Or when your Uncle Stavros married the goat over remaining in the monastery...I know she was a pretty goat, and he probably couldn't have done much better....but by Zeus' Thunder, that just wasn't right!
He was traded away to make room for Scottie Pippen. Pippen was a disaster in itself, but it's not like he was traded away for being terrible.
You don't complain about drafting what was the greatest Center of an Era where Centers were great. You certainly don't call one of the top 5 players in history a bad draft pick. You are clearly just trying to create an argument and in no way are you making even the most vague attempt at any meaningful discussion. You should stick with watching Euro Ball, you clearly lack any knowledge of NBA basketball.
LOL !! I was looking for someone to post this. Of course, I assume this is a joke.. Actually - one of the best things you can say about Hakeem is that the Rockets have no regrets at all about picking him over Jordan. Considering Jordan's stature as the greatest player ever (which I agree with) - that is actually quite a compliment and statement about just how great Hakeem was. now - if they just can go back in time and trade Ralph for the second pick and Clyde...
and the fact that you're arguing with him like he's a real poster shows you clearly lack any knowledge of internet.
These rankings are all done in hindsight. In hindsight, Griffin's pick cost us three first rounders, not to mention subsequently his "potential" prevented us from trading him for Rashard Lewis, and forced us to trade Kenny Thomas.
First of all, I already said in the thread that Griffin was the worst pick. Secondly, Hakeem is the best center I have ever seen, and maybe at his absolute peak, the best player I have ever seen. But, anyone that would take 2 titles over 6 is a delusional, irrational homer.
Seriously? A player like MJ could possibly (more probably) bolt for a major market like NY/LA/Chicago few years into his contract. And if he were to stay for many years, who is to say that MJ would achieve 6 titles in Houston? Houston would have to build a very strong supporting cast (possibly a HOF-caliber sidekick), bring in a coach who can manage difficult personalities (possibly the greatest coach of all time). I think that we are lucky to have gotten Hakeem. The guy was loyal to Houston (it is difficult to find any superstar loyal to a city which isn't NY/LA/Chicago) and despite not having everything MJ had, still brought 2 championships to the city.
Stop commenting about the NBA like you actually watch it. Stick to your Euro Basketball.. Also there is no guarantee that Jordan would've won 6 rings here in Houston. He had a ton of factors he had working for him in Chicago, to get the rings he got. Hell, maybe Hakeem would've had more rings had he been drafted to Portland and was teamed up with Drexler at an early age, or gone 3rd overall to the Bulls and eventually team up with Pippen. Now...
Not sure why people are crying over not drafting Zach Randolph. He was a headache for many years and teams before becoming the player that he is today.
I agree with most of you that that list was crap. Kenny Thomas as one of the 10 WORST picks? Hell, I think he was one of the better picks the Rockets have made. He was a solid player for this team. It's just that he played during the Steve Francis lottery era. If you're going to make a top 10 worst Rockets draft picks list, you need to set some parameters. (1) Like emjohn said, you can't base it purely on hindsight. If a pick was considered a good pick at the time by most critics, then you can't look back later and kill the team for making that pick. (2) Unless it was likely that the team was going to take another specific player had it not selected the "bad pick," then it's pointless to look at the guys drafted afterwards. (3) I'm not counting guys like Rudy Gay, Nicolas Batum or Richard Jefferson as Rockets draft picks, since none of those guys were ACTUALLY drafted by the Rockets. The Grizzlies, Blazers and Nets, respectively, drafted those guys using the Rockets' picks. It's just that, due to technical trade rules, the trade couldn't be ANNOUNCED until after the Rockets made the selection. By that same token, I WILL include players drafted by other teams FOR the Rockets. With that said, my "Worst Rockets First Round Draft Picks Since 1990" (in no particular order): Mirsad Turkcan (1999, #18 overall) - There was no excuse for this pick. Sure, he had a fantastic pre-draft workout for the Rockets. But they had just landed two other rookies in Dickerson and Drew and were not expected to give three rookies major minutes on a championship contender. They should have taken their "project" in Rashard Lewis and then seen about maybe buying a pick later in the draft. I'm sure Turkcan would have still been available. (Note: Turkcan actually went on to be a Euroleague star, and I'm sure he could have been a serviceable backup forward in the NBA had he stayed on this side of the Atlantic.) Bryce Drew (1999, #16 overall) - Yes, they should have taken Rashard Lewis, but I could understand the team wanting a bona fide great shooter for their last championship run. This pick probably wouldn't have been as bad had the Rockets still landed Rashard at #18. Bostjan Nachbar (2002, #15 overall) - The main piece of what the Rockets got in the Hakeem Olajuwon trade to Toronto, most draft experts said that the Rockets were deciding between Nachbar and Tayshawn Prince with this pick. They picked the wrong guy. Jason Collier (2000, #15 overall) - In an admittedly weak draft, the Rockets selected Joel Przybilla at #9 and then inexplicably traded DOWN to #15 to get Collier. Never liked the pick, and he never did anything for the team. Had a good season in Atlanta before his untimely death. RIP. John Turner (1991, #20 overall) - Never heard of him? Exactly. Rodrick Rhodes (1997, #24 overall) - I remember the moment when Rhodes was selected, watching the draft on TV. Every single broadcaster was in shock that the Rockets took a guy in the first round who many didn't have getting drafted. Dude had some nice defensive abilities, but the Rockets could have done much better and possibly gotten Rhodes in the second round. Yes, I can count. There are only 6 picks up there. But I actually think that only 6 first round picks by the Rockets since 1990 were actually bad picks AT THE TIME and who ended up being bad picks, as well. With hindsight, I'd easily throw Eddie Griffin in there, but he was considered a stud--albeit a temperamental stud--who could have just as easily become a star. Also, guys like Kenny Thomas and Luther Head were decent (not good, but decent) picks for the late first round. If you go back and re-rank every draft, you'll find that guys like them deserve to be picked in that range. If I had more time, I'd post my Top 10 BEST Rockets Draft Picks Since 1990.
I don't know where that one came from either, because Kenny Thomas was a good veteran NBA player known for his good defense/rebounding. He was a part of that Posey deal. My question is, why did the Rockets not keep players, like this Kenny Thomas; James Posey; Jim Jackson; and even Mr. Nachbar. Another thing that killed the Yao/TMac era, lack of good role players.
Shouldn't a pick be based soley on the contributions he makes on the floor? I though the Eddie Griffin trade was great at the time but it turned out horrible? Do I fault the Rockets for making that trade? No. I was excited about it and thought it was a great move for a young stud power forward. But in hindsight there is no question that it was a very bad pick.
Well, couldn't Houston get Prince and Lewis this summer? Is it possible for Houston to take on Lewis' contract to move up in the draft? It would be a bold move and the quickest way to obtain a potential superstar player. Isn't Prince a FA? He would be a good complement at SF.
I agree that you have to use hindsight to rank picks. Otherwise, what's the point? Picks are nothing other than potentials. Potentials can only be judged by hindsight. I do believe that subsequent injuries should not be factored in unless the chances of injury could have been foreseen.
In hindsight, the Eddie Griffin pick was the worst. Also, Richard Jefferson certainly did not win two championships with the NETS... Furthermore, while there is plenty to criticize about Luther Head, describing him as a sharpshooter who could not shoot is basically incorrect. Head led the league in 3 point percentage for a while during one season, and was generally a decent shooter...during the regular season. He was one of the worst playoff performers ever seen, though.
