Dwight update: Not close to a trade with Rockets

If we can't get Howard we pump up Martin's value to get something decent for him and we play the youngsters and pray that one or two of them develop into all-stars. We keep trying to parlay our lottery picks into a superstar and if that's not possible then we hope to keep gathering quality young talent.

 

Can't tell if this is serious or sarcasm. If it's serious, I think your expectations are much too high based on what Lamb did in summer league.

I'm super high on Lamb's game as well, but keep in mind we had a dominant team in summer league. When a good player is surrounded by other good players, it makes that one good player look even better. Other teams we faced had one or two first round picks surrounded by D-League talent. Lamb was surrounded with four other first round picks. We basically had the Miami Heat of the summer league.

I'm excited to see what Lamb can do in the NBA after he showed off his offensive repertoire in the summer league, but to think he can come anywhere close to competing with Harden for 6th Man of the Year (which also assumes Lamb will earn his spot as 6th man) is crazy.

 

There was also a reason Kobe Bryant was drafted #13 overall... Because it doesn't matter it's the nba.

 

Thing is the best way to gather young talent in our case is to just do nothing.

The draft picks we have may turn out to be great lotto picks. If we want lotto talent then just do nothing.

The next big superstar coming up is Chris Paul. If we strike out on Dwight I don't see any way we could land him. Other guys are clearly 2nd/3rd tier guys like Josh Smith. It may be better to just stay away from these guys as just one or two of these guys will just put you right back on the treadmill.

 

Things were different when players could come straight from high school.

 

You mean like the last two seasons when Martin was our leading scorer in each and we finished with winning records and the #14 pick?

 

I know what you mean but its really not doing nothing. It's keeping maximum flexibility when the right player becomes available. I agree, trading for a 2nd tier star shouldn't happen unless you have the top tier star or you think the 2nd tier guy will attract a top tier star.

 

Hey, Lakers fan here. Would like to exchange some thought on this Dwightmare situation. I do think the Rockets have the best offer. That's not a question. The question is whether the Rockets are willing to put a premium offer on the table for a "chance" to rent Howard because I truly don't think Howard will resign, especially if he can walk to Dallas to join Dirk.

A guy like Dwight who hates being lock up with teams he don't want, will sure fire him off and he might "act" up by prolonging his rehab. I don't think you guys want this. But if a deal pulls off, it will definitely be a big risk. And it won't be a discount risk because you guys have to beat the Lakers/Cavs duo offer.

 

Karl Malone, Stockton, Nash, Rondo, Drexler, Pierce...

Lots of perennial all-stars come at #10 and beyond. Not saying Lamb is going to be one of these (IMO no way Rivers and Waiters should have been taken ahead of him.) but just saying. Draft isn't exactly a science. Just beacuse Lamb isn't picked top 3 doesn't mean he can't become a HOF player or a multi-time allstar.

 

Yeah but then you are comparing two completely different rosters.

One with Lowry/Dragic, Scola, Dalembert/Camby, Chase. One of those years with one of the best coaches in the NBA...etc etc. All that is gone now.

 

Yes true.

I'm just saying that if the Rockets do strike out on Howard/Bynum I really hope they don't go chasing for all-star talent like Josh Smith.

 

With Lowry injured half the season, Camby not present half the season, Chase playing very limited minutes and not contributing THAT much when he played.

Let's be honest, we'll be worse, but we won't be THAT much worse.

Lin = Dragic
Martin > 1/2 Martin
Sophomore Parsons > rookie Parsons
Patterson = Scola
Asik = Dalembert

Now, the bench will be a lot worse and overall I think we'd wind up a bit worse because of having less depth. But this team is not going to be nearly as bad as some people seem to think.

 

How do we know Parsons is going to be better his sophomore year?

Patterson isn't even close to the offensive production of Scola and defensively he has his nights and some nights he's not good there either and plays really small.

Asik has been nothing but a backup center his entire career. I think it's unfair to Dally to say he's equal to him. Not that Dalembert was a good center but he's a proven starting center in the NBA.

