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

I would rather have Amen than LaMelo. Terrible proposal.

 

It's like trying to watch a tennis match between the Flash and Superman. I'm getting whiplash.

And I resent it, because the only tennis I can tolerate is if it's a women's match and at least one of them is hot.

 

That's why I said almost....I feel the same way about Cam too.

It would have to be a superstar that fits our timeline, but I really don't want to move either one.

 

The Bridges news cycle

Oh Joe Tsai says he is thinking about rebuilding long term - The draft picks come up - Everyone posting Bridges trade scenarios - Brooklyn shoots that down by saying they want to keep adding pieces around Mikal.....

Rinse Repeat. (with Jalen Green included)

 

Not saying it's fair but the easy comp with Amen is T-Mac. Both have similar size and in both their age 19 seasons (Amen's rookie year and T-Mac's 2nd) they both put up similar numbers across the board. Now fast forward 2 seasons later and T-Mac now in his 1st season with Orlando emerges as a star complete with a good 3 point shot for that time and in addition to his now elite scoring also put up over a steal and block a game which for a wing is rather impressive.

If that or something close to that (say 85-90 %) Is where Amen will be by 25-26 then I'm right there with you. But I don't see Amen hitting that type of peak where Ball even with the run of injuries has become a elite player (albeit on a bad team) which makes the deal worth it for me.

 

Not sure my friend. Both have been going at each other for years.

Under 18 national teams. A.A.U. teams

Hot projections coming out of highschool.

Both fit to excel in the open spaces of NBA. As I said Cam Whitmore will.

Lively use to shoot 3's in highschool as did Ware......Ware seems to be the one that will
continue to shoot about 4 a game right now. Lively didn't shoot them this year.

https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Dereck-Lively-II/Comparison/150098/Kelel-Ware/149694

 

Yeah I mean just look at Bridges and Brooks stats they arent far apart but somehow Rox would love to trade back all the stuff they got for James Harden for a 4rth Option upgrade.

 

tmac and amen are very different players not sure where you got your comparison from. Tmac is at least 6'9 so even on size you are already wrong.

Ball isnt an elite player he is a good player on a bad team and also injury prone. I wouldnt even trade Amen for Ball straight up.

 

If Amen plays 30+ mins his second year in the league, he will be under consideration for 1st team all defense. He probably won’t get it, because of who votes on it, but he will deserve it. Lamelo will never be in that conversation. I wouldn’t trade Amen for most anyone in the league not named Jokic, Giannis, or Tatum, much less give up the #3. He is our best bet for having a superstar. He may not make it, but barring injury, he will be a perennial all-star candidate.

 

My modest proposal for the Rockets:
#3 to Portland for #7 + #34 + Rayan Rupert.

Portland gets their guy Clingan at 3 and Rockets get Shepard at 7. For their troubles the Rockets also get Adem Bona (#34). Rupert reminds me of a young Ariza with better guard skills. He'd be nice coming off the bench behind Green.

 

From basketball reference:

Amen Thompson age 19 season 6'7'' 209
22.4 mpg
54 fg%
14 3p%
68 ft%
9.5 ppg
6.6 rpg
2.6 apg
1.3 spg
0.6 bpg
1.5 tpg

Tracy McGrady age 19 season 6'8'' 210
22.6 mpg
44 fg%
23 3p%
73 ft%
9.3 ppg
5.7 rpg
2.3 apg
1.1 spg
1.3 bpg
1.6 tpg

Field Goal percentage is the only noticeable difference between the two. We know T-Mac developed a jump shot within 2 years of his age 19 season. To make the claim you wouldn't move Amen for Ball you must believe Amen will develop a jumper because without it Ball's offensive upside along with his passing and 3 point shooting make trading Amen plus for Ball the right move.

 

Why not just get Sarr at #7?

 

Because I don't see him being available?

 

Well Sheppard wouldn't be available either, so I figured we were just saying what we wanted disconnected to reality.

 

Portland moved up for Clingan. I think SAS goes Castle, Detroit Buzelis and Charlotte goes Holland. But wtf knows.

 

San Antonio is a smart team, if Sheppard is available they jump on it and laugh at Houston

 

Idk, I think SAS will value Castle at 4 or Topic at 8 if they want a guard. But, again, who knows.

 

So a smart team would value a PG that can't shoot and is a diva demanding to start immediately or a guy who can't shoot and can't play due to being injured over the best guard in the class?

I somewhat doubt that.

 

No because if you look at Ball's history he is also perpetually injured like his brother. His first year he played 51 games, last year he only played 36 games and this year he only played 22 games.

I dont know if Amen will develop a jumper or not but at least I dont want to trade for an injuryprone guy like Lamelo.

 

Why will they laugh at Houston? They've been rebuilding since a year before Houston and they still got the worst record last year even after they drafted Wemby. The only good draft SAS has done so far in their new rebuild is Wembanyama.