasted pick.
From what I recall, they skipped their senior year of high school to go to OTE, but weren't eligible for last year's draft because they were still taking high school courses while at OTE in the Spring of last year. I always thought it was because you had to be at least 1 year out of high school that they weren't in last year's draft. Since apparently now it's been 1 year since they graduated, they are eligible to be drafted in this year's draft. So, in essence, and as I recall, 21-22 would've been their senior year of high school, but they played for OTE that year while taking classes. When Spring of 22-23 rolled around, they should've been eligible for the draft, but they were still taking classes in the Spring, so had to wait 1 more year for the "1 year out of high school rule" from the CBA, which is why they're in this year's draft since now it's apparently been 1 year since they finished their high school courses.
I've watched nearly the entire OTE playoffs, hours of OTE workout/social media videos, hours of Vecenie/Spins/etc breaking down their game (including write-ups with Synergy numbers), etc. If anything, I've watched way too much of the Thompsons. For the anti-Thompsons crowd, I did this recently with Nick Nurse, so this is probably a good sign that the Rockets go in a different direction. Amen/Ausar probably shot better than their teammates most of the time, so that should give you an idea of how packed the paint was on their drives. If anything, this Rockets team will give them more spacing, even with better defenses and so-so (by NBA standards) 3pt shooting. That said, I know your opinions on the twins, Scoot, KPJ, etc. I don't even disagree with some of it, and even if I strongly disagree with some of your takes, they are valid thoughts. We don't need to debate those. I mostly just wanted to respond to the Amen isn't a PG stuff (especially the alleged "inside info"). Maybe he'll be a terrible PG, but he is a PG, and that's how he's being evaluated as a prospect thus far.
That was what was always confusing to me, so when I looked it up in the CBA, I remember reading this. Technically he didn't graduate until the Spring of last year. My confusion is he was still in high school until last Spring, and the wording seems like it's saying since his graduation from high school.
Everyone has different beliefs. I had Jalen Green and Jabari/Tari on 5-year plans (development) Rockets are in win now mode. Which means the objective in drafting is different. We need a guy that contribute immediately off the bench or trade the pick. I'm not going with a non shooting Scoot, Amen, Ausar that will take two years to develop a shot like Kenyon, Tate, Sengun, JC. Non shooters don't help the Rockets.....they only create more clogged paint and clutter in the lanes that keep Harden, KPj, Green, and Sengun from being efficient and productive this season. Cam Whitmore will be a force with off ball screening and Cam cutting to the rim. If the focus is on Harden, KPj, Green.... Cam will come off the bench for hustle, high energy, offense and defense. Big body the defense will have to contend with as he flies under the radar and attacks the rim at 235 pounds 6'7'" and 40+ inch vertical leap. Jarace can come off the bench and much like Cam, be productive in an ancillary role. Udoka put Robert Williams in the best possible positions for their careers to take off.....so will Cam or Jarace. Hendricks is a Chris Boucher type that has displayed a good (40%) college 3-point line capabilities. Long and lengthy for some 3 & D production off the bench. And before you say minus the shooting Scoot, Amen, Ausar offer much the same.....Kenyon and Tate are crafty and athletic and are familiar with the NBA teams and players......why don't I just stick with them instead of drafting a non shooting wing or Scoot? Win now baby or trade the project pick. More than likely the Rockets appear to be getting: Harden/Beverley (unwanted Caruso but Beverley looked good in their playoff round). This solves my issues at PG with TyTy still developing. and a good chance Cam Johnson is not matched by what the Rockets offer. Slight overpay but the Rockets get their 3&D wing. Harden....................Beverley / TyTy Green.......................KPj / Harden Cam Johnson..........KPj / Cam Whitmore (Brandon Miller outside chance) Jabari.......................Tari / Cam Whitmore / Jarace Walker / T Hendricks Sengun.....................Garuba / Dereck Lively / Zach Edey Yes I project Tate, JC, Kenyon being traded because they can't shoot......I don't see the Rockets drafting a non shooter to take their place.
Read the line right below the yellow highlighting. One year after his class graduated he became eligible. I believe the line about graduating is to account for early graduation.
He's up to 214 now. He may play at around 225-230 in a year or 2. If he can add a little bit of bullying on his drives, he'll be tough to keep out of the paint. He might bust as many here have predicted but that dude is gonna an absolute horse.
Agreed and they currently don't have a player like Amen on the team. They have a lot of scoring. A ton. What they don't have is capable defenders or passers. Amen fills a few holes. For one...he's a real PG. Secondly he's a good defender and he's 6-7. His shot is the only issue right now. Everywhere else he's pretty much tailor made for this team. It doesn't matter if either him or Miller get drafted. Neither are seeing the floor against first teams nor should they. Rockets need to win while maximizing the development of talent. The pick won't get traded. I'm fairly certain they'll just draft whoevers left of Amen, Scoot or Miller.