SLAM put it best when describing Tyler: "Selfish, Immature, Unprofessional, Quitter." He's a far less talented, potentially more unstable version of DeMarcus Cousins.
Yeah, I could definitely see Morey pouncing on Valanciunas regardless of whether his contract situation requires that he stay in Europe another year. Assuming that's he's a legit top-10 draft pick on the Rockets' draft board, he may be the best value at #14. Also, with all of the youth currently on this team, it may actually be BETTER to have their first round pick play in Europe next season. First of all, Les doesn't have to pay him next season, freeing up a little more wiggle room under whatever form of "luxury tax threshold" is in place under the new CBA. Second, Jonas will have a FULL SEASON of basketball under his belt next season (albeit the shorter Euroleague season) instead of being stuck in the middle of the NBA's lockout. The extra playing time will certainly give him a leg up on other 2011 draftees, especially if most/all of the 2011-12 NBA season is lost to the lockout. Again, ASSUMING that the Rockets actually really like this kid (not necessarily a certainty), I'm on board with such a move.
Anybody know anything about this guy? Bismack Biyombo He's a foward-center international, and ranked 19th in Dxpress's mock draft. He's 6'9 240 and 18 years old. (so he might grow a few inches taller in a few years, and maybe end up around 250-260 lbs.) Worth a 2nd round pick maybe? Don't know that much about him. <iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/O2QFlV3Xn18" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Bismack-Biyombo-5902/
We already have Thabeet struggling to crack the rotation, if we're going to draft a big, he either needs to be a sure thing or a project we can stow away in Europe.
If you think about it in the context of "young players who have never had a training camp with the Rockets" (and thus did not get playing time under Adelman), the Rockets ALREADY have two "rookies" for next season: Hasheem Thabeet AND Terrence Williams Adding (as of today) the #14, #23 and #38 picks on top of those two (and the other young players on the team) is probably not something the Rockets would ideally like to do.
I would draft Isaiah Thomas so that when Isiah Thomas comes back as the Knicks new GM, we can get Isiah Thomas to give us something good in exchange for Isaiah Thomas.
He really messed up when he decided to play international ball instead of college. I'd be so surprised if someone actually drafts him.
He's my early rocket pick. Don't hold me to that but I've been tracking him for a month and what little I have seen this guy is just what the Rockets need at our spot. I want a shotblocking big or an athletic sf. It's still early but expect his stock to rise as we get closer to the draft. Biyombo can run, rebound and especially block shots a little Hakeem like, defensively! Please I said defensively and a little. If we can't get a shot blocker than I would go for Leonard from san Diego state. I love his athleticism. He's raw and has a average at best outside shot but he is young and will only get better and he is a great rebounder from the 3. Those are my early bird picks at players I think might be available at the 14th. Of course I would love to have some other players but all of them are top ten picks. I'm with Bima on not keeping all of our picks. If you believe the Rockets will keep Lee, resign Hayes and Yao and I do than that gives us 13 players. If we keep all of our draft picks we have to dump miller for nothing. So barring a 2 for 1 deal we can't keep all of our picks. Nor do I want to. I would trade all 3 of our picks for just a moderatealy better first and a slightly better second.
Biyombo looks pretty solid in the youtube highlights I've watched, though it's hard to judge a player just off highlights. I just fear that Ibaka is the new Nowitzki and scouts now aggressively look for the next Ibaka like they did with Euros/International players in the early 2000's. For every Nowitzki you get a Milicic, Tskitishvili, Korolev, Yi, Araujo, etc... Seraphin was drafted 17th last year and by some touted as the next Serge Ibaka. It's way too early to judge him and the kind of career he's going to have, but I doubt he's ever going to be close to player Ibaka will be. I'm not saying Biyombo will be a bust or the next Seraphin. I'm just a little cautious regarding "the next Ibaka's". Another thing that's a bit of a turn off is Biyombo size, should he indeed gets measured 6'9. We already have Scola, Patterson and Hill. Another PF is about the last thing we need. Bima made a good point about us already having two "rookies", though that's obviously dependend on whether Adelman will come back or not. I agree though that ideally we package the draft picks and draft either somebody who can step right in or somebody we can stow away in Europe. The offseason sure will be interesting.
I know this is kinda off-topic but..... What position do you think Perry Jones will play in the NBA???? The majority of the sites say he will be a PF, I obviously agree that he plays that position in college, but I have a feeling that if the team that drafts him, makes him play at the PF spot, they will not get the most out of him. I just don´t see him as a great back to the basket player, and on the other hand, I see he has foot speed plus ball-handling skill to play the 3. People compare him to Randolph, Odom or Josh Smith, in the sense that they all are hybrid players, but when I see them play, Smith doesn´t look comfortable handling the ball on the perimeter, Odom is a great player around the basket, and Randolph has Bosh written all over him, and Perry just looks natural when playing on the perimeter. I don´t know how to explain it better, I look at him and I see a SF, even tho I know the dude is 6´10/11. I know I said I want us to draft HB (I have almost no doubt DM will trade up finally, or atleast try to :grin, but, with him maybe going back to school next year, and the drop off Perry has had in Mock drafts recently, (out of the top 3), I see us making a run at him. Can you imagine a combo of 2pat and Perry??? 2pat on Melo and Perry on Amare would be a joy to watch (just an example). If we maintain the 14th pick, my 2 options are the same as before, Fredette or Kawhi Leonard (or take a flier on Lucas Nogueira, or maybe he drops to the 2nd round) Still along way to go... hope DM is on point, as usual :grin: PeAcE
I really want to draft a defensive-minded SF. Terrence Jones looks very intriguing. We seem to have luck with players from Kentucky.
As much as I'd like to see the Rockets trade up in the draft, let me ask this of all those saying that they WILL do it: If you had, say, the #4 pick, would YOU trade it for the 14th and 23rd picks? I wouldn't. And I don't think most GMs would, either. Let's just hope Morey can work his Jedi mind trick on the "lesser" GMs.
Isn't this where our "assets" come into play? I don't think Morey's offer will be #14 & #23. I think it'd be Courtney Lee + #14, for example. Harrison Barnes would be a dream pick. But sorry folks, he's coming back to Carolina.
Do you guys think that any of these Euro bigs will be able to anchor an NBA defense at the C spot in the NBA?
Or it could be for Kevin Martin straight up! example: Kevin Martin for Minny's pick = 'Perry Jones' + filler Minny's pick = SF/PF Perry Jones Rox pick = PG Kemba Walker Orl pick = PF/C Bismack Biyombo Package the Clipps 38th pick with Miller to get rid of the guy.
