Mike Scotto: Rockets will shop the No. 3 overall pick ahead of the draft in hopes of landing a star

It is a real long shot that a genuine top 10 star in the league becomes available.

However, if a top 10 star does become available and wants to play for the Rockets (another long shot), it is almost a guarantee that it would require a deal centered around Sengun going out, because he is arguably the Rockets best player.

I don't think that I have ever heard you say you want to move Sengun. You have questioned whether he defensively will be able to cover the perimeter, and pointed out that it makes it harder to build a team defensively around him - but that is factual, and the perception held by most of the league. Sengun is one of the handful of best young players in the league but he has flaws like everyone else.

 

RW/Playback

I'm not sure why you always take offense to comments like this. This is just objective. 50% of the discussion ALWAYS ends up about Sengun. Trading him. Supplementing him. Adding another big to him.

There's no need to take offense. It's just what it is.

You're trying to push a narrative in this response here that you treat each of these players equally.

That's crazy. Like insanely crazy. Sengun talk is multiples of talks of any other player on the team. Depending on the other player, that multiple changes. Jalen gets close at times. Bari is many many orders of magnitude lower in "airtime".

Dave, are you really disputing this?

Why are you offended by the comment Sengun dominates the conversation more than any other player? It's objectively true.

 

I have followed the draft a really long time - and I have probably listened to as many podcasts, read as many articles by "draft experts" as anyone - and have watched as much tape as 99% of fans. I have also been fortunate to know, some casually and some as friends, people that are involved in coaching at the college level, or involved in the NBA or other professional leagues....... and after about 20 years of all of this, I have concluded that the reality is that outside of the very top players - very, very, very few people can tell you how good a draft really is, because so many factors go into it.... from the individual habits of the players, to the style of play of the league changing, to the team they are drafted by, who their teammates ultimately will be and whom their coaches are.

Good evaluators view it at a player by player basis, and can evaluate players across 4-5 drafts. That is about as deep as it goes.

There is also very much a collective hive opinion that emerges as to what type of players will do well - and it is easy to talk people into liking or disliking a player.

In this draft, all we know is that there isn't a Wemby or Henderson or Banchero or Cunnigham - that is to say an obvious #1 or #2 type player in most drafts.

However - that does not mean that this draft will ultimately be terrible when looked back upon in 5 years. This draft has a number of players with the ingredients to be all stars, and even a few that could prove to be franchise players if they develop well.

The 2017 draft was supposed to be weak.... and Lonzo Ball and Fultz at #1-2 are pretty bad...... but it overall turned out to be a very strong draft with Tatum, Fox, Markanen, Mitchell, Adabayo, Allen and White.

 

That's it we need a "Trade Sengun" channel and all we do is talk about what we could get for him.....



Who cares about what is discussed or what percentage etc? Honestly, are we that pedantic? If you don't like the conversation - don't watch, or better yet, jump in yourself and change it.

Otherwise just sit back and enjoy the show.

DD

 

It doesnt really matter much...

I just responded to a post that said "he (Dave) discusses Sengun as a trade asset the same way he does Jalen and Amen" by noting that's not remotely true... and now he's upset / disagrees with it lol

 

How do you know? You aren't there 100% of the time,neither am I and why even argue about it?

Ridiculous.

DD

 

It may turn out to be the worst draft in 15 years - but I can tell you that the 2020, 2017, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2005 and 2006 drafts were all supposed to be terrible too. Some of them ended up bad, but not as many as you would think.

The 2013 draft was considered a disaster, it had Bennett, Oladipo and Porter at the top, but it also produced Giannis, Gobert, Adams and a half dozen really good role players.

The 2014 draft with Wiggins was also considered pretty weak, Wiggins had a poor freshman season and a lot of teams wanted out of the draft..... but it produced Embiid, Gordon, Smart, Capela, Jokic, Randall, LaVine.

2016 was viewed as the Simmons or bust draft....... and Ingram, Brown, Murray, Sabonis, Siakam and DeJonte Murray came out of that draft.

So this draft could prove to be terrible - but I would say history says most likely it will be similar to 75% of drafts, about the same talent output as other drafts.

In these types of drafts, talent evaluation, fit and player development are massively important.

The only time I would really complain about these types of drafts is if I am picking #1 and maybe #2-3..... there is usually a clear cut #1 player in 2/3 of drafts, and about 1/3 has two clear cut #1 type sure things, very very few go three deep.

So - I think the Rockets are in a great spot if their scouting and player development is good.

 

He is short - would be nice if he went one on one more ..... but he has a lot of strengths that shouldn't be slept on. He is not just a good shooter, he is a great natural shooter that hits shots all over the court, very efficient and smart player that isn't afraid to take big shots.

 

Bring me Kel'el Ware!

 

I'm there like 90% of the time... If they discuss trading Amen at length the 10% of the time i'm not there, then i'm wrong!! lol

I'm not arguing anything, i was correcting someone's comment many pages back, and am now responding to Dave's (and your) response.

Dave wants to move on from/replace/strongly supplement Sengun with a vertical threat, defense first center. This isn't news. It's not surprising to anyone. It's nothing for anyone to pushback on lol. Multiple people hold this view, and potentially the FRONT OFFICE as well!!

This is THE conversation on Rockets related playbacks. Doesn't mean its the ONLY conversation, but it DEFINITELY is the main conversation.

Why is it a problem to say this?

 

He has the ability to be a valuable player in the NBA.

He will need to go to the right organization and he will need to play harder and more consistent than he did in college.

 

Quoted for truth. I see some Giannis in him.

 

Trading back and picking up an asset and nabbing any one of the "later" interesting prospects is my preferred course of action.

Ware, Williams, Carter, Holmes

My dream would be to trade back with Memphis if they fall in love with Clingan and nab GG Jackson - i'd add more than the #3 but not sure how much more.

But to the Bulls for Caruso, or the Blazers for 7 and 14 both interest me.

 

How tall was Iverson, Monk, Calvin Murphy, Steve Nash, John Stockton, Isaih Thomas....I mean if you can shoot you can shoot.

DD

 

Dave has NEVER said he wants to move on, he has always said that he thinks the Rocket's might want to move on - there is a big difference....Twitter constantly blames him for hating Sengun and he has never said that, EVER - just that the Rocket's don't seem to be 100% bought in on him due to the way they have treated him.

And I agree.

DD

 

I was going to say I'm worried he's a Deandre Ayton. Didn't look like he had the motor or work ethic this year.

 

My hopeful scenario, trade down, get additional assets (player or future picks), and draft Ware.

He could be doing exactly what Lively is doing with Amen and Sengun passing. 3pt shot potential is there too.

 

Again, im not sure what the argument is here? I said replaced/upgrade/supplemented.

Do you think Alpi is talked about the same way as Amen or Bari? Or even JG?

 

Most (but not all) of the guys that ended up surprising (Sabonis, Haliburton, Giannis) were specifically targeted by a few teams that strongly believed in them.

So I am fine trading down if there is someone that the Rockets really feel will be good and undervalued. For example, lets say that the Rockets scouts and numbers guy decide that Tijuane Salaune is the best player in this draft. Then I don't mind them trading down to #7-8 and getting him and another pick.

Think if it like the Sengun situation. In that case the Rockets assistant GM received permission from the GM to do everything possible to move up and get Sengun. That was a targeted approach.