You meant Coby White. The Bulls might bite at that, but I feel they are content with him. I like your suggestion.
Uh no lol. Khaman Maluach is better than any center in the 2024 draft. VJ Edgecomb, Ace Bailey, Carter Bryant would be taken over Zacharie Risacher.
Apart from Flagg, who is the real deal, there are only a few other players in the lottery that I think will definitely be positive, winning players. All three are shooting guards - Edgecombe, Knueppel, and Jase Richardson. With FVV getting older, Holiday cementing his place as only a situational player, Cam struggling to carve out a consistent role, and Tate leaving, there will be room for another guard on the team in the next few years (even accounting for Sheppard stepping up), so I would definitely be happy with Rockets keeping the pick and drafting one of the three mentioned above. Edgecombe can become an Oladipo-like player so I expect him to be gone before the Rockets pick. Knueppel is a tremendous shooter and a gritty player but might slip into late lottery due to his athletic limitations. Richardson is a combo guard, lacking size for a true SG and not a pure playmaker, but put him into a sixth man role and I think he will excel.
I'm not sure there's any player in this draft class that Ime would play, so it doesn't really matter in the short term where the Rockets pick.
I love him. Thought he was a bust the first 3 or so yrs but he’s now turned in two excellent seasons and could be an all star. I believe he’ll get a new contract next yr, but I think the Bulls are willing to pay because they really like their backcourt. I’d be willing to give up significant assets for White, just not sure he’s available. It would probably take more than Cam and mid-late lotto pick. We’re probably talking about at least two valuable picks and Cam. But he’d solve a lot of problems for us and he’s only 25.
I for one am excited that the Rockets are almost assuredly picking in the lottery; though it still is not 100%, but it is very close to reality. Lottery picks are invaluable for building teams, and most importantly depth. As players get expensive on good teams, having depth gives teams a larger window of opportunity. There is a possibility that Jabari or Eason will want much more money than the Rockets can offer and keep the window open. Right now, the Rockets core is still developing, but several guys have taken major steps forward. Sengun demonstrates a tenacious and wont back down ferocity - plus he has a remarkable basket creating ability around the rim. Amen is a defensive savant, that has an acumen to score and rebound, while not being featured in offense. Green has started to feel into his role, as projected when he was drafted (a fella that has elite dribble penetration, mid range game, and 3 point barrage) - best yet, he now has defensive prowess that many doubted he’d ever display. Jabai though, is starting to remind me of a Tim Duncan lite, as the man is like a Mr. Fundamentalist type player. He does everything right, he rebounds, plays solid defense, he can shoot the 3 pointer, he has a mid range game, he isn’t selfish, etc… This team is going to get very expensive sooner rather than later. So having high quality depth will be vital, because teams will start pilfering the roster with max level deals.
This team is pretty stacked at forward, but we don’t have anyone legitimately threatening FVV, Sengun or Jalen for their starting spot. We can pretty comfortably take BPA.
We are stacked kind of across the board. Ime isn't playing anyone over his friend Dillon Brooks, he isn't playing anyone over FVV, and at center you have Sengun and Adams. We have a rookie PG that would be a starter and the ROY if he was drafted elsewhere that can't even get on the court due to Ime.... and a SF-SG second year player that would be at minimum a 6th man elsewhere that can't get on the court at all due to Ime. You aren't having anyone jump Amen, Tari, or Jabari.... and Ime loves him some rando journeyman vets. He's just not a coach that is going to give ANYONE in this draft class a legitimate chance unless he's forced to.
I'd say Amen is pushing both FVV and Green. I think sometime in the next 2 years, Amen will be a starting guard.
Always take BPA. That said, if BPA is not a center, odds for trading the pick go way up such that the Rockets can select BPA in a future draft.
Agreed. Backup 1, 2 and 5 is pretty wide open in terms of opportunity for a young guy to come in and make a name.
Stone should just let FVV walk and force Ime to play Reed next year, like Billy Beane did in "Moneyball."
