If at worst we need to trade up we can also use mack. Mack plus our pick for a higher pick to nab Martin. Don't forget we have mack.
Battier would be a solid choice for are other first rounder. I like defensive stoppers. [This message has been edited by rocketsfan34 (edited December 17, 1999).]
Could any of the draft gurus contributing to this thread speculate as to who the best rebounding big man available in the draft would be if we picked no higher than eight? Some of the names I've heard thrown around on various draft posts are Brendan Haywood, Brad Miller, Jason Collier, Cavier, and Battier. I'd love to see something around ten or more boards a game coming from whatever post player is paired with Cato in the future, because that guy is looking terrible in that area. I know finding a seven foot center who can run the floor and rebound in the NBA at pick eight is probably fantasy land, but I was just curious. Thanks, oak [This message has been edited by oakdogg (edited December 17, 1999).]
Whoever mentioned Golden State picking Mateen Cleaves in the top 5 is crazy. He's just not that good. He's a good floor general. But his jumper is atrocious. He has good quickness, but not outstanding. He looks like the next Jacque Vaughn. He'll go mid 1st round at best. Let's not start comparing Kenyon Martin to Hakeem or Patrick. He's a 6'8" PF. And he needs to add about 20 to 30 pounds if he's going to be at all effect at the NBA level. He doesn't have nearly the size or footwork of the 2 more notable big man. Actually he doesn't have near the same kind of athleticism that Hakeem had in college. Hak was world class athlete. I'm still skeptical about Martin reaching the lottery. He's still an undersized player. Hakeem was not that raw coming out of college. That's a misconception. He didn't score all of his points on dunks. He had a legitimate jump hook. He had a fadeaway in the 10 foot range. He was picked over Jordan for more than his athleticism and defense. Shane Battier doesn't impress me at all. He hasn't shown me much accept the willingness to take a charge. He's gets a lot of good pub because he plays on Duke with Coach K. He can stroke it from the outside. Provides some versatility on D. Hasn't really developed a dependable in between game. I think he's been a big disappointment since he was one of the top 5 high school players a few years back. And whoever mentioned the philosophy about taking the best available athlete is partially wrong. It applies well for the NFL, but in most cases not the NBA. Pete Mickael is not good enough to be selected anywhere near the lottery. Mid to late 1st round at best. His offensive game is just at an NBA level yet. Richard Jefferson, the 6'6" high flyer from Arizona, is starting to open up some eyes. i think it's wise if people kept an eye out on him. Loren Woods was compared to David Robinson his freshman year. I like his potential as an nba player. But the one knock that I have against him is his heart. He doesn't have that competitive fire that I like to see in my players, especially big men. Soft big men is the kind of oxymoron you usually want to stay away from. Etan Thomas from Syracuse is in the mold of Kenyon Martin. Shot blocker deluxe with a pinch of an offensive game. Look for him to be a 1st rounder too. If Demarr Johnson comes out early, I think the Rockets would have a real good shot at him. He's currently a super frosh out of Cincinatti. He's there 6'9" SG. He can probably play the 1,2, and 3 in the NBA. There was speculation about him declaring for the NBA after his Junior year in high school because he was so good. He dropped his number 1 player in the land status after being bored his senior year. But he's by far the most talented freshman this year. He's got that Kevin Garnett frame working for him. Excellent shooter and ball handler. Dynamite athleticism to boot. The questioned his work ethic out of high school. A year with Bobby Huggins, those questions will be a moot point. I think he can be something special. Reminds me a lot of Tracy McGrady except with a better jump shot. Quentin Richardson has a chance of being around where the Rockets might pick. He is an extraordinarily gifted rebounder/ball hawk. I have seen him prove a strong enough perimeter game to be a standout 2 guard in the NBA. Excellent inside game. Johnson and Richardson could both probably play substantial minutes at the 3 too.
Give me Brian Cardinal from Purdue with a late second rounder, this guy isn't blessed with athleticism, but he is one of the players who hustles the most in college ball. He comes out every game to play, and seems to have a good in game work ethic. Who knows if this guy will ever fit in the NBA, as I will wager he won't. But this guy has guts.
does anyone know of any high school phenoms who might declare early? seems like there is always 1 or 2 studs in each draft (kg, lewis, mcgrady, j. oneil, etc.) if so, those are the types of studs who will definitely be available with the 6th pick or so. i'd say to take a chance on one. [This message has been edited by verse (edited December 17, 1999).]
Gerald Wallace and Eddie Griffin are generally regarded as the top 2 players in high school. Darius Miles, who reminds a lot of people of Kevin Garnett, is a 6'9", rail thin do-it-all. He is regarded as the most talented player in high school basketball. DeShawn Stevenson is a 6'5" SG that reminds people of Kobe. Out of all of those guys, Miles has been speculated as the most likely to declare hardship.
