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2024 Rockets First Round Pick To OKC (Top 4 Protected)

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by BallSoHarden, Feb 20, 2024.

  1. BallSoHarden

    BallSoHarden Member

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    Given that the Rockets are currently a bottom 10 team in the league with only 28 games left, and that their pick that OKC owns is top 4 protected, at what point does it make sense to just tank the season and hope we get a top 4 pick? They would have to go on a very good run to be in the play in with a pretty tough remaining schedule. Not sure what the status of FVV and Tari is, but they are key pieces to being competitive. Even if they make the play in, I am not sure if there is that much value in the experience of that to give up a shot at a top 4 pick. Since we still do not have an all star player yet, at some point we have to look at rolling the dice on getting another top pick. I would say give it another 10 games or so and see how things are looking. The risk is getting OKC a better pick, but given Brooklyn's situation I don't see that pick being too far behind.

    The pick would also turn into a second rounder next year.

    HOU's 2024 1st round pick to OKC protected for selections 1-4; if this pick falls within its protected range and is therefore not conveyed, then HOU will instead convey its 2025 2nd round pick to OKC; OKC may convey the 2024 pick to TOR
     
  2. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

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    At least for now there is nobody on the updated Injury list.

    • I do not know what it means and if they can roll out Tari right now.

    • Or is there a conditioning thing to get him up to speed.

    • I have fewer concerns about Fred or Whitmore.
     
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  3. dobro1229

    dobro1229 Member

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    I think next year is important enough where the last thing you want to do is denigrate the culture anymore than it has already been the past few years. The team should be playing hard every game and correcting mistakes.

    Now should FVV and Brooks take a few games off here and there… fine. But I think in general the best assets they could acquire next Summer would be an improved Sengun, Jabari, Tari, Cam, Amen, etc.

    Let the chips fall where they may with the draft.

    (but Stone and our scouting team better be doing extra homework on the draft from top to bottom to make sure we are ready to draft at any position).
     
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  4. Reeko

    Reeko Member

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    Rockets will be tanking until the end of time…

    A top 4 pick in what is the worst draft of the past several years will be the one where the Rockets draft a star? Rockets stay getting clowned on lotto night anyways

    with the 5th pick, the OKC Thunder select…

    just play the game instead of always purposely trying to lose
     
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  5. OremLK

    OremLK Member

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    I don't see much point in flipping the switch back over to tank mode. There's not a Wemby type of talent to dream on. It's not even clear who's going to be the #1 pick at this point, there are at least three and as many as five or six players in that conversation, and none of them seem like future superstars. I like some of the talent in this class, but there's nobody who really gets me excited the way Wemby, Scoot, and Amen did.

    On top of that, if you are looking to add two top 10 picks to the roster--how do you find them playing time without committing to yet another season of being bad? You don't want to fall into Detroit's pattern of constantly being in talent acquisition mode and never being in "let's get serious about these guys taking the next step" mode. Even good rookies are rarely ready to be high-level contributors on playoff teams.

    I think we should just do our best to win and let the chips fall where they may.
     
  6. RocketsFido

    RocketsFido Member

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    Stone and Ime won't purposely tank but guess what? With our talent, we are tanking anyways.

    Our medical staff should be in question because these mystery injuries lasting weeks to cure is sus.
     
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  7. kubli9

    kubli9 Member
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    Hell no. OKC is already building a team that might dominate in the future. You can’t hand them an even better draft pick. The odds of hitting top 4 are too long anyways. The team needs to try to finish the season strong.
     
  8. jayland

    jayland Member

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    It's too late for the Rockets to out tank the Pistons, Spurs, Wizards, Hornets, and Blazers. Even if we lose something like 80% of the remaining games we would still end up with a better record then them.
     
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  9. J.R.

    J.R. Member

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    When they come out and go 0-6/1-5 and sitting at 24-36/25-35, people will come to your side. ;)

    They aren’t making the play-in.
    They can’t win on the road.
    Don’t have a franchise guy yet.

    “Houston has no room for another top pick.” … Of course they do.
    OKC has Houston’s pick AND Utah’s pick and 50 future firsts. No one says they have too many picks, not enough room.


    [​IMG]
     
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  10. Corrosion

    Corrosion Member

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    Tanking at this point of the season is pretty much pointless.

    Currently at #10 the most you "improve" your odds by is maybe one, maybe two spots .... and you own one of those two teams directly below your current spot..
    Atlanta has a half game lead on you for the 9 spot, you own #8 by way of the Nets who are 3 games better(worse).

    The next team on the list has a 5 game head start on you .... and you aren't catching them with 28 games left to play.

