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I don't think there will be any PF signings by the Rockets

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by leebigez, Sep 8, 2001.

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  1. leebigez

    leebigez Member

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    There will be no PF signings by the Rockets

    I know Mo Taylor is out and Hakeem is in Toronto, but I'd be very suprised to see the Rockets bring in someone to play the 4 spot. I think realistically, the Rockets wanted to give Griffin more time at the 4 than the 3. Honestly, why would you not go after Webber after you supposedly drafted a 3? I've always thought of the Griffin pick as smoke in the big picture. Everyone will point to the fact that they signed Mo Taylor to a 6yr/48mill deal, but to think of Eddie Griffin playing 20min a night for 3 or 4 years is crazy. In 2 yrs, Taylor wouldn't be that hard of a contract to move for the Rockets because of his age and "potential". The Rockets have now been forced to play their hand a lot quicker than expected.

    If Eddie Griffin improves on what I seen him do as a freshman, when Taylor comes back next year, he'll be the one scraping for game time. Its obvious that Eddie needs to put on weight and improve his shot selection, but he has something that you can't teach and that is shot-blocking and rebounding. Eddie stands 6'10 1/2 227 lbs, those are pretty close to the same size as Rasheed, Garnett, Joe Smith, McDyess, Ratliff, J O'Neal, and some of the other young 4/5 that has entered the league the last couple of years. Out of those listed, only McDyess has gained weight and he's only 245lbs. Once the Rockets get to him and he gets on a weight training program, it wouldn't be a problem for him to get to 235-245 which is heavy enough to play the 4 spot.

    Eddie Griffin will be that 20-10 man that the Rockets hoped for when they traded those 3 picks for. The rebounding and blocks will come easy for him because they are most natural to him, the point will come by his 3rd year. I'm not out of my mind when I say by the middle of the season, Kenny will be back on the bench filling in.If and when Mo Taylor returns it will be as a backup because lets face, once a athelete has a injury like this, it robs him of quickness and jumping ability ( see Dominique and Gerald Wilkins). By next year, Griffin will be entrenched as the starter and Taylor will be asking for a trade like George McGinnis.

    PS, If Rudy tries putting Rice at the 3 like the knicks did, we will get the $h.. beaten out of us.
     
    #1 leebigez, Sep 8, 2001
  2. MadMax

    MadMax Member

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    I disagree. The Rockets have been burned on long term deals they can't get out of more than a few times now and they know it. I don't think they inked Mo Taylor to a 6 year deal thinking all along, "but Griffin is really our guy at that position." I think Griffin is an unknown...they don't know where his skills will be best be utilized. Carroll Dawson has all but said you can expect a signing of a power forward.
     
    #2 MadMax, Sep 8, 2001
  3. leebigez

    leebigez Member

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    In a way I know what you're saying, but I've never seen a team draft a so called 3, thats a better rebounder and shot blocker than you're 4. Why would the Rockets be out of the Webber sweepstakes since they drafted a 3? Why wouldn't they be out of since they had Taylor?If taylor and Griffin could co-exist, why couldn't Webber and Griffin whose games are very similar? Think about, why would you need a 3 thats shoots 3's if you have one that can post up, rebound, defend?Also he has a jumper to about 15ft-18ft. No one ever said your 3 had to shoot 3's, just look at Grant Hill and James Worthy of the old Lakers. really you just look at Shareef who now will become a perenial all star. I'd rather have a open 12ft than an open 23ft shot anyday.
     
    #3 leebigez, Sep 8, 2001
  4. getsmartnow

    getsmartnow Member

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    The way I see it, any free agent power forward or centre who wants to get plenty of court time should sign with the Rockets now. With Mo down for the season (most probably), any big man would get good minutes.

    Thoughts? Feelings?
     
    #4 getsmartnow, Sep 8, 2001
  5. RocksMillenium

    RocksMillenium Member

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    What's up with all of these misleading titles!? Again you guys keep missing the point, the Rockets weren't going to trade Mo because they weren't going to use Griffin as an exclusive 3 or 4. Why limit your versatility by keeping Griffin in one spot!? They were going to use Mo and Griffin as interchangeable parts. Coming off the bench doesn't = 20 minutes a not necessarily, and anybody who think this is good for Griffin is fooling themselves. The reason the Rockets were out of the Webber sweepstakes? Because they were going to go with a two prong attack up front with Mo and Griffin. Drafting Griffin didn't have anything to do with the Rockets pulling out of the Webber chase. By all appearance they had their mind up already.

    Because Mo was cheaper, knew the system more, wasn't going to need as many touches as Webber, and was more interchangeable at the 3 and 4 then Webber that's why. The Rockets don't seem to have plans to make Griffin an exclusive 4 because of his versatility to guard 3s, and the Rockets are going after another PF as we speak.
     
    #5 RocksMillenium, Sep 8, 2001
  6. Stevierebel

    Stevierebel Member

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    I disagree. The Rockets are trying to work the phones to find someone that will help them upfront. The were going to play Griffin but they don't want to overplay him in that they want to bring him as slow as possible while learning the NBA ropes. Keep in mind Eddie is only 19.
     