If the rockets get a 2nd 1st rd pick this year and/or the top frontcourt players are gone, here are the stats of a 6-2 PG that I think would really help the rockets. g min PPG RPG APG Off- Def- Tot AST Stl 9 252 18.2 3.7 3.4 6- 27- 33 31 9 BLK To PF 0 28 22 FG 3pt FT M-A PCT M-A PCT M-A PCT 53-110 .482 17-39 .436 41-49 .837 He is the team leader. The primary offensive weapon, but still hits 48.2% of his shots. 3.7 boards is good for a college PG. 3.4 assists isn't great, but when you hit almost half your shots, why would you get a lot of assists? 43.6% behind the short line is good for college, but great for the number 1 scoring option. Who is this darkhorse? Gee Gervin. Too bad no one good ever come out of U of H. I think he is better than Mateen Cleaves at the point. Makes Drew expendable. I never hear about him in the national media. I wouldn't consider him an Iverson type since he only takes good shots. He's always in control in the games I have seen.
I'm a firm believer that Drew is more useful on another team. Guards come aplenty while big men few. Trade Drew for a big men cuz we can always replace Drew. DaMan-I'm positive Kenyon Martin will go in the lottery, he's one of the few notable big men coming out. Tell me more of the high schoolers. Are any worth a lottery pick or first rounder? [This message has been edited by rocketsfan34 (edited December 17, 1999).]
Gee Gervin is the 6'2" scoring machine from Clyde's team. Clyde thinks he can be a solid NBA PG. But I'm a tad bit skeptical. He's a tad bit slow. Getting his shot off is going to be a little bit difficult. His ball handling skills are rather average. The assists numbers can be a bit deceptive since he played on a horrendouse Cougar team last year. This year, he's playing the SG. He really isn't very athletic. Extremely smooth scorer. He'll remind you of his Dad, George Gervin, scoring. I think he might slip in the 2nd round. His future in the pros is marginal at best. Kevin Freeman is going to have to develop a stronger perimeter game if he's going to be successful in the pros. SF is his only hope at his 6'7" 220 lbs. frame. He's got fine athleticism. Runs the floor well. Does the dirty work underneath. He looks like a solid 2nd rounder. Mark Madsen, aka the Mad Dog, is about 6'8" 230lbs. He plays like his nickname. Hits the boards with a reckless abandon. Mixes it up with anyone within 10 feet of the basket. Shows some surprisingly refined moves in the post. Can provide a little scoring punch. Some scouts think he could fall in the late 1st round. But the 2nd round is his most likely destination. I don't think Mateen Cleaves is anywhere near the pro prospect that Andre Miller is. Miller is a bit quicker, a better rebounder, and a better scorer than Cleaves. Miller is going to be a very good guard in the NBA and he's been successful so far. Cleaves just has too many shortcomings. But I think he can have a solid 10 year career as a backup. It's kind of a crap shoot in speculating how good of a pro that high schoolers can be. I hate to make firm judgements on people that I've never seen play especially when they haven't even played tough college competition. Darius Miles is the most likely guy to declare hardship. What I've been hearing is that this guy can do basically anything he wants if properly motivated. He supposedly handles the ball as well as any point guard. His athleticism is supposedly through the roof. He can stroke it/ slash it/ drive it/and basically anything else you can think of. But this is all 2nd hand info. If you are looking for a teenager to declare early and fall to where the Rockets might pick, look for Demarr Johnson. He has an NBA game right now. He can provide a serviceable game at his age. Look out for the 6'9" freshmen from Cincinatti. He dominating at times against tough college competition already. Terrific prospect.
I definetly agree with Da Man on Cleaves. Although Andre Miller can't shoot a lick either yet looks like he might make a decent PG in pro's. Like Miller (and I am not sure Mateen is a good as him), I'd say the highest Cleaves goes is around 10. I haven't watched as much college BB as previous years but I have some observations. I don't know if they have the heigth to play the 4, but Kevin Freeman and Mark Madsen are awfully tough rebounders and clutch guys. Also, Stanford has a couple of twins (the Collins's) now close to 7 ft that are long and have some athleticsm--but they are also light and injury prone. Any of the above guys might make good mid first (say the Orlando pick) to second round picks if they are available (enter the draft and are around). If we are looking for swingmen, Arceneaux, Peterson and Redd look to have quite some potential--and an outside shot. Bootsey Thorton is a little lighter (couldn't pay the 3 at all) but has the smoothest shot and great range. Najara is a bigger 3 (couldn't play the 2 at all) who seems to have some skills and toughness. I don't think Battier will be much in the NBA, like Thomas Hill, McCload(sp?) and many other very good Duke college players, they often show themselves to be largely the product of a system and having great players around them. Carrawell has a little more game, how much and whether he is low-to-mid 1st round material I don't know though.
Da Man, Suppose Johnson ends up with the Rockets as you speculate. When and what would be the upside with this collection of young talent? Mango
Just thought I bring this back , its the right time. With the 1st pick the rockets select........ ------------------ "Break off the block like Maurice Green" --- Steve Francis President of the Moochie Norris fan club.
Pippen33: Why is this the right time? Did Chicago win 18 games tonight and move ahead of us in the standings? Did the season end at the halfway mark? Did your boy Pippen ask you to bring this thread back up? Geez....the bandwagoners are out in full force tonight. ------------------ Behad Sergeant at Arms of the Clutch BBS Asking the question: What is more dangerous, an AK-47 or a scooter?
Wrong Forum ..... both times. ------------------ Kenny Thomas had a foul called on him in the Western Conference Finals.
