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Case to Draft Taylor Hendricks (Trade Down if Possible)

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Medicine N Music, Jun 12, 2023.

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  1. Medicine N Music

    Medicine N Music Member

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    I have been advocating for the Rockets to draft Taylor Hendricks since he was mocked in the 20s. I was highly confident he was going to outperform his draft slot 2 months ago, but unfortunately he’s now projected in the 6-12 range. Trading down would be difficult as every team after us has a need for Hendricks.

    Most mocks have the Rockets taking Amen at #4, but I would be highly surprised if the Rockets went this route as Amen does not fit our goal of winning asap and it would deviate from the advanced metrics and value drafting the Rockets have done in the past 2 years. 20 year olds playing high school kids, but cannot dominate and can't shoot, would be a good pick somewhere, but definitely not at #4. Jarace Walker has good defensive potential, but he only shot 66% on FTs on the season and shot 26.5% on 3s his last 1/3 of the season, so I'm not sure if he will be able to shoot in the NBA. Whitmore has one of the worst assist numbers ever, has short arms (6'8 wingspan), and may not be able to shoot. Hard pass at #4.

    If your approach to the draft is to get a star, even if they have a 95% chance of busting, Hendricks is not your guy. However, if you want someone that can fit every single team, can potentially defend 1-5, stretch the floor, high IQ, protect the rim, and has one of the highest floors in the draft, then it’s Taylor Hendricks.

    Contrary to popular opinion, Hendricks also has good offensive potential (although he's very raw currently), which makes his ceiling very high. Did anyone think OG Anunoby, Jerami Grant, or Mikal Bridges would be this good offensively?

    3/D+ players like Hendricks are extremely rare and undervalued, which is why Memphis tried to trade 4 first round picks for OG Anunoby w/ 1.5 years left on his contract. While we do have some potential logjam at 3/4, there hasn’t been a team ever with “too many” elite 3/D+ players especially one with Hendrick’s versatility.

    Why would you want players with high bust potential, when you can have a player with a high floor and high ceiling? Also, if Sengun is on the team, there is literally no better fit than Taylor Hendricks at the 3/4.

    Positives
    • 6’8.25” barefoot w/ 7’0.5” wingspan (slightly shorter, but longer wingspan than Jonathan Isaac)
    • 39.4% on 3s while attempting 4.6/game; 78.2 FT%
    • Projected NBA 3 point > 36%
    • Projected above average to elite defender (quick lateral movements and elite timing on jumps)
    • Versatility - can defend guards as well as some 4/5s
    • Lob threat and rim protector (1.7 blks/game)
    • High IQ
    • Can fit any team
    • Untapped offensive potential (think OG anunoby and Jerami Grant)
    • Both high floor and high ceiling
    • Perfect fit w/ Sengun
    Negatives
    • Played in a weak conference
    • Loose handles, raw offensive abilities
    • Too small to guard some centers
    Projections
    • Floor - Jaden McDaniels (already a high level starter)
    • Median - Jerami Grant w/ better defense, but less creation/offense
    • Ceiling - Prime non-injured Jonathan Isaac
    • Remember in Isaac’s 3rd season, he was averaging 2.3 blks and 1.6 stls in 28 minutes at 22 years old and was talked about as a DPOY candidate. Unfortunately, he only played 34 games before getting injured. Prime Isaac at 26-28 years old would easily develop to be the 3rd best player (or even 2nd best) on a championship contender.
    Summary
    • Great measurements if he plays 3 or 4
    • Good shooter w/ untapped offensive potential
    • Versatile defender w/ very high IQ
    • Rim protector and lob threat
    • Excellent fit next to Sengun (or on any team)
    • High floor and high ceiling
    Edit - If Scoot or Brandon Miller falls to #4, then I'm definitely drafting one of them. There is a large gap between them and the rest of the prospects.

     
    #1 Medicine N Music, Jun 12, 2023
    Last edited: Jun 12, 2023
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  2. HTownTmac1

    HTownTmac1 Member

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    Before I read this I was seriously thinking 2 minutes ago .. I wonder when medicine n music is gonna say who we should go after!! You have been spot on 2 years in a row ! Keep it going ! I feel like I’m living in the matrix lol
     
    #2 HTownTmac1, Jun 12, 2023
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  3. prs325

    prs325 Member

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    Now we’re talking
     
    #3 prs325, Jun 12, 2023
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  4. OremLK

    OremLK Member

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    He is going to be a good roleplayer, but I see him as a power forward and basically a worse version of Jabari. I'm sure he could find minutes on our team, but I don't think he's such a great fit that you start thinking "wow, we need to trade back for this guy", nor do I think we should reach for him at #4 given that he isn't an amazing fit.

    I still think we should just pick the BPA at #4, which in my view is whoever is left between Scoot, Miller, and Amen, or an outside chance that they view the BPA as being Cam Whitmore.

    If we were wanting to trade back for some reason, the obvious partner is Orlando, which would give us #6 and #11. Not a course of action I'm necessarily in favor of, but if we were to do it, my preferred picks would be Ausar Thompson and Cason Wallace. I like both of those guys better than Hendricks and they fit better on our team being a wing and a combo guard.
     
