The need for another 5

Honestly - the Rockets don't need "another five" -- the don't really have one because Adams is old and broken and Capela is old and not very good.

If the Rockets are keeping Sengun, they need to but an elite defender with size next to him --- the problem is that Clingen isn't going anywhere, Kessler just signed with LA and there aren't a lot out there. I know the Rockets were interested in a few massive centers in this draft, but one pulled out and the other one ended up being drafted a lot higher than the Rockets could get in the draft.

Ideally the Rockets would scout well and find someone like that outside the top of the lottery that develops and fills the need.

 

I.D.I.O.T.

 

Rockets signed Oscar Cluff to their summer league team. He might be a 2-way guy. 6'11" 250lbs, 7'3" wingspan. Not the answer by any means, but a good be on a prospect that might be useful down the road.

 

Nick Richards at the minimum would be incredible. Looney and Drummond suck but they're out there still and can be fine as a 4th Center. Also this is the slot where you sign some super athletic giant who doesn't know how to play basketball on a 2 way and hope you can squeeze something out of him.

 

Adding a center like that sounds great, but then you remember you'd have to send a good draft asset or two to turn salaries like DFS and/or Clint into such a player, and it becomes hard to rationalize doing so for a player who will be 3rd string behind Sengun and Adams . So, yeah, a good 3rd string center feels very important due to Adams injury concerns, but most of the time said player is going to be 3rd string -- and that's just hard to justify spending draft capital on.

 

Do y'all think good centers grow on trees? Look at what the Lakers had to give up just to get a quality starting center. Sengun / Adams / Capela is arguably one of the deepest center rotations in the league, not to mention Bari can pick up some smallball 5 minutes. I'd far rather pick up additional ballhandling than another bigman.

 

I'm just glad that they are looking for someone to fit that role. Good organizations can develop guys for that spot -- Hartenstein is an example, and there are others. It is also possible that someone on an existing roster or in the draft next year is available.

Oscar is a hard worker and is fundamentally sound. He has a shot to make it -- I wish he could block more shots, but he is strong and can get boards and box out. I thought he was going to try and go back to Purdue but I am glad we are giving him a look.

 

I don’t know that we can afford to have a third center on the roster. We have 2 full time centers and Alpi plays 4/5. We need guards that can dribble and shoot.

 

I have never heard of good centers growing on trees --- but I have heard of good centers developing over time and being taken outside of the top of the lottery.

Rudy Gobert was taken at the end of the first round or early second (I don't remember which)... Robert Williams and Hartenstein both were taken late... Naz Reid was taken in the second round if I remember right.

So, teams can develop those types of defensive players in the post outside of the top of the lottery.

Personally -- I don't think that Sengun/Adams/Capela is good enough to compete at the top of the league. Sengun isn't really a center, he is a power forward that needs a human eraser next to him -- and so does Sheppard.

As for ball handling - I didn't think of it as an either/or scenario.

I don't think that it is as simple as ball handling -- Smart and FVV can handle the ball, the Rockets ideally need an offensive engine on the perimeter to create and run their offense -- but those guys are arguably the most valuable commodity in basketball.... and half or more of those guys can't defend and need someone to bail them out defensively.

 

“Lob Threat”, is that you Coach Silas?

 

Should have acquired Isaiah Stewart as I've been saying for years. He's going to flourish in Memphis. Disproportionately huge wingspan, was protecting the rim a million times better than Duren. Elite rim protector. On the brink of solidifying a 3PT shot. Manageable contract. Relatively young.

Otherwise Myles Turner would be great. Legit wondering if they would do

Adams, DFS, Capela and a FRP

for

Turner, Gary Harris and Taurean Prince

 

you trade Alpi, and who picks up his scoring?

not your new athletic five.

 

Ryan Kalkbreezy.
Reezy Kalkbrizzle.

 

I’d prefer more guard depth.

Amen can do a better Moussa Diabate/Onyeka Okongwu impression than anyone we could get.

 

Strongly agree. I'd like the other center or Sengun replacement to be more of a interior presence and obviously a shooter. Sengun is a decent defender a lot of the time and he rebounds defensively well also. But there are times where he is too small.

 

@Nook brings up a good point. I think there is a market opportunity to always be drafting/bringing in these larger guys and working with them to see how they come along. I think the same thing about the NFL at QB. If I ran an NFL franchise, I would always draft a QB in the 5th or 6th round. Even if I had an established starter, I might blow a 3rd every 10 years or so on a QB.

I really believe there are players that can be Frankensteined into Hartenstein.

Sengun, I tend to agree he is more of a PF. Doesn't really matter. More about who plays next to him and Smith is not quite good enough for that.

I do think Smith has gotten better at blocking shots but I don't think he will ever be that dynamic defender inside. I think he can be (and is) good, but it won't be dynamic or he won't be an eraser per SE. I do personally think we should converting Jabari to more of a center. He defends better inside and his defensive rebounding is above average.

 

I actually believe Myles Turner would be a good one since he can be your starting 5 while moving Sengun to the 4 or you can have him as a 6th man. His salary is high though, but since we have some deadweight, if the Bucks are willing to listen, I would love to try and get him.

 

Is Jaxson Hayes still available?