1. Its been mentioned that Van Gundy wasnt high on Luther Head to be the Rockets pick in the draft last year but we got him anyway. So is it only Vun Gundy or even past Rockets coach Rudy T , dont have much influence on management on who to pick for the draft ?? Surely managment would talk to coaching staff on what they felt the team needed (PG,SF,SG...) most but as WHO the team selects to fulfill that need , it seems Van Gundy dont have much influence right ? 2. Other teams have at one time or another guaranteed draft prospects who are relatively not well known that they would select him weeks before the draft and in return ask the player to stop working out for other teams, specially to teams that rank higher than them in the draft order. Some even give prospects "gifts" (roundtrip airfare and accomodation to hawaii or somewhere ) to get away from the radar of other NBA GM/scouts. For example, Bull's GM J.Krause considered the relativly unknown S. Pippen a gem and to assure that he ends with Chicago , Krause was able to HIDE Pippen from other GM's . Has the Rockets in the past been known or rumored to have done something similar ?? From what Im told the rockets management seems to lack this savyness that other teams have which partially explains why other teams in the past, specially when they are not drafting that high, are still able to land a "steal " in the draft more often than the Rockets. Of coarse, now a days, with how intensive scouting is worldwide, its tough to hide a true talent from anywhere in the world from any GM. Generally speaking has the rockets scouting/draft choices improved, or deteriorated the past 10 yrs ?
Before that draft the Heat were the only team I read that had heavy interest in selecting Head. If Head was generating interest in Miami, JVG would most likely have kept an open mind.
Didn't the Rocket organization manage to have Amare Stoudamire injured to keep him away from other's attention? Since when is chicanery = savvy?
I don't remember JVG's position on Head, except I'm certain he thought Head was too short. But, I do remember the feeling I got from the Battier trade that Van Gundy, while happy, was not in the inner circle on that decision. As for promising to draft a particular player, I think it's a dumb strategy to take, so I wouldn't call it savvy for the Rockets to use it. Though Rashard Lewis did allege that the Rockets had promised to pick him.
The coaching staff has control over saying what his needs are. A coach defines the pieces. But it's the GM that usually decides how to fulfill those pieces with which players.
are many or at least a good number of the Rockets draft workouts open to the local media ? Was the rockets media happy or satisfied when Houston got Nachbar and Head ? I was told that Nachbar was already expected and the local media was neutral with his selection while Head was a big surprice and the rockets media was not in approval of his choice . thanks
