Forget about trading for the #12 or draft Amare at #15

That sounds about right because Amare is said to have a top 12 guarantee. My mock have him taken by Miami as insurance for Zo.

 

by that time we will have eddie and ming, not to mention that cato, moT and kt are still here. we dont really need amere.

 

Amare if still at 15 has not been drafted then I think we have to take him. He has too much potential to just pass up. He will not have to start with Mo Taylor playing but in a few years he could start at PF. Griffin could play SF for a triple towers lineup.

 

I read that on ESPN Insider as well. That is a great deal for Portland. The deal sucks for Clippers but according to Insider they would parlay that 3M to bring in that European PG they drafted last year. So I guess they would get the PG they were looking for. The Clips don't need to draft two guys in the lottery, they are plenty young, they need to shape their team.

Speaking of Portland. Another trade rumor Insider is reporting is a possible Mutombo for Davis and Wells. That would be another great trade for Portland if that happened. I don't think Philly would be getting enough personally. They would really love to have a second scoring option in Wells but if I was Philly I would be asking for Wallace.

At any rate, to make this post "Rockets" related it is looking more and more like Amare WON'T be there for the Rockets at #15.

Chris

 

It seems several players are locked in already... ala Kedrick Brown last year. I heard Cavs have commited to Butler if he drops that far. Golden State has commited to Dunleavy unless Jwill drops. Memphis wants Gooden unless Dunleavy drops. Everywhere I hear Tskit is a top 5 pick leaving Denver his choice. And his agent said he would pull him if he wasn't top ten which doesn't seem to be an issue.

The knicks have looked at Wilcox twice and are almost definitely locked on him.

Other stuff... Phoenix is locked on Jared Jefferies( great workout). The Wizards are thinking Nachbar... They are bringing him in to DC for a workout one of the few teams that will get a personal workout. I think they will take him unless Jared drops which he won't, although Woods is still an option. If somehow Woods makes it past them he could slide. Because as you have said the clippers looked pretty committed to drafting Amare for portland and the 3 mil( sterling is always looking for a few extra bucks)... And Milwaukee Is definitely thinking power forward. Everything I read says Ely has impressed.

So now it's Indiana's pick and on the board might be Woods. Well Indiana is overstocked at the 3 with artest, harrington, mercer, Bender so they don't need woods. But they seem to be set at all the other positions too. Unless they consider Borchardt a major improvement over Brad Miller. (not likely) They will be left with the decision to take some one to back up Reggie and take his place when he leaves. Or do they take the best available. If they choose to back up Miller then their choices are pretty much Welsch and Rush with Welsch getting the edge. Rush's workouts have been weak from what I read. I think Woods is their choice he is just too good to pass up.

Which screws the Rockets...

Other notes... Prince has been having great workouts and is moving up fast. The Hornets have there eyes on him they have brought him in for two workouts and Silas had a lot of positives to say about him but he is not the only one who has been speaking positive. As for Chris Jefferies it's been the opposite. He just hasn't impressed. In fact Prince and Chris have worked together and reports are that Prince blew him away. Also the intangibles are that Prince was the star and a big time program. He actually scored 41 points in NCAA tournament and he averaged 24 in the tournament. The guy is definitely a gamer. He almost single handely pushe his team to the final four. And although he has a skinny frame do not underestimate his strength. He played power forward in college and for the most part dominated his opponents. He has some low post moves and is one of the best pure shooters in the draft. He also has decent hops and and a 7 foot wingspan. He could use some improvement moving with the ball but he is not bad. The consensus is he is more athletic than dunleavy but doesn't come with all the the basketball savvy.

Okay I digressed but it looks more and more like the Rockets player Nachbar and/or woods won't be there at 15. So who do we pick at the spot now.

I think Prince is an option...

 

You left out Hilario. I'd be very happy with him at No. 15, but it won't happen.

 

He won't be there the Clippers will take him but if they take Jefferies instead you can be sure Phoenix will gobble him up and if somehow Phoenix doesn't take him then He goes to Miami.

Who I reall left out was wagner but I think the heat will take him simply because he is the best available talent that can contribute right away... Woods is still a bit of a project. I'm still hoping Woods drops to the 15 spot. And he might but I think we are just going to miss him.

 

Old Man Rock, you seem really on target. However, if Indiana goes PG/SG (likely Welsh/Rush)--which is very logical, if Milwalkee goes PF/C (almost a certainty given need and with Ely--who you mention and Haislip for sure on the board) that would pretty much assure us either Nachbar or Woods is available to us unless Nene or Stoudamire or Bordcharts slip all the way to #15 (which you don't seem to think is thew case. (see below).

According to your sources:
1Hou-Ming
2Ch-JW
3GS-MD
4Mem-DG
5Den-Tskit
6Clv-CB (IMO I think the above two picks are probably reversed)
7NY-CW
8LAC-DW (or Nene)
9Phn-JJ
10Mia-**Nene or Woods if DW is gone***
11Was-**Nachbar or Woods***
12Port from LAC-Stoudamire
13Mil-Ely (I think it could be Haislip)
14Indy-Welsh (or Rush, maybe F. Williams)
15Hou- (Nachbar, Nene, Woods)

In sum for us to be in great shape we want Welsh or Rush to go to Indiana and Ely or Haislip to go to Miwalkee. I know Stouamire and Nene are not really at our need position--but they are way too talented to pass up if we are lucky enough to have a chance at them.

