Rockets Targeting Thompson, Biyombo In Efforts To Move Up

Where have you heard or read that Thabeet is lazy as hell?

 

You left off all the good players with African names.... and other than that why do you even point to those guys as examples? EVERY player has questions and concerns to go with him, especially in this draft.

This is the center position. There aren't very many sure things, but when I continue to read stuff like this, I don't mind taking the chance.....

"Biyombo is also an excellent athlete. He runs the floor extremely well and is very explosive around the basket. The coordination and reflexes he shows are atypical of a player with such little experience and give him a great framework to improve on as he continues to grow.

Offensively, Biyombo is fairly limited from a skills perspective. Nevertheless, he finds ways to produce in his own unique fashion; mostly by running the floor in transition, crashing the offensive glass and working off the ball.

His length gives guards an incredible target radius to work with, allowing them to lob the ball into the paint at difficult angles because they can trust Biyombo to go out and get it, sometimes for a spectacular alley-oop."

"When watching Biyombo play the one player that comes to mind is Joakim Noah. While Noah is not quite as long as Biyombo, he is a bit taller and they both score in unorthodox ways.

Both Noah and Biyombo excel on the boards and on the defensive end, so it may be a fair comparison. The energy that Biyombo plays with is nearly unmatched except for players like Noah.

If Biyombo reaches the potential that everyone expects, he could be a more offensively gifted version of Joakim Noah. If that happens, there is no doubt that the team that selects him will be extremely happy."

 

Watch him play. The dude is balls the wall aggressive and relentless. He knows where to be on the court, he gets good rebounding position and has impeccable timing when it comes to blocking shots... all this to along with his elite athleticism and length(7'7 wingspan and 9'3.5 standing reach).

All in all, Biyombo is a completely different breed to the guys you just mentioned.

 

Im sorry but I just dont see how these two guys have much more "upside" than Jordan Hill and Hasheem Thabeet at this point. I understand they might have more between the ears and in the heart, but I just cant help but think this is pure speculation or maybe an influence by McHale.

Morey has always drafted skill points over raw abilities, and picked up raw talent on the cheap through inexpensive trades. If its a 14 + 23rd pick alone for the 8th or 10th then I guess it makes sense, but I still see them moving up to take a Klay Thompson more likely if they cant get a skilled big like Kanter or Jonas V.

I would think Morey would be more inclined to take a skilled big at 14 like Nikola V or Donatas M. over a big that was a raw gamble like Tristan T. or Biyombo.

Moving up to take Tristan T. or Biyombo just doesnt make much sense at all to me. I dont see a major upgrade from Hill or Thabeet on the "potential" aspect.

 

You might not mind taking a chance but I've seen far too many players in the past 15 years coming from overseas with "freakish athleticism" playing with "high motor" with "raw offensive game" that can "defend like a mad man" that I would pass on Biyombo, crazy wingspan and all.

 

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Not gonna dispute the fact that he is more likely to fail than succeed, but if NBA teams only drafted guys that were going to be sure things the draft would only be a few picks every year and most teams wouldn't bother showing up.

You may have seen plenty of internationals come over and fail, but not every single one of them has.

 

Watch him play how???... other than the hoops summit which showed nothing and a limited poor showing in Spain what would we know. Other than him blocking and outrebounding guys who are 6'2" us fans and scouts dont have much else to go by.

In interviews GM's and scouts have been impressed but what REALLY do we know about Biyombo? If I am giving up significant contributors and assets (yes I said assets) on my roster to move up in this years draft I am ranking Klay Thompson, Kemba Walker, and YES even Jimmer Fredette over Biyombo.

The Rockets would be stretching far to give up significant players to achieve Biyombo over Vesuvic, Donatas, etc.

If he's there at 14, well I might think about it, but this guy is so incredibly overrated on this board its ridiculous. No NBA scout can make a fair assesment about this guys work ethic, rebounding, and shotblocking on the NBA level so its ridiculous to say that you or I could know anything more.

 

Morey seems to really put significant emphasis on high character players because that is what both these guys are. Thompson makes no sense but if we pick him, one of Scola/Patterson is gone.

 

Another power forward?

 

Not necessarily Scola or Patterson, but how many project bigs are you willing to take on and burden your development/coaching staff with. One of Thabeet/Hill/Cousin needs to be given up on before you take on more projects. I think the Jordan Hill project has run its course and its time to see if you can get a future 2nd round pick for him if you plan on taking another project big.

I have to tend to agree though that this is a smokescreen for the player they really want which I still believe is Klay Thompson.

 

YES! I hope we pick up Biyombo!! that dude is gonna be a monster! you already know Hakeem will be working with him too...We will not regret Biyombo! He seems like he has that fighting spirit like Olajuwon did when he first came in! thats what we need!!!

 

My thoughts exactly. If the Rockets do move up, it'll have to be for a top-3 or 4 pick.

 

Olajuwon was a highly skilled offensive player in college and led the U of H Cougars to the final four before he was ever drafted. Please NEVER compare Biyombo to Olajuwon. We are talking about a player that was justifiably taken over Michael Jordan and Sam Bowie.

 

Yea just so I am clear, I'm not advocating moving into the top 5 to take Biyombo, but I think anywhere from 8-14 you could justifiably take him.

 

Imo, Thompson is gonna have success in the nba reminds, but don't think that will happen with the rockets with the amount of fours on our team... Biyombo idk much about except he is a freakish athlete.. So I have no idea how that will translate in the nba..

 

Buyombo is this years Mouhamed Sene. 4 years from now a 3 teams later he'l be out of the NBA.

Remember? Listen to the announcers! They said the same thing!

"He's still raw but upside", "He's only been playing basketball for a few years".

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Thabeet's only problem is motor. He's extremely coordinated and athletic for his size. His heart's just not into b-ball (first love is soccer I believe), and that caused him to not work as hard and be as good as he could be. If Biyombo could be Thabeet with motor then he'll be a superstar in the L.

 

I just don't see the love-fest with Biyombo. Sure, he is a great athlete but he has no offense. IMO, he is another Joey Dorsey but younger and taller.