..sixth spot and picking Jefferies. 1. Rockets deepest position is probably SF. Jefferies is good but not that good. 2. The team is in the position to take a chance on a big man who would deliver in a year or two. That is why Amare, Chris and Curtis should be the focus of the teams attention.
Rockets are deep at SF if you count Eddie or KT as a SF. We lose Walt, and we have a huge question mark in Rice. I think if we drafted a SF with our #1 pick, he could be our starter from Day 1, Rudy willing.
If we do go for a SF, Caron Butler looks like a better choice. I've seen Butler play, and his game is impressive. I have not seen Jeffries, but his bio is not that encouraging. Woods is the obvious best SF but won't be around at #6.
Rockets depth at small forward Rice/Williams/Morris/Torres/Langhi Sure, that's a lot of players but all of them are either past their prime or have yet to really show their worth. The only one out of those five who I see could eventually be a legitimate starting forward for the Rockets is Torres, but the jury's still out on him. Anyways, he's probably more likely to be a backup 2 guard to Mobley. Williams may be gone next season. Rice will be out with the injuries again next season. Langhi may be cut before next season starts. Morris just isn't starting material, although I think he could be a decent 9th or 10th man on the team. And yes, the Rockets could move Kenny to SF, but I think Kenny's much more effective as a PF, which is really the Rockets deepest position. Having said that, I wouldn't be in favor of the Rockets getting Jefferies. He looks too weak. I would rather the Rockets try to pick up an SF through a trade in the offseason. Woods and Butler are the only two small forwards I think the Rockets should even consider with their high pick. And if the Rockets were to get a big man, they can't afford to draft another weak, skinny perimeter player. Basically, if its actually debatable whether the player is a small forward or a center, I think the Rockets should pass. We need someone who we can say, 'YES! He is definitely our center." And a center doesn't even have to be 7'0 anymore. The "ideal" center doesn't exist anymore. I'm just talking about someone who will mix it up inside, and go hard to the basket. Marcus definitely has the size, but from what I've seen he hasn't really impressed too much, and Amare might take a little too long to develop. So who would I pick? Well, if the Rockets were to pass up on Chris Wilcox (like NBADraft.net foretells) with the sixth pick in the draft I would go crazy! In my opinion, even if the Rockets got the first pick in the draft I would still consider Wilcox. Did you see how high above the rim this guy gets?! Okafur (sp?) on Connecticuit, who is a good shot blocker, couldn't even get to the ball. Plus, he looks like he's already as ripped as most NBA players. He goes STRONG to the basket, and he runs the floor incredible! I think just having him would force the Rockets to become more of a fast-break team. If the Rockets could trade their pick and pull something like the whole Brand-Bulls thing then I would be in favor of that. But if they actually want to use their pick on a keeper that fills the team's needs, I would take Wilcox over anyone else in the draft.
I would much rather the Rockets do what they have to to get Odom or Marion. Waiting on a guy to develop just won't do it. A sleeper who might be able to be acquired without giving up much is Eddie Robinson from Chicago. He's a great athelete, can run ,defend, and is more of a scorer than a shooter. He just signed a 7yr 36million contract this past off season. With Jalen Rose as the 3 and Hassell or Crawford at the 2, the bulls might be willing to give him up for nery little, plus we probably would get to keep our pick. I really would like Odom, but I'm sure other teams might have a little more to offer than us.
Would anyone consider trading the sixth spot for Battier? He plays decent D, can hit the 3 and is a smart player. I think he would be a nice fit (he's definitely a Rudy type player) and we'd probably have a better chance of keeping him at a low price than we would Marion, Odom or Lewis. Just a thought.
I'd imagine that Langhi is gone after this year. Also, I consider Torres to be a SG, as Cat's primary backup. Plus, we need some size in the backcourt.
I doubt Van would trade Battier for the #6 pick. Why would they trade him? He has been the 2nd best rookie in the league, behind his teammate Gasol. It makes sense from the Rockets standpoint, but it takes 2 to tango.
Yes, I'd definitely consider it. Personally, I'd rather get a smart, no-nonsense player like Battier who does not make many mistakes, than someone like Odom who makes a lot of mistakes. Every team needs one or two players who take risks and are capable of the spectacular plays. You need these players to kind of jumpstart your offense, but I think three of those players is a little too much. At some point the Rockets need to start getting role players who will do their job on a consistent basis with little room for error. This is one of the reasons I'd take Lewis over Odom. Rashard will come in stand at the three point line, catch the ball on a kick-out, shoot it in the basket almost half of the time, not much dribbling involved. Plus he's athletic enough to drive to the basket if he needs too. Having Odom will just add to some of the problems we already have. He likes to make the spectacular play so much that he'll force it, he turns the ball over a lot, he's not a good outside shooter, etc... Odom will just add to some of the Rockets current problems.
I would rather pick up Butler from UConn. He has star potential with great offensive and rebounding skills. He is the perfect size for our team because he can defend the big 2 guard also. He can stop the Tracy McGradys and Kobes of the world. With Butlers offense and TMos Defense we should be set at the 3 for years to come.
I have an ominous feeling that Rudy's gonna draft Mike Dunleavy (if he declares). White guy, coach's kid, can already shoot the NBA three. Sounds like a Rudy type small forward. Dunleavy can spend two years behind Rice and then start when Rice is gone. I'd like Odom, I'd like Rashard, but if we're stuck paying Glen Rice for two more years....since the chance of trading Rice isn't great...
Need to add Cat to the list of Rocket 3s, since when they go small he is the 3. Next year, I would not be surprised to also see KT or even EG playing the 3. The Rocks do not need more players to play the 3! They need a 4/5 who has a legit low post O game and who can defend. these kinda guys do not grow on trees, so the Rocks might want to think about taking a gamble on a high school wide body.
I wouldn't mind getting Amare Stoudemire at all as long as we also got a legitimate center (Ming or Marcus). We may be able to pick Stoudemire up if we can package Toronto's pick (Seattle #20?) and K.T. to say Washington around #9 to #11. Draftnet has the Rockets picking up Jeri Welsch in the second round. I rather like that choice because Welsch has professional experience (European) as a PG and SG with 3-point range. He could be our latest second round sleeper. As far as SF, I think the Griffin will take that spot with Rudy swapping him to PF when Rice comes in and MoT rests. That mini-rotation would work the same way RT uses Steve, Cat and Mooch.
We will not get Dunleavy unless we get the 3rd pick in the draft and he comes out. He will be taken in the top 4 and we will not have the 4th pick no matter what.
He he could stop the McGradys and Kobes of the world wouldn't he make TMos defense obsolete and redundant????
is there ANYONE in the entire nba that can stop the kobes and mcgradys??? but that college guy in connecticut...he is Neo. he is "The One".
Well,I don't really think that Dunleavy will come out, but if he does, I would be VERY surprised if he was picked in the top 4. To me, the top 4 is pretty solid right now, Williams, Woods, Ming and Gooden. Perhaps things might change a bit when players start working out, but I don't see Dunleavy breaking through that group of players. If Dunleavy does declare, I would be quite surprised if he was gone by the time the Rockets pick comes up.
