Yep, in the end we have to get lucky on someone with huge upside much like Dallas did with Josh Howard, Pheonix with Barbosa and San Antonio with Parker and Ginobili. Free agent signings can only get you so far when you are salary capped.
If the Rockets are going to make an effective draft pick then for sure JVG must be gone before the draft so that his senarios and opinions are not considered.
I hate to be the nay-sayer of gloom and doom because there are some exciting people that could be available to us when we pick. But, it doesn't matter who is available unless we change coaches because as long as Van Dummy is coach, a rookie will not see the light of day. In his career, with exception to Head (who it took major injuries to get him on the floor), the most a Van Dummy rookie has played was like 8 minutes a game appearing in 54 games. Every rookie, including this one was off the team in 1.5 years or less leaving Luther as the new Van Dummy record holder at 2 years. Including his stint with the Rockets, every Van Dummy rookie was traded for older veteran players with less upside but more track record. Every one but Head. He made the Knicks the oldest team in the league and they sucked when he left. If he stays, Novak, Snyder, Head, Vspan will all dissappear before the season starts and some defensive minded one skill players will reappear in their place. If you look back at his track record, it is what he has done every season except last season in which i believe he may have been forced to keep some of those players by CD and Les to try to bring excitement back to the fans. I also agree with DDakota that Van Dummy refused to play these players because they aren't the type players he likes. If we can get an innovative open minded coach here with emphasis on a creative flexible offense that does not run the same play every trip down the floor. And, Call me kooky, but There's an Amazing statistic where Centers rebound better under the basket and get less fouls if they don't gaurd point gaurds at the three point line. If our defense does not wear out the 7'6" center while he chases screens 23 feet from the basket, we might have a chance at some fun this summer and next season. If not, say goodbye to youth and hello to more Charlie Ward/Charles Oakley type retreads from around the league.
Don't you have any idea about what has been going on with the rockets??? Just to refrest your mind!!! JVG doesn't like or coach Rookies- that's why if we are making a decent and effective pick we will be building for our future and JVg is the kind of coach who is "Win Now' not a builder of championship teams.
You say that as if Rudy was playing Nachbar starter minutes or something. Chuck Hayes played as a rookie, an undrafted rookie at that. Head played as a rookie. Lucas played as a rookie. They didn't play every game. They weren't core rotation players. They didn't start. Some of them only got minutes in blow outs. But none of them have shown that they should be starting to this point either. Sloan didn't play 2 of his rookies either. Riley rarely plays rookies. Larry Brown rarely plays rookies. There are plenty of good coaches who would rather not play rookies who are not high 1st round draft picks. Jeff did go from playing an undrafted Chuck Hayes in 40 games last year to starting him this year.