Also you are right about the depth, another big thing when it comes to success in the regular season.

I'm not looking at our team. I'm looking at other teams in the west and how many of those teams you can honestly see us finishing over if Asik is the last big player we acquire this offseason?

The Kings maybe (unless Cousins has a big breakout year which is likely) the Warriors as well if Curry and Bogut go down annually as they like to do.

I guess I just don't see it. I think that team is in the bottom 10 of the league. They are a good young team though, but those usually suck for a year or three.

 

You guys are seriously underrating Jeremy Lin and Jeremy Lamb. I don't care what numbers they will put up because it's not about the numbers but I think both can impact the game the way beyond your wildest dream, if they're given enough freedom on the court to do so. You build your team around those 2 and you are going places.

 

I don't, but it seems likely to me given his bball IQ and work ethic.

People were saying his rookie year he was going to be an all star. Obviously that was too optimistic and I said so at the time. Last year he was coming off a bad injury and trying to rebuild both his body and his confidence. So of course people knee jerked the other way and now it's all "he plays small, he can't jump, he's so inconsistent!" He's going to be better than people think now, but not as good as people thought his rookie season.

Dalembert only played 22 minutes a game with us last season. Backup minutes. He's only played 30+ minutes a game twice in his career and those were when he was at his physical peak. Let's be realistic, Dalembert's talent level is "good backup center", not "proven starting center". I actually think Asik's defense is a lot better than Dally's due to Dally's horrible fundamentals and lack of motor at times. Asik's offense will be more raw due to his youth, though.

I think the Rockets could be in the bottom 10 but right at the top of it. Like #10 lottery pick. I don't see that as being off the mediocrity treadmill.

 

He does play small though. I see a quality backup in Patterson.

The funny thing is most of this team is not proven. Outside of Martin whose a proven player on this squad?

The question still remains in the west what teams are they going to finish over? That's the problem I see.

 

Tony Mejia ‏@TonyMejiaNBA
"@RossPickering:So Houston would deal for Bynum w/o commitment? Also, HOU isn't offering "the farm" as reported by ESPN, right?"Yes/no farm.

 

Tony Mejia ‏@TonyMejiaNBA
"@EnetricRealGM: You make a valid point. All I'm saying is that Moneyball Morey has a plan, I know so and relaying it, and he's set to move.

 

checkered flag :grin:

 

People were saying this all the time and it's true in the context of last season but what they fail to realize is that the dude was coming off a bad injury and wasn't able to jump or confident in his leg strength. He did NOT play small in his rookie season, he actually played big for a rookie.

In what sense? In the sense of being a long-tenured veteran with a long consistent track record, nobody I guess. But in the sense of having a high confidence level that they're at least a starting caliber player, and maybe more? Lin and Parsons, for sure. High confidence level that they're at least a quality backup, and maybe starting caliber? Patterson, Asik (assuming we get him).

Well two answers to this. When we're talking about lottery results, overall record compared to the rest of the NBA (not just the West) is what's actually important. In terms of teams I believe we're probably better than, I see it like this:

Orlando (assuming they trade Dwight but not to us)--terrible team, will compete with Charlotte for the bottom
Detroit--Maybe they could take enough of a step forward to best us, but doubt it
Cleveland (if they don't land Bynum)--See Detroit
Washington--Bit of a wild card due to recent additions but I think they're still pretty damn bad
Charlotte--Obvious
Sacramento--They're still a mess even though Cousins is good and Brooks helps
New Orleans--I think they're still a couple years out, Gordon is great obviously, but I don't think Davis is going to be better than Okafor in his first season

So, that would put us around #8 if all of those teams are worse than us. Maybe one of these teams surprises but I don't think more than 2, tops, are better than we are.

Then there's the "question mark" teams, I think we will be better than at least a couple of the teams out of this group:

Portland
Phoenix
Denver
Toronto
Milwaukee
Atlanta

So that's why I see a pick in the 10-12 range. Maybe #9. I don't see us falling much below that.