This draft, we will have the best pick we've had and hopefully will have for a while. Pick the best man available and change the roster accordingly. I don't think you get too picky about what position candidates play when you're picking this high. Obviously some exception needs to made to this rule -- don't pick a PG. Maybe you shouldn't bother with SG either, but I'd take whoever's best at the 3, 4 or 5. If it makes for too much redundancy at SF, trade someone.
I completely agree with Juan. The cardinal rule in draft selections is pick the best player you can get unless that pick conflicts with a superstar player on your team. Francis is our future, so we are free to pick up any position except for PG and make adjustments. ------------------ The truth is out there.
A couple observations: 1. I agree with Juan-picking the best player available is *always* the best idea, imo. 2. Is Francis really a PG? I was very impressed for a while, but I'm starting to doubt again. Have you seen much of Jason Terry or Andre Miller this year? Inferior players to Francis, certainly... but I'm beginning to wonder if Francis should be a 2. All of those assertions about him being a tweener may have been correct... I wonder if he'll ever develop into the franchise player that we expect. Of course, maybe I'm just being a pessimist... spring break is over, and school has recommenced .
I am inclined with those who say we pick the best front-court player available. We will have the best draft pick we will have for a long time (hopefully), and we have no blue-chip front court player. Besides, KT, Los & Cato, probably our most talented young front court players, all appear to be able to play multiple positions. As far as I am concerned I would be thrilled with Woods (true center), Martin or Swift (PFs), as well as D. Johnson, Fizer or maybe Morris (SFs). All these guys have more talent IMHO than anybody we have on the front line who is younger than 35, we get the best one available. Worrying about KT or Los lost minutes is just isn't a concern, and if they become that good they will find minutes at the 4 if need be.
ALWAYS PICK BEST PLAYER or... if one of our PF picks in not available...I say be ready with a draft day trade. There's a new thread to start...."What Draft Day Trades Would You Make" 1) move down for an extra pick and veteran PF 2) swap equal #1s across years with a bonus pick 3) straight player trade 4) Take best athlete (Morris) package him with KT or Mobley and the $4.5million for a blockbuster deal for some PF or C on the level of Webber. They must be a proven commodity. You'd have most of the summer to do this, while the $4.5m is still available. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited March 14, 2000).]
Crisco, forgot to answer you remarks First, I'm not really talking only about the draft. I'm talking about any player movement. Doesn't matter if they are better that KT or not,,,we need help at PF and C. A SF and adjust to personal...leaves a huge void at PF and C. I swear, next year people will be yelling how we have too many SFs. Rogers is a tweener....mostly SF under Rudy Difference makers....hmmmm. Yeah, sure. Take you difference maker then, but he can also make a difference via trading him out as well and keeping our proven core of guard/SF chemistry intact SF, SA, CM, CR. No matter how you slice it,,,in the longrun...the Rockets needs more big bodies.
I understand your points heypard, but I'm just so afraid of those big men busts and SOOOOO tired of seeing an undominant sf that i am intirgued at the prospect. How about we get a good big man AND a decent starting sf? and one big man benchwarmer ala StanLee or Hamilton. We dont have to waste our draft, trade exception, and our "tradeable" players on one post player. Unless its Duncan. ------------------ Not only am I president of the WaltWizFanClub, I'm also the member.
Hey,here's my input on this topic I'm almost sure(i hope) we'll get swift or d.johnson since the other guys will be gone.Martin is the #1 pick(2nd if the bulls get the top pick)even with the injury,then mihm,fizer,richardson,woods or one of the guys i want wil be picked and that leaves us with one of the best sf in the draft no matter which of the two. I think it is better to take swift since he can also play PF and has a big body as many want,we can also trade drew(he deserves to start...in an other team) with the detroit pick if we get it,to an other team to move up in the draft a bit(i read somewhere that LAC wil get atlantas pick if it is 9-14 and they like drew) and draft a center like prizbilla(sp?),collier,haywood. If we do this we would then have more big bodies,depending on the match ups we can change the line up to have shandon at the 3 and swift at the 4,we can create many problems for the opposition and solve our problem of mobley or anderson beign left out. Imagine this: If we want to go small we could have 1.Francis,2.Mobley,3.Anderson,4.Swift,5.Cato If we go big 1.Francis,2.Anderson,3.Swift,4.Cato,5.Prizbilla Plus we would have a great bench 2001 roster c-Cato/Olajuwon/2000 1st rd pick from trade pf-Thomas/rogers/miller sf-Swift/williams(need 3pt shooters) sg-Anderson/mobley pg-Franchise/norris see,everybody should be happy with this idea i can become a GM =) ------------------ NEVER underestimate the heart of a champion!!!
RG I agree with your thinking. We don't have to use our 1st pick on a C/PF. We use the first pick on the best front court player period. We can use later picks or free agency to get servicable big man, but don't use the low pick for an "only" servicabe big man if a greater player is available. The tougher part is if we think by far the best player available is really a guard (say, Richardson, the UNLV or Fresno State guy, Peterson). Then we want to think trade, either with the pick, or for one of our guards other than Stevie for the right price.
So I have a question for all you that say everyone should always pick the best player available. Who're the best players in this draft? Give me your top pick. Come 5 years I'll look you guys up and we'll see how you did, since that pick is obvious. ------------------ <this space for rent>
Heypard- do you really think Rogers is used as an SF? I don't see him running after opposing SF's on defense; my impression is he always comes in as PF to Cato's C, and has even seen time as C back when Cato and Olajuwon were injured. I agree our greatest need is a backup C and a great PF, but we do have need at SF considering that the only true SF's we have are Bullard and Williams. Now, if Williams was shooting %40-%45 from downtown I'd be happier...
Disregarding Miller, Gray, Dream and Bullard in longterm plans, here's what we have C/PF Cato KT SG/SF Anderson Mobley Rogers Walt PG Francis Drew Moochie Doesn't take much to see that we can't focus on SFs this summer. Especially considering Cato is so brittle. Where is swapping SG/SFs for McGrady or drafting Morris going to get us if Cato goes down for 15 games again?
I been thinkin bout that too Heypard, but I there dont seem to be any talented difference makers at center. Mihm? blah. PF? Maybe, but better than KT? Dont u think that the difference makers are more at the sf position?(cept for Martin). Dont u think Rock "difference makers" at the sf are weak rite now? and doesn't Rogers also play at the pf? Sure, don waste all picks on sfs, but why not use top l;otto pick on a good sf unlress the Rocks have some other trade in the works ...(?) ------------------ Not only am I president of the WaltWizFanClub, I'm also the member. [This message has been edited by CriscoKidd (edited March 14, 2000).]
My thoughts Kenyon Martin and Morris are the top flite players this year. The rockets should use their 1st rd pick, detroit pick , Orlando pick, and Drew to move up as high as possible to get one of these guys. A Cato, Rogers, and Thomas frontline would be okay with Morris, Anderson, Mobley, and Francis. Morris can block shots like Horry did his first two years. Morris and Francis might be able to lure a good PF through FA Anno olajuwon. Martin would be able to put the rockets back into the playoffs next year if he's healthy. Actually he might be able to put the Clippers and Mavs there too. The clippers would need a PG though. If this doesn't work out, the rockets should consider trading down to get one of the other SF and Barkley, the most underrated player in the draft. Woods is an interesting player, but health an issue.
