(ESPN) Jeremy Woo: Rockets have interest in Sheppard, with both the FO and ownership intrigued

Maybe he’s referring the Mr. #RocketsTwitter (Will) tweeting that specific part as a headline.

but ofc, Will probably focused on that bc this is the first mention of a front runner, and it supports his hot takes.

 

Trade bait? Top 8 is so fluid that trading up or down seems realistic.

 

The only person I really want out of Detroit is Jalen Duren. Ausar would be cool too but having two guys on the roster who can't even make 20% from there is concerning. With Monty out of the picture and the coaching staff a mess I'd give up a future 1st and Adams for him.

 

This smells very much like an intentional leak to try and drum up trade interest for the pick.

Maybe there is truth that the Rockets org does like him, but never hurts to try and see if offers perk up.

 

Why? People with sources make claims like this all the time without going into details about specifics.

Based on everything that we've heard and the reports that have previously come out and the track record of the person saying it, i lean towards it being valid.

You either believe it or dont

 

I see the current fascination with finding the new best (literal) BIG thing within this draft and the next few. The Nuggets have major size with Nikola and the T-Wolves have the same with KAT and to a lesser extent Rudy, but those two teams didn't even make the Finals and they're not even the best players on their respective team (KAT/Rudy).

The two teams that did make it to the Finals had; a rookie center (Lively) and the other had the usual out of Kristaps for a couple of the games... then were just fine starting a 38 year old Al Horford to close the Mavs out.

The onus must be on finding skilled athletic players at the top of the draft, whether they're bigs or guards or eventual 6th man type players. Of course anyone would love to draft a star but most of the guys at the top will not be stars at the end of the day. If the pick fits the current roster, great, but even if he doesn't we can find value in being able to trade off pieces that don't quite fit our roster later. Better to get talent back for a guy that's worth a damn than to get a bust that's only good for bench mop up minutes because he fits the rosters current mold.

All that being said yes I agree, it would be nice to bait Detroit or Portland into a trade up, especially if Reed falls that far down.

 

Slow down. No need to go into protect the messenger mode. I just find it rare to use that word (ie demonstrated”), as if there has already been reports floating out there.

If he means it’s just from his own reporting, that’s fine. My point is, I’m just curious if anyone else has previously reported such, which I might have missed … even @Clutch said just 2 days ago that he hasn’t heard anything (incl from other reputable reporters).

You keep saying this. Can you share such reports wrt “demonstrated serious interest” in any of the players?

Please don’t get defensive. Many of us haven’t heard such reports. We are curious. Not trying to win some cfnet argument.

 

Agreed, but I do believe an agent told him something and he's not just making crap up

 

Sheppard is the clear pick, hope it's true

 

I have immense respect for Vecenie. Givony is the most team-plugged guy out there but I dislike him wholeheartedly.

 

Jeremy Woo-Tang

 

I don't doubt Houston is interested in Reed. He fills an obvious need for this team but I do think this is a bit of gamesmanship here. I have serious doubts Houston is willing to take him at 3. There is just not a lot of value there given how much you are paying a 3rd pick in the draft and how much a player of Reed's projected floor makes on the FA market. You have to REALLY believe in his upside to consider taking him that high - otherwise your money is better spent just signing a Donte Divencenzo type of player at $12mil/year rather than paying a rookie $8.5mil/year to one day be like that player. I'm sure Houston would prefer to take him in the 6-10 range but there are teams who probably would consider taking him at 4, 6, and 8 when teams start switching to need rather than BPA so that complicates trading back if he isn't available.

Regarding his upside - it's just a super slim gamble because the list of guys you would be hoping Reed turns into in order to make it worth taking him so high amounts to guys like Curry, Brunson, and Morant and Reed just isn't in that tier as a playmaker so the more likely scenario is a projects as a smaller role player and those guys are guys we could afford to pay without drafting them. See Payton Pritchard(probably the lower floor for Reed) who had a very similar scouting report out of college to Reed - athletic floor general who sees the floor well with limitless range and high bball IQ....and is making $6.5mil/year in Boston...and Donte Divencenzo (probably higher floor projection) as referenced earlier.

Assuming guys like Sarr and Clingan are off the board, I would almost prefer Castle and hope he learns to shoot because he has legit all star upside if he does...and if he doesn't, at least he provides insurance for a scenario where we can't afford to retain Tari but want to keep a high level defensive specialist rotational player on the team.

 

Not saying I want Stone to pick Reed, I'm on the fence with this pick I'm hoping Reed's a better version of Holliday if Reed's the pick.

But, the team really needs guys that can shoot the ball. If they want this then bring in Sheppard and sign Kennard. Those are a pair of elite shooters.

 

I just don’t see JD available. Stew would be an excellent 4/5. That’s IMO. And I’m never wrong. Mebbe sometimes. Heck, mebbe sometimes I’m not wrong. Whatever…

 

I don't see why. Your conference opponent picking at 4 is in the market for shooting as well. Sheppard is one of their top rumored targets, and a great fit alongside Wemby.

 

you can’t coach height, so they say. I’ll say Edey will be a major bust. I’d take him. To camp on a make-it deal, undrafted. Yet some team will invest a FRP. Sheesh.

I do not have a handle on who TheGoodGuys should draft. I just hope the FO has a handle on the lotto to know where they can cede the #3 and STILL GET WHO THEY WANT! It can be done.

 

Evidently, Udoka said: "Keep my name out yo' mother#$%in' rumor!"

 

For some reason, I can't get this song out of my head.

 

Until it's reported by Shams or Woj on 6/26, don't give a ****. It's all speculation.....just to get you that draft boner.

 

Wrt "demonstrated" im not taking it as literal. I view it no different than using the word "shown". Regardless, however the rockets have "shown" "demonstrated" "portrayed" or "made known" that they have serious interest in sheppard, im sure comes from whatever source he got the info from. These guys dont usually go into details about how or whats led to them having that inside knowledge.


Wrt me saying "based on previous info"...im not saying that this has already been reported. Im saying based on previous info that has come out about them leaning Reed if no trade down (along with other factors), I tend to believe this report.