Now with the season winding down and March madness in full swing I was curious about what you all thought about the upcoming NBA draft for the Rox? For one does anyone have any idea on where we will draft in the first round and the possible choices at that draft position? I am hoping the Rox will pursue a PF and I just read that Charlie Villanueva of Ucon will declare for the draft. I've also been hearing about a player named Warrick too. What feasible college PF do the Rox have a chance at getting? Go Rox!
Some PF's I'd like to see in the Rockets UNI are..... Marvin Williams UNC Chris Taft Pitt (would have to trade way up since these 2 are easily top 10 picks) Now these guys have a legit shot to slide were we will be drafting and I would like to have any of them.... Wayne Simien Kansas Hakim Warrick Syracuse Ike Diogu Arizona St. Ronny Turiaf Gonzaga (has slid a lot in the last month) I wouldn't mind Villanueva or Sean May if he declares. Knock on Villanueva is how his post defense is absolutely miserable. Out of those 4 guys that will be around the Rockets slot I'd say i would want Warrick, Simien, Diogu, Turiaf in that order.
Please god no Villanueva. I wanna punch that guy in the face every time I see him. Who the hell shaves their eyebrows? Creepy b*stard.
I would say there is a ZERO chance JVG will draft Charlie V. Everything I have read about CV is that he has some nice skills but TERRIBLE work ethic. He has NO FIRE. I mean as a comparrison there was that Malick Badiane article a year ago that comparred the two in terms of "desire" and Badiane was off the charts compared to CV. Whoever the Rockets draft you can bet it will be someone that busts their ass and has a serious work ethic. Someone that is an energy guy.
Charlie V is a really bad defensive player...he blocks some shots, but he doesn't play team defense, just watch the NC State/UConn game. Hopefully a guy like Wayne Simien slips. I've seen some mocks with him going around 20. He may be a little on the short side, but I like his work ethic. I think he is aggressive and athletic enough to really help on the boards, and defense against other PFs.
I don't see the Rockets getting much immediate help through this years draft, especially since JVG likes playing vets. I'd rather see the Rockets try to pursue a PF through a trade or FA (Swift, Chandler, Marshall, SAR, etc.). But there is a bunch of athleticism in this years draft, a lot of athletic skinny PFs and SFs.
While Simien is surely an option, I think that Turiaf should be our target. Turiaf is a little bit taller and doesn't have the health issues that Simien does.
They will take the best available player regardless of position. We are either old or the backups are old at every spot
Agreed. Like I said, I don't see the Rockets getting much immediate help from the draft, so I see the Rockets just getting the best player available.
simien and turiaf are both undersized so i would be opposed to them since we're looking for a prototypical power forward. hakim warrick is so undersized hes going to declare as a SF. we're probably going to go international to get a legitimate body at PF or draft channing frye from arizona.
We'll be picking around the 2/3rds mark of the first round, somewhere near pick 22. Typically, that's where you need to start thinking about grabbing the best available player instead of need. It's also still far too early to try and figure out who'll be available that far down. The draft rankings will be all over the place as soon as draft camps take place. The chances of finding an starter-ready PF that far down are fairly remote. Especially considering the fact that JVG doesn't strike me as the type to take a flyer on a HSer. Which might be too bad, since I expect flocks of younger guys to come out this year in an effort to avoid the NBA minimum age rule going to 20 or 21 next year. Personally, I'd keep my eyes open for a versatile swingman with 2 or 3 years experience. Sort of like Tony Allen last year (#25) or Tayshaun Prince in 2002 (#23). I really don't want to see the Rockets pre-determine that they're getting the best big man still around and end up with a stiff. If it's not there, it's not there. Evan
i agree. i think we have a good shot of landing one of the guys to listed via MLE or S&T. however we held on to our pick for a reason. i think we are going to look at an athletic swingman that can give tmac a rest and also in a few years replace one of our older guards in the rotation. here are some swingmen that might fall to us: Garcia Miles Stoudamire Winston Granger
He actually has a disease called alopecia which prevents him from growing any hair on his scalp and face... In my humble opinion, however, the Rox need to draft PG Fili Rivera. The kid has amazing court vision...
In the draft, or free agency. Wild card(s) -- if Bad Man and/or Span is ready to come to Houston and contribute, the drafting thoughts have to be affected.
I think the ROckets will go SF/SG in the draft - get someone to backup Tmac (so he won't have to play so many mins) I think PF will be addressed in free agency or trade (with the expiring contracts they have next year) PG is set (like it or not) for the next two years - Sura and James are signed for 2 more after this year
