I know we all love this type of thing, and of course I can't burn my source, so take this for what it's worth which is probably not a whole lot... 1. The rockets are definitely shopping the 26 pick and a combination of players and expiring contracts off of the current roster for a starting power forward already in the league. If this were to happen, it would be announced during the draft as the trade would be contingent upon where certain players happen to fall. 2. There is already an arrangement in place to move up in the draft to pick up either Josh McRoberts or Sean Williams if the other trade does not happen by pick 26. They do not think that either player will be available at 26. They prefer McRoberts but like Williams for his upside and his relationship with John Lucas. Williams is also apparently from Houston and they think that having that support network here locally could be good for him. 3. If both of these fail to materialize, they will stay at 26 and draft the best available player. (They like Almond but do not expect for him to be there. If he is, I think they take him. If not, look for Nick Fazekas instead.) 4. There is another minor trade in the works that would net them an extra 2nd round pick either this year or next. That's all I have and it's not exactly from the highest possible authority. This guy has been pretty accurate recently though.
Thanks, it sounds like a recap from everything we've heard over the past week. I'm really excited to see if our management throws another curveball like last year's draft.
I just don't get why the Rockets would want McRoberts. Yao already has trouble guarding anyone more athletic then him, i.e. Amare, Duncan, KG, Boozer etc. Do they really think McRoberts is athletic enough to guard anyone of that calibur. In my book that guy is soft and not nearly athletic enough to hang with any good 4 in the west..... Did I mention I really hope the Rockets pass on drafting McRoberts and certainly not move up to draft him
Lets just trade every piece of expiring junk on this team and go after Rasheed or Artest.... How hard is that ? What can McRoberts do for us NOW ? What happened to "All-Star Caliber Forward ?" We don't need baby's we need men to win NOW !! McRoberts will take some time to contribute !!
I think that Morey said they are not expecting anyone they draft to help out this year and are strictly looking at it for the future. He said more than likely the PF needs would be filled by Free Agency and/or a trade. DD
Watch some of these dunks and tell me he's not athletic. <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/D-9-VJNbnEE"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/D-9-VJNbnEE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> Edit: Thanks for the rumors Hank. I can't wait for the draft.
If you read my post carefully, nowhere in my post did I say he was unathletic. I simply stated he was not athletic enough to keep up with the West top 4's. I understand he can dunk, he's 6'10 I would hope so. I don't question his dunking ability and some of his offensive game, what I do question is his toughness and ability to DEFEND. Hell McRoberts had Jay Bilas questioning McRoberts toughness during the year. I watched plenty of Duke games because they are always on tv, and at no time did I think that guy ever dominated the paint defensively.
I agree w/ everyone questioning McRoberts. I watched him play the last two years and I really didn't like what I saw. He played like CWebb from his days w/ the Sixers. A great passer, midrange shooter, who can't really defend or rebound consistently. He's also not the most mentally tough guy in the world. Check this guy's take on McRoberts out: ---JOSH MCROBERTS, FORWARD, DUKE One of my favorite tests of a player’s mental makeup is to give him an open shot in a pressure situation. Acie Law or Kevin Durant will stick a dagger in the opposition. Most players will take the open shot, make or miss, without thinking too hard about it. McRoberts, above, is one of those guys who lets the situation get into his head and hesitates. You can almost see him thinking, Why are they leaving me open? --- Link
Out of Williams, Fuzzyakas, and McRoberts, I would like the Rockets to take McRoberts, his highlights look like a young Tom Chambers. (For you Clutch ) The fact that he played at Duke could only help in the transition to the Rockets, if he plays like Hayes, but taller and a better rebounder it would make the Rockets a lot better. DD
We don't need another soft player! We don't need a PF with offensive game either, a mid range jumper is great, they don't need much more than that. What we do need is a bigger version of Chuck Hayes. Who can give us the toughness, glass cleaning that Yao does not have. Yao needs a compliment to his grace, so the PF needs to supply the power. 6'9 or 6'10 Chuck Hayes is my dream.......
Wow...just wow. this guy reminds me of a another Robert Horry. Wasn't Horry the one who was a SF and we put him on PFs like Barkley, Oakley, and Malone? Wasn't that the same year we won a championship? I am not saying McRoberts is the missing piece of the puzzle but he sure looks like he has the will, heart and competitiveness to be a player in the NBA. I like his spirit. We could do alot worse with the draft pick. If we could move up to get him, I say do it...
That's the problem from what I've heard. McRoberts is head & shoulders above Hayes offensively, but Hayes is much better at hustle, defense, heart and a little better rebounder.
