...he has successfully defeated the traditional logic in rebuilding a team. Much of the talk this year focused on the idea of tanking. The #14 pick was all too familiar, as was the yearly mediocrity and the 9th place finishes in the Western Conference despite winning records. The past few seasons have not been fun, there have been few reasons to cheer, and even those are short lived (see: Lowry, Kyle). But despite heavy encouragement from both the fans and the blogosphere, Daryl and Les simply refused. They refused to suck. The idea sounded preposterous to us, as it has never been accomplished before. Championships are a prize realized through Superstars, and with the NBA's current crop of superstars rejecting the notion of playing in Houston, a record poor enough to secure a top-3 pick seemed our only realistic route. The continued reports of Dwight Howard and Deron Williams' disinterest in playing for Houston would have turned off most, but here, the game plan never swayed. What struck me most in Doc Rocket's post was that we would be happy "either way." That's pretty incredible. Without experiencing a losing season, Daryl Morey (and team) are simultaneously putting together an incredibly attractive proposal for a superstar level player (that few teams, if any, could match), and a crop of draft picks that any rebuilding team would be envious of. Whichever happens, we should be excited. Excited for the future of the Houston Rockets. Excited to see Daryl's next step. Clearly, I am jumping the gun here, as we have yet to obtain said pick, nor realize any successes. But as fans we love to criticize, and we are very quick to do so. I think it is important we recognize the pioneering effort Daryl Morey has championed, before it becomes lost in our gripes three months from now. So, (johnny)bravo Daryl Morey. A trade for a late-teens draft pick has never got me so excited.
It would be a great move by Daryl and would certainly go a long way toward proving it's possible... but just to compare apples to apples: tanking would have gotten you three top 10 picks by now, and much better chances of a lottery win (top 3 pick) all along the way.
I think if Morey is able to get a top 10 pick and then flip it along with other assets for a franchise player then he would have defeated traditional logic. Just by being a bad lottery team does not mean you can always flip your draft picks for stars. But with Morey filling up his ammunition with a variety of young players, quality draft picks, and savvy veterans...he may have the upperhand and played his cards right. But the jury is still out in my opinion...and if we DONT land that star this offseason....i would blame the franchise 100% for not going the traditional route of being bad and collected high lotto picks.
I just want to point out that Morey has acknowledged it is easier to get lottery picks by tanking. The team owner is dead set against tanking. He has built a strategy with that in mind.
What if this process does net you two top ten picks this year? You all still want to trade them to Orlando. So what's the difference?
True, but after 2009, there was perhaps just one franchise player in Kyrie Irving, and the other #1 pick John Wall should be an all-star but probably never a franchise player. So tanking could've gotten the Rockets high picks and borderline all-star players (Wall, Monroe, Cousins and P George), but not much more unless we lucked out and got Irving. Really is a tough call. However, in a deep draft like 2012, that's a whole different issue
I am somewhat skeptical that we would have tanked three consecutive seasons. That is a scary move, especially in regards to job security for the GM/Coaches. But I certainly see your point about the higher chances for the top 3 pick. I suppose my post isn't saying DM found a better method of rebuilding compared to tanking. Top 3 picks will always be a very viable way of building a team (hello, OKC). Rather, I am impressed that he found a way, period. Here's hoping it is successful.
Also, to whomever gave me the rep and the warm welcome to this great community, thanks! It is appreciated, and great to be here.
Unfortunately, the Blazers can outbid Houston for Howard... ... which is probably a good thing. Let's get those 2 Top 10 picks and rebuild around them instead...
Tanking can: get you more top 10 picks. give you a chance to develop 4 2009 busts and trade them for more picks. trade veterans for more picks. save more money to buy more picks... If Morey can turn 2nd round pick into a #18, he might have 6 top 10 picks now if Rockets had tanked for 3 years.
This comparison isn't really valid either because you're acting like the only things on the roster are the picks. The biggest benefit we got out of not tanking was we didn't have to break the team apart, and you didn't have to get garbage players on the squad just so you'd tank. So its: 3 top 10 picks if you tanked vs 1 possible top 10 pick and Dragic, DMo, Parsons, Scola etc.
The biggest benefit of tanking isn't where you are slotted, it's the fact that you hold a reasonable chance(increase as you get worse) at obtaining a top-3 pick. Or sometimes, even just for a shot at the #1 overall pick. Teams that obtain pick 6s, 7s, 8s year after year don't really improve much. It's the team that hits the jackpot and gets Lebron, Rose, Dwight Howard, Duncan, Durant(via Portland failing yet again), that you truly rise from obscurity. Hence, getting pick 10 or even pick 5 doesn't solve the root of the Rockets problems. Unless, of course, that pick turn out to be the caliber of Dirk or Wade, someone who became a superstar despite not being touted as a can't miss prospect.
Morey didn't turn a 2nd round pick into #18… Buddinger played his way into us getting that #18 pick.. if u wanna credit him for choosing Buddinger then great, but don't credit him for Buddinger working his butt off to be viewed as a mid first rounder.. Ans as of Now Morey HASN'T moved into the top 10.. so let's save all this praise and parades of Morey's greatness until he GETS SOMETHING DONE!!! i then will praise him with you.. as of now picking 14, 16, and 18 isn't gonna do jack, and as of now we are stuck with 14, 16, and 18.. you know there is a possibility we stay there.. you can't force teams to give us a top 10 pick unless we get so desperate we just give up MORE than we should to attain the top 10 pick.. and then other option would be to trade out of this first round for future first rounders.. if we don't get into the top 8 with 2 picks we aren't getting howard.. so really our fate is up to Sac and Toronto.. at 5 and 8.. we aren't getting Char to give us #2.. unless we give up all 3 picks and players.. for one guy like MKG isn't worth it..
