Agreed. It’s fine to take a flyer on a 2nd round pick. I did think it was funny that Stone said he really liked the body type. Right now I would characterize him as a slower FVV with a better mid-range shot and way worse defense. Who knows, but with a professional training regimen maybe some of his physical characteristics can be overcome. FVV has never looked fat during the season (he does right now), but Thornton does look a bit rotund.
I think that some don't realize that if teams thought he'd be as good as Aaron Holiday, he'd have gone in the first round.
"JD Davison only likes Organic Chiapas Coffee. He'll show you where it is. Do not mess this up. Maybe you should write this down?"
11 pages and going for a 2nd rounder that might not make rotation. Pretty much sums up a very dry offseason for the Rockets
He is probably going to be in the league for at least 5-6 years in a reserve role because he can shoot from the perimeter, he doesn't make a lot of unforced mistakes and he is extremely strong. That is a good outcome for a second rounder. He is painfully slow for a guard - and that will mean he can be exploited defensively in certain match ups, which is why I think he will be a reserve. He also will work hard and clearly loves basketball -- so I think he will be fine, but he isn't a franchise altering piece.
If you can get a bench rotation guy in the 2nd round that is a win. Everything I have seen so far, he is a solid pick. Certainly better than TyTy Washington and Josh Christopher. Little fact, the draft compensation the Rockets got for Cam Whitmore was completely used in the trading up for Bruce Thornton.
Why are we acting like there’s some massive difference between a guy like TyTy Washington picked 29 and Thornton at 31? Rockets traded up the first pick in the second round round. Of course people are going to talk about it.
No, that's not certain at all. Those are the kind of guys Thornton is trying to be like, long time reserve players getting a check in the NBA.
I don't know why but I get the feeling VanVleet doesn't want to take Thornton under his wing the way he did Jalen. He probably got worn out trying to make that cat bark and just sees Thornton as the possible end to his big contracts. That said, he did seem upbeat about Thornton in his interview with Vanessa so maybe I'm way off.
Honestly even if he's not better than Holiday right now(he's not), I'd play him and let him get experience. We're not good enough to not take chances. We know what Holiday is and that's fine but eventually we need to do the OKC model and hope we hit on some 2nd rounders so that it raises our ceiling. Thornton might not be a good defender right now but I'll say this, he doesn't look like the type to just die on screens like Reed. I like Reed but watching him play, you start to understand why Ime doesn't trust him. If I'm Reed, I'm worried about my spot because if Thornton is taking anyone's mins, it's his. FVV is teflon to Ime, Smart is about to be teflon so there's no other option.
the days of FVV getting a big contract are over. I can see him getting an MLE contract somewhere to a team like Orlando next year, a team that needs a steady player but eventually he'll transition to the Lowry role where he has no choice but to be a mentor. I thought he'd be a longtime stay here but reading the tea leaves, the Rockets don't seem too commited to him.
I don't think he'd get much experience playing garbage time minutes with the Rockets, he should probably spend all season with RGV trying to lose weight and get quick enough to guard literally anyone.
does he need to lose weight though? He looks short and stumpy to me. He has short arms and short legs and he's pretty strong. His entire game seems like it's based on using his body to offset his physical deficiencies. I think his body type is probably the most beneficial to his game.
If he wants to make it in the NBA, absolutely. He's not fat, he's just built like a fullback, so if he wants to try out for the NFL, he's on the right track.... but that kind of bulk is why he's got the speed and agility of a center. At 6'0, that just isn't good enough. You're right though about his play style, and that's why he wasn't even a second round prospect until after his senior year. That play style, at 6'0, will work against teenagers at much lower levels, but not in the NBA unless you are also a lot quicker
It worked for Lowry and Fred. I will say that Lowry was pretty quick for his size and weight when he was younger but Fred might be his best comp. I’m convinced that’s a big reason why they drafted him. There’s no reason he can’t follow that model. But then again Fred was pretty skinny coming into the league and then added weight. Yea you’re probably right. I mean at the end of the day it’s why he was projected in the 40’s for a reason. Once you enter the 2nd round, it’s not even a coin flip, you just hope that 15% chance or less they succeed is in your favor. I really like his attitude though. He just seems like a guy who’s going to stick.
No chance he loses weight in McAllen. His diet will consist of tacos, tortas, burritos, quesadilla, queso.
Oh i think FVV knows his big contract days are done... he's just working for a 'comfortable' end to his career at this point... IF FVV comes back and plays decent, I'd think he's hoping for a last 3/36 type contract w the Rox in a reserve role... but if Thornton plays well then he will take that slot... Fred knows that its prob him or Thornton after this year...
People seem to forget this all the time. Put differently, Holliday is closer to MJ than Brian Scalabrine, and Brian Scalabrine is closer to MJ than anyone posting on CF. Hope that clears things up.
