Ausar actually understands he can impact a game with his defensive effort. He’s more hard nosed and tough on defense. Amen is aloof AF on defense most of the time, but when he gives solid effort you can see why people picture his upside. Just feels like Ausar has more heart and Amen plays a little cocky. I’d pass on both of them given the choice mainly because I am one of the weirdos drafting for fit and trying to compliment what I think is a solid nucleus with stars in the making. I’m not one of the guys who thinks we busted on our previous picks.
If we're just looking for a complementary player or players, shouldn't we maybe trade back then? Or do you see Cam as a better fit? (Personally I don't think Whitmore brings much that we really need, since he's neither a great shooter nor a great playmaker, although if he were the BPA I'd still take him.)
We are already committed to a bunch of young guys. Jalen, Jabari and Alpie deserve a REAL shot to show if they will be star material and personally I don’t see enough at 4 to warrant throwing yet another “upside” guy into the mix that will require time and attention. Give our guys another player who’s strengths compliment their weaknesses and do some actual team building. My own meaningless 2 cents is that if the draft shakes out as expected then I take Hendricks at 4. I don’t need further compensation with yet more draft picks or young players. We need vets, defenders and shooters. We still have all the Nets picks coming too.
Any player we draft will not contribute positively to Houston Rockets basketball this year. We have to make our decision on Jalen and Alli this year. The rookie is completely unrelated to the evaluation of Jalen and Alpi. We’ll get a vet PG and SF, and how our starting lineup performs this season will determine whether those two are truly part of our core going forward.
Gotcha. I disagree, but this is a different take that the other one. I mostly just wanted to push back on the narrative (from multiple people) of Amen and Ausar being radically different defensive prospects...because they're not. I think we touched on our differing philosophies on the draft and team building elsewhere. I will point out that instead of drafting Hendricks at #4, I'd probably trade that pick (and *maybe* 20) for future assets, and then see if you can get someone in the teens in this draft. I'm pretty high on Hendricks, but if the idea is to build around the current core, it might be beneficial to keep costs outside of them low. Could get a shooter (Dick, Hawkins, etc.), or maybe some high ceiling project that will have a lower cost in the short-term. Could maybe get a guy like a Leonard Miller or Coulibaly, stash them in G league (or possibly keep overseas in Coulibaly's case), and don't worry much about them for a year or so. I'd probably go that route if the idea is to give max focus to the current core.
I mean, those are two of the most important skills for a secondary/support star player for winning. See Klay Thompson. obviously he needs to get better, but if he can become a 6’10” similar to Klay type of player that would be absolutely huge. Green, Sangun, whoever else can be the main playmakers and scorers and if smith regains his form he’d be an awesome fit
I mean, those are two of the most important skills for a secondary/support star player for winning. See Klay Thompson. obviously he needs to get better, but if he can become a 6’10” similar to Klay type of player that would be absolutely huge. Green, Sangun, whoever else can be the main playmakers and scorers and if smith regains his form he’d be an awesome fit
I actually makes analogies that are stretches often. This baseball comparison is just terrible though. A QB that can run but can't throw very well would be the decent offensive stretch comparison.
I think everyone would here would be THRILLED to draft ANY of the above players at 4. The problem I think we are having on both sides of the argument is that there isn't much to go off, good or bad. We know for a fact that the shot needs a lot of work. Aside from that, how can we tell much of anything when we look at the OTE tape? He might be the GOAT, and I'd have no freaking idea how to suss that out with the footage we have. I trust in the Sorceror's Stone!
lol! Ausar finally got it but Amen still working on it! Wonder if Jalen or Jabari could even do this too? Can't afford to have 3 starting players on the team that do not even have this basic skill!
I have never seen more missed layups in one highlight reel in my life. No touch at all on the layups. Should not that be of concern.
Is Ainge willing to move Kessler in the deal? I so we should hear him out then probably still say now. FRP #4 ..,for… FRP #9 & Kessler that is really hard to say no to, IMO.
Ben Simmons is the comp but Simmons was bigger. That scares a lot of people but... If Simmons actually cared about playing basketball he'd be a perennial all-star(In fact he was). It seems like Amen is a lot more dedicated to playing basketball.
