The Rockets have three opportunities to get players that can improve the team. Looking over all the mock drafts it is evident that while there may not be many superstars that there are many players available that could help the team and certainly deepen the Rocket’s bench. That being the case I hope the Rocks do their homework and select guys that are : <ul> <li>Ready to play now (steady if not spectacular players) </li> <li>Devoid of drug problems and other scrapes with the law</li> <li>Not be bound any foreign team our Government (Yes talking about you Yao!)</li> <li> Can and want to rebound</li> <li>Take pride in playing defense</li> </ul> Plain and simple we need to win this year whether it is for the morale of the team, the morale of the fans or to save Rudy’s job (you pick). Big Sexy said that teams that pick High school kids are saying that they are going to lose for the next three years because that is how long they take to develop a feel for the NBA game (there are very few exceptions). I think you can apply that same logic to Nickoloz Tskitishvili , Hell if he did not get off the bench for the European final s how good could he be. There are some other over hyped guys that I am hoping the Rocks will pass on as well. Potanial is nice but we just don’t have the time to wait until it may or may not pay off. This steam needs solid players, guys with heart hustle and energy (the Second Coming of Ben Wallace would be nice). I hope the Rockets keep the picks and do not trade down. IMHO the only scenario for trading down would be if they can unload some our salary anchors (talking about you Glen Rice) and still keep two high 1st round picks The third opportunity to pick up a decent player will occur when we trade one of our PFs over the summer. We don’t need potheads or headcases. It is supremely ironic that we will probably end of trading one of our hardest working players. This team needs hardworking players that understand the concept of team offense and team defense. So much for that rant.
I would like to reiterate that if this team is looking to the draft for big help next year then we are in big trouble. That is not to say we cannot rely on rookies and allow them to contribute like NJ did this year with Jefferson and Collins. Right now the team is at the salary cap (so rely on the paid talent) and should not be confused with Denver. We are in the lottery solely because of injuries having being the most injured team in the league. So the compensation for the injuries is the lottery. So let us not put unwarranted restrictions on ourselves in requiring that we limit our outlook to those players who can contribute next year. The 3 most questionable players in our rotation at the moment are our 3 highest paid players, so do not expect any rookies to come in and take time from them. I say we consider potential as well. Anyone who is very likely to be an star in 3 years must be considered.
I agree with you patently carlos. The Rockets have had too much instabillity in the last two years. Not that I expect a rookie to come in and change the personality of the team, but good kids with character and strong work ethics who hate to lose might help. We don't need any insecure project teenagers to come in and be influenced by our stable of talented headcases.
Don't complain in a few years that Woods is a star and we passed on the chance at drafting him. I disagree with the whole philosophy of playing it safe on the draft. Not that you should take blind flyers on athletic guys; you should look for talent. But, it's a mistake to pass on guys just because they are too young or have a drug history or things like that. As nice as it'd be to make the playoffs next season, it is not so important that we should hamstring our future for it. Fan morale (which is already low) and Rudy's job security should not be determinants on how you draft. Team morale might be, but I wonder if a bright future with a talented but raw rookie isn't better than a decent season with a polished but limited rookie. It is a different situation when you are a contender and are picking late in the draft. But when you are in the first half of the lottery, you're looking at the possibility of drafting cornerstones for your franchise. You don't want to waste this opportunity (which was dearly bought) by getting someone who will be blown past be people picked after him because you didn't want the risk. If the guy is solid now and is a lock to be great (a la Jay Williams) then of course you do it. But the lock to be great is more important than the solid now.
Don't expect to win anything if you don't risk anything. Rookies are gettin younger and younger and the most talanted (not counting late bloomers) enter the draft early. Drafting the one who presently is the best basketballplayer regardles of talent and potential probably wouldn't be very smart.
The Rockets really don't need to get any younger. This team needs to get an established player that will help them get back to the playoffs in the least amount of time. There's no substitute for NBA experience and knowing what it takes to win.
DearRock: 3 years is an eternity in the NBA. We already have one Allstar on the Team (Francis) and one potential Allstar(Griffen) If you look at most winning teams that is all they have. Two all-stars surounded by a stable of hard working guys who know their roles and provide hustle and defense. Pat: I really do not have much to go on in terms of who I like. I did not have an opprotunity to watch many college games this year. JuanValdez: Being two young and having a drug history are two different things but in combination they can spell disaster. nilsrock: The Rockets have risked quite a bit in the last few drafts in particular the trades for Francis and Griffin. So why not place some faith in the risks that have been taken and surround those guys with solid supporting players . h-town: could not agree with you more all: My belief is that we already have the youth and athletism on the team to compete but we do not yet have the heart and gameness to win. We need guys with infectiuous desire to win and do whatever it takes to accomplish that goal. We need more Junkyard dogs.
I completely agree with this statement. We do have plenty of youth and athleticism; we do need more players of the junkyard dog variety. However, I don't think the lottery is where you go looking for those players. The guys in the draft who are most highly valued are the potential cornerstone players. If we're not looking for cornerstone guys, we should probably trade down to get several hard-nosed players. Teams will be willing to trade us 2 hardnosed players for one franchise player. Even so, I don't think this sort of player (as much as we agree that we need him) necessarily fits all the criteria you set: specifically, no foreign obligations and no drug or legal issues. While these things might make a pick more risky (though I don't put much stock in that), it doesn't have much bearing on a player's tenacity and grit.
