[Various Sports Websites] Grading the Rocket's Draft

DraftExpress
Houston Rockets

Picks: Aaron Brooks (#26), traded future 2nd-round pick and cash to Seattle for Carl Landry (#31), Brad Newley (#54)

D

First off, this pick reeks of a trade, because it obviously makes very little sense. The Rockets have three capable point guards on their roster already in Rafer Alston, Mike James and John Lucas, so it’s not quite clear where Brooks fits in. If the Rockets end up trading this pick on July 15th (maybe to Sacramento in a package for Ron Artest?) then ignore this grade and analysis altogether.

If they took Brooks with the intention of keeping him, though, then we’re pretty stumped. Brooks is a player who clearly could have been had in the second round, besides the fact that he doesn’t fill any kind of need for a team that needs to win right now. The Rockets don’t have any power forwards on their roster at the moment (Chuck Hayes is a free agent), and there were a few players here that could have had value at this slot. Nick Fazekas, Josh McRoberts, Glen Davis, and especially Tiago Splitter come to mind. When Splitter comes over to San Antonio next year and starts contributing big minutes right away, people in Houston will almost certainly be smacking their foreheads for passing him up.

Daryl Morey has been criticized for only being a “Moneyball” or “stat guy” by various sources, but Brooks doesn’t grade out particularly well on the sabermetrics scales. Carl Landry on the other hand, certainly does. He also fills a bit of the void we spoke about at the power forward position above, even though he can’t do it by himself obviously. Landry comes game-ready, though, at age 23, which is good considering how much they’ll need him right away if they don’t make a big move in free agency. Still, it’s hard not to come away thinking that the Rockets reached once again here.

 

If the mock draft experts know anything about picking basketball players they'd be making big bucks in an NBA front office.

 

You make a great point. Carl Landry's height has been listed from anywhere from just under 6-7 to 6'9. I wish they would make up there minds about how tall he is too.

 

our draft was riddiculous...i can't believe some of you are happy with it....we should have got an F....with Big baby, mcroberts and Fazekas still there how do you not take them with 26 and then take the chance of taking brooks with #31....

 

Geez, ya'll are something else. You armchair GM's.

I understand the displeasure with the draft by a lot of people. Especially by the media. They and their sources were at a concensus that Brooks and Landry would be picked in the middle to late 2nd round. And the Rockets made them look like screwballs. And if the Rockets would not have taken him there, Phoenix "Can't do wrong in the Medias Eye" would have taken him. Oh, boy then the media would have called it a coup.

But, I guess a lot of ya'll RESPECT ESPN, SI, Sporting News, etc. A LOT. That's why ya'll care that the Rockets get no respect!!! Shame on ya'll. I'd rather the Rockets GM, Coach(es), and subsequent management make an informed decision on what "THEY SEE" At least we know they have a brain of their own. "SURE IT MIGHT NOT TURN OUT TO BE THE RIGHT DECISION" BUT THEY AREN'T the Sporting Media boys.

If championships were won on paper, then New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago would always will all of them. All of the time. Not just in Basketball, but in Baseball, Football, Soccer, Hockey, etc.



Good moves Rockets!!! I hope

 

Yeah because whoever thinks these were bad moves must obviously ONLY listen to major media outlets...

 

I bet everyone and his mama thought the picks of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobilli were crap too.

Tony Parker - He's all speed, no defense, no jumpshot. He's too selfish too. An undersized shooting guard.

Manu Ginobilli - He's ARGENTINE for Christ sake, not American. He's gonna go back after 1/4 of a season.

Hmm.... anyone else?

OH WAIT, GILBERT ARENAS. He was somewhere in the second round too right?

I think in terms of foresight, 99% of the media and fans (yours truly included) are severely lacking in it.

 

None of those guys are 5'10" tall.

 

JRAZZ's Post Draft Jam

I love the Rockets's offseason moves. When we last left the Rockets they could not score. All of our supporting cast choked against the Jazz (Shane was OK ), T MAc got defended right out of his game, and Yao was defended too well by the big Jazz Euro.

1) Dismiss the architect of the Jazz choke and bring in the man who built two of the better offensive teams of the last 20 years.

2)j Howard was inspirational and borderline great during the regular season. He was slow, old, and showing us what is is becoming during the Jazz series. We traded old, slow, Howard for younger, more athletic, explosive scorer Mike James.

