Interesting. Well, I think Valenciunas might be available at #10, and I'd take him before any on that list, with maybe one exception.
I'm fairly certain that Valanciunas will be long gone by #10. The consensus (or at least majority) of draft experts is slowly gravitating towards Jonas going at #4 overall to Cleveland (or another team trading for that pick). There's a good chance he goes before Kanter.
<!-- http://twitter.com/Probballdraft/statuses/81861483717341184 --> <style type='text/css'>.bbpBox81861483717341184 {background:url(http://a0.twimg.com/images/themes/theme1/bg.png) #C0DEED;padding:20px;} p.bbpTweet{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;-moz-border-radius:5px;-webkit-border-radius:5px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:8px;padding-top:12px;height:40px;border-top:1px solid #fff;border-top:1px solid #e6e6e6} p.bbpTweet span.metadata span.author{line-height:19px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata span.author img{float:left;margin:0 7px 0 0px;width:38px;height:38px} p.bbpTweet a:hover{text-decoration:underline}p.bbpTweet span.timestamp{font-size:12px;display:block}</style> <div class='bbpBox81861483717341184'><p class='bbpTweet'>The Bulls have been offering picks 28 & 30 to move up on draft night feel they want more of an impact player than they will get there.<span class='timestamp'><a title='Fri Jun 17 23:11:13 +0000 2011' href='http://twitter.com/Probballdraft/statuses/81861483717341184'>less than a minute ago</a> via web <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/favorite?tweet_id=81861483717341184'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/favorite.png' /> Favorite</a> <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=81861483717341184'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/retweet.png' /> Retweet</a> <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=81861483717341184'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/reply.png' /> Reply</a></span><span class='metadata'><span class='author'><a href='http://twitter.com/Probballdraft'><img src='http://a2.twimg.com/profile_images/1170851329/ProBasketballDraft_normal.jpg' /></a><strong><a href='http://twitter.com/Probballdraft'>Probasketballdraft</a></strong><br/>Probballdraft</span></span></p></div> <!-- end of tweet --> Would you trade #14 for 28 & 30?
Nope, the Rockets already have a log jam. What they need is an impact player or an extra 2012 first round pick, preferably unprotected.
Wow - and everybody was hoping to get the first pick. 2, 7, and 14 are more valuable. Poor Cleveland! Stuck with 1 and 4 (think I have that right).
I really hope we can somehow get the 2nd and the 7th and the 8th picks in this draft. Not sure if Minnesota and Sacramento and Detroit does these deals, but this would PROPELL the Rockets onto the right paths of rebuilding instantly, and setting us in perfect position for a great pick in 2012: Minnesota Deal: Kevin Martin Jordan Hill 23rd pick 38th pick Chase Budinger for 2nd pick (ENES KANTER) Sacramento 14th pick Courtney Lee for 7th pick with the 2nd pick HOUSTON ROCKETS SELECT: ENES KANTER 7th pick HOUSTON ROCKETS SELECT: BISMACK BIYOMBO Lowry/Scrub Backup Dragic/Scrub Backup Williams/Scrub Backup Scola/Patterson Kanter/Biyombo And then in the trade deadline we'll move Scola, so in the future we'll have a frontline rotation of Kanter/Patterson/Biyombo. Which would equal to Dirk/Jeff Green/Ibaka. That will give us a great pick in 2012. Yeah, maybe not so great value-wise, but when you rebuild, you don't really care about much except getting a whole bunch of talent and then suck.
So, . . . you want to trade down so that this young Rockets team--with plenty of decent young players but not many great players--is picking at #14, #28, #30 and #38??? I just don't understand the thinking there. There's no way the Rockets are rostering three rookies next season, let alone four, especially with Thabeet and T-Will still waiting to have their first Rockets training camp. Morey has given every indication that they don't want that many picks. Also, considering that they can get a comparable player at #38 to those available at #28, that trade does the team absolutely no good whatsoever. They can actually get a better player at #23. Plus, paying three first rounders instead of two takes up more cap space. I award you NO points, and may G-d have mercy on your soul.
They all count against the 15 man roster. Either that or the team has to waive them. Hence, stashing one of the picks overseas is so appealing.
I like the idea, because DM gets more shots at uncovering a real gem. Of course, to make it work, we have to free up some roster spots. Is there anything that says we can't have ten players in Europe? Maybe the NBA wouldn't notice if we had a few extra players on the roster. We could just say we lost the paperwork.
Interesting, so what determines whether an RGV player takes a roster spot? Anyone drafted or traded counts against the roster and anyone signed by RGV as a free agent does not?