Looks like this is it. Rockets won’t be able to sign any super stars any time soon. Houston just doesn’t have the super star appeal (i.e. Wade / Kobe) or big market appeal (i.e., New York). With Lakers and Heat being this dominant, I don’t think you can build a contender any other way. Signing one or two free agents just won’t cut it anymore. Now I propose a two-phase approach. What Rockets need are as follows: Luck. Rockets need luck to get draft picks as high as possible. Nothing more needs to be said here. Good talent evaluation and scout. Rockets should pour their resources into finding the best talent evaluators and scouts. Use the most advanced stats analysis possible. It’s imperative to turn the draft picks into studs. Learn from Sam Presti not Michael Jordan. Youth coaches. Coaches who specialize in developing young players and teams, someone like Scott in OKC, and good assistant coaches for each position. Rockets need 1-3 for the first phase. In this phase, Rockets need to develop at least 2 super stars and reach 50 wins. Once this phase is completed, then the Rockets need: Good GM. Then we need someone like Laker’s Kupchak (not sure if Morey is the best person) again to build a contender team. A Great Coach. This coach should be able to lift the team over the hump. Someone has the status and charisma to influence super stars. Thoughts?
List of championship teams in the past 20 years and the best players on their teams: Small market teams: Spurs - Tim Duncan, Tony Parker Mavs - Dirk Nowitzki Rockets - Olajuwon Pistons - Thomas, Dumars Heat - Dwayne Wade, Lebron Big market teams: Lakers - Kobe Bryant, Shaquille Celtics - Paul Pierce, Garnett Bulls - Jordan, Pippen If you look at the list, it's pretty clear that even if you have a great GM who can wheel and deal for marquee free agents, the real determinant of a championship trophy is in being able to draft a superstar player. The only exceptions I found are Shaquille going to the Lakers/Heat and Lebron going to the Heat. Other than those 2, all championship teams have to have at least 1 First Team All-NBA or MVP candidate gotten through the draft.
Forgot to include the Pistons team in '04 with Billups, Wallace, Hamilton and Prince as another exception. But again, the evidence is overwhelming. You have to get lucky and draft a superstar.
The Rockets have drafted well for the most part since Morey has taken over. Drafting is not the issue...its about acquiring a star...and it really has not been smooth sailing in that category at all... at least we are well ahead the tanking curve...we are in good shape down the line...the Laker model will pass too in 1-2 years...
The Lakers are the team on that list that has the most titles, yet they didn't draft either of these players. Nor did they draft Gasol. And Dallas did not draft Dirk. So I guess you can say that shrewdness on draft day can play just as big of a role. So tanking is not necessarily the answer.
Don't tell coachadlee this. Apparently, we have a bright future. Just like we did when we had Francis. Then Yao. And then Yao and Mcgrady. This was our chance and for whatever reason it didnt transpire. So Rockets fans do what were best at doing. Hoping and waiting for our turn. Same ish, different day.
There was no implication that tanking was the answer. All I said was you have to draft a superstar. Your point about some other team drafting the player for them is just semantics. The bottomline is the team got a rookie who became a superstar.
See, this is why we've been inundated with Dwight threads for the past few months that have made the board unreadable. People think we're the Lakers.
If they were to add the proper vets and rookies next offseason and the one after that, they can be contenders in 3.
How to build a contender in one year. Fire McHale and Morey then Les Alexander sells the team to another Houstonian that had a effin clue.
No team (except for Pistons in '04) in the past 20 years WHO HAD NO SUPERSTARS on their existing lineup (who has been with his team since his rookie year) has ever won a championship solely by going out and signing a free agent superstar. By superstar I mean a perennial all-star.
Rockets already have great talent evaluation and a great young coach (in waiting). Id bet good money atleast one of Lamb, Jones, White, Motie develops into a superstar in the next 2-3 years. Don't buy that Houston isn't appealing to superstars either.
