I confess I am an unabashed Houstons Rockets fan and I read virtually all the threads, even the frivolous ones or serious ones that get sidetracked. Sometimes I have to throw in a little offbeat humor, and I admit my humor is offbeat. However, in order to play in Clutch's draft contest, I have been compiling data/opinions on each of the Top 40 players. In so doing I started out with the premise the Rockets need a SG at #8 and a backup SF at #32. However, I have begun to wonder which position is in most need of help. With Yao and Mutombo center is the position of least need, although we will eventually need a strong backup C to replace Deke. McGrady can serve either as the SF or SG. He is better at the SF spot, but if Rudy Gay or Rodney Carney is drafted, it's a JVG choice as to where T-Mac plays. And, as one of our esteemed colleagues pointed out the other night, the Rocket wings really are interchangeable positions, depending on matchups. Hence, the PF and PG positions come under serious scrutiny. Rafer Alston is an adequate backup, but we really need a better PG. Would Marcus Williams be an upgrade worth neglecting other needs? If a big man like Tyrus Thomas, Andrea Bargnani, Tiago Splitter or Cedric Simmons is availabe at #8, do we go that way and trade Swift? If we draft a serious PG like Williams, will he make Swift into the player he should be? Few would argue that Swift would thrive with a PG like Jaon Kidd. Afterall, it is true that Alston often did not push the ball to Swift leaving Swift empty-handed after Stro had raced up the floor on unfulfilled fast breaks. Also, at #8 there are more quality players for the SF/PF positions that the SG/PG positions. Perhaps it is wiser to go for a big man first and then try to pick up a SG at #32 -- hoping an Ager, Roby, Fernandez or even Mike Gansey will be available. After Roy, these pure SGs are pretty much equal. (IMO Carney and Brewer are really SFs who could play SG.) So, my real question is for which position do we draft? Those that go with the cliche "go for the best player available" actually ignore the fact that the Rockets really must draft for need. Otherwise, we probably would go for Patrick O'Bryant at #8 because top-notch centers don't come along every day. Thank goodness -- in my opinion -- O'Bryant will be taken by Minnesota or Boston so a player we need falls to us.
According to conventional wisdom, LaMarcus Aldridge, Tyrus Thomas, Andrea Bargnani, Adam Morrison, Rudy Gay and Brandon Roy will not be available at #8. If we assume for now the Rockets stay at #8, cross those guys off your board and examine the remaining players. The Rockets have glaring needs at SG, PF and maybe PG. We should not pick one position and target it at #8. We should take the best available player regardless of position except center. If two or three players are thought to be equal, our needs at SG > PF > PG. Some here think we can move Tracy back to SG and would put SF as a need also. I will argue with you about Stro "thriving" with a PG like Jason Kidd. Stro has never thrived anywhere because he's not that good a player. The huge blind spot so many here have for him is amazing.
I am really tired of all the rafer hate he is a more than seviceable NBA pg now we could use a backup pg but that could be obtained with the mle if we addresss the sg need through draft and trades. I would be fine with jho and stro manning the pf if we had another big time player like maggette in the backcourt! lineup 06-07 Altson/Marcus Banks/sura Tmac/Head Maggette/Carney/Bogans Jho/Stro/Hayes Yao/Cato
A rookie point guard WILL NOT come in and start on this team with this coach. It's just not gonna happen. It's going to be difficult enough for a SG or a PF rookie draftee to start for us. PG is the most difficult position for a player to master at the NBA level. And Marcus, Rajon, and the rest are not Stockton, Magic, or Nash. And Rafer is adequate. If we are going to upgrade the point guard position, and you think that we need a new starter, then let's sign Mike James. Heck, let's sign him anyway. We need everything he's good at. It's not the position that is the primary need, it is the role of the player that is the primary need. Our primary need is a 3rd scorer. Doesn't matter whether it is at PF or SG, but they've got to be a player that can put up 20 a night when called upon and WILL average 15 a night with effecient shot selection next to Yao and TMac.
After five seasons he must be considered uncoachable or one that is unable to adapt to the team game. Stros game belongs somewhere else he should be traded!!
I agree and i think he still has good trade value i have said this a million times before i would love to package him and #8 for maggette the clips would do it in a heartbeat according to espn.com insider they feel left out of the lottery and would love to get back in and get rid of maggette's contract for a pick!
I think Swift is not given an oppurtiny to shine. Let him play 35+ mins for 5-10 games and then start shorting playing time on him if things are awful. Don't start him on the bench for the season and just throw him in for 5 mins then take him out. I think he still has the 14+ Pts 7+ Rebs a game if he got the 35 min of PT. One thing I dont get is everyone bashing Swift after one season after praising the Rockets after getting him in the offseason. If it all doesn't work out he will be a good bench player for depth. Which we really still could use like 2-3 more good depth players. We have the 8th Pick, MLE, and TE to get 1 quality starter and 1-3 quality depth players added. With are current roster with min. injuries we are almost guarenteed playoffs. Well thats all I got to say.
Trade Swift for a PG or SG. I don't like Alston as the starting PG, maybe as a back up. Draft a PF or a SG. Sign Nutcase. Please let Wesley go. Sign Padgett back. Let Sura retire. Please release Bowen. Bring back Hayes. I never want to see Bogans or Brunson again. Make Head stay in the gym all summer, shooting a thousand shots a day. Buy out JVG's contract and bring in Dell Harris or Dunleavy. Lock CD out of the office. Ship Howard to the Knicks before they get rid of Isaiah. It is so obvious that I should be in charge.