3) Resigned the new and improved Bonzi Wells. We are hoping he will be mentally and physically fit, and a force on the offensive end.

4) A Faster (shorter) T J Ford who is a great 3 point shooter ( and, er, not as good a point guard as TJ )

5) A young Clarance Weatherspoon, who is also smart because he went to Purdue.

I am excited about the addition of Coach Adelman. Mike James, Bonzi Wells,
Aaron Brooks, and Carl Laudry. The Rock's are gonna Rock on offense. They will score.
I also think that Luther Head will shine in our new offense. With so many offensive weapons, Luther will be open most of the time and will hit a high
per centage. Also, Luther can get to the Rim, sky, and finish. I think we will see a lot more of Luther finishing the break.
I also want to see John Lucas III under coach Rick. He has the speed and can get open at will. Needs work on his shot and a coach the will use his talents. He has both this summer.

And Yao will be an unstoppable, greasy Chinese Godzilla, dominating tank, he's gonna eat lightnin';and crap thunder.

 

We better hope that Morey has couple aces in his sleeve cause i dont think we're going anywhere with Brooks being our number one pick. Right now we could have Glen Davis and McRoberts both on our team.

 

I don't like Rafer much and I know you feel the same way. This is why I liked the pick from the beginning.

"He handles the ball on a string and can get into the paint with the greatest of ease, being able to finish plays in many different ways, particularly with a very nice tear drop in the lane." link

Sounds like the anti-rafer to me. Also, I can't remember which site I saw this on but Brooks was rated at 90. Law was at 92 and Conley Jr was at 94. The guy has potential.

 

INtresting is the screamimng about how the Rox failed to address their PF needs, and then turn around and say "They PASSED ON TIAGO SPLITTER!! TIAGO FREAKIN SPLITTER! ZOMG ZONKS!!!"

THey do realize, that even if Tiago Splitter turns out to be the second coming of Tim Duncan - he will likely have zero effect on anybody's PF need next season other than Tau Ceramica due to his huge buyout clause right?

EDIT: apparently not

 

I hope The Splinter does not become a star in SA, b/c it will be another case of the roxs fumbling in the draft.......

 

Ignorance is Bliss!

 

Splitter has a buyout after this season, which his agent says he'll exercise. If he doesn't TAU locks him up until 2011 or 12.

I'd say he's a center in the NBA. He could've been useful as Yao's future backup but IMO Spurs need him more than the Rockets do.

 

Atlanta Journal Constitution

THE LOSERS

• Houston: Utah's Deron Williams manhandled the Rockets' guards in the playoffs, so they went out and found the smallest point guard (5-foot-10 Aaron Brooks) to be his next victim.

------------------------------------------------------[/QUOTE]


I can't believe an Atlanta publication called the Rockets losers. The Hawks needed a point for 4 years before they finally drafted one!!

 

NBAdraft.net : A-

http://www.nbadraft.net/2007draftgrades001.asp

The Rockets PG position received a big boost with the addition of speed merchant Aaron Brooks. Brooks is on the small/light side, but could turn into a steal at 26 as he's incredibly gutsy and clutch. Houston is in need of a PF, but without many options at the position, the Rockets made a smart choice going with the Oregon PG.

 

Aaron brooks is a good defender i think he can guard williams.hes always guarded people bigger than him and has had sucess.

 

Do you honestly think that either one of them would do a blessed thing for us? Landry was every bit as productive as those two with less talent around him. He is far more athletic than either one.

Brooks may have been taken too high, but Landry is going to surprise people. He is a more athletic Haslem with a better face-up game at this stage. I'll take that any day over a guy with limited athleticism and confidence in McRoberts and a guy with a weight problem and no elevation in Davis.

 

IF we keep all of our guards then I think that drafting Brooks would not be the best value pick. If we trade someone then maybe this will make more sense.

The Landry pick I liked as it addressed need for a low post scorer when Yao is not in the game.

The Newly pick is a flyer I think if he turns out great if not low cost.


Honestly I am scratching my head thinking that there has to be more then just the draft. If we do not make moves during the free agent period then I would give it a bad grade. If we can make a descent move for a power forward or backup center then I will understand more.


Confused in Albuquerque