[Spanish Radio] Sergio Llull close to deciding to join the Rockets?

Llull is the starter for a reason and probably the most important player on the team. So... Dont know why you're saying that.

 

The best we could draft?? At 18? So basically you are saying that llull is worse than rookies tyus jones or grant or wright? Yeah ok..btw you can have both llull and groom a pg...who will get at most 10 mins a night.

 

Because starters mean nothing in europe?

 

Your opinion of Llull is in stark contrast to the opinion held by Morey and McHale if you don't think he's better than a rookie at #18.

I've learned my lesson about siding against Morey.

 

Who the f..k is saying Llull is the next elite PG...I don't recall reading any poster bursting the analytical nut on him..so pump the brakes on the negativity folks and stop peeing in everyone's coffee.

Now as for the impending signing. Llull is a solid player that can turn in some nice role-player type game. He is a younger Pablo Prigioni with a better 3pt shot and better knack of getting to the basket with aggressiveness. He has good court vision...knows how to play the fast break well...he's fiery and brings a personality of confidence and passion to a locker room that at times could use some. He is a winner...cant argue with the scoreboard...

So, while he doesnt solve our problems with depth at the PG position, he definitely takes us a good step in the right direction. I have a feeling that PatBev is gonna join PanHandler Parsons in Little D. So we will be down to Prig and Lil Nicky so its not a bad signing. Of course we are hopeful that he gives a little more than what he has shown yet, but we cant count on that so bringing an NBA proven like TyLawson is a must. If he turns out to be better than we thought , then he becomes yet another Morey trade asset.

 

No, I didn't say a rookie would be better than Llull, I said that Llull wouldn't be "drastically superior" as a backup PG than whatever rookie we could get at 18. I don't think Llull will be a quality backup from day 1 because despite being at his absolute peak, there's still a transition period from Euroball to the NBA.....if his game ever translates at all.

If it does take a while for Llull to acclimate to the NBA style, before you know it, he'll be starting his decline....sort of like happened with Luis Scola, only Llull will be even older than Scola when he starts out.

 

This is exactly how I see it. I am excited about Llull and think he will come in closer to the upside.

-Good jump shot with 3pt range
-Can play PG and play SG off the ball
-Fast in transition and will attack the basket with contact
-Big shot taker, big shot maker. Lots of confidence (unlike Lin).
-Energy and passion. It is contagious.

His pick and roll defense might be lacking, but every player has some deficiencies. We can't knock Llull for defense and then pup up Lawson. His defense is lacking too.

One side benefit of getting a good offensive PG to pair with Harden is, is that Harden doesn't have to focus 100% of his energy to run the Rockets offense. He will have help now and then can afford to spend extra energy on defense. I dont think Harden is a bad defensive player. I think he just doesn't have enough energy to give 100% on BOTH ends of court. Now he can channel some of that energy into defense and rise the tides.

 

Guys chill.
Llull is not the starting PG answer just like PRIGS/TERRY is not the back up PG answer.
Respectfully, think again if you really think Morey is starting Llull.

Major Guard Upgrade/ Llull ( I seriously doubt Morey courts him to come over and then trades him. Yes even Morey)
Harden/Terry
Ariza/Brewer
D-Mo/TJ
Howard/Capela

Smith or TJ gets moved. We can't keep Brewer or Smith IMO, and if one stays, it's Brewer. Nick, Kostas...those guys are also throw ins for trade talks.

Morey sounds like he is now in the "stability" mode, which is good. No more massive roster changes.

The Keeps: Harden, Howard, D-Mo, Capela, Ariza, Brewer
Tradeable / Expendable to make a big Starting PG Upgrade happen: Everyone else (Bev, TJ, Smith, Pap, KJ, Nick, Dorsey, Prigs(retired), Terry)

This is what I hope for:
Lowry/Llull/Jerian Grant (18th pick)
Harden/Terry/return from trade
Ariza/Brewer
D-Mo/TJ
Howard/Capela/return from trade

dleague:
32nd pick
return from trade

 

Exactly.. And He seems like a smart player who has the concept of team ball. Lord knows we can use some basketball IQ on the court.

 

I just don't feel good about going into a playoff series with a guy who brings four Ls.

 

I want Bev back... the old defensive monster Bev, not last year's Bev. We have to face a good OKC next year.

Also want Llull.

Then I want a 3rd PG that isn't Prigs or Terry. Terry at his best is a backup SG in my opinion. Based on previous experiences and this year's playoffs, you need 3 PGs because a team can partially collapse if one is injured and you aren't left with a 2-man rotation there.

 

At the very least he's a good free throw shooter who doesn't turn the ball over, ie Prigioni. Except he's 10 years younger.

 

Understood. I mean his W-L is 0-4...

 

Scola had his best years with Houston in his 3rd and 4th seasons in the league at age 30 so I don't know where you are getting worried about the declining of Llull's peak years from. I think there is more than enough time left in his career to acclimate, and still have solid years. Even then, Scola's first year with the team was still pretty good all things considering.

Llull is 27 years old. I do expect that he will have at least a half season of adjustment, but I don't think there is any question in my mind that he's going to be miles ahead of where a rookie would be coming out of college. Even Papanikolaou (although he struggled late) jumped right in and was quite good early in the season mostly due to experience. You RARELY see that with rookies coming from college. Most don't just need to acclimate... most are just simply bad.

To your point though-

If you are bringing back Beverley, and signing Llull, maybe there isn't much of a difference in the 10 to 15 minutes a night in production that the backup to Beverley would bring vs. what Llull would bring in those minutes.

However if the Rockets are bringing in Llull vs. drafting a rookie, I think they are doing that assuming he's going to be playing a much bigger role than just a backup to Beverley, and potentially even starting over Beverley at some point in the season. If they do bring back Beverley, and sign Llull, and Beverley still gets the bulk of the minutes at PG, and only 10 to 15 minutes a night are given to Llull, I agree it would be a mis-use of funds by Morey.

 

^^^ his last name sounds like "Lou" in pronunciation I think. 2 Ls in a row makes a h sounds. I dunno

 

Wait so that is actually "OOh" Sergio OOh? Who ****in speaks Spanish?

 

Another point to make about a 3rd PG... they can have big deficiencies and be great at a couple skills. Look at Aaron Brooks, who has major holes in his game, but was hugely important to us taking LA to 7 games.

 

Ha, you better stop hoping. How exactly are we keeping all of our players and draft picks while simultaneously trading for Lowry? Have to give at least something to get.

 

The third point guard will in large part depend on who the #1 and #2 point guard is. If we sign Llull and trade for Lawson, I can almost guarantee you Nick Johnson will be our 3rd string point guard because he can defend and doesn't cost much. If Beverley is back, it is possible that we go for a shooting #3 point guard like Steph Curry's brother, who almost shot 50% on threes last year.

 

Scola gave us several good years, including an 18/8 season, and his adjustment period took only half a season. He's still in the NBA today coming off a 16.8 PER season, his highest in four years. If Llull's career path is anything like Scola's then it's a huge success.