My worst fear would be left with choices between Welsh, Rush, Haislip and Ely (Milwalkee and Indiana clean up the last of Stoud or Nene instead of Ely and a guard)--none of which fit a position nor are sky rocket potential talents. The more those 4 guys--or a sleeper like F. Williams goes sub-15 the better options we will have. If Nachbar, Bordchart, Ely and Welsh go #11-#14 like you think we are set for Woods, Stoud or Nene (which ever is left) IMO.

 

Nachbar to the Wizards? I have not heard anything about that. Jordan has never been too keen on the foreign players. I have to believe that if Woods is there they will take him over Nachbar. At least I hope so. I would like Nachbar to be there for the Rockets at 15 should they choose to take him. He just seems like such a good fit on the Rockets. Of all the guys on the board that are suggested to be around where the Rockets pick Nachbar is the one player I see that can come in and make an "immediate" impact as a gunner off of the bench. And probably would really push Rice for the starter job next season.

Chris

 

DS, I totally agree with you. Great post. Your worst fear is the same as mine.

I do like Welsch and think he could be a nice player for the Rockets but I would rather have Nachbar. Like you said, if the players that are available to the Rockets that you list in your "worst fear" example are on the board I would be very disappointed as they really would not make immediate impacts or have huge upsides. As you said, if Amare or Nene drop, while they do not fill a "need" they would have huge upsides. That would be fine. But guys like Haislip and Ely would not really fill a role on this team at all with our log jammed PF situation. If those guys are the "best available athelete" on the board when we draft we should probably not "reach" for someone but rather trade down or trade the pick outright for a selection in next years draft.

I really hope Nachbar will be there and best case scenario is someone with high potential will drop and be there along with Nachbar so the Rockets will have options.

Chris

 

Woods has admitted to being a pot smoker. Which is why he is dropping.

He say it's all in the past but you got to wonder. It's one thing to stand behind a player who's already on your team and is trying to straighthen out but it's entirely another thing to pick up a player who hasn't even proved himself.

I'm not judging him or even whether pot smoking is really a problem for ballers but you got to admit it shows a lack of intelligence and maturity to smoke pot when you stand to lose millions. Wait till you sign that big contract like Mo t first.

Sure he is a major talent. And maybe the wizards will pick him, but he might just slide alot further. And I even wonder if he drops to the 15 spot if the Rockets will take him.

 

Houston- Yao Ming
Chicago- Jay Williams
Golden State- Mike Dunleavy
Memphis- Gooden
Denver- Butler
Cleveland- Wilcox
New York- Tskiti
LA- Borchardt
Phoenix- Jeffries
Miami-Wagner
Washington- Woods
LA- Stoudemire
Milwaukee- Hilario
Indiana- Haislip
Rockets-Nachbar

That's the way I see it going down, which means there's very little chance of Nachbar not being there at 15. The top 4 picks are set. The Grizzlies scouting team will try and sell Tskiti to West, but he's already promised Gooden they'll take him and I'm sure he favors a home grown product anyways.

The only kind of 'movement' that could occur would be a different variation of the same players being selected 5-7 or 10-12, etc..

If the only threat to Nachbar not being there is Washington swooping in and taking him, then the Rockets are sitting pretty, because that isn't going to happen. Woods, who they're high on, or Wagner, a player at a position they really need, will be there at 11 and I can't see them passing on either.

 

That sucks Old Man Rock. I was thinking if Nach was the real deal that Wizards or mebbe even Indianna might take him. Woods has high potential, but he is a project, and I'd prefer someone with talent who can step in and start at the sf.

DS, that's my fear too. If that's the case I'd take best player available(probly Ely or Rush), and dangle them as trade bait. Regardless of who is left at #15, we should come away with a good player, hopefully it'll be one that fits the team needs.

Philly comes out of the deal ahead, imo, esp if they deal their pick for someone good(GS).

 

Hilario wont slip past the top 10. No way he will, every team that he has gone to loved his wingspan and think hes the real deal player.

What Im worried about is having 2 more rookies added to the roster. We already have morris, griffin and langhi, collier are still not smart enough. With Ming added to the mix and Nachbar... this helps the team in the long run but not now.

Franchise and the cat want to win now, go somewhere instead of ending up in the lottery. Drafting Ming is ok , but I would love to package some players plus the #15 for some veteran type player that can help this team and not go through that learning process every rookie has to go through.

 

Remember the slide Tsakalidis took when teams were scared he couldn't get out of his contract?

 

He is the real deal Crisco. Every scout that goes to visit Tskit and his potential, comes back saying this Nachbar kid is a player too and he can do it now. If their weren't so many talented forwards in the draft he would definitely be a top ten pick.

As for Woods, there's still is hope that Washington might take him... he is an offensive talent... The problem is if it was just overlooking the pot smoking. (hell can you blame him, he was stuck in Mississippi playing for Northeast Community College) then he might be okay. But he didn't do so well in the physical testing and he hasn't shown any desire to play D.

Still he has that upside thing and so many teams have a hard time passing that up.

 

Yes .

is Hilario having the same problems?

 

Miami is said to be more aggressive that originally thought. As a result, as reported on Insider today, they will go with a PF/C type and look to get a SF in the later first round. I do not see them taking Wagner. Borchardt, Nene and Stoudamire will be the choices. If the Wiz take Nachbar, then Woods would be our man. We should not worry about how raw he is because it is unlikely that he was going to get alot of playing time anyway. If he is Tracy Mac 3.5 years from now, I would take that; especially as we will not have a pick next year.