If there was a year to take a half crazy gamble in the draft, this is the year. This projects to be one of, if not the, worst draft classes ever. Safe picks are going to be career bench guys. IMO, If I could go after any of these guys, it'd definitely be Kanter. There's no point in the Rockets taking a swingman that's buried 4th on the depth chart, a short combo guard to needlessly replace Brooks, or a tweener forward that likewise can't beat out anyone already on the roster. Be bold. Go after Kanter. Go after Tyler if you really like him. Go after Leonard if you think he'll be the stud we know Chase can't be. I'd rather they dump the picks (ideally to lose Miller or Thabeet) than take guys that won't help the team. And that describes 80% of this draft class.
I agree that this is the year to take risks, but that has more to do with the fact that the Rockets have THREE relatively decent picks in this year's draft moreso than the overall quality of the players in it. For instance, don't underestimate the team's desire to find a legit long-term solution at the backup PG spot. Sure, Goran Dragic looks like a great acquisition, and I think he is one of the better backup PGs in the league today. But he only has ONE YEAR REMAINING on his contract, after which he will be an UNRESTRICTED free agent. The Rockets shouldn't just assume that he'll be re-signed to a reasonable deal. If anything, they should be looking to take a PG with one of these picks (assuming the guy is BPA) as "Dragic insurance" to prevent the team being left with only Lowry at the position after next season. Also, emjohn, I don't buy the notion that the Rockets need to waste picks just to dump salary. Both Miller and Thabeet are entering the final year of their respective contracts (well, Miller's only guaranteed $878k the following year, but you get the picture). Since I fully expect the team to at least TRY to re-sign both Yao and Hayes, I don't think clearing cap space will end up being as big a deal as you make it out to be. Save that space for 2012. Use the picks to acquire a talent upgrade or to trade up in the draft, instead. Then, just wait for those guys' contracts to expire. Heck, Miller's contract may end up being an attractive trade asset for the 2012 NBA Draft.
I'm not sure teams are going to be willing to give guaranteed multi year money to a guy like Tyler. Every year we see players fall out of the 1st round because teams don't want to risk guaranteed money on a player that has some sort of flaw.
It does not matter. If we draft Tyler in the second he can go to Europe, D-League or work at wal-mart until the Rockets decide it's time to sign or trade him. If I were going to reach for a big man with the 23rd pick from the likely available candidates it would probably be Keith Benson. Good rebounder and shot blocker with giant hands and a huge wingspan. Also notable is the fact that Tyler has the second highest body fat in this years draft. http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Analyzing-the-2011-NBA-Combine-Measurements-3712/
Actually, he could do that even if he were drafted in the first round. Teams aren't going to be signing their first round picks before July 1 (especially since there is no summer league for which they need to quickly prepare), so Kyrie Irving could even go to Europe if he wanted to after being drafted #1 overall. I doubt he'd do it, though, since he'd have the most to lose, NBA contract-wise, if he got seriously injured. After the draft, teams will only have DRAFT RIGHTS to those players. They do not have actual CONTRACTS with those players, meaning that FIBA shouldn't need a "letter of clearance" from the NBA for those drafted--but un-signed--players to go play overseas.
No big Euroleague team (the only ones that would consider paying a big buyout) is going to pay a big buyout for an 18 year old player (that would be third string on any big Euroleague club) to sit on their bench for 1 year and do nothing, then go to the NBA. Not happening.
We'll see about that. I'm sure that issue will be litigated or otherwise heavily disputed once the lockout commences.
I have a question, who is this Charles Jenkins kid??? Apparently this guy "owned" the combine..... PeAcE
Martin + Buddinger to Minnesota for Beasley + 2nd pick - Draft Williams Scola + Jordan Hill to Sacramento for the 7th - Draft Kemba 14th - Donatas Montejunas 23rd - Lucas Nogueira Buyout Miller or see if we can dump him. We would be terrible next season most likely and might even opt to not sign Hayes and just go with Thabeet at C. This is what rebuilding is about. Lowry/Walker Lee/ Terrence Williams Derrick Williams / Beasley Patterson / Montejunas Hayes/ Thabeet / Noguiera
But you and I both know that the math doesn't add up for the Rockets to draft and add 3 players to the roster, especially not if Hayes and Yao stay. Something has to give. I'm just hoping to see a very aggressive and creative Morey this draft/offseason. From the reports, it doesn't sound like he's inclined to stay with the 3 picks and draft at those positions.
You realize that lineup has the ability to product 6 "busts" that would currently be in playing rotation. Maybe it produces 4 busts and 1 all-star, or 3 busts, 1 all-star, and 2 marginal rotation players.... but thats a huge gamble for any team to take. Patterson himself could even have a "sophmore slump" year next season. You really just have no idea what that type of roster would do. For any of these young prospects to truely thrive, they need to be mixed in with some veterans and work their way into the lineup. I can see this lineup easily being as bad as the 2010 New Jersey Nets.
I can see some type of trade happening. If nothing else, a trade that would move us up a bit from the #38th would be fine. Something like player x + #38 for a pick in the teens would be fine by me. I actually like our positions this year. #14 and 23 are good spots to get talent that could help the team in the short term.
I can almost guarentee you that they will do one or the other of- A. Trade back a pick back to 2012 or 2013. Even if it means taking a lower pick in the next year's draft. and/or B. Draft the "rights" to at least one international player. Most likely one that you have yet to hear about. -Morey has to be realizing that if Jordan Hill, Thabeet, Terrence Williams, etc. do not progress significantly next season than he could very well lose out on those gambles for nothing. I believe he realizes that he has to get something out of these players on the court or trade them before they diminish in value. I expect that for this upcoming draft year Morey would rather have more assets (future picks, international stashes, etc.) than prospects buried in the D-League who are losing value, and losing all trade value. That is unless he sees a prospect that he truely see's that high potential in like they did with Patterson.
There is nothing to litigate. The NBA and FIBA have never had in history any agreement that is valid during a lockout.
When I consider the three picks and our roster, I would rather...... trade Budinger, Hill, Thabeet, and Miller and replace them with draft picks, then to keep those guys on the roster and draft Euros that probably won't see the light of day over here ever, or for many years. I suspect there is a roster reshuffling on deck the night of the draft.
This is exactly what i am for. The 4 players mentioned can all be replaced easily. Catch all the other teams asleep on this draft and take advantage.
Agreed, but that is all the more reason NOT to waste picks to dump salaries that are expiring in a year anyway. Hell, if the lockout wipes out next season entirely, then those guys won't be owed anything. I can almost guarantee that (barring a major trade where multiple players are packaged for a star) the Rockets do NOT roster all three of those picks. I could also see a trade happening where the Rockets trade the highest and lowest of the picks in exchange for two picks in between, similar to what Washington and Atlanta did at last year's draft. Something like: Rockets trade: #23 and #38 for #28 and #30 (from Chicago) or #27 and #36 (from New Jersey) NOTE: I am not advocating these specific trades. I'm just giving concrete examples of this TYPE of trade.
I'm no expert I was just showing something that would get me excited about the Rockets. In my opinion Kemba and Williams both have a chance to be all-stars. I think Lowry can also become an allstar. I think we could play Lowry and Kemba together in small ball and Kemba can act as our Jason Terry for years to come. How many "veterans" do the Thunder have? I think Hayes, Lowry and Lee are mature enough to guide that group. It could end up biting us in the ass because obviously I'm no GM.