    #6 Stevierebel, Sep 8, 2001
  7. Smoke

    Smoke Member

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    My thoughts
    The whole "We are going after Webber" thing , was just a Smoke screen. If Webber fell into Rudy's lap, they would have signed him, otherwise, they had to focus on their real needs.
    My therory for the Rockets priorities.
    1. Sign Mo T (seems like both sides were "prepared")
    2. Sign Dream and Shandon for lesser roles, less money or Adios. (hit some snags, but worked out in the end)
    3. Sign Mooch (I didn't see it being so difficult)
    4. Adjust the roster (fill the 3, trade, sign, cut to do it and then fill in the bench)
    The Draft.
    They wouldn't need a rookie to start. They could trade up, use the picks/players for trade bait, be open for the best deal that presented itself. What a deal they got. Ed G for our 3 first round picks. No brainer. If the deal was Kwame Brown for the 3 picks, they would have taken that. More interestingly, if they had to choose between Kwame and Ed G for the 3 picks, who would they have taken?
    At any rate, Rudy and CD seemed to have had plans for Mo. Ed G just happened.
    Actually, before Mo went down, any center/power forward might have been welcome. Now, offensive skills become a bigger priority and a better fit. Rudy and CD probably know who they would like to get, but won't sell the farm to get him. The price of poker just went up.
     
    #7 Smoke, Sep 8, 2001
    Last edited: Sep 8, 2001
  8. drpepper

    drpepper Member

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    It's pretty simple,
    If the Rox want to keep Francis happy, the'll bring in a 4. Francis wants some post season action and I'm pretty sure we do too. The only down side to this is Griffin's exposure and PT, but he is only 1 year out of high school so I'm cool with it. I really don't have a preferance of Mase or Jackson, but Mase is durable as Jackson is still kind of an unknown. But I'd be happy with either one.
    I wonder what Krause's thoughts were on Griffin.
    Hmm.
    ;)
     
    #8 drpepper, Sep 8, 2001
  9. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Member

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    At center, we have Kelvin Cato and Jason Collier.

    At power forward, we have Kenny Thomas and Eddie Griffin.

    Which position do you think needs improvement more? Which has a better chance of being injured? Maybe they'll pick up one of each, but they must at least get a third center before the season begins.
     
    #9 JuanValdez, Sep 8, 2001
  10. BTM

    BTM Member

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    Center. Collier is a bust and Cato is a headcase.

    At least Kenny Thomas has a good attitude and Eddie Griffin can learn.
     
    #10 BTM, Sep 8, 2001
  11. Lil Francis

    Lil Francis Member

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    Collier is not a bust. Nobody expected him to do much in the first place.
     
    #11 Lil Francis, Sep 9, 2001
  12. BTM

    BTM Member

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    True...

    But we could've had Mo Pete. SF of the future, for sure.
     
    #12 BTM, Sep 9, 2001
  13. CriscoKidd

    CriscoKidd Member

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    sf of the future? no. We already found plenty of sfs without wasting that pick on an undersized sf anyway.
     
    #13 CriscoKidd, Sep 9, 2001
  14. BTM

    BTM Member

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    Like who? Glen Rice? :rolleyes:

    If Griffin is gonna play the 4, it would be great to have a player like Mo Pete who can run the fast break with Steve and Cat. He can also shoot around 40% from behind the arc. Undersized, maybe. But I'd rather have him than Glen Rice.
     
    #14 BTM, Sep 9, 2001
  15. RocksMillenium

    RocksMillenium Member

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    Well we're not getting Mo Pete so we might as well enjoy Glen Rice. He'll help this team more now then Mo Pete because he can make an impace offensively, something we need badly. I'd rather have Rice then Pete. Pete is the future, we don't know if Francis will be around in the future. Lets win NOW!
     
    #15 RocksMillenium, Sep 9, 2001
  16. Lil Francis

    Lil Francis Member

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    Yeah thats true. Mo Pete will be a solid ball player for a long time. Once he gets established I see him averaging 15-18 pts a game.
     
    #16 Lil Francis, Sep 9, 2001
  17. CriscoKidd

    CriscoKidd Member

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    Rice right now is better than mo pete will ever be. Morris and Pete are a wash.

    hell, I'd rather have Damn Lanky.
     
    #17 CriscoKidd, Sep 9, 2001
  18. leebigez

    leebigez Member

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    Yall can say what you want about Taylor, but 2 yrs from now I'd be surprised if he's still in a rocket uni. How do you overplay a basketball player? By mid season garnett was starting, Marbury played from jump street. Odom, 1 season of college, Shareef 1 season, Tim Thomas 1 season. The fact that if an organization thinks this highly of thses guys to draft that high, they must intend on playing them quickly and frequently. Eddie will be the 4 that Taylor wishes he could be. When Taylor comes back from that injury, he will be playing off the bench. At the end of 2002-2003, he will be in another uniform
     
    #18 leebigez, Sep 11, 2001
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