I’m not sure what Jackson’s sources are, but he seems confident Clingan is the guy if they keep the pick at 3
Can Clingan be Gobert 2.0? Gobert is a multiple dpoy but seems to be a liability come playoff time Gobert seems soft at times though, and Clingan seems like a tough guy. What happens to Sengun? This Wednesday will be interesting and whoever we draft will definitely determine how the front office views some of our current players
That would be alright, if someone overpays for Clingan and we get Carter or Knecht plus a 25/26 lottery pick
He is likely just another one who has convinced himself Clingan is some type of defensive juggernaut when in reality he is not even the best center in this draft much less a better pick than Sheppard. I honestly do not get the Clingan hype at all even if we actually needed a center which we obviously do not. Edey is and will be a better player than Clingan.
If they draft Clingan, I think Sengun becomes the guy they dangle in a trade for a top level star player along with other picks/players.
I hear pundits talks about Ime wanting to move more toward a switching defense. Not exactly screaming Clingan or Sheppard if that is the calculus. I hope they take Reed. 70% TS sheesh
There is a history of a connected group of Rockets influencers wanting "anyone but Sengun" (which appears to mirror the attitude of their source in the front office of not fully endorsing our franchise player), so clamoring for an unproven and flawed center in the draft is just consistent with that (as is wanting for someone else, like Amen, to be "the player the Rockets are most excited about" on the current roster).
Thats interesting because I was wondering what his source is and perhaps it’s someone in the org with an agenda Sheppard seems like the BPA and if they draft Clingan it’s probably to trade him, it would be weird to draft a 3rd string center with the 3rd pick
Hive mind of Rockets twitter…all parrot the same ****. Gatlin: “There’s the Stone factor(upside), the Witus factor(analytics factor) and now the Udoka factor(defense). One guy checks all those boxes. If Clingan is there, I think he’s the guy.” Oh wow, Kelly Iko “reported” the same thing 5 days ago? Gatlin: If Clingan is an all-star caliber big but no minutes, he’s a great trade asset! Ben Dubose a month ago: Clingan is a great trade asset! Ben Dubose wants Clingan? Clutch wants Clingan? Iko wants Clingan? Gatlin wants Clingan? Wow, I’m shocked!
Their hope is that Sengun becomes the trade asset. Should be a fireable offense if Stone were to actually pick Clingan over Sheppard.
Got a concerted collective effort by the media for Clingan. Got Woj out here producing mini-documentaries on Clingan. Shout out to his agent and PR team (ESPN). You’d think this is a no brainer can’t miss unanimous #1 guy. We’re talking about maybe Walker ****ing Kessler! (Who is available in trades) Maybe Jakob Poeltl?
The problem is that if both Sengun and Clingan are good but cannot play together, other teams will know the Rockets have to trade one of them. It will tamp down what the Rockets would get in a trade for either. If Clingan is a starter level C or say sub-all star level like say a bigger Jarrett Allen, yes he can be traded but not for that much given he will have a #3 pick guaranteed salary (like ~$8-9 million). The whole trade asset argument loses water once they make the pick. If he is trade bait, it has to be done on draft night.
