I know I'm thinking too far ahead but assuming the Rockets don't make the playoffs next year, which potential lottery picks do you think would help improve this team? I know a lot can happen since its still the off season and we haven't even gotten to next season's trade deadline where a big shake up could happen, but for now lets assume we stand pat, miss the playoffs, unload McGrady and possibly Yao's contract, and try to sign for a big free agent next year in 2010, and get a lottery pick. Is the 2010 Draft projected to be strong? Our obvious weakness would be at the center position and possibly the SG position after McGrady is gone. Acquiring Rubio seems to be a pipe dream at this point, but it would appear that DM would be willing to unload either Brooks or Lowry and feels that the PG position might still be a weakness of ours. Is there an elite PG of Derrick Rose, D. Will, or Chris Paul caliber in the 2010 Draft? Drafting an elite PG would have the Rockets competing immediately compared to drafting a center who would likely take a few years to develop into hopeful dominance. This is all a bunch of hypotheticals but so far all the trades posted in GARM are too. It's way too early but I think 2010-2011 season is where the Rockets will try to make a comeback and introduce the new faces of its franchise.
We need a good playmaking SG with size. That is what we tried to have with T-Mac but he was never healthy. Last few players like that we have had were Drexler and Maxwell. Very interested in seeing how Warren from Oklahoma, Turner for Ohio State, and Henry from Kansas turn out. I sort of feel that Henry might be the most athletically gifted, but from the whole Memphis-to-Kansas thing, his head may not be on straight.
Warren is a little too small for my liking. If we do not win a Championship this season it is time to rebuild entirely. We need to get as many top 15 picks as possible. I've always worked with the philosophy that if you can't fint a center who can defend and score, you need a great point guard. SO if we cna upgrade at that position through the draft I will be rapt. WOrking on the assumption the players Morey drafted this season do not show any potential we should go with someone like Evan Turner. It is still very early to talk about who we should look exactly, but I think we need to get 3 top 15 picks if possible. A new point guard, (Only if an upgrade over Brooks/Lowry), a shooting guard with size and a project center. Battier and Scola will retire with us. I don't want to see those two go as part of the re-build.
According to ESPN, Rubio can enter the draft again next year if he doesn't play professionally at all. So he can just chill for a year and declare again. He still gets to play for the spanish national team because that doesn't qualify as professional.
Rubio won't sit out the whole year. He still has a contract with his European team that he has to fulfill. I agree that Warren may be short, but if he shows the more promise than the others, it would be worth the risk. 6'4" is not that bad. We will not win the draft, so we won't be top 3 picks, which means no Wall. I also feel that, it is much easier to build a championship team by picking up a point guard that fits your other players and style of game. Also, having an elite wing players tend to close out better than elite PG's, especially in the playoffs simply because they wear down as fast having to direct the team the entire game, do not have as much pressure to get teammates involved, and their best basktball aspect is scoring not court vision, passing, or running the team. I'm hoping we are not in the lottery for awhile after 2010, which would mean we need to strike gold with an true elite wing player.
We have no shot at John Wall but I really like Donatas Motiejunas. 7 foot, 18 years old and loads of potential. Here is what draftexpress has on him. Link
Here is nbadraft.net on Donatas. NBA Comparison: Chris Bosh/Dirk Nowitzki Strengths: Versatile lefty bigman with a high ceiling ... Has a lot of potential due to his size, agility and offensive development ... A finesse 4-man with excellent versatility, but shows the toughness to play inside with contact ... Shows a strong ability to run the floor and change directions, start and stop ... Has great legs (strong) and feet (quick) ... Has inside/outside ability with the ability to defend inside and play with his back to the basket, as well as knock down shots on the perimeter ... His outside shot has both range and consistency, and he has begun to develop some excellent moves including a jump hook, a turnaround fadeaway as well as fakes to draw opponents off their feet and excellent footwork ... Shows a competitive fire. He has a strong desire to win and improve, he just needs to show that at all times ... Gets off the floor quickly and has solid explosiveness ... A solid shot blocker ... Comfortable handling the ball when necessary to break the press and has solid vision and passing ability ... Has a very good body and appears that he will be able to add upperbody strength and become a solid rebounder and interior post player at the NBA level ... Weaknesses: Is extremely talented and he knows it. At times he doesn't keep the pedal to the metal, exhibiting some lapses in focus and intensity (laziness) in practices ... Sometimes appears content to be better than others without dominating them the way he's capable ... That's the type of thing that he'll need to mature out of, learning to work hard at all times in order to reach the stature of a Gasol or Nowitzki ... Still needs to add polish on his moves on the perimeter but has excellent potential to do so ... Has thin arms and upperbody, although he has solid strength. He'll need to get stronger to contend with NBA bigs ... Solid length (6-11 wingspan) but nothing extraordinary ... Not as experienced or established as other European talents (such as Gasol or Nowitzki) were when they entered the NBA.
They had an article on it on ESPN's website not too long but you had to be an "Insider" to read the whole column. If anyone is one you could post it. They were calling it revenge of the bigs or something along those lines. Apparently it will be rich of PF's and will be a much deeper and more talented draft compared to this past years. Something to look forward to.
you're not too bright are you now? A polished college center who averaged a double-double who has done nothing but win in college. He's 6'11 with a 7'6 wingspan as measured this summer. He averages almost 3 blocks a game in a major conference. He shoots over 80% from the FT line. He's been working with one of the best big-men coaches in the game in Danny Manning.
john wall is a talent, he might be the most physically dominating PG in recent times...6ft4 and more athlectic than derick rose but not as skilled.
That is bull****, this punk kid can get away with it. If you declare and get drafted and don't play **** of back to Europe.
Calm down. Rubio is paying money out of his own pocket for that buyout so I can understand why he doesn't want to come over. Seems like he starting to warm up to Minnesota anyways and this might be a homer statement (Wolves fan) but I feel he will play for the T'Wolves this season. Anyways, everyone needs to get John Wall out of their heads. Its not happening, I see us getting the 4th or 5th pick at best but who knows? The lottery works in mysterious ways. Donatas is at the top of my list but another prospect I really like is Al-Farouq Aminu. IMO very underrated prospect. Here is his draftexpress profile. http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Al-Farouq-Aminu-1293/
I want to see how well John Wall does at Kentucky. His upside seems to be off the charts. But he was so much better than everyone else in H.S. that he hasn't really faced adversity. He might put together a season for the ages and guarantee himself the #1 pick. In a good way, John Wall was a living, breathing freak show on the basketball court in high school. It makes me nauseous to say this, but I will do all possible to watch every UK game available in Houston just to see him play. I didn't think any college bball player would ever grab my attention like Kevin Durant did but this guy might.
