Haven't kept up with this. Real curious about this kid, whether he can play and at least be serviceable at the 5. We don't need him at PF. Something tells me, barring trade, that McHale should run him out at the 5 with Patterson and use Scola next to Thabeet to provide the offense/defense balance to each unit. And then see if McHale can get him to improve his D.
Yes. Unless Patterson moves up the five, which is unlikely, or we trade either Scola or Patterson. You're forgetting Jordan Hill. Most probable depth chart is: C: Hill/Donny PF: Scola/Patterson
Only as an excuse for tanking. Not that I'm opposed to the idea, since he does have professional playing experience and it's not a bad idea to see whether he swims or sinks in the NBA.
Yes, I'm forgetting Jordan Hill. He can't play. (Not that Thabeet can either.) Hill is not in our plans for the future.
I believe I read he's going to come over once the lock out ends. I really hope we can get a legitimate center so Motiejunas can play the 4 and take advantage of his size.
Don't see that happening unless there's more behind the scenes and he's been informed by Morey and McHale that he isn't going to be given an opportunity to earn minutes over here.
I think that is exactly what will happen, Morey will tell him he needs a year over there and this year is a wash, with no training camp etc......so Morey will use the lockout to keep him in Europe. And then next year, based upon the situation of his development, Morey will make the proper call as to whether he is ready. DD
I actually hope you're right, DD. Unless there's a major trade before the season where the Rockets give up a package of young players, I think the team has enough young front court players already in Thabeet, Hill, Patterson and Morris. They don't need another youngster for next year. With all of the 2009 lottery picks potentially expiring in 2012, there should be plenty of room for D-Mo on the roster NEXT year.
Motiejunas is a first-round pick with a guaranteed contract. If he wants to come over, he's coming over.
And unless there's some weird new provisions with the new CBA, there's no benefit to him staying in Europe. Gotta start on the rookie salary scale to reach free agent status ASAP.
He will probably fail miserably in his rookie season and McHale will bring in Hayes. He doesn't have the strength to handle it now. Hayes surprised JVG, and he did it again with Adelman. It's not that he is an elite C, but that our other C's are weak. Hayes has a low center of gravity and is stronger than Donuts, Hill, and Thabeet. Donuts needs to get on the Chuck Wagon workout and drink some protein shakes. With a new body and a year on his belt, he might be able to handle the position better than Hayes.
I'd be surprised if Donuts ever plays any meaningful minutes for the Rockets at all. If he does, I predict he will disappoint.
With no training camp, a 50 game season(at best), I seriously doubt DMo comes over this winter. If he does, like Bima and DD said, he's not going to get the reps necessary to improve. What DMo, Parson, and Morris really need is a full offseason and training camp with the coaches and player Dev. guys. More than likely, the progress players like Hill and Thabeet made early in summer has vanished with the lockout destroying the game of basketball and everything in its way. Can Donatas play center, maybe in the future. Can he now with no training camp, big man coaching, and offseason weight regimen.... Hell no.
Wow, way to be optomistic about a very skilled 7footer who would've been taken in the lottery last year. He also just so happens to be one of the better players playing for Asseco Prokom right now. Im not saying he's the next Dirk or even Barnani, but that kind of talent just doesn't fall by the wayside in professional basketball. With the low expectations of people on this board, there is virtually no way he could ever dissapoint if he merely steps foot on the Toyota Center floor.
When someone asks for information, it's misleading to respond with opinion disguised as fact. If you believe it to be fact, please cite a reference.
Just the way I post...you figured it out.....I believe the rest of the board is as intelligent as you and can figure it out as well. DD
Because they could. The national team isnt a development program. I'm not the worlds biggest Lithuanian national team buff in the world, but I know they werent interested in developing a young talent, they needed rebounds and post defense, which is why he was beat out by some of the older stronger bigs. Even the coach himself was quoted by saying Jonas V. and Donatas were going to be the future of Lithuanian basketball. The future being the key word there. Donatas hasn't proved squat yet on the NBA level, but he is doing well overseas and will need a full offseason and training camp with the coaches before anyone can make a judgment call on his future with the Rockets. Saying he wont ever see the court though is a bit ridiculous.
