All this talk about the Rockets positioning themselves to get a top pick begs a question. Which of the top guys have they worked out? Only Rodney White comes to mind. No Diop. No Curry. No Brown. No Battier. No Griffin. Do you really think they'd move heaven and earth to pick a guy they haven't even worked out for themselves? ------------------ "How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak. Because someday you will have been all of these."
There was pretty much a concensus about Francis being the first or second pick, though. I'm really talking about the high school kids in this year's draft since that is where our ambitions seem headed.... Diop or Curry in particular. Maybe Brown. We've not worked out Battier or Griffin. Circumstances are different with Gasol, of course. ------------------ "How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak. Because someday you will have been all of these."
It is not unusual for the top picks to restrict their tryouts to teams that have a realistic shot (based upon the draw) at taking them. I'm sure Rudy and Carroll would love to take a look at each of them. I heard Carroll talk about that very thing last year, and he said that they love to look at everyone who might be a player in the league, no matter where the team is drafting. It helps them understand the player better, and it gives a basis for future communication down the road several years. And, you never know when you might get the deal that moves you up. Since KG, there have only been a few high schoolers go before #13. I can only think of Bender at #5 in '99 and McGrady at #9 in '97. The others have been a crap shoot. Of course, Kobe went #13 in '96, J. O'Neal went #17 the same year, Harrington at #25 in '98, and Leon Smith at #29 in '99. This year seems destined to be different, at least in terms of high picks of high schoolers. As much as I like some of the big young kids out there, if I'm getting nervous about Curry, Diop, and Brown, I figure Rudy must be even more so. Moving up to four to take Gasol would be my best guess now. ------------------ "We're having a pretty good time considering one day we're all going to die." Steve Martin, 1976
We traded for Steve Francis, didn't we? I believe that we were the only non-lottery team to work out Stevie. ------------------
I agree. I think we did work him out. Of course, the San Jac connection meant we had contact with him while he was there, and I'm pretty sure he had played at Westside with some of the NBA players, in addition to the workout. ------------------ "We're having a pretty good time considering one day we're all going to die." Steve Martin, 1976
working out battier is a waste of time, because you know what he is going to give you. rudy and cd wanted to bring in guy's that they had questions about. ------------------
Rich Rocket has something there, how do we know which C to pick if we haven't worked them out? I think its Battier all the way. ------------------ "Chucky who? I thought we were talking about basketball?" Charles Barkley
If we did work out a deal to move into the top 5 and get a C, would we still keep 18 or 23 to get Morris or another SF? For a team that likes to talk about making the playoffs next year, it seems moving up to take a project who won't be ready to help for a couple of years is a waste. What about moving up for Battier. He definitely is the only player in the top 10, other than Gasol, who could make a significant impact next year, and his skills at small forward, i.e. defense, shooting, are exactly what we need. Plus, with the Rocks history of taking experienced college players, why would they break that trend to take a huge gamble on a player who MIGHT turn out to be worth such a high pick? Other than Gasol and Battier, the only other player I think the Rockets should consider in the top 5 is Griffin, b/c he is the only one of the young big men who could help next year, and he is already big enough to help inside as a weakside shotblocker/rebounder from SF. I know it sounds tempting, but I just cannot believe a conservative team like the Rockets would take such a gamble and ignore another obvious need. ------------------
It sounds like they are moving heaven and earth to get this trade done. I can't believe they wouldn't have either a personal workout or a small-group type of workout with their target. Is anyone coming in this weekend-Tuesday? Or are we maybe conducting a secret workout somewhere. That would be very revealing. I can be at Cameron Indoor Stadium in about an hour! LOL... Following this thought through, the most likely prospects become (in no particular order): Loren Woods Rodney White Vlad the Rad Rocket Shane Battier* * I'm conjecturing an "exception to the rule" on Battier because they must have a huge scouting report on him after 4 years. I think that any of those guys is worthy of THE #1 pick--- depending upon the price paid to have the luxury of picking him. My instincts still tell me though that something is underway for Diop, Brown, or Curry. Maybe we'll invent the three-forward offense, what with the new NBA next season. Have a 5 sized like a 4 but shoots like a 3. Whoopee! Just like Dallas ever-looms over Houston, Don Nelson is casting his shadow over Rudy! ------------------ "How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak. Because someday you will have been all of these."
