The Southwest Sports Report provided coverage of Bradley's and Johnson's workout with the Rockets on Tuesday. Larry Smith and Rudy T were running them through drills. They appeared to be working out together. ------------------
If they truly worked out together that was a brilliant idea. One of the NCAA's highest %shooters vs. one of the NCAA's leading shot blockers! I got a hunch the real details will be hard to find because if either of them dominated the other, they moved way up on the Rockets "most wanted" list. ------------------ GATER
Just a thought..... Maybe the Rocks are thinking of drafting both players and they wanted to see how they complement each other?????? One a scorer and rebounder and one a defensive specialist and rebounder. I wonder how Bradley would fit at SF? Johnson at center Bradley at SF Taylor at PF That would be a pretty decent young front line with hefty scoring ability. gone like a Vermont Senator.... ROCKET!!! ------------------
Thanks for the scoop guys, I'll send an e-mail to the local sports talk station here in Columbus to see if they know anything about it or to see if they can talk to someone at OSU who may know.
I already got an e-mail back from the monkey, and they are setting up an interview tomorrow morning with KJ to get details. I will post more info tomorrow after I hear the interview.
Thanks 4chuckie. Guys, if you could choose any two players available to the Rockets from 13 down, I think that these two would be pretty high on the list. I am very excited now about the draft. (Unfortunately their pairing probably just means Bradley is coming, not Johnson, but I can still dream). ------------------ women love me, fish fear me.
It certainly looks like we will go after some big guys when you see who they have been testing. (Haywood, gasol, Bradley and Johnson) ------------------
Nice scoop Bay Rock... Loren Woods and Eric Chenowith are working out today... ------------------ NOTHING BUT .NET CLUTCHCITY.NET
Thanks 4chuckie! I can see it now: RG is the interviewer (Radio Guy) KJ is Kristen Johnson (Ok, it's not, it's Ken Johnson. Just trying to see if you were falling asleep.) KJ's thoughts are in parenthesis RG: Thanks for coming to the show, KJ. KJ: Glad to be here. (My friends call me KJ, you can call me Mr. Johnson) RG: You were down in Houston for the workout, how did it turn out? KJ: I think it was very positive. Coach T ran a few drills and a I think I did them quite well. (It was really boring, and I have to repeat this with 8 other teams) RG: What was your impression of the Coach & the Rockets? KJ: Coach T is a great guy, he tells you things the way they are. No hidden agendas. Oh, I love the Rockets, they are one of my favorite teams while growing up. (Damn coach, he wouldn't give me a slight hint if they would draft me or not. Rockets are OK, didn't they win 2 championships? Too bad they have asterisks next to them.) RG: If they draft you, can you see yourself playing there? KJ: Oh definately. With me on board, I can backup Hakeem & Cato. I will give them intensity off the bench while I learn the ropes. (Hell yeah! Hakeem will be gone. That joke they call a center, Cato, will be playing behind me.) RG: I heard that Michael Bradley was there at the workout also, what was your impression of him? KJ: He has some good offensive moves, I think he will be a good addition to the NBA. (I swatted more than half of his shots. Get that weak stuff out of here!) RG: How do you like Houston? KJ: It's a very nice city. It's very diverse. (No state income tax!!! Mo Money! Mo Money! Mo Money! I am surprise that there isn't as many trucks with gun racks in the back. Do they only come out at night and weekends?) RG: What are your next stops? KJ: Utah and Vancouver. (Osterfat & BigBreakfast are just as bad as Cato.) RG: Good luck with your workouts and thank you for your time. KJ: Thanks for having me. (Uh... don't I get a gift certificate or something for coming on the show?) Disclaimer: I am just having some fun at the expense of KJ (I mean, Mr. Johnson ). No disrespect was intended and I apologize if it offended anyone. I am sure KJ is a nice guy. [This message has been edited by MoonBus (edited May 23, 2001).]
Man, do I hope we don't sign Bradley. A huge guy who can't even get his team into the NCAA's against small competition? Ugh... ------------------ A few years back on the Senate floor... Phil Gramm: "If Democrats could, they'd tax the air we breathe." Ted Kennedy (jumping up): "By God, why didn't I think of that sooner!" Boston College - NCAA Hockey National Champions 2001
Johnson seems to be exactly what the Rockets were expecting Cato to be. Would it be ureasonable for them to draft him at #18? ------------------ "If you don't understand it, don't try to understand it." -Carl Everett
Dogbelly, That would be way too high for K. Kohnson. Besides the Rocks are hoping Jefferson falls to #18 which is very likely given all the other options and needs by the other teams. ROCKET!!! ------------------
Scouts compare Johnson to Ratliff. Thats a pretty good comparison. ------------------ President of the Steve Francis, Jamal Crawford,Larry Hughes, and Charles Woodson fan club.
