2-3wks since I've posted my favorites for #14, and they still remain the same, mostly. 1. Kawhi Leonard 2. Chris Singleton 3. Jordan Hamilton This draft should be deep at the SF spot, a need position for us. While Leonard seemingly is out of our reach now with people mentioning him at #14, I am still listing him here just to add that his draft combine measurements--incredible standing reach despite being only 6'6-6'7 as well as big hands--have improved his position in my eyes as well as most of the draftniks out there. Singleton's stock has also gone up as people have started to realize what a defensive force he was for FSU. They were in the top 2 teams defensively the past two years for good reason. First off they were the tallest team in the country, and we're not talking Plumlee or Hansbro-tall either; legit, long-armed guys like Singleton and Alabi were the reasons. I still believe that if Singleton had not been injured mid-season that he'd be in the top 7 at this point. He's no offensive slouch either. Jordan Hamilton has proven the least among the three above, and accordingly his stock has taken a hit as he posted some of the slowest times in the drills at the combine. He still has a good skillset, however, and the system at UT was not one to cater to his strengths (the system at UT tends not to cater to any players' strengths, but that's a different story). A coaching staff who sees this may see value in picking him over a Tobias Harris, and frankly I still prefer him over Harris as well. UT has a strong history of producing NBA players who, shall we say, underwhelmed in college. Rick Barnes is a terrible coach. There I said it.
1. bust 2. way over-valued (Butler will have a better career.) 3. mediocre (high volume unproductive shooter that won't D up, once again Butler will be better.)
<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dvUqimSb1dI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/213926/Valanciunas_Buyout_To_Be_Raised_To_At_Least_$3M#ixzz1NzJQK5lQ This might affect his draft stock.. perhaps pushing him further down into the Rockets trade up range?
I would really like to trade up for Enes Kanter. I'll take my chance on a big man who showed up to the combine in that type of shape. Assuming, we stay where we're at: 14. Marcus Morris 24. Nikola Vucevic Lucas Nogueira
1. Trade up for Enes Kanter 2. Trade up for Biyombo or see if he falls to 14 3. After drafting either Kanter of Biyombo I would like to draft Singleton
DraftExpress is reporting tonight that rumors about Kanter's knee problems aren't true: Internet reports indicated that Enes Kanter has bad knees. It appears that they were unsubstantiated. Not a nice thing to speculate about...
If DM isn't able to trade up Guys I like in the 14 range: Josh Hamilton Chris Singleton 23 range: Lucas Nogueira Nikola Vucevic Jeremy Tyler Josh Selby 2nd round (not necessary w/38th) Keith Benson Jimmy Butler Andrew Goudelock
Watching the playoffs/finals is just painful. Remember the days when we'd sit at the TV hanging on every shot and call, yelling and screaming, highfive-ing and hair grabbing. I seriously can't wait for the draft to just be here so we can see how the heck Morey is going to pull us back into being 'ship contenders. Give me Enes. Or give me Bismack. Or give me Brooks. Or give me Singleton. Or give me Jimmer. These guys all excite me and would bring something new to Houston. Oh and the more I watch Derrick Williams, the more I think of Michael Beasley + Boris Diaw but less crazy/lazy.
Let me ask you all a question. If we had a chance to get Kanter and Biyombo, would you consider dipping into our 2012 picks bag?
Everyone talks about Kanter. I would like to hear more about Valanciunas. Center or bust for the Rockets, as usual. Move up...
NBAdraft has the Rockets picking Biyombo at 14! That would be a great pick at 14. And I would be willing to trade the Knicks 2012 pick for Enis Kanter with out giving it a second thought. Enis would be a top 5 pick in next years draft as well.
whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat??? Even Irving would be a questionable top 5 pick in 2012 Anthony Davis Harrison Barnes Perry Jones Austin Rivers Jared Sullinger I have a question, why is Biyombo falling in mock drafts??? Is it because teams might be questioning the fact that he could play Center in the NBA, him bing 6ยด9??? Marshon Brooks and Tobias Harris going up PeAcE
Biyombo is only falling at the nbadraft.net mock. All other sites agree to put him into their top-10. Nbadraft.net has been always been a doubter of Biyombo, for different reasons. He was still a 2nd round pick at their mock when draftexpress had him already at the 6th. Givony on the other hand has always doubted a little bit about Kanter (and his 2 years without competing), but I'd say that DX is the only draft site that puts him outside the top-4. I'm curious to see where they are in their mocks the days before the draft, because in the end everyone wants to nail it, quirks apart.
Are you joking? Irving would have been taken ahead of Perry Jones, Harrison Barnes and Jared Sullinger this year if they all stayed in the draft. Irving may not be a #1 lock next year, but there's no way he'd be anything worse than a top three pick.
Agreed. What Iriving showed in college was flashes of brilliance. While I personally think that bad things happen to players from Duke (tho it could be coincidence and if it is a weird curse, curses are meant to be broken), no denying Iriving's talent, he is a lock for number one (not sure if I would take him over Sullinger but as you said, top 3 pick in next years draft easily and a lock for number one in this draft, unless the Cavs somehow screw it up). Irving was garnering comparisons to Chris Paul in college. You just do not pass up on a player like that. Especially when the NBA is becoming a point guard league. Irving just is one of those next generation point guards.
Kanter is the only player that we should be focused on trying to draft this year. You all seem to have forgotten that he dominated Sullinger, T. Jones and any of those players coming out in 2012, at the Hoop Summit last year. In only 20 or minutes, while having a sore back.
