KOC: Rockets have had conversations with Memphis about trading down from #3

Which is why the Rockets IMO need to move on from guys that have shown very little development over 3 seasons of infinite playing time so they stop blocking guys like Amen or Cam who showed more in 1 season with limited playing time.

 

Sure, a successful rebuild requires stars ..... but there also has to be a star available when you pick.

There has not been a star on the board when they picked in any of these past 3 drafts.

yes, there were better players than the Rockets ultimately picked - particularly in Jalen's draft where both Mobley & Barnes are better overall players but they are not stars that move the needle.

 

Marcus Smart is 30 years old, overrated, and about to be on the downside. C'mon.

 

It's fair to say there weren't any stars available, but I disagree there weren't better players available that move the needle. Swap Green out with Mobley or Barnes to pair with Sengun and the Rockets would have been a much better team and they'd be further along in the rebuild.

 

Nothing personal, but it's hilarious to see anyone complain about how we did in the 2021 draft when we walked away with the best player in the draft. Just reverse the order of our picks if it makes you feel better. Did the Nuggets blow the 2014 draft because they used their 1st rounder on McDermott, or do folks say they won the draft because they got Joker? C'mon now....

The 2021 draft was a win, period. We have the best player in that class. End of discussion. If he missed star players picked AFTER our selection from other drafts then flame him.

 

I agree and why I am totally against trading the 25 or 26 pick which are supposed to be very strong drafts. I’m ok with trading the no. 3 this year for the right package. I’m not all right with pairing the #3 with any of our core to get the players that are widely expected to be available. I would love to trade #3 to the Spurs for eight and a very lightly protected pick in 25 or 26 and by lightly protected I mean top 2. If they would do #3 this year for their 25 unprotected, I would jump all over that as well. The Spurs are still tanking and are likely to suck for at least 2 more years. They do have a sh*tload of draft picks and they might swing a trade for someone that will rise them to a 40 win team, but I don’t see them pulling the trigger on any of the guys purportedly available.

 

I’m not scared of the Spurs or anything they get this year. I am afraid if they are smart and hang on to all that draft capital they have accumulated that they may be players for Giannis when he demands out. If the Spurs prematurely spend their draft capital, we might be extremely well positioned if that was to occur.

 

I understand this cope, but blowing the 2nd pick is still blowing the second pick.

If you slap your wife, it's not going to make up for it if you kiss her later.

 

Again, no one is saying the Nuggets didn't win the 2014 NBA Draft because they didn't pick Joker earlier. The goal is to get the best players. They walked away with the best one and so did we. Mission accomplished.

Your analogy is not really applicable. Again, the goal is to get the best player.

 

Along with luck and talent evaluation... coaching and developing also matter.

 

Denver didn't blow the #2 pick... or any pick in the 2014 draft... so no, no one thinks Denver blew the #2 pick in the 2014 draft the way the Rockets blew the #2 pick in the 2021 draft.

 

thank you for entertaining us jalen
you were great to watch
enjoy charlotte
or washington
or portland
or detroit
or chicago
or utah
or maybe sacramento
they will love you
you will get rich
you will be very popular
you will pile up huge stats
thank you jalen

 

no, sir. Marcus started on his downside his last season in Beantown.

Frankly finding a match/deal is beyond my ability. If so want someone on that roster he’s. Just. Not. Available.

And, #9 + a 2026 ufrp? Memphis is likely to be a top tier team.

 

Denver used a lottery pick on someone not named Joker in that draft. No one cares because they got the best player from that draft. And if Sengun continues to be the top player from his draft and becomes a star, no one will care about who we picked earlier either.

The Rockets care that they got the best player. They don't care that he was picked 16th instead of 2nd.

 

Getting lucky with a second round pick who develops into something special is just a bonus... it's found money.

That's not the same as blowing the #2 pick then lucking out on a later pick.

The loss at the top of the draft happens no matter what happens later.

 

he also can’t shoot. Love him defensively, but we don’t need to trade for another poor shooting guard.

 

You understand that sometimes it makes sense to swing for the fences even if there is a higher probability of striking out, right? It's incredibly rare that players have nearly zero potential to bust. So people like Stone have to factor a players ceiling and probability of hitting vs their floor and their probability of failing. And we were at ground zero. It's really indisputable that Jalen Green is the most physically gifted player in that draft. Stone opted to swing for the fences on his potential, knowing full well he could strike out. And honestly, I might be more inclined to agree with you if there were other players in that draft who were grand slams, but the best players in that draft aren't even close to being All-Stars.

Fun fact. Only two players from that draft class have even been named the NBA's Player of the Week. Do you know who they are? Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green. Doesn't seem like Stone did too bad.

 

I get why they drafted flash over substance, but it was still a mistake.

While you can talk about player of the week awards, there are several players from that class getting max extensions this summer and Jalen isn't even getting an offer.

Flash might get you an award, but substance helps teams win and gets your contact extended.

 

They didn't draft flash over substance, they drafted the kid with the highest potential to become a star based upon measurables.

He hasn't become that star but I still think that was the right decision at the time.

None of the other players available at the Rockets pick since have had that potential.

Jalen's been pretty much a bust but it was still the right pick because if he works out you have your #1, otherwise you get glorified role players in Barnes or Mobley who make your 20 win team a 23 win team ..... still nowhere close to contending.