I think we should look at the following players... 1. Adam Morrison: he looks like an absolute freaking stud. I don't think that he will fall to #8, but if he does he will provide the Rockets with a third scorer in the case that Yao or TMac go down again. 2. Shelden Williams: he is the burly power forward the Rockets need. He can mix it up, grab some rebounds and play some great defense. In his junior season he was selected as the national defensive player of the year. He would make an awesome role player in our system. In addition, I don't think Stro or Howard are long time fixes at the 4. 3. JJ Redick: here is an awesome shooter that will make defenders pay when they triple or quadruple team Yao. Somebody that will finally be able to shoot lights out. I can imagine him being in the mold of a Kyle Korver, but even better. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do you guys think that we could use anybody else that is coming out of the draft this year? I think our big time weaknesses are at point and power forward. With the first pick in the second round I think we should try to find a servicable center for Yao. Dikembe is beyond old now and we need somebody to step in.
Maybe we can pick Shelden at 8 and package someone with our early 2nd round pick to move up and get Redick? We still need another 3 though...
I wonder if anyone can help find out how players have done that went from being teamates in college to teamates in the NBA. I mean, we all know how Hakeem and Drexler did once they finally made it back on the same team.
I think we need a SG more than an PG. Sorry, but I just don't see Sheldon Williams having much upside in the NBA. He also doesn't match up well with Yao. In addition to the obvious needs of rebounding and defense, Yao needs a PF who can hit jumpshots on offense and is fast on his feet to make up for Yao's slowness. Williams strikes me as a plodder who relied too much on physical strength in college. The last thing we need is a short PF who will take up room down low on offense. And is this the guy we want guarding Dirk, KG, Shawn Marion, Zach Randolf, Duncan & Co? On defense, exactly how is he an upgrade over the corpse named Juwan Howard or the cuckoo bird Stromile Swift? As an NBA player, Sheldon Williams strikes me as a very very very very poor man's Emeka Okafor. He has a center's skillset in a short PF's body. He'll be a star in summer league and the NBDL.
I agree that we need a shooting guard. Roy, Carney and Reddick look good at 8. Yes, Roy might be gone. Espn's Mock Draft game and other websites have us picking Williams. If we pick Williams, then we are trading Stro for a 2 guard like Stephen Jackson. The salaries do match for a trade.
Keep in mind the mock drafts out there now are complete garbage. The NBA draft isn't as predictable as the NFL draft and it will be a while before "reliable rumors" give us an idea of what could realistically happen. #1 We don't know the draft order yet because the lottery drawing hasn't happened. #2 The draftees haven't even worked out yet. Some guys will shoot up the ladder, some will fall down hard based on these workouts. #3 When we get to within ~2 weeks of the draft, the whispers will become a bit more consistent on who the top few picks will be. Even then, there could be some surprises (remember Charlie Villanueva) in the top 8. There's nothing wrong with speculating on who we will pick, but based on past history, I think it's a worthless exercise at this point in time. It's safe to say Rudy Gay, LaMarcus Aldridge, Tyrus Thomas (unless he bombs in his workouts) & Adam Morrison probably will not be available at #8 if we pick there. That's as far as I'm willing to go. What we have no clue about is how Rockets management will feel about the remaining players. That's what the workouts are for.
LaMarcus Aldridge- 6'11" PF that can rebound and defend. He has good fundamentals and has an improving jumper. Will most likely be a Top 3 pick. Brandon Roy- Probably the best SG in the draft. He does a lot of things well but nothing great. He's a good shooter which is something we need. Not the most athletic player, but would be an upgrade over an of our guards.
Shelden Williams in an undersized center, like Lorenzen Wright. Because of his wingspan and his bulk, I think he'll have a solid, though not spectacular, career as a center. But he's not a PF, at least not in today's NBA. If neither Brandon Roy or Rudy Gay drop to us, I think the Rockets will look hard at Randy Foye or Rodney Carney. But there are no quality big men where the Rockets will likely be picking. Still, either Foye or Carney will be a significant upgrade at SG. Then we can use our MLE to sign the big man with range the JVG wants. Keith Van Horn, anyone? PG: Alston/Sura SG: Draft Pick/Head SF: McGrady/Van Horn PF: Howard/Swift or Van Horn C: Yao/Mutumbo or Swift Scrubs: Bowen/Lampe
Starco VanBonivitch Scouting Report: "Starco is a 6' 10" 200 lb. Romanian. He is 18 years old and a member of last year's Romanian National Team. He averaged 3.6 points and 2.4 rebounds in limited action. Though slow of foot and frequently injured, Starco has a decent outside jumper. He gets pushed around inside, and his 20 inch vertical leap is not explosive, but, as a project, he has great potential." Trust me, the Rocket's "crack" scouting team are interested in this guy, you heard it here first.
I like that idea too. This draft seems like a crap shoot with no real evident stars such as a Lebron, Duncan, or Iverson. I'd take my chances on Bargnani and might even draft him number 1.
Sorry Van Horn , No! We have had a horrible season with injured players, we need a healthy season ! Van Horn is injured 50% of the time and would be a waste of our limited open to buy!
I want these two with the first round pick 1. Roy 2. Foye In the second round I would be very pleased with a Pittsnoggle, Leon Powell, or a Diaz....Diaz is undersized, but I think that he is a true baller from the games that I have watched of him at Miami. WILDBALLER
Agreed. Assuming we stay in the #8 spot then we just need a PG to go in the top 7 and one of those swingmen (or the shooting PF) should drop to us.