We can only get him by trade and of course the Clips will demand the #8 pick as part of the package. I would do this in a heartbeat. He would be much better for this team than Mike James because both our SG and 3rd scorer problems would be solved. Maggette would shred defenses that double up Yao or Tracy. We would still have the MLE for another player. Right now, getting Maggette is my pipe dream for the summer.
I think some of ya'll are underestimating Rafer Alston and the impact he can have on this team. To average 12ppg and almost 7 assists on a team that was headlined by Howard, Head, Bogans, and Swift for most of the year is pretty good. I would like to see what Rafer can do w/ a healthy TMac and Yao. It is true that Alston did not push the ball to Swift? Says who? It's not a coincidence that Swift's numbers were almost identical to those in Memphis, even though he played an up-tempo type PG in Jason Williams. It's not like we ran fastbreaks all game long either. We had NO running partners for fastbreaks, period. But to answer your question, the position of primary need is a SG. We really need to add another scorer in the backcourt, someone that can take some pressure off of TMac and Yao. It would also be great if he were athletic, someone that can run w/ TMac and give options to Alston on fastbreaks.
It would have to be a 3 way deal. Send Stro and trash to some team under the cap along with a future first round pick to get that team to send their first round pick to the Clippers. New Orleans? Chicago 16?
I think we need depth in PG, a legit SG, and a better PF. I say we sign Jay Williams, he won't be expenisve, maybe like only 1.5 mil. We could maybe trade Jho&sura&pick or swift&pick for either the 4th or 6th pick, beacuse both teams need a good big guy. Then with that pick we could draft Brandon Roy who I think is prolly the best SG in this draft. Then we could use maybe the rest of our MLE on a good PF like Vlad or Tim Thomas. Does anyone like Lindsey Hunter? I like him he's actually pretty decent, a guy who can come off the bench and help on D, he's a FA and I'm pretty sure he'll come cheap like another 1.5 mil. This could solve our problems, but not even sure if this can all happen.
Man, I'm with you. Rafer is a good PG. He is the type of PG this team needs. I think people forget that in January & February (when the team was pretty much healthy, especially Yao and TMac), the guy looked like Nash-light. He may not be anywhere near the calibur of a Nash or Kidd who makes teammates better but, when you have a good team around him, he is more than just serviceable. The ONLY downside of his game is his streaky shooting, but he hit a lot of big shots down the stretches of games and shot the 3 nicely in that same stretch with defense keying on the big guns. JAN: 14 pts. - 6.9 asst. - 2 stls. - .372% 3pt. FEB: 10.6 pts. - 8.2 asst. - 1.9 stls. - .358 3pt. I'm not getting why so many are down on him when he has shown to be a very heady player, who gets the ball where it is supposed to be, gets some steals, pushes the ball as much as he can and, he not only knows his role, but he is willing to accept, likes it and excels at it; unlike a certain other PG everyone seems to be clamoring for lately.
Yeah, I tottally agree with you, those are the kind of stats we need in a PG. He just needs to increase his shot and PPG, but other than that, he is a good PG. He is just the PG we need. Stop hating on him guys.
SG. While we do need a PF, I don't think that should be the Rockets' top priority. If they can trade JHo for a serviceable player, then by all means they should do it. If not, JHo and Stro do a decent job at the PF spot. (still wanna see Stro get more PT with McGrady and Yao)
The good thing is whether its SG, PF or PG we're going to have our options.... SG should obviously be our first priority in the draft. Barring any wild trades or unexpected events we can all but rule out Brandon Roy and Rudy Gay. I think our big decision will probably come down to Carney vs. Brewer. Its a tough call: Carney might be the most athletic player in the draft and can shoot while Brewer is very athletic himself, he's not as good of a shooter as Carney but makes up for it with his impressive playmaking and ball handling skills. Both are young, athletic, talented and fit the mold of what we are seeking for playing on the wing. We will probably have the opportunity to draft a decent PF as well. The problem with that is it involves us ignoring our precarious situation at SG and adding to the crowded, underachieving and problematic mess we've assembled at the PF position. Of course you take Bargnani or Aldridge if they somehow slipped but chances are those are two names you can cross off your list. Tyrus Thomas might slip down to the #8 spot despite his status only 3 months ago, that's a pretty considerable drop. Shelden Williams is one of the safer picks in the draft since you know you would be getting a solid but not spectacular player. Williams isn't a "sexy" pick by any means but he will be a decent player on the next level. In the unlikely event we select a PG, its probably going to come down to whoever Atlanta takes at #5. My gut tells me they will take Marcus Williams but Randy Foye has been lighting up workouts and has the potential to become a dynamic and impact player immediately. IMO, there's a good chance one of those two will be available when we pick at #8.
I agree with A_3pO that our PG position is fine. The thing that worries me the most is the PF. We need a banger, some guy to help Yao defend the paint. Cuz face it, our perimenter players are nothing worth showing off defensewise with the exception of Tmac (even then, we don't wanna tire him out too much). So if we don't have a good defensive PF, all the penetration will be dealt with Yao and he only has 6fouls. Lord knows how bad the refs treat him too. If we have solid inside defense, we can slack off slightly on the perimeter. Realistically, I would love to either draft shelden williams. He might be a little high at 8, tho so perhaps trade down to get him? Maybe package stro and number 8 and 32 for NOK's JR smith, and picks 12 and 15? Then we can pick up Shelden and another solid contributor (JJ,Mau Ager?)
