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(yawn) Best draft fits for the Rockets May, 25, 2012 MAY 25 8:20 AM ET By David Thorpe RECOMMEND0COMMENTS0EMAILPRINT Icon SMI Fab Melo could be a good fit for the Rockets because of his defensive abilities. There most assuredly will be irony in Houston on draft day. The Houston Rockets own multiple late-lottery to mid-first round picks, most likely the No. 14 and No. 16 slots. The problem is they are the one team in least need of those type of draft picks. The Rockets are stacked at positions 1 through 4, and with the picks they own they have almost no chance to draft the center they desperately need to return to contention. Assuming general manager Daryl Morey re-signs the Rockets' restricted free agents, there is no player they can select from this year's draft (short of Anthony Davis) who would have a significant impact on the team in 2012-13. So it makes a good deal of sense for the Rockets to look to package those picks and perhaps one of the many very good players on their roster in order to move up in the draft or get out entirely. The Rockets also own the rights to two very good players in Europe right now (Sergio Llull and Donatas Motiejunas), so adding two first-round picks from the United States only takes options away from Morey rather than giving him more flexibility. Here's a quick look at who might best fit the Rockets team if forced to make that call. Good fits: Terrence Ross, Jeremy Lamb, Austin Rivers Insider NBA Draft Team Needs Each week, ESPN Insider David Thorpe will look at a couple of teams and their needs leading up to the NBA draft on June 28. Minnesota Timberwolves Charlotte Bobcats Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards New Orleans Hornets Portland Trail Blazers Sacramento Kings Detroit Pistons Phoenix Suns Milwaukee Bucks Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies Though Houston appears to feature a glut of talented wings, there is a good chance at least one of them won't be in Houston next year because of trades or free agency (Courtney Lee is a restricted free agent, for instance). So drafting a shooting guard makes sense. Ross and Lamb are classic wings who should be strong perimeter shooters quickly. Rivers is more of a combo guard who can fill in for Goran Dragic (who also is a restricted free agent) if he leaves for more money or finds a starting role elsewhere. Houston's offense relies heavily on middle of the court ballscreens for the point guard, and though Rivers is projected to be more of a shooting guard, he does have the ball skills to play the lead spot. He has the skills and confidence to score in Houston's system. Better fits: Fab Melo, Meyers Leonard, Evan Fournier Melo is the intriguing guy for Houston. For years, the Rockets have been searching for Yao Ming's replacement, and while Melo will never be that kind of player, he does have the sort of defensive upside the Rockets crave. It's doubtful he'd play much in Houston next season, but he'd get a ton of time with their D-League team, as Houston wisely uses that developmental program more than most teams do. Since Melo could end up being a late first-round pick, Morey has the choice to possibly trade down and still get him or Leonard, another intriguing defensive prospect who would likely spend most of next season in the D-League. Each has the requisite size and length, as well as athletic fluidity, to become a solid shot blocker in the NBA. Of course, Morey would rather have a top-tier veteran talent, but unless or until he can acquire that player, developing Melo or Leonard works for what Houston is trying to do. Hasheem Thabeet never did anything there, and the Rockets are currently working with another upside defensive guy in Greg Smith. Both Melo and Leonard have higher upsides than Smith. Melo and Leonard are both athletic players. Melo's final season at Syracuse was marred by off-court distractions and academic issues that led to his being declared ineligible for the NCAA tournament. However, he was the Big East defensive player of the year, while averaging 7.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Leonard also has good shot-blocking and rebounding ability. If Houston likes Fournier's talent, he becomes an excellent choice for them because they can leave him in Europe for another season, letting him continue his development while they decide what they are going to do with all of their wing players as well as Llull and Motiejunas in Europe. Fournier has skills and a good feel for scoring, but he would be stuck behind too many players this coming season to make a difference. Remember, second-team all-American Marcus Morris barely played for the Rockets this season thanks to that depth and the solid play of 2011 second-round pick Chandler Parsons.
Here's something to think about. Even if you draft a big like Melo, or Leonard. By the time they really develop into anything that resembles a regular rotation big, its time to pay them a severe amount of money in free agency. See DeAndre Jordan. I still think they should continue to take gambles on big like these guys, but there are alot of really good looking wings & guards out there that trump these guys at 14 & even 16. If Leonard is still on the board at 16 I would be happy with that pick. He's still extremely raw, but a big man with great hands and passing ability at his age is worth taking a shot at even if he isn't going to play his first couple years in the league. Fab Melo will not play significant minutes in his first two or three seasons at the least. I think the Rockets could do better with their picks.
I pretty much agree with the article... I was figurin Rivers... resign CLee and move KMarts expiring contract... and a project at center (Melo possibly) to backup a resigned Camby... bring DMo over... resign Dragic - making KLow expendable... then packaging any of the following for an upgrade at pf (JSmith) - KLow/Scola/PPat/Kmart/Bud/Sam... figurin PPat/Klow/Bud or KLow/Scola should get it done... Dragic/fa/Rivers CLee/Rivers Parsons/MMo ????/Scola or PPat/DMo Camby/Fab? not real exciting, but unless Utah is willing to part with Big Al (to let Favors take the starting center spot) - not many apparent options... maybe Kmart/Sam for an Okafor type....
DeAndre Jordan. You mean the guy who warms the bench at the end of games because he's such a scoring liability? DJ was a 2nd rounder, so his payday came earlier than if he had been a 1st rounder.
EXCELLENT analysis, CH!!! You're certainly a well-respected poster here, but this may be the most intelligent, cogent series of thoughts you've ever strung together on this BBS. Oh, and for the rest of you: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showpost.php?p=6871519&postcount=5
Dragic a RFA ? Fournier not in the NBA next year ? he made it clear he wants to ... glad i do not pay for this insider stuff ...
I don't think dobro, or anybody, thinks Jordan is all that. But big men can be mediocre during their rookie contracts and still get paid big. DJ was a 2nd rounder, but McGee was a 1st rounder and will be similarly paid.
I was being sarcastic about the guy in general. I believe everyone sees what I see. Big money, not much player.
EXCELLENT analysis, CH!!! You're certainly a well-respected poster here, but this may be the most intelligent, cogent series of thoughts you've ever strung together on this BBS. Oh, and for the rest of you: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showpost.php?p=6871519&postcount=5
I could be wrong, but I think Thorpe and Morey are actually on 'friends' and Morey very much listens to Thorpe's opinions. I don't think I've ever seen Thorpe say a bad word about the Rockets or Morey himself. If you know Thorpe a little bit you'll know Patterson is a player he'd like coming out of college. We know he was high on Morris as well. So while these two may just have been coincidences, the Rockets FO may very well be looking for similar characteristics in a player and thus also might be interested in (most) of the same guys Thorpe likes.
I think most posters on CF have come to the realization that on July 1 that either Dragic or Lowry will no longer be a Rocket. But I don't think many had considered the possibility of neither being a Rocket. I would be shocked. But I have been surprised many times by NBA deals.