He'll probably tank the Utah workout. What would he say when interviewed at "K-BORE: Salt Lake City Radio?" K-BORE: So, how do you like it here in our wonderful city? KJ: City? I thought it was a bus stop-town in the desert, or, like, you know, one of those Mickey D's they build over a turnpike somewhere? K-BORE (crestfallen; inferiority complex rising): Beg your pardon? KJ: Derek Harper, Shandon Anderson, Rony Seikaly. Now I'll say it: Utah? NO WAY, NO HOW, NUNH-UNH. **************************** All we need is shot-blocking and rebounding and some D from our center. Steve + Cat + (Van Horn? Taylor? Webber?) can supply the points. Ken Johnson could be a steal in the draft at 18 or 22. Unless, of course, we trade up after all. ------------------
I would be very pleasantly surprised if Houston could pick up Jefferson at 13 and Ken Johnson at 18. Ken Johnson will most likely slip, but I think he will be a very serviceable center in the league, despite the knock on his scoring. ------------------ "I would like to live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we were ever supposed to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever." -Miss Alabama in the 1994 Miss Universe contest
Interview startted 7am EST on 1460: KJ was asked how he was going. Said life was stressful between finishing up classes working out and interviews for teams. But said he was having a great time. Asked about the Phoenix camp. He said there was alot of selfishness and he knew he wouldn't get alot of touches so he worked hard on blocks, defens & rebounding. Said he went trhu alot of interviews with theams. Which teams likes you? First team mentioned was Houston, also working out for Vancouver Friday and a few teams next week. He was asked how those workout goes. He says he talks to the coachesalot and usually works out with another draftee. Lot of running & shooting, testing their fitness. Where he expects to get drafted? He said he doesn't care and has no expectations he just has to make it happen. Which team or system fits with you? He said he would prefer to go to an uptempto team and again he mentioned Houston. Also stated he only started playing B-ball as a sr in HS. Some other soft stuff, about his artistic abilities, christion group he's associated with, etc. Looks good for Houston. Keep in mind this interview is in COlumbus, Ohio and he mentioned Houston twice, and only other team mentioned was Vancouver for a workout. Not much great info, but wanted to let you guys know!
Again, 4chuckie, thanks for the scoop! He said there was alot of selfishness and he knew he wouldn't get alot of touches so he worked hard on blocks, defens & rebounding. That's really nice to hear... or at least he is saying the right things. If he really meant what he said, I would definately like to see him as a potential draftee with our #18 or #22 pick.
4chuckie - Thanks for the scoop from Buckeyeland. They're probably parking lots by now, but have you ever been to Dick's Den or the Blue 'dube on High Street? But I digress.... A more important question. Does KJ have significantly better hands than Cato? There is some question about Johnson's offensive game and some good hands would help his case. ------------------ Raef to Rocks in '01-'02! [This message has been edited by GATER (edited May 24, 2001).]
Gater- I'm not real familiar with campus, didn't go to school at OSU, but I've never heard of them. The new arena district & old brewery district are the plaes to go usually. Johnson does have all right hands, don't want to say he is great but he does ok. So I think he would be an upgrade to Cato in the long run (I don't want to promise any miracles the 1st year!) His offensive game is definetely lagging behind but he was never asked to score until this year (always had Michael Redd with the Bucks and Scoonie Penn to do that) but he did develop a baby hook shot last year that was efective. He just never went to get the ball enuff. But he is a defensive force. He has tyhe timing of a shot-blocker but does need to bulk up. Good news is he has gotten bigger and stronger each year so he does have some room to grow. Plus he likes to run the floor, which is an added plus. As a side he is a great guy as well (I don't know him personally) but he is very well spoken and never in trouble. Funny story is his grandmother still calls Coach O'Brien to make sure he's doing ok with school & b-ball. I would be so psyched to get this guy! I know he isn't a hall-of-famer but to see his progress his 4 years here at OSU was great and I would love to be able to follow him with the Rockets. I'll have my fingers crossed witht he 18th and the 22nd pick that we can get him with one of those.
