Funny how he leaves out turning Sam Dalembert + 14 into Jeremy Lamb, and Rafer Alston into Kyle Lowry into TOR pick which turned into James Harden.
The worst part is that he sets a double standard. He says the Rockets are dumb for missing on marginal players but it's ok for Minnesota because other GMs would have picked people like Derrick Williams too. Guy's flat out r****ded.
How do you know the Rockets would not have as good of a record as Minny if Harden and Asik went down? Maybe Jeremy Lin plays like he did against SA when there was no Harden. Maybe Greg Smith puts up 17 a game with out Asik. Maybe TJones or DMo would get a chance to shine. Who knows, but this I believe....because of the moves Daryl Morey made this past summer, Houston is much closer to being a championship contender than Minnesota. That's what matters to me.
I've been exposed to his illogical idiocy since he was a beat writer for the warriors 20 years ago, and you are right. I really have no idea how he got the Yao book gig. He must have gone down on his knees in some exec's office.
Funny how Bucher does not mention how Daryl turns a used up TMac, Rafer Alston, Carl Landry and Jeremy Lamb into James Harden. Genius IMO. How Daryl Morey acquired James Harden - TMac - Jordan Hill - Mavs 1st rounder via LAL - Rafer - Kyle Lowery - Lottery 1st rounder - Carl Landry - Kevin Martin - Jeremy Lamb
It's funny how we think these sports Journalist are paying that much attention. They don't get paid to cover nuance... not sexy enough.
are you kidding me Really Dude, Really? Pekovic and Love were McHale moves. Khan passed on Ty Lawson. If you don't have assets to trade how do you get James Harden? Just answer that question for the rest of us who are scratching our heads with your response. Instead of moving to Lotteryville, USA right there on Tank street, you get players that are ready to play. How many Lottery picks is it going to take for the Cavs/Wizards/Raptors/Kings/Bobcats to make .500? People think what OKC did was the norm, its just the opposite. First off, to have that many top 5 picks in consecutive years is amazing, for ALL of them to hit big, is a Christmas Miracle. Ex. Cavs drafted Kyrie and Tristan Thompson with 1st and 4th picks, have you seen Tristan? He's trash, and now they're going to have to draft his replacement with yet another lottery pick. The best pick Morey has had was this past draft at #10, which he had to trade for! Our owner knows better and thats why contending while rebuilding was his plan and he refused to tank. Morey has this team 1 player away from title contending in a short period of time without a top 5 draft pick, Harden was traded for. Why can't people just believe that our Owner and GM know better, which is why they are who they are! McHale took a chance on White, so what, we had 3 picks not 1. Look at our team my friend, are the Rookies carrying this team or the off season aquisitions Morey made, Harden, Asik, Lin? Terrence Jones, D Mo, White, and Lamb are all in and out of the D League. Lamb is on OKC and they sent him to the D League. Rookies dont lead you to conteding, Vets do.
You do it because you already have two other picks in that same general range and you think the kid in question has top 5 talent. It's called a gamble for a reason: You're willing to risk getting NOTHING in return for your pick against the upside of getting a key rotation player who presents huge matchup problems for your opponent. So far, the risk hasn't paid off. Even if it never does, I applaud Morey for taking the chance. And it's LESS risky than throwing away top-6 picks on Johnny Flynn and Wesley Johnson.
Just such a poorly researched and written article in every facet. The guy clearly has zero knowledge or understanding of a situation but he's choosing to express his (****ty) opinion on it. That's ignorance turned into stupidity at its finest.
Remember when you were critical of the James Harden trade and every thinking basketball person said you were wrong? Oh yeah.
Um, I have said Kahn has now done a decent job but what lump of coal are you saying? You mean the roster that already had Al Jefferson, Kevin Love, two top 5 picks in the draft and the right to Pekovic? Wow what a lump of coal he got there Also you don't seem to read the posts of other people before you post yours. Look at the the post that showed Minny picks and Rockets picks. How can you even say they're the same.
Does Bucher realize there's a difference between drafting at 4 and at 14? And he doesn't seem to rate Harden at all. That's his issue.
When Rubio is healthy, he is really fun to watch... but even then, he's incredibly inefficient. He's basically Jason Williams (White Chocolate)... but slightly worse thus far. Given his injury, your also talking about a guy who was drafted in 2009 and has played a grand total of 46 games for the team. Finally, players draft after Rubio that have at least had a comparable if not better career thus far: Curry, DeRozan, Jennings, Gerald Henderson (who continues to slowly improve), Holiday, Teague, Collison, Taj Gibson, DeJuan Blair, Jerebko, Budinger... I'm in no way saying you take all of the above over Rubio. Maybe the only legitimate argument at draft time would have been for Curry, DeRozan and Jennings. But you can certainly argue any of those three with a developing Love would have the TWolves further ahead. Then add in the awesomeness of picking Johnny Flynn right after Rubio...and it does become embarrassing. Not in a I let my coach sell my on Royce White kind of way (cause Royce was a McHale pick). In a I had the #5 and #6 pick in the draft, and would be better off with any combination of the #7, #9 and #10 pick than I am today. I'm all for drafting talent over position if you see a real gap there. But can you imagine a Jennings, Curry, Love trio. Not championship material, but so so so much better. Curry, Derozan, Love... etc. There were no "superstars" to be had, but it was a complete and utter botch job.
Yes, yes Morey isn't above criticism, but if you're gonna criticize him you have to have legit criticism, not stuff you just pulled out of your ass. Saying he hasn't had an incredible success is ridiculous in the season where he just traded for James Harden and signed Lin and Asik. You think that isn't a massive success? LOL! Saying he missed a lot of good players, which players did Morey miss in the 2nd round blew up to become a superstar? From what I can see yo just don't like Morey because he keeps taking "undersized players"...as opposed to the normal sized players who aren't playing in the league anymore? I don't even know why you're fixating on that, look at the roster now how many players are undersized? The only one who's undersized is MM but then again when he plays the 3 he's perfectly sized for that. Even your comparisons have no actual fact to back them up. You keep saying Morey doesn't draft like Jerry West, well apart from Kobe who did West draft? Rudy Gay? IIRC Jerry West was known more for trades, such as when he assembled the Lakers dynasty with Shaq/Kobe and brought in the role players to support them.
I agree it seems like Bucher is focusing on the Royce White selection as the litmus test for analyzing Morey's ability to judge good talent. But really, he's just looking at the ass end of a race horse.
Jerry West drafted Kobe and promptly traded him for Vlade Divac. His greatness was so profound as he was able to turn the Lakers into multiple NBA champs while actually being employed by the Hornets.