    There's just not a whole lot of "maximizing" to be done.

    Lets just act like winning matters .... #&$k it.
     
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  11. BallSoHarden

    BallSoHarden Member

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    Improving by one or two spots and bettering your odds could be the difference in getting the pick or giving it to OKC though. I don't think there is a such thing as too many draft picks and not enough space, chances are Jalen is going to be gone or get a reduced role. We have a lot of Vets that are not going to be part of the team in a couple of years (FVV, Jeff Green, Holiday, Landale, Boban, possibly DB if traded before his contract is up, that is a good amount of roster spots), I am not saying to tank out of the gate, but was thinking if we start like 2-8 post all star break it seems like it would make sense to tank the last 18 games or so. Even though this is a weak draft there will likely be an all star or two somewhere, so if they do their homework and find the right guys it could be a franchise changing move. I just see it as one extra opportunity to give us a roll for a #1 overall pick which would be cool.
     
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  12. TimDuncanDonaut

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    Imagine if Presti calls Stone, to offers this 2024 pick (only this pick) back to the Rockets for JGreen. :eek: just to F-with Stone. :D

    On one hand, there's folks on this board down on Green enough to say 'go and do it even if a weak draft class'. On the other hand, the possibility of Presti could flip Jalen for better stuff than Stone could, would risk so much embarrassment, that Stone won't do it. ;)

    Presti says to Stone, 'you don't want to control your own destiny'?
     
    #12 TimDuncanDonaut, Feb 20, 2024
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2024
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  13. quikkag

    quikkag Member

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    The Tank Program ended with last season. We're out of the tank window. This team is currently in Development Phase. Roster adjustments will follow once management is confident they have handles on the trajectories and ceilings of the young players the Tank Program set them up to procure.

    The Destination is reached in a series of deliberate steps.
     
  14. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

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    [​IMG]

     
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  15. BallSoHarden

    BallSoHarden Member

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    I think that would make sense at the beginning of the season, but once you get towards the end i don't think it matters as much what mode you started in, but the situation should be reevaluated. The Mavs for example even with a franchise player and super star in Luka decided to just throw a game and improve their draft pick, and it seems like it worked out really well for them. I believe they had a shot at the play in and decided not to bother with it to improve their pick.
     
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  16. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

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    It is also interesting what Udoka does because they are most likely stuck at 11-12th place with merely a mini chance at 10th.....

    Udoka might plan for next season with roster adjustments and trying to better the Offense.

     
  17. J.R.

    J.R. Member

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    Just need a little rigging err lotto luck like when…
    Charlotte went from 8 to 3
    Memphis went 8 to 2
    New Orleans went 7 to 1
    Lakers went 11 to 4
    A few teams who went 7 to 4
     
  18. TimDuncanDonaut

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    The forces against the tank are internal, and will have to be overriden for it to happen.

    1. Udoka cares about his coaching record and can also argue it's for the sake of building a no quit culture.

    2nd and more important override, would have to come from Tillman, who wants this team to be try for play-in (playoffs phase 2). If the team doesn't make the play-in, which is a likely outcome, the greenlight would still have to come from Tillman directly on when the team to stop trying. Even by appearance.​

    ... The likeliest of outcomes is that team will fail to make play-in, but team also won't egregiously tank because even if play in fails, they will strive to go for the best possible W-L record to compare to last year, as a secondary measure of success. Something (...anything) to report back to the fan base.


    -----
    Play-in is a participation trophy. Still trying after is the imaginary ribbon below that.

    At a certain point, it could be practical for a late tank, but unless the messaging changes, I see them going for the best possible W-L record even if they know they will be firmly behind 10th.

    The org is predictable whether or not we agree or disagree with their decisions and moves.
     
    #18 TimDuncanDonaut, Feb 20, 2024
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2024
  19. Corrosion

    Corrosion Member

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    I don't disagree with the math, that's for sure.


    I just don't think you are going to make up any ground on the teams below you - except for the possibility of Atlanta and Brooklyn who, if you come out of the ASB and go 2-8 ..... you have probably dropped below both in the standings and there's no where else to go.

    The next team is Memphis who has 6 more in the L column today.

    If the Rockets go 0-28 after the ASB and finish with 24 wins - Memphis has to go 4-22 to tie.

    Odds are against falling lower than #8.

    And falling to #8 is entirely possible without a tank job, might even be probable.
     
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  20. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

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    In a perfect world yes, but the FO is far from being perfect.....I think it would be just mediocrity treadmill.....

     
    #20 daywalker02, Feb 20, 2024
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2024
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