While I completely agree that JVG messed up by winning that game and allowing use to draft Brandon Roy, I think people are forgetting that JVG never started rookies unless he had to and also didn't show much ability to develop them. Roy would have probably be good anyways, but we don't know how 2007 would have turned out at all, because Roy probably would not have gotten much playing time under JVG.
This has become cliche around here. Name one rookie JVG has had even half the quality of Brandon Roy. I am pretty sure Brandon Roy when your alternatives are Jon Barry and David Wesley fits under that "unless he had to"... Brandon Roy didn't need to develop. We know how it would have turned out. Tracy McGrady would have made it out of the first round. Based on what? The fact that Frederick Weiss, Spanoulis, and Novak rode the pine their rookie years?
Though I agree with a lot of your posts I can't agree with that assessment. In hindsight I'd agree we would give up any of the guys I mentioned for Roy and I have no doubt that we'd be a better team if we had him but I think we are all forgetting how good Brandon Roy has become. We can't compare Brandon Roy coming out of the draft to what HE IS today. He was the 6th overall draft pack and if we were to do the draft all over again there's no doubt that he'd be the consensus #1 pick. To make matters worse the Twolves traded him right after they drafted him so in essence that means 6 teams passed this guy up. The point is we are not alone. 5 other teams wish they could have him right now. Remember Roy coming out of college had huge drawbacks like anybody else. Everyone thought he was a mediocre athlete who didn't do a single thing that stood out or blew you away. He was also coming off a serious knee injury in college. All of which is still true... he is very good at a lot of different things and he has all the intangibles, leadership skills etc but that's neither here nor there. Had he come to Houston his game and leadership would NOT have developed to what it is today. It takes a special kind of atmosphere (city, teammates, coach, fans among many other things) to truly be successful. He would NOT have gotten all those things here. Think about it... do you really think he could be a leader when Tmac and Yao are already here 1 premodana superstar and one international mega-star? Would this veteran laden team have listened to Roy? Would his game have developed to what is today? Would he be as good as he is today if he were in a Rockets uniform from day 1? Who knows...but those are serious questions you have to take a look at.
One more thing to add. I forgot is that we were in a WIN NOW MODE at the time and we still are. I know we were targeting Roy in the draft. I KNOW THIS... BUT since we were so dead-set on the win now mode. A little part of me thinks that even if we drafted Roy I could totally see us having traded him for Battier or some other veteran at the time. Now imagine how pissed off we all would've been had that happened.
Roy played for four years of college. He was considered NBA ready at the time and that is why we really wanted him.
4 years of college and potentially NBA ready does not translate into proven NBA veteran. Especially with JVG's input. I'm just saying....
Roy wouldn't have developed the same way, but he would still have developed into the leader this team needed. He wouldn't be the #1 undisputed alpha dog like he is in Portland, but something less than that, which would be plenty enough to help this team. Adult leaders don't develop because of special circumstances they are placed in, they develop because they are special. Whatever makes Roy a leader was in him before the NBA. It's the way he is programmed. Would he have developed his game as much, maybe not. One reason maybe not is because I think Nate McMillan has evolved into a better coach for him than either JVG or Adelman. Certainly being with Yao and Tracy could have hindered his bball development also. But since he isn't a Rocket, I'm glad he's in Portland. I've liked McMillan for the longest time.
No, according to Morey, we wanted Roy all the way. The trade with Memphis was predicated on Roy not available. If Roy was still there, we'd take him and that's it. Battier would have stayed in Memphis.
According to Morey, many teams are also calling for Luther Head. True? Maybe, maybe no. It's always easy to back track and say what people want to hear. Unless you were in that war room you don't know what really went down.
There is no reason for Morey to admit he didn't want Shane if Roy was available. JVG also stated this publicly. It's old news in Houston.
