[3rd pick] Who do you want?

fwiw: in that article, Iko says Rockets will have Sheppard in for a workout by end of week. (So, I guess Woo’s tweet yesterday was premature @JayZ750 )

Iko also says a work-out with Clingan is complicated, as his agent might be blocking it (not favoring the Rockets):

Sheppard will visit the Rockets by the end of the week, team sources said, but up until this point, Houston has encountered some difficulties in scheduling workouts with top prospects. For example, Clingan and Şengün share the same agent, and the expectation for a top prospect being taken is that they will play. On the surface, minutes at center under Udoka appear slim with Şengün and Steven Adams on the roster — which presents a conflict of interest. [HP edit: meaning his agent prefers someone else pick Clingan, so they don’t want a workout.] Another example is Castle, who has been steadfast about his desired point guard position which impacts which teams he chooses to visit.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/55...ok-donovan-clingan/?source=emp_shared_article​

 

That's exactly how I read the "leak".

 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/55...ock-draft-hawks-donovan-clingan-bronny-james/

 

Clingan would be a bench player too

 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/55...ok-donovan-clingan/?source=emp_shared_article

 

Recent update of the fan poll (but without the Trade Pick option):

 

JUST DRAFT REED ALREADY

fkng ridiculous

 

So, the NY Times has:

1. Hawks: Clingan
   
   
2. Wizards: Sarr
   
   
3. Rockets: Sheppard
   
   
4. Spurs: Risacher

I still say Hawks take Sarr, Wizards take Risacher, we take Klingan, we trade Klingan and whatever for Sarr.

 

Seems like Sarr would be a better fit and immediately get huge minutes in Washington. Risacher would have to contend with Kuzma, Coulibaly, and Avdija. Granted I don't really keep up with draft intel and rumors.

 

So it seems the Rockets won't get workouts from Clingan, Castle, Risacher, and Sarr....

The Clingan BS is clearly just a smokescreen, he doesn't want to be drafted here because he knows he'd be 3rd string

 

Or a starter on the Vipers.

 

Thiis certainly fits with us "narrowing it down to Clingan and Sheppard".

 

The more I look at the draft the more I think I just want to trade down for a future 1st. And use that future 1st to help put together a package for a potential trade for a star. Sarr, Risacher, Sheppard, Castle, Clingan, Buzelis, Holland, Topic, Carter, hey they all look decent and none of them have wowed me. This is clearly different from last drafts where I wanted Green or Mobley, one of the top 3 among Jabari/Holgrem/Banchero, and I wanted one of Amen/Miller/Scoot at 4.

 

Future first from Charlotte and go pick Devin Carter at #6 could be very tempting.

 

It's kind of like having a reservation to a Michelin 3 star restaurant then deciding to give away the reservation so you can eat out of a dumpster instead

 

I wonder what the Hornets are talking about? Number 6 would be a great spot to draft Devin Carter.

 

Speaking from experience??

 

Thats kind of the point. WAS is stuck in limbo with marginal players who dont move the needle. The appeal of Risacher would be a youngster who can take over games and offer 3 level scoring with a higher ceiling (possibly) than anyone on the roster. Sarr is going to be a project for whoever drafts him, but I could see his current strengths steer WAS in that direction considering they are pretty terrible there. Im just not sure Sarr will ever be a 'face of the franchise' type player. Poor man's Dwight with a the makings of a jump shot.

 

You tried.