apparently, Shandon won't opt out of his contract, and wait for full bird rights....leaving the Max for Mo (assuming he does well)........So our final piece of the puzzle would then definately be out of the draft if we want him to peak at the same time as our current starters....as I've stated before, the missing piece will be dubbed the next pippen (without the b!tchin')....By the next Pippen, I mean height-wise and defense-wise, and leadership-wise.....not demandin the ball.....I beleive next year's draft can provide us with it, with the availability of Terrence Morris, and Shane Battier....That's why, if the puzzle is going to be completed, it's gonna be in next year's draft....i don't think small forwards with that caliber will come out again for a while.......What we should be doing is trying to get into the the lottery ext year, and no, I don't mean tanking....I mean trade drew and a pick for a higher pick....Like Drew and the Milwaukee pick for a top 8 pick would be super.....I really think rebuilding stops next season if we get any of those two players are on the rockets next year....I prefer terrence, since I've heard he's a top 5 as well as Battier, but him and francis being close makes him even more desirable.......we must keep the franchise player happy.... ------------------
ooh, I just read this on draftsource.net Terence Morris decided to stay at Maryland after sensing his stock was dropping. He has all the tools to be a talented forward in the NBA but needs to have a strong senior campaign. He had a tendency to fade in games letting the action come to him which raised various questions. If he shows that can he can score off the dribble along with his posting abilities and outside shot, his stock should start rising again. Shane Battier has proven that he should be a very strong defensive player at the next level and showed improvement in his offensive game last season. He needs to keep showing this along with maintaining the defensive intensity and leadership skills he is known for. How much better (defensively) is Battier than Morris? ------------------
Battier is the KING defensively!! He'd be a pretty decent fit; a SF who can defend anybody and who has good size (6'8 from memory), he rebounds pretty well and the BEST thing is that he has 3pt range on his shot (at the college level) - and the saddest thing is that he'll probably be a mid-first round draft pick. Battier isn't really high on many peoples lists because he isn't a dominant offensive player - not to say he isn't good offensively, just that he isn't dominant. I like him and I REALLY hope that we draft him next year (provided that we finish with a mid first round pick!). ------------------
DrN, There's a ray of sunshine embedded in there. If the Rocks do not make the playoffs then they have a very high probability of landing Morris, Battier or Troy Murphy (should he turn pro). Any of which would be a great fit for the current team. If the Rocks make the playoffs and the Bucks have an OK season (say 15th like this year) it is possible for the Rocks to have 2 mid 1st round picks (do 14 & 16 sound familiar?). These two picks might allow them to move up to a lottery level player in a very deep draft. I think 14 & 16 for a 8 or 9 is a possibility. What do you think? IMHO one of these 3 gems (if not all 3) will be on the board at 8. I think there is good reason to be cautiosly optimistic about Morris, Battier, or Murphy. ------------------ GATER [This message has been edited by GATER (edited September 01, 2000).] [This message has been edited by GATER (edited September 01, 2000).]
Why does everyone keep forgetting about Vincent Yarbrough? In my opinion he's the second best small forward prospect in next years draft, second only to Gerald Wallace. He's an excellent defender, and good 3 point shooter, just what the rockets need. ------------------ You ain't gotta like me, you just mad cause I tell it how it is, and you tell it how it might be.
Cause Battier doesn't demand the ball as much, has better leadersgip skills, and plays excellent D apparently........This guy is the final piece....no doubt..........Let's trade every pick in next year's draft AND Drew for a top 5 or 6 pick..... ------------------
Don't ever use the words Pippen and leadership in the same sentence again!! ------------------ Don't you have anything better to do?
How about this guy- http://nbadraft.net/profiles/jasonrichardson.html His name is Jason Richardson and he will definitly will be available in the mid- first round. He's been compared to dominique Wilkins who can shoot the 3 and get this- HE DID A 540 DEGREE DUNK AT A HIGH SCHOOL ALL STAR GAME!!! ------------------ "There are two rules for success... 1) Never tell everything you know."
The Rocks don't normally go after "underclassmen" - could be a problem with them persuing that high school guy. Anyway, what we need is a Morris or a Battier - doesn't have to be a fancy player, just someone who is going to get the job done and NOT someone who demands the ball!!! Battier would be my preference and I see no reason why we wouldn't have a draft pick available roughly where he would be selected - either from Milwaukee or our own! Getting some of the "best" players in the draft is a bit difficult because (hopefully) we won't have a lottery pick. ------------------
Of interest: 76ers's Lynch Has Stress Fracture PHILADELPHIA (AP)--Philadelphia 76ers forward George Lynch might miss the start of training camp because of a stress fracture in his left foot. Lynch had his foot placed in a cast Friday. ``George experienced left foot pain in Dallas while doing his preseason conditioning work,'' team physician Dr. Jack McPhilemy said. ``He called me on Thursday and we decided to fly him in for a bone scan.'' McPhilemy said he will re-evaluate Lynch in two weeks. Lynch is listed as questionable for the start of training camp, which is scheduled to begin Oct. 3 at Penn State. The forward started 75 games last season, averaging 9.6 points and 7.8 rebounds ------------------ GATER
He may not be available, but I still say James Posey would be the perfect fit at SF for us. It's too bad that there was nobody there for us at 9 in this year's draft when in last year's draft there were at least three players (18 Posey, 9 Marion, 16? Artest (a little less so)) who would have been nice fits with this team at SF. How does this Battier stack up with these guys? What kind of ball handler is he? Denver needs another scorer on the perimeter - why not Walt + a pick or two for Posey? ------------------ [This message has been edited by oakdogg (edited September 03, 2000).]
small foward ... walt fits the bill, he plays solid and just needs more touches and minutes. i think he only got 25min/ game last season and was never really involved in th offense except for the 1st play of the game or quarter with that double pick to free throw jumper ... which he hit about 90% of the time. if we need more d in the backcourt lets ask our point to start playing some ... on numerous occasions steve just let other teams points slide down the middle into the paint ... instead of stopping the ball he guided it right to the rim. walt isn't the best small foward but not every team can have hill or pippen, and besides we tried pippen and he wasn't good enough for us either. so i say we have a good good three man in the wizzard w/ good backup help in langhi and bullard so lets just start running the offense a little more effectively and watch these guys put up the numbers. as far as defense is concerned as long as the entire team plays as a unit they can become a solid d unit. ------------------