    #4 OremLK, Jun 12, 2023
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  5. Rokman

    Rokman Member

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    I wonder if Rockets were to swap #4 for #6 and #11 if they could then swap #11 and #20 for #8. Walking out of the draft with #6 and #8 could be a damn good draft if you view everyone between #4 and #10 to be of equal value.
     
    #5 Rokman, Jun 12, 2023
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  6. don grahamleone

    don grahamleone Member

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    The highlights are great on Hendricks but I think Jarace Walker is the better NBA player between the two. The lowlights on Hendricks look terrible. I think he'll be more of a mess on the court than a contributor. He's got a lot of things to work on. Staying with his man, dribbling, passing, not moving off your man to help every other possession... there are things.
     
    #6 don grahamleone, Jun 12, 2023
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  7. DatRocketFan

    DatRocketFan Member

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    Will op go 3 for 3 with these mid 1st round suggestion?
     
    #7 DatRocketFan, Jun 12, 2023
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  8. robbie380

    robbie380 ლ(▀̿Ĺ̯▀̿ ̿ლ)
    Supporting Member

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    I like Hendricks too and agree with your points about how it doesn't make a ton of sense to swing for the fences if the player has a very high bust potential.

    Are you saying just take Hendricks at the #4 pick and don't try to trade down?
     
    #8 robbie380, Jun 12, 2023
  9. Aruba77

    Aruba77 Member

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    Medicine N Music. I like Hendricks a lot; just not at #4.
     
    #9 Aruba77, Jun 12, 2023
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  10. Spooner

    Spooner Member

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    [​IMG]
     
    #10 Spooner, Jun 12, 2023
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  11. AroundTheWorld

    AroundTheWorld Member

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    I will never doubt @Medicine N Music - you were 100% right the last two times.

    If we cannot trade up or down, just take Hendricks at 4.
     
    #11 AroundTheWorld, Jun 12, 2023
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  12. Tom Bombadillo

    Tom Bombadillo Member

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    I am a huge fan of this pick at 4. (Or a trade down for 6 and 11)

    Hendricks has many of the best traits that my guy Eddie Griffin had.

    Jabari+Hendricks+Sengun could be sooooo god damn nasty.
     
    #12 Tom Bombadillo, Jun 12, 2023
    Last edited: Jun 12, 2023
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  13. kpdark

    kpdark Member

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    Garuba and 20th pick for Hendricks
     
    #13 kpdark, Jun 12, 2023
  14. Mathloom

    Mathloom Shameless Optimist

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    I don't have a ton of knowledge about the top 10 prospects but while I was skimming through these video scouting reports I was surprised Hendricks is not slated to go higher. Seems like an excellent PF to draft, his upside is not limited and his floor is pretty high.

    Not sure I'd pair him with Jabari who is a 4/5 to me and Sengun who is a 5. I think Hendricks is a 4/5 too. Getting a bit crowded with young guys if we want to compete soon. In the long term though, I love a frontcourt core of Sengun/Garuba/Jabari/Hendricks/Tari.

    I would definitely consider trading down to get him (Orlando) so we can pick up Hendricks and a vet that we need. For example if we get 6 (Hendricks) and 11 from Orlando, then we trade #11, #20 and KJ for Myles Turner.

    We seriously can't take on more than one youngster this summer, we're SO overloaded with young players. We have WAY more young players in our core than a playoff team should have (8 players under 22). Have to be smart with the balance of experience and youth UNLESS you're ok with being patient and not getting mad if we don't make the playoffs this season.
     
    #14 Mathloom, Jun 12, 2023
  15. larsv8

    larsv8 Member

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    Need to swing for the fences and try and get a star, not a perfect fitting roleplayer.
     
    #15 larsv8, Jun 12, 2023
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  16. groovemachine

    groovemachine Member

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    I think we should swing for the fences at 4 with Amen or trade up for Scoot, it would be a big disappointment to trade back for a guy projected in the 8-12 range unless some team grossly overpays with future assets.
     
    #16 groovemachine, Jun 12, 2023
  17. Believe It!

    Believe It! Member

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    Like Hendricks, but I think Walker's ceiling is higher, fit is better (can play 3-5) and is a better defender. Although he can't shoot as well as Hendricks and we need shooting, he still has more all around game.

    Nice post OP.
     
    #17 Believe It!, Jun 12, 2023
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  18. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

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    Hendrix

    [​IMG]
     
    #18 daywalker02, Jun 12, 2023
  19. Imanimal

    Imanimal Member

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    44% layups is not worthy of #4 pick. Man, this draft truly sucks after top three.
     
    #19 Imanimal, Jun 12, 2023
  20. TimDuncanDonaut

    TimDuncanDonaut Member

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    Not sure why people keeping harping on only the 4th.

    Title did include trade down if possible in parathensis.
     
    #20 TimDuncanDonaut, Jun 12, 2023
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