Three first round picks with guaranteed contracts ...

You can have up to 3 players on the injured reserve.


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... and, we will probably trade a few of our players for a quality player. Watch us trade Cato, Walt, Thomas and a pick for someone we like.

or, we'll trade up for a higher lottery pick.

I seriously doubt that Langhi will be gone. But we could lose Cato, Wiz, Thomas, Rogers, and Collier in trade, and Bull could retire, and Anderson could be in a sign and trade, or become a FA.

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the more I know, the more I know I don't know...

 

Sherlock,
I agree.
Walt and Los could be goners if we find a team looking to get out from under a contract and/or rebuild with (currently) our draft picks.

For example, Van Horn. The Nets need a center and a shooting guard (Cato, Shanderson?) Not that I want Van Horn. Maybe a 3-way trade.

For example, Shareef. I don't want him either; but we could manage something by sending him to Detroit. This would also involve swapping of picks between the three teams, whatever is equitable; Vancouver currently owes its highly coveted top 5 (probably) draft pick to Detroit.

That's enough now, because scenarios never come true, but it's nice to have options.

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I have this odd feeling that KT would be involved if any deal went down. I remember Calvin saying a while back that Kenny has proven he can start for SOME TEAM next season. I love Kenny too, and if they trade him, they better be damn sure the player they draft to replace him can step right in.

Of course, this is all just speculation on my part......

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Who has more value, KT or Los? Kenny does, and he has something teams like, a very cheap contract. Los will be the backup PF, whether for Mo or Cwebb (or possibly A. Davis), or perhaps a PF via trade.

I could see us packaging our 2 later picks (~22, 23) with KT, to move to about 14 or 15. That would save us 2 roster spots, and cut out another rookie.

pops says that Cato could be used to move up....one can only hope.


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"That's been a lifelong dream of mine." -Vince Carter, after laying it in on a breakaway, much to the Vancouver crowd's displeasure.

 

Cato will be gone -- whether it's for someone Houston likes, or not.


University (Laurel and Hardly) Blue

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1. The Rockets will not be using all three of their draft picks.

Instead, they will try to either trade those picks away or send them away to clear some obligations. No way the Rockets waste cap space on college talent.

2. It's not that easy to move up.

I've seen people suggesting we package all 3 of our picks together to move up, in every draft thread. We as fans highly overrate these college prospects because of their mad hops. Coaches and GM's see them as long term investments who aren't even developed. Trust me, 20+ picks are garbage. People don't trade for those, they trade them away. The only way we will be able to move up is by packaging that 12 with say KT and even that will only move us up a few slots. It's not worth it. We don't have the kind of bait to move up that much.

3. Cato

I would probably package Cato and that #12 to move down, just to get rid of that contract. I think you could see that happen.

4. What will happen in the draft?

I personally think Rudy will work to trade away those picks for established talent.

5. No SAR

I know it has nothing to do with the thread, but this is just getting annoying. The Rockets do not need a star small forward. A garbage man type like Shane Battier would be welcome, but nothing more. We need big men. Interior defense wins playoff games.

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Interior defense wins playoff games.

 

I disagree with the cabbage about the draft. I think that the draft combined with free agency is the best way to rebuild. Look at Toronto, they drafted a franchise player and then surrounded him with a couple of vets and rookies and they're in the playoffs. I hope that Rudy doesn't trade away these pix for established (i.e. Massenburg type player). Nobody is going to give us a quality player for a draft pick, it makes no sense to give up a quality player for a possible shot at a rookie.

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Calvin Murphy for President!

 

I would hate to see these picks thrown away for salary cap reasons. This year more than any other, picks in the mid teens to twenties are not the standard "diamond in the rough" type picks in which it is rare to find a player who will stick. With everyone coming out, there will be some serious talent left for later picks in the first round. Of course, no one is guaranteed to succeed, but there is no better year than this one to have a stockpile of draft picks.

With that said, i hope we don't get bogged down with rookie contracts. But i feel certain that if we get the players we want and still have extra picks, rudy will trade them away for future picks. Likewise if the players we want are no longer available. If it comes down to actually using all the picks, i'm sure the rocks can come up with some creative injuries like nintendo thumb or polio in order to keep 15 players on the roster all next year, and i'm all for that.

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"I think what I'm supposed to say is, 'I'm out.'"

 

We already have our franchise player in the Franchise. I don't understand your argument as it basically proves my point. Toronto traded their picks for vets and theyre in the playoffs. That is what I suggested we do. I'm not saying to trade for greybeards like Oakley or Willis, but Antonio Davis types.

You're not going to find a franchise player in the 20's. If you're not top-5, trade the pick.

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Interior defense wins playoff games.

 

tcab: It depends what you want. This team is in need of a supporting cast for Francis, not necessarily a superstar. I'm sure you can find plenty of decent roleplayers in the area of 18 or later.

For kicks, Take a look back, starting in the 95 draft, and not include this past draft, searching for solid players picked 18 or worse, picked in the first round.

1995: #18 Theo Ratliff, #21 Michael Finley, #23 Travis Best.
Still playing: Greg Ostertag, Jason Caffey, Cory Alexander

1996: #20 Zydrunas Ilgauskas, #23 Derek Fisher, #26 Jerome Williams
Still playing: Travis Knight, John Wallace, Walter McCarty

1997: #19 Scott Pollard, #23 Bobby Jackson, #27 Jacque Vaughn
Honorable mention: Rodrick Rhodes

1998: #25 Al Harrington
Still contributing: Pat Garrity, Roshown McLeod, Brian Skinner, Tyronn Lue, Felipe Lopez, Corey Benjamin, Nazr Mohammed

1999: #18 James Posey, #21 Jeff Foster, #22 Kenny Thomas, #26 Vonteego Cummings
Still playing: Quincy Lewis, Dion Glover, Devean George, Jumaine Jones, Scott Padgett


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"That's been a lifelong dream of mine." -Vince Carter, after laying it in on a breakaway, much to the Vancouver crowd's displeasure.

[This message has been edited by NIKEstrad (edited April 16, 2001).]

 

I agree that 3 draft picks especially 2 20+ picks is too much youth for this team.

Already this team has Mobley, Francis, Thomas, Cato, Norris, Collier, Taylor, Langi etc. etc. Already a lot of youth. Experience does matter in an 82 games season.

With a little bit more experience the Rockets would definatley made the playoffs this year.

I say, draft a good player with the 13th pick. Draft a high school project to place on the IR for the next 2 years. And possibley trade that other pick.

I would not use this pick to releive any obligations simply because in this draft a 20+ pick is like a 14 to 19 quality player in other year drafts!!

Howerver, maybe the pick from Orlando may be good to releive the Vancouver obligation if the Rockets feel they will bomb next season and simply become lottery material!! But I don't think that will happen.


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