ClutchFans Rockets Draft Thread (Rockets select Luther Head at 24)

Can someone explain to me why Head doesn't have much upside?

I mean, if he's one of the most athletic guards in the draft with good form on his jumper, the ability to penetrate and finish, and a strong work ethic, I don't see why he lacks potential. I mean, he's improved his game with each year at Illinois. Why can't he continue to improve?

Is it the lack of height? The lack of pure PG skills? Poor shot selection? I haven't really seen him play, so I honestly don't know.

 

Doesn't anybody remember Jason Terry, Marquis Daniels, Jerry Stackhouse, and Josh Howard running circles around our guards? Head will keep up with those guys and give them something to think about.

 

You just parroted the company line on why this pick was made - witness Richard Justice's JVG story in this morning's Chronicle. Their "spin" will be that this pick will make more sense LATER (whatever that means...). The problem I and many others have with this pick is:

1) In Head, you essentially drafted a guy to replace David Wesley when the guy they needed to replace was Sura at the point. Head may or may not be that guy. Dawson said afterward that they (Rox) were not impressed with a lot of the guys available because most were "undersized". HELLO? Head is "undersized" if you play him at the SG position. Could have been picked in the 2nd round but with no 2nd round pick, the Rockets were forced to reach here.

2) IF Simien or Taft turn out to be solid players, then once again, they will have missed the boat. There was also Jason Maxiell who went to Detroit but the Rox were down on him because he's "undersized". Last time I looked, Ben Wallace was undersized and that doesn't stop him from being physically dominating with his athleticism. And what they desperately need at the 4 is a physical athlete to help Yao.

Bottom line: They really needed to hit a home run but instead came up with a pop fly...

 

I dont keep up with college ball, but he seems to be a good pick at 24 we can always have tracy play some of the point when Head is in the game.. we cant same the same for any of our 4s, I think CD is doing the right thing by getting us a rookie point and trading/signing a VET for a 4.. Plus I like guys that can play good D..

 

Of all the stupid "head" jokes, I like this one best...

Honestly, I like LHead, he will eventually be a nice NBA player. But please please please tell me CD has a sure-bet ace up his sleeve in the FA market, cause the *screaming* need the Rox have is at PF. Nothing wrong with Head, just wish we had at least tried to address the obvious...

 

Stackhouse? I remember him giving our guards the Barkley as he backed his way to the basket, but I don't recall him blowing by our guards with frequency. Jason Terry abused Sura, but I think, with Head and Spanoulis(sp?) coming in, the Rockets may be able to play Sura at the SG spot. Mike James did an okay job against Terry.

 

5 reasons to get head:

1. Head can shoot the rock better than most in the 1st round, probably top 3 pure shooter out of the first round
2. Head can play solid D
3. Head can play in transition
4. Head is a hardcore competitor
5. Head is mature and will contribute right away as a role player.

 

First off the Rockets upgraded Wesley's position- more athletic, more speed, taller, and younger

That is the key upgrade.

Now they have to find a power forward and another upgrade at guard.

They are looking to find pieces who are younger, athletic and quicker/speed

This is a step in the right direction.

Besides big men are more of a reach at 20+ in the draft than guards.

If he can D, shoot and play smart we will love him.

He slipped because of size (for 2-guard) and doubts about PG play.
But that doesn't mean he won't be good on the right team. I think he is a very nice upgrade at Wesley's spot.

 

I'm totally excited.. I was crossing my fingers we wouldnt get Simien and try and get a decent backup PG. ( Who can blossom into a starting role) I mean seriously with all the people on this board excited about the idea of Siemen being our future PF was absurd. I mean the 24th PICK commonn. CD did right this time and here comes Swift ( Hoping )

 

We're HEADing in the right direction this offseason!

 

The funny thing is, the whole NBA didn't think Arenas had the upside of Arenas. He was considered too small to be a true 2 guard and not a true point guard, so he dropped all the way to the 2nd round ...

 

Tigerbait.....great chant, I'm dying to hear this at my next game, maybe I'll try and start it.

