Reason for asking is this: if we draft a small forward, that would probably make it impossible to acquire webber and retain hakeem. Because (i'm not quite sure) if we select a lottery player we would have to pay that player lottery type money for the slot that he is selected. The other option is to throw Langhi into the flames and let him learn the nba game more because he has alot of potential. Don't get get me wrong, If we can get a jefferson(arizona), battier(duke), or griffin it would be great. But i was just wondering about the possibility of acquiring all three with the cap space (webber, hakeem, and a lottery pick small forward). What would you do? ------------------
We should draft a small forward. Dan Langhi IS NOT READY by any stretch of the imagination. He's too skinny, and didn't seem particularly marvelous when he did play this year. Sure, he might be a decent backup next year... but someone hast to start. Besides, his defense is suspect even if he does manage to establish himself as an offensive threat. So, we need someone who can play with the more talented SF's in the game. Draft an athletic small forward. Someone the antithesis of Langhi: good defense, very athletic above the rim game... doesn't have to be a great shooter. And then let them platoon together, and eventually fight it out for the starting spot. Let the other play when appropriate. I know it's cliche by now, but both Richard Jefferson and Shane BAttier come to mind for this role. ------------------ I would believe only in a God who could dance. - Friedrich Nietzsche Boston College - NCAA Hockey National Champions 2001 [This message has been edited by haven (edited April 24, 2001).] [This message has been edited by haven (edited April 24, 2001).]
Draft a Small Forward no question. ------------------ President of the Steve Francis, Jamal Crawford,Larry Hughes, and Charles Woodson fan club.
No, i'm not saying that we should trade away our picks, i'm just asking will we have room under the cap to satisfy webber, hakeem, and a perenial small forward out of the draft? ------------------
I like Langhi a lot. I think he's going to be an excellent player, but sadly, the man hasn't gotten enough minutes to validate my opinion/hopes with his numbers... I think drafting a 3 would be wise, but I wouldn't use up a high pick on one, partly because we have OTHER holes on this team, and I think Rudy REALLY likes the kid and wants him to play a major role in the next few years. ------------------ Jazzkiller
keep langhi....read more about him in the thread..."THE WHITE ONE"(no offense there guys) ------------------ Proud President of the Whitey Deluxe (LANGHI) Fan Club
Getting a rebounder/shotblocker at the 4 or 5 is more important than getting a Small forward. ------------------ Founder and President of the Houston Homers Club(HHC) - Are you a homer? Join now! The Rockets will be NBA champions. Believe.
Drafting an SF would be dumb, IMO. haven, what makes you think some guy coming in at #13 could immediately be placed ahead of Langhi on the depth chart, when Langhi was the SEC Player of the Year, and already has a year in the Rockets system? Even Sam Cassell never started in his 3 years with us. Langhi is under contract, and will play a lot, I believe. Let's make this even simpler -- is there a rookie out there that could even do what Langhi did in the Rocky Mountain Revue? Think about all the high picks that completely sucked in the RMR. Drafting an SF is a crapshoot, IMO, and would be silly considering we've already got Shandon, Walt, and Langhi there. ------------------ "I'll be gettin real drunk and making fun of everybody"
I would rather attempt to trade Cato(though I'm not sure if we can), draft a center to play behind Dream, and go with the Williams/Langhi combo. If the Rockets could do that, I would like to keep Mo. ------------------ Kenny Thomas had a foul called on him in the Western Conference Finals.
We need rebounders..not small forwards. Our weakness is at the PF and Center positions. Hakeem is old and maybe gone, and Mo is a good offensive player and horrible on D and rebounding. We need a defensive rebounding specialist to make up for our shortcomings, which will allow Francis to get out on the break as that will be REALLY important next year with the zone being legal. Got to get that early offense. DaDakota ------------------ If you like RTS games, check out this one. www.frontierwars.com coming soon to a PC near you.
