FWIW, he actually did get quite a bit better between OTE season 1 and 2. Yes, that means he shot that much *worse* in season 1, so maybe that's not reassuring, but I'm just pointing out that the work he's putting in is resulting in higher percentages (especially from the FT line). Also on a side note, I've used Elfrid Payton as a worst-ish case comparison for Amen, and he got ~8 seasons in the NBA (500 games). I'm fairly optimistic that Amen will get more than 4 seasons in the NBA, especially if shooting is the only problem area in his game (and assuming he also doesn't develop a floater/mid-range game I guess). Obviously if he sucks on defense, can't finish, isn't the playmaker we thought, etc., things might be different.
I think if he lands in the right scenario, on a team where EVERYONE else is an amazing shooter, it'll give him the best chance for success. Teams can typically have one guy who shoots like a center....but it's usually a center. If they have a center that shoots like a guard then it becomes a wash. Adding him to the worst shooting team in the league though....that's a recipe for hilarious disaster and that could absolutely end up ushering him out of the league in a hurry.
I don't disagree that the Rockets have a lot of work to do, but I'm assuming if Amen is struggling with the Rockets after 4 years, he'll just sign a deal with a different team who think they can "fix" him. Again, unless he has some other huge holes in his game, I think he's probably got like 6-8 seasons of NBA play regardless of his shooting. At that 8 season mark (~500 games), the NBA might learn their lesson and move on to other, younger projects.
We are pretty much on the same page about Amen, but taking your point even further. He simply isn't that big for the NBA. He is almost EXACTLY the size of the average NBA player which is 6'7" 218lbs with a 6'10" wingspan. He's a big guard but that size is negated by his inability to use that on the perimeter for shooting.
Narratives about players can really crush careers and on a team where almost no one can even shoot league average for their position, like in Houston, he'd look especially terrible and that bust label would haunt him. No matter what, he'll always struggle to be an NBA starting caliber player if he never learns to shoot at an NBA level. It's hard to think you can "fix" a guard that flat out can't shoot. It's like thinking you can "fix" a 6'2 center.
Rockets are the worst team shooting 3 pointers for now, but 60+ millions can change that. We now have a better coaching staff with a shooting coach as well. I truly believe he is a taller JaMorant without a shot. Also, if he is playing with the ball, he is the playmaker with limited shooting outside. His job is to give the ball to Jalen, Jabari and KPJ and drive to the basket. Coach Ime’s offense is DRIVE AND KICK OFFENSE, you need good shooters and a playmaker to pass to your 3 point specialist and give the ball to your cutters to the basket….he can do that
Yeah maybe. If the Rockets are that bad after a few years, then I'm guessing the whole team will be broken mentally. So good luck to Udoka/Stone or whoever is in charge at that point.
Continuing to waste top picks on bad players is the best way to stay bad. I have hopes that Jabari Smith can turn things around and become the taller Trevor Ariza that he's supposed to be, but wasting a pick on a 20 year old guard who couldn't shoot even 30% from 3 against talentless children in a glorified rec league would set the franchise back quite a bit. You can't blow 2 top picks in 3 years on guards that can't shoot when you are already the worst shooting team in the league. I'm not sure there's all that much Udoka or anyone could do to salvage that kind of situation. It would be outright sabotage.
Also, he is a elite defender and who could be a top point guard defender?! Having a 6’7 defending on mostly 6’3-6’5 point guard with a 7 foot wingspan and has elite lateral movement, great rebounder, shot blockers …great on ball and off ball defender….his rookie year would be a great defender. Having Amen on top of your defense, Dillion Brooks on the outside and either Cappella, Mikes Turner or Brook Lopez on the back end…blocking shots we can be a top 15 defense…with Tari and Jabari….yes we can be a top 15 defense with Coach Ime.
OK, I guess you're out on JG. So maybe they just need to flip him and start KPJ at SG. You have hopes Jabari can shoot, so maybe he does next year. Bring in Brook Lopez, Grant Williams, or whoever as FA (FVV, Curry, Ingles, Grant, etc.). That seems like a decent shooting team then. Of course, I doubt JG would be flipped, likely because the team has a different viewpoint on their evaluations of these guys. So either they're right and you're wrong (and things are OK), or you're right and they're wrong...and we have much bigger problems than just a PG who can't shoot.
Not necessarily, but if you have one guard that can't shoot, you have to offset that with other players who can shoot. I do think that if the team was serious about trying to turn things around, the best way they could improve would be to bring in a competent PG that could shoot so that KPJ could go back to his better fit at SG and Jalen could go to a better fitting role coming off the bench. That said, if you did stick with Green and brought in a PG like Amen who shoots like a middle school B team player, you'd have the worst backcourt in the league....could help the Rockets keep next year's pick.
Thank Hesus! Use the capspace on younger vets. package later for a star not in sharp decline 2-3 seasons from now.
Swear ppl are allergic to prospects that can shoot. But he can do this he can do that he can juggle clubs while making northern chinese lamb dumplings. We need shooters.
I learned my lesson last year, I'm not listening to anyone, not even Woj when it comes to the lying season right before the draft. When he announces the picks actually happening, I'm all for it, but not before that.
