The Rockets should go with the best Center or Power Forward available. That could be anyone from Pryzbilla, Moiso, Olumide or, if they want to reach some, Eton Thomas. If they don't feel any of those are answers, go for a SF. Miles, Miller or Peterson. If I assume all are there when they draft, I'd go with Miles because the potential is huge and the Rockets aren't going to challenge for a couple seasons (until he's ready to produce). And I do realize that goes against taking the best PF/C like my first Ph says, but you always take the best talent... ------------------ [This message has been edited by Hobbs (edited April 17, 2000).]
There's a lot of talent in the draft, but I'm not sure there's a sure bet in the bunch. If it were me, I'd trade the pick, esp. considering we have a $4.5 million exception we can use only in a trade. I wouldn't make a trade just to use the exceprion, but I think it could help us pick up a playoff tested frontcourt player that knows how to rebound more than once a week, unlike Thomas or Cato. I'd be happy if all we did this offseason was keep Mobley and pick up Rashard Lewis. Or Tim Duncan.
I'd like to see the Rockets go even younger than they are now. I'll answer this question based on where I think they will pick, not as if the Rockets had the #1 pick. If things play out like the odds say it should in the lottery, the Rockets will be picking 9th or 10th. I'd go with Darius Miles or Olumide Oyedeji. I think that the Rockets can afford to wait for Miles to develop his awesome potential. Walt has played better and he's signed till '02. That gives Miles a couple of seasons of learning and growing. But he's got to develop an outside shot! As for Oyedeji, I think that he's a perfect fit for the Rocket's style of play. Based solely on the Nike Hoops Summit, I think that he's the best rebounder available this year. He crashes the board in the way that we all wish Cato would do. He's mature physically and seems ready for the physical play of the NBA. He's also listed at 6'11" which makes him a much more attractive player than someone like Etan Thomas. Thomas, only at 6'9", isn't better as a college senior as Olumide is right now. I like this kid and can see him developing into a scoring threat in a year, too. ------------------
Olumide must still be growing also. I saw a deeter website when he (Olumide) was playing alongside Dirk Nowitzski in 1998. He was listed at 207 cm, or 6'8". At the Nike Summit he was listed at 6'10"-6'11" and he's 19. As Moochie would say yummie. The best thing about him (Olumide) playing in the deeter leagues is that he can do something that is oh so important to Rudy - play on the perimeter. ------------------