J-bone, are you suggesting as an alternative that we trade away our draft picks to clear the cap-space? Because a center at #13 will cost as much as a SF at #13. I'd say our SF position next year is not in dire straits if we don't pick up a good SF. If Anderson leaves, guess who our starting SF will be? Walt Williams. It's not popular around here, of course, but he's a veteran and Rudy will start him if Anderson's not available. He won't be our best guy on the court, but he'll be more dependable than Langhi or even any SF rookie we can get with #13. Besides all that, I'm not sure it'll be possible to get Webber and give Olajuwon more than the minimum even if we get rid of all our picks -- unless we sign and trade for Webber. ------------------ RealGM Gafford Art Artisan Cakes
Still like Terrance Morris at #13. He's not going to dominate but we need a defensive player there and between Walt, Matt, and Dan(Matt is the best defender, thats scary to say). All the players now at the 3, not counting Shandon because he's already gone, can't cover Odom, Abdur-Rahim, Miles, Bryant, Garnett, Posey, Nowitzki and Marion. We need this pick. I like Dan Langhi but unless we have to keep him, I'd release him and get Matt Bullard back. MHO. ------------------
I say we resign Mo Taylor and then draft the best big man available. I think Taylor could play SF for us and the guy we take at the 13th spot could be our PF. That way Dream can start at Center and we could have one of the biggest frontlines in the NBA depending on who we have at the 4 spot. All of that said, i am not putting Chris Webber into the equation by proposing this idea. If we were by some slim chance obtain Webber, he would obviously be our PF and we would have to take a SF most likely. I jus dont think we can get Webber, thus I propose we resign Taylor, move him to the 3 spot, then draft teh biggest and best big man out there to take over our 4 spot. ------------------ Don't EVER underestimate the Heart of a CHAMPION!
Is everyone here happy with Cato or something? Forget drafting a PF. We need to move up and draft a center. Keeping Walt here for one more year with his "expensive" contract will not hurt us as much as keeping Cato for the rest of his. All of this crap about drafting SF & PF makes me wonder how many of you people are related to Cato. ------------------ Kenny Thomas had a foul called on him in the Western Conference Finals.
"Lottery type money" isn't that much in the big picture. Last year's #13 was Courtney Alexander, making $1.3 mil this year. That's less than Matt Bullard or Carlos Rodgers made. In fact, it's even less than we payed Matt Maloney to play for the Hawks. That type of salary slot is a non-factor. ------------------
thefreak and DaDakota: Part of my belief that we should draft a SF is pure practicality: there are quite a few talented SF's in the draft, very few talented PF's... and none that will get down to our #12. I've never been one to advocate drafting for need (like anyone in a position of authority cares). Obviously, if a talented PF or C fell to us... great. But I don't want to take a flier out on an even riskier proposition. Besides, we have a prospect of signing Webber... which would render any PF completely redundant, especially with KT. We *don't* have a prospect of acquiring a talented SF. And no matter how high you are on Langhi, I don't see how you can regard him as a complete player. He can shoot the lights out... or at least he could in college. And he *seems* to have the ability to get his shot off pretty well, although we haven't seen enough of him to be sure. But his ball skills could use some work, and his defense SEEMS (once again, can't be sure) to be negligible. In any event, we do know that he's not strong, and not particularly quick (although not horribly slow). Williams has the same flaw. He's simply not athletic enough and defense oriented. he and Langhi aren't going to form a viable platoon because they're both offense players. The reason a rookie might be a more viable starter at the SF position than Langhi is because of his build. Langhi needs to bulk up, and badly. I could be wrong about this... perhaps he's the next Dirk Nowtiski. But I don't think so, and I don't think its worth the risk. Draft someone that complements him, and the position is solid. My argument isn't that X rookie would be BETTER than Langhi, merely that we should draft someone who has abilities that Langhi doesn't. ------------------ I would believe only in a God who could dance. - Friedrich Nietzsche Boston College - NCAA Hockey National Champions 2001 [This message has been edited by haven (edited April 25, 2001).]
Otto-Yes, but postponing your #1 pick (trading it for a future pick) is a lot easier than dropping Rogers or the like. Based on what we know, we'll be scrapping for every mill we can. If they're of equal ability, I'll take a big man over an SF for us. But, if it came down to Shane Battier or Steven Hunter, obviously the better talent ways. I take the best available front court player. No one under 6'7'', until we get to our 3rd #1 or 2nd round, and preferably not even then. ------------------ "That's been a lifelong dream of mine." -Vince Carter, after laying it in on a breakaway, much to the Vancouver crowd's displeasure.
