Unless we really defy the odds in the lottery ( assuming we're in...) I don't see us getting Ming. Although he is far and away the guy I want in this year's draft, I've been taking a long look at some of the other guys we might have a shot at, and have arrived at this conclusion; If we can't get Ming, I think Drew Gooden would be an excellent player to get, and fit in the frontcourt with Griffin... I realize that we already have Taylor and Thomas, but neither player, in my opinion, is the kind of guy who's gonna get us over the hump as a starter...Both are too one-dimensional. But Gooden would be a perfect mix with Griff. Both guys are very multi-talented, both can play either spot, and Gooden is already playing with another combo guy in Collison, and playing great. With Gooden we could go big, with a frontcourt of Cato, Griff, and Gooden, to mix with Francis and Mobley, or we could go small/super-athletic with a frontcourt of Griffin, Gooden, and Morris, with Stevie and Cuttino at guard... I still really want Ming, but failing some sort of miracle, I', hoping that we can get Gooden, sit back, and watch the fun...
I think he's just being realistic. If we continue to play the way we've been playing we have a good chance of getting a top 10 pick in the 2002 NBA draft.
we need to draft Mike Dunleavy, and then sign or trade for a big man like Marc Jackson. Just my thoughts.
Of course, if we have any shot at Rashard Lewis, disregard everything I just said, and draft Drew Gooden or Amare Stoudamire.
I bashed the idea of getting Gasol and now he is making me eat all my words. If Ming is anything like Gasol Im all for it.
Uh...are you suggesting that the only way the Rockets can possibly end up with a lottery pick this year is by intentionally losing?
If you look at the forum definitions, it's a tad vague, and there is room for overlap...Second point, this topic, or it's like, has been discussed in this froum many times. Had it not been so, I did consider puttting this in the Draft forum, but this involved more than just prospect evaluation, it included assesment of current players...
Uh... Yes!? I thought that's what you were suggesting. Do you think this team can realistically get a top 4 pick? We aren't bad enough for that. I don't see this team intentionally losing. Which we would have to do to get a pick that high. Which is why I don't think we should tank, as we won't get the pick we want even if we do tank... We are not going to get anything valuable next draft. We are not bad enough.
I respectfully disagree, and I'd like to make a point here...Several things can happen, any one of which would give us a pick high enough to get Gooden, but first off, there seems to be some confusion re: tanking...There is a huge difference between a FAN thinking that, in the long run, a really high draft pick this year would be more beneficial than a few more wins, and suggesting that the Rockets themselves 'tank'....One has nothing to do with the other. I feel that some of us are losing a little perspective when we conclude that the two are somehow linked...The Rockets will go about their business like professionals irrespective of what you or I think is the best scenario... Second point...Any one of these things happening could lead us to a high draft pick... 1) A recurrence of Stevie's foot problems, which are, as I understand, accumulative, and therefore entirely possible to repeat... 2) A continuation/worsening of Stevie's chronic migrane situation... 3) Another injury to a significant player... 4) A mediocre record followed by a lucky lottery... 5) A less-than-mediocre record caused by erratic play, a continuation of the M.A.S.H. unit that has been the Rockets this year, and several young players hitting the 'rookie wall'... 6) Significant improvement by either the teams in front of us, or those near us in the standings.. 7) A combination of any of the above... All that being said, in that we now sit well below .500, and several pre-draft publications have us picking high enough to get a Gooden type player ( NBADraft.com, for ex.) , I think that there is a wide margin for eventuality between the Rockets finishing well out of the lottery and 'tanking' it... I do not and have never suggested 'tanking it'...It creates a horrible precedent for younger players especially, and once players lose the sense of urgency pros need to win, it's hard to recapture...