Anyway, like most others I'm kind of down on this pick, but you can't expect much from the 24th pick. The thing that stunned me was after they showed Head playing right after the pick, the screen came up showing his height, weight, etc., and then it showed something like "Needs to improve: Point guard skills"

I've noticed a lot of people saying he was replacing Wesley and/or playing the SG position, but if CD is so big on "undersized" players, then why would he draft this guy to play there? That makes me think, ok...we must be drafting him to play PG. So if this is the case...the pick just makes no sense to me.

I had hoped we'd trade up or down, supposedly they tried to trade up, but is there anything saying we tried to trade down? I'm just not a big fan of late first round picks unless it's a very deep draft because you HAVE to pay those guys.

I'll admit, I'm excited to see what he can do and I'm hoping it is a lot, but knowing how JVG is, don't expect to see too much of this guy.

Pugs

 

Classic movie line.....

HEAD!!!.....PANTS!!!.....NOW!!!

 

LOL, I was wondering about that? He said Warrick was from PRINCETON right? That's what I thought I heard but though, no way he said that! LOL

 

CD and Dennis Lindsey were hinting at this all along. I don't know why some people are surprised. They said all along they wanted to get quicker on the perimiter. They wanted someone who was athletic. In the Pre Draft Combine Luther Head was rated #1 in terms of athleticism among Point Guards. The guy can shoot, play defense, doesn't turn the ball over, has a great vertical leap. The only knocks on this guy are his size at the SG position, and that he needs to work on his point guard skills.

 

Hopefully you will wake up with a better opinion today or smell what you are shoveling. You really think we should have taken a chance on an untested high schooler (that went undrafted I might add) over Head. Thank god you are not our GM. My brother in law balls a little too, he went undrafted and he's 6'8", maybe we should have nabbed him at 24 in the first round over a Wooden finalist. CD took the best athelete on the board at 24, period. Let's wait and see what this abundance of backcourt players parlays into after some of them are moved in trades and we aquire our FA's. How does adding Miles give us any trade flexibility? Nobody drafted him so what value would he have and he would be in the NBDL for 5 years. How does that make a Sura or a James expendable?

 

TMac was probably the one calling for permimeter defense. TMac had to cover every hard defensive assignment that wasn't a center. So JVG is correcting that now.

If they pick up a good PF via trade/FA, this trade may work out. Big men normally don't contribute right away but guards can come in with hustle and make an impact. So we'll see. Head sounds interesting. Despite his size, he's athletic as hell.

 

What this picks says is the rockets want, and expect, to win now, not several years down the road after a project power forward develops, and possibly leaves via free agency. Unlike in years past when we drafted late, we got a guy who can actually play, and play now, and that couldn't be said of any of the PF's left on the board. CD will make the right moves in free agency, and we'll enter the season a much stronger and quicker team, our primary weaknesses last year. and besides, everybody needs a little head now and then...

 

Exactly

 

I think the pick is solid, especially considering who was on the board at the time. The Rockets probably would have traded down if Head wouldnt have been there and if the Rockets didnt take Head the Pistons probably would have a few slots later.

With Head we get a very atheltic guard that is a winner, good work ethic, is tough, can hit the long range shot, create for himself and defend. Nothing wrong with that. At #24 chances are slim we are going to get a stand out player. To me Head looks like a SOLID role player which in reality is all you can really expect at #24.

True, going into the draft the two big issues were upgrading the PF spot and finding a swingman that had the height to play the 2/3.

We come out of this draft not really addressing either area. But the draft is just ONE PHASE of the offseason. Clearly with Head in the fold, guys like James and Wesley look more expendible in trades which might be able to net us a swingman or a PF. And of course there is the MLE.

Dont forget, there are some interest prospects that didnt even get DRAFTED like Alan Anderson, Jawad Williams, Matt Walsh, Kennedy Winston that the Rockets might be interested in bringing in.

I think it is a little early to judge this Head pick and say it was garbage.