Corey Tulaba of No Ceilings NBA joins the show to talk Rockets draft!

Likewise.

Don't get me wrong. If Banchero is the pick I can show how we utilize him
and areas where he needs to improve.

As I've said, it just takes more force and sanding of edges to make it work.

Ultimately you draft a player for what that player becomes and not
what the player is now. In 3 to 5 years the NBA world will be
marveling about Jaden Ivey like they do Ja Morant as he looks
like Westbrook that can actually shoot the ball.

The following question always follows: who was drafted ahead
of him and where are they now? Banchero will not be as good as
Ivey. We shall see. I'm not wrong often.

 

I do think Ivey will be a better player than Paolo. I believe Ivey can emerge as the best player out of this draft. I don't know if he will be the best fit with Jalen Green. My gut feeling is that he can adapt to the situation, but it might be hard for him to do so. The bottom line for every potential star is to able to be flexible and to improve their skills on both ends of the floor. Stone needs to trust his scouts and make the right decision for the team. If he feels Ivey is the best player for the Rockets, I'm all right with that.

 

I think we'll regret passing on Ivey. His body control and athleticism are elite. Paolo being so slow footed really worries me that he will be a defensive liability in the playoffs. We're still early rebuilding you have to draft based on best talent available. Who will be best on a future playoff team? A 6'4" guard being compared to Booker, Westbrook and Morant with a 6'10" wingspan that is a great defender seems like a better future playoff piece than a poor defending, poor outside shooting big man.

 

I still find the Ivey hype hilarious.

I think he'll likely do well in Detroit... but I highly doubt fans will be upset given that we already have Green at the SG. Do we really think fans will wish we had Ivey instead?

The young core of Sengun, Banchero, Green, and KPJ is exciting enough to where I doubt many will be kicking themselves about not having Westbrook anymore.... or the next version of him.

 

If we’re working with extreme hypotheticals who would you rather pair Kobe Bryant with Chris Webber or Russel Westbrook?

I like Ivey just fine but I’m not taking him over one of the 3 bigs when I already have Jalen Green. I’d also rather him not go to to Detroit where he’d make a ridiculous back court with Cunningham.

 

Ivey could end up the #1 pick in future hindsight revised '22 drafts. This top of the draft just kind of sucks for us as far as fit. Jabari probably would have been the best fit. Chet 2nd, but i have high doubts about his body as a lot of others. I just think a Green and Paolo duo needs a major roster shake up at the 1, 3 and 5 leaning heavy on defense. I don't see a Paolo and Alpy front court and a Green and KPj backcourt being anything but disastrous on the W-L record. Maybe fun for a time, but losing and losing bad isn't fun. Ivey seems fun if Garuba was ready to be a defensive machine at the 4 with Alpy and KPj as a point forward, but Garuba isn't there. I do think Ivey and Green would be a very good defensive backcourt eventually.
Meh idk.
Maybe that's why i'm more excited with what happens with the 17+26 pick and trade assets to move up. Looking for fit.

 

Meh. I see Paolo closer to Julius Randle. I see Ivey closer to Ja than Russ, but Ivey isn't playmaking like either. Neither are perfect comps but CWebb for Paolo is further away than those comps. In fact, of the 90s players Paolo gets Juwan Howard comps. So would you rather Paolo get caught shoplifting $2k sunglasses or Jalen get accused of rape?

 

It was very surprising to hear Griffin ranked as 3rd best prospect

 

I mostly wanted to jokingly bring up the Juwan Howard shoplifting incident. I should know better not to joke about the Kobe accusations especially after this whole Depp V Heard trial. Adultery is one thing, but that other is a giant life changing accusation so many men have dealt with and that was never proven and settled-so it should die and never be mentioned again. That's my bad.

 

I don't agree, but his shooting makes his floor really high

 

It seems like he thinks Griffin will be like Jimmy Buckets as a pro.

 

I am not necessarily opposed to Ivey and I am all for drafting BPA, but I rank Banchero and Ivey pretty damn close. They are a coin flip. The Rockets need height and someone to play PF. With them being so close I am taking Banchero, but I can also see Ivey. Especially if the Rockets can move up and get a good 3 or 4.

 

I’m not a big fan of Ivey. I watched a decent amount of Purdue basketball this year randomly and way too often he was just kind of there but not really impacting the game a ton. Then he’d have spurts of tons of impact. The same thing with his 3 point shooting. Feast or famine at times.

but I get it’s college, less space, and he had some solid bigs on his team that just needed the ball at times.

I didn’t see much if any playnaking behind the fact that he is/was just so athletic he’d get some assists here and there.

but … Westbrook was indeed pretty similar. And while I do t think Ivey is quite the athlete Russ was he’s close and it is fair to say his 3 point shot is at least a LITTLE better.

but I still see him mostly as a combo guard with great athletic ability that needs to improve skill and bball iq a bit.

I think Detroit is the perfect landing spot for him. Case is great in ways Ivey isn’t and vice versa allowing Ivey to play off ball.

It wouldnt shock me if Ivey ends up the best player in the draft but I don’t have it as a high probability and think it would be insane for the Rockets to take him given their roster, needs and the option that will be in front of them at 3 regardless of whom it is.

 

If. That’s a big if… the rockets thought Ivey and Green would work together. I would envision trading KPJ Gordon Tate #17 #26 whatever it would take to get Sochan. Then you go all in on getting the best defensive PF that you can find in the draft or FA next year that would seemingly be a better fit with Sengun.

Ivey
Green
Sochan
Top 8 pick 2023 draft/ or traded for player/FA etc
Sengun

Christopher
Garuba


That seems like a really interesting team. @Bobbythegreat what is your opinion on something like this? The PF fit would be exceedingly important.

I’m not sure what you would want. Perhaps a strong PG that would’ve more traditional to play when Ivey or Green are sitting.

 

Seems like doing a lot just to get a worse version of

KPJ
Green
???
Banchero
Sengun

 

I don’t think kpj is likely to have what you want at that position for what you envision a dynasty having. He just simply doesn’t seem smart enough not have the temperament. I may be wrong. I still hope he is gone this season or after the next.

 

We'll see.

He seems to be a perfect fit. A young combo guard that can create for himself and others while also being able to play off ball and impact the game defensively.

I think a lot of the criticism he gets is flat out irrational but I suppose we'll see how it goes.

 

Ivey is like a cross between Morant and Tyrese Maxey. He certainly has the talent to become a star player. Banchero brings us size and playmaking. He strikes me as a natural leader. I think chemistry is important and I can see him gelling well with Jalen. I would be happy with any of the top 4 players at this point. Now if we could get 2 ….