(The Athletic) Detroit might pass on Cade and take Jalen Green #1?

Fine. We get Cade, the best player in this draft. A potential multiple all-star.

 

I'm still at a lost as to why the Stone and the Rockets would use any kind of asset--whether it be giving Detroit back their heavily protected 1st rounder to giving up actual Brooklyn picks to trading KPJ--just to move up one spot.

"Hey Rafael, it's Troy. Listen, we were planning on taking Cade first overall but if you want him that's totally okay too. All I ask is [insert assets]"
"So you want to trade me the first pick because you're totally fine picking second? But you also want me to give up something to make it happen?"
"I mean yea...it'd look pretty bad for me if I just simply swapped picks with you right?"
"Right but why don't you just actually use the first pick on the player you want and do right by the fan base who's been suffering for about 2 decades now?"
"....if you don't want the first pick that's fine I'll go call Cleveland or something"

 

It's a win-win-win all around.

 

I agree. The Rockets should be fine accepting the castoff between Cade/Green
(or Mobley for those in team Mobley camp) at #2.

They might get Cavs to bite and move up......that shouldn't bother us as well.

 

I would give up the Detroit pick to make sure I got Cunningham.

 

I get that if Stone and the Rockets have Cade rated significantly higher than the rest of the pack but I don't think there's some huge gap between him and Green. But if they're neck and neck on the Rockets draft board I don't see the need to give up anything to move up one spot. And if I was Weaver I'd ask for more than just a removal of the protections plus the 2nd in exchange for the 1st. I'd go to Cleveland or Toronto to extract their pick, future picks and/or a young player in exchange for the 1st.

 

Detroit does have second round picks though (3)
Picks: #37....#42......#52

Detroit would have to give me picks #37 and #42 and take Wall or Gordon

what the heck, I will give them a future 1st years from now......top 4 protected
of course.

 

Guys

We have to take everything for face value. It is what it is. We don't know who these people are, outside of what we see. Harden was a partier but never got into trouble, DW4, whom I still root for but I would have never thought he would be facing such charges and KPJ who you guys are saying has behavioral issues, etc. just had a baby, so maybe it makes him more grounded.

BTW, if either of you were 19, walked into a locker room and your locker had been moved and no one told you, in addition to other things happening to you....how would you respond?

 

As of today, the Rockets know they have a rising star in KPJ form what he showed this past season. Remember this was his first time playing the point, ever, let alone it was in the NBA. Which is a huge ask of someone, let alone a 19 yr old kid.

I think the Rockets definitely have KPJ pegged as their next point guard, however a bigger dilemma would be, what if Detroit picks Green first, who do the Rockets pick at that point. Mobley or Cunningham? We all know Cunningham's game is similar to KPJ and in today's game Wing players rule but if I am them, I still go Cunningham over Mobley.

 

It would be Cunningham for sure. The strategy going in with the 2nd pick is to take the best player available and I don't think it would change if Cade was available at #2, fit concerns with KPJ be damned. I do think KPJ will turn into a solid NBA player for years to come as he grows both on-court and off-court (he barely turned 21) but passing up on Cade to take Mobley because of fit is a no-no for a team that finished with the worst record in the NBA.

 

I like both players alot.

I just like Cunningham more and would be willing to give Detroit their pick back but no more than that. Detroit probably would like that pick back because I think there's a good chance of them making the playoffs if they draft either player. The pick would then convey and this would restrict the Pistons ability to make trades. (Stepien rule)

 

For me, if Weaver is going to give up the 1st to get only the 2nd and that pick/protection back then he's really selling that 1st pick short. There could always be another deal to be made down the road with Stone to get that protection back. I can easily see Cleveland giving up the 3rd, a future 1st, and one of their young players (Sexton, Garland, Okoro, etc.) which could trump Houston's 2nd and return of the protected pick. Of course this would also require that whoever Detroit wants in this draft to be available at #3, like Cleveland taking Mobley 1st, Houston getting Cade and Green falling to #3.

 

If I'm Stone I want one of Cunningham or Green.

If Detroit wants Green they would have to do a deal with the Cavs and get assurances that the Cavs are going to pick Mobley.

 

I've seen this said a few times here before, so I'm not picking on you directly Boss Hogg, but the Rockets promote him like he is the franchise because what else do we have to hang our hat on right now? Additionally, one 50 game means almost nothing. TJ Warren, Tracy Murray, Tony Delk, Spencer Haywood, Corey Brewer, etc. have all had a 50 point game.

The idea that the worst team in the league... the WORST team... needs to consider "fit" with any of their current players when talking about a top 2 draft pick just does not jibe with reality.

If you're flat broke and someone offers you some stock options or a volatile crypto currency, you don't think "Hmmm... how will this fit with the rest of my stock portfolio?" Take. The. Money.

 

Oh no doubt about that re: Cleveland and Mobley. Now if Cleveland is jonesing for Cunningham or Green then it would make zero sense for Detroit to trade down with the Cavs....unless Detroit wants Mobley? I mean that would be a very Detroit pre-Weaver thing to do but I don't see that happening here.

It's going to be interesting for sure as Cade and his people have made it clear they will only visit the team with the 1st pick. What if his workout with them doesn't excite Weaver and what if Detroit then brings in Green or Mobley and either one wows them at their respective workouts? Does this raise any red flags on Cade as a prospect? Would Cade then agree to work out for Houston or Cleveland or Toronto? Definitely going to be an interesting offseason.

 

What do you not understand about "have them rated equally"?
Do you not understand the value of being able to trade your own #1 draft pick for possibly the next 5 years?

Rated equally mean you lose nothing
Trading for your own draft obligation means you gain something

Stone only does it if he has Cade rated higher than Green. Personally I'm a Mobley guy, but the idea as written about is valid.

 

Based on the phrasing of your response to me I think you're probably better off just putting me on ignore.

 

Nah, it's not like that. But it was explained three or four times and you had the same question about the value three times.

We've both been around here too long for the ignore stuff.

 

Spencer Haywood was a complete beast, and lining him up next to Corey Brewer makes me question the validity of the rest of your post.

 

Thank you f'ing Christ.

I don't understand why people find this simple point so difficult to understand.

If Detroit views Cade/Green/Mobley to be of equal talent, it makes sense to gauge the Rockets interest to see If they would give up the rights to their future picks. If the Rockets have strong feelings one way or the other, they would be motivated to cooperate.