I was just looking through some Rocket picture on ESPN and I saw a picture of Kendrick Perkins, the guy who the Rockets worked out a couple days ago. Though he is in high school, he resembles Elton Brand. He looks strong like Brand, too. This post could also serve as a caption contest. It wasn't a good sight to see how Brent Johnson was holding Kendrick's hand. I know a lot of you guys would make a lot of jokes about this. Here is the link: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/apphoto/photowire?teamId=10
Perkins for head coach! Oops!Sorry,was still in the coach frenzy.Got 2 thread mixted up... I saw a picture of Perkins with a trainer(haven't clicked on the link so I guess it's the same),and the guy is huge!The worst part is,being 18 he still may grow 1-2 inches! If he stay's in this year's draft,I say we go after him and trade EG! ALA
I haven't seen him play but some scouts say he should go to school for a year. What's the story with him?
elton brand is more athletic brand is a quicker jumper- this certainly is one reason why brand is near the league leaders in offensive rebounds
Perkins won't last until the Rockets pick. Also, we need a tall, talented point guard before we need a another project at PF. However, I would certainly love to have Perkins on the Rockets.
He is currently projected as the 46th pick on NBADraft.net so those of us that have seen him play can atleast hold out hope. Sure we need a tall talented point if SF is moving to SG , a badass bruiser to rebound and keep the thugs off Ming, a stone cold percentage shooter, or even a defensive stopper. But I don't see many of those around #44. Kendrick is an all-round big man with a lot of experience for his age. And while he wouldn't help them win next year ,with a little bit of pro seasoning (read IR) he could give the Rockets a lot of options in a year or two (trade Cato, Mo T etc. to bring one of the above) when Yao is really at a point where he might be able to take a team to a championship. And to invoke the most overused cliche', he could be a real value at this pick. Jeep
Kendrick is overweight by 30 or so pounds. That's why many have him in the second round. He played against Lang (another super overweight 350 lbs) at the McDonalds tourney and did ok. That tourney is more about the guards bringing the ball up and going one on five. So he didn't get the ball much. I think he will be a solid PF in the NBA. He is one of the few young players who practice offensive skills in the low post.
Gene, someone said that Kendrick will withdraw unless he's sure he'll be in the first round. So if he does stay in the draft, it's very unlikely he'll be available with our pick.
I imagine he had a conversation with CD about that when he worked out at Westside and the Rockets are pretty sure what he would do if they picked him with #44. I know I would rather play for the rookie minimum than go live in a dorn room and have the NCAA scrutinize every perk that comes my way. They would even tell him how many hours he could practice in his effort to perfect his craft and secure his livelyhood. And if he gets injured he might never earn any money for all his hard work. If he did come out and got cut from the NBA there is still the option of the European pro leagues. What did Cuttino make in his first year? It was probably more than most of us will earn in the next decade working 40 hours a week , 50 weeks a year. Come on out Kendrick, don't risk your payday working for laundry money.
The rookie minimum is $300,000. Two years in college and Perkins could get a minimum payday of $2-$3 million, not to mention put in substantial progress towards a college degree, something that would help him after his playing days (or if he did flame out of the NBA). He has no incentive to come out if he doesn't have a guarantee (as in guaranteed contract in the 1st round)....and that incentive is certainly not found in the someone's selfish desires for their team. Do you think NBA teams won't tell him how much and when to practice? Do you not think that fans will be all over his case to a much greater degree in the NBA than they would in college? He has everything to lose by staying in the draft and being a 2nd round pick, especially when he could gain a lot more by going to college.
MF, My point was the NCAA limits the hours a student athelete can practice; atleast organized practice. A young man with an almost assured future playing professional basketball somewhere would probably benefit more financially by focusing fulltime on strengthening his skills and body that by plagerizing an English paper from the internet . And why would a player be worth millions of dollars more by spending three years playing against inferior competition in college versus playing out his rookie contract working out with and playing with NBA players, with professionl coaching and a professional training program? I agree with you that that is the way the system seems to work in a lot of cases but it doesn't make sense. Surly someone out there can throw together a quick comparison of the total compensation received in two contracts by a second round high school player taken in the second round versus the amount of compensation received by a college player drafted in the mid-late first round. (questions like this are why players should be able to consult with agents and still be able to choose collge) And don't forget to consider the injury factor, Get injured in college and you get nothing , get injured in the pros and you atleast get your contract amount. Having a hundred grand in the bank can secure ones future as well as two or three years in college. You know, not everyone has the motivation and aptitude to get a college degree. For many, being able to buy Momma a house is the definition of a sucessful career. I'm not selfishly wanting Kendrick for my team, I just want to consider what really is the best financial move for a player in his position. Remeber, even if he didn't make the team and didn't qualify for a rookie contract there is a whole world of professional teams out there that would surly pay close to $300,000 for a talented young big man and living abroad can be very educational. Jeep
