I disagree, both Green and KPJ are on an all star track right now, within 2 -3 years......Bari and Sengun are behind them but also trending that direction. One of them will break out to be the TRUE Head Honcho and the others will fall in line....under Ime.....it is exciting times here. Draft Dereck Lively. DD
If those guys were star-level players we would have won more than 22 games last season. Maybe they will get there. (Spoiler: KPJ almost certainly won't.) I hope at least one of them does, but we can't assume production that hasn't happened yet. You don't start picking roleplayers or trading away high draft picks until you have a star to build around. You don't start picking shutters and drapes for your house when you haven't even finished the foundation yet.
20 and couple dimes and boards are stat stuffing, the young goons are good at it, I admit but so are other scorers in the league. They are not getting the same touches if Harden or Brown or Trae Young or whoever is signed or acquired. Udoka just has to go re-cataloging, assessing, re-allocating those shooting attempts. Derek Lively is another story lmao.
Compares himself to Rockets Legends™ Willie Cauley-Stein and Hakeem Olajuwon. https://hoopshype.com/lists/2023-aggregate-nba-mock-draft-brandon-miller-taylor-hendricks-rising/ Coming into the draft with lesser expectations than when he was a top recruit has given Dereck Lively a chip on his shoulder. “It makes me hungry,” Lively told HoopsHype. “People are going to look at me and overcast me. People don’t want to respect me. It makes me want to work harder and make more of a name for myself.” Lively’s defensive ability as a rim protector, switchable big man on pick-and-roll coverage, and lob threat on offense make him valuable in the eyes of NBA talent evaluators. When asked who he’d compare himself to at the NBA level, Lively gave a diverse list of players. “I’d definitely say Willie Cauley-Stein, and you’ve got aspects of Anthony Davis’ game and Hakeem Olajuwon’s game,” Lively told HoopsHype.
Willie Cauley-Stein? That actually seems potentially on point, but damn dude have a little more self-confidence. Hakeem and AD is too much in the other direction though lol I like Lively at 20, or if the Rockets want to move up to ensure they get him. A lot of players I'd be fine with in that range. He's not really an impact player in my view. Probably just a bench big, outside chance at low-end starter. Taking him #4 would be pants-on-head crazy, but what do you expect from DD Also wouldn't mind the Rockets taking an upside swing later in the draft. Nick Smith, Dariq Whitehead, Bilal Coulibaly, Bobi Klintman, Leonard Miller, Sidy Cissoko. Pretty deep draft, one of these guys is going to surprise everybody, and you can kind of stash them on the bench or at RGV.
Lmfao! Dude putting wack ass WCS and Dream in the same sentence... I'd be fine getting him mid 1st round, but this is hysterical. Can't believe he's dumb enough to bring up WCS. Kinda says alot. Maybe I should rethink this one. Not that it matters.
My vote for Lively is in hopes to create an all Jr squad on the floor. Of course he will have to switch from Lively II to Lively Jr. but it CAN be done. PG - Washington Jr. SG - Porter Jr. SF - Martin Jr. PF - Smith Jr. ..C - Lively Jr. That's not an entirely untalented lineup. They could definitely beat most bench squads considering I think 4 of the 5 should be on the bench.
I wonder if Lively even knows what’s been bestowed upon him. He should just stay in school and get his degree now.
