The thing about this year's draft is that there's no consensus. The mocks are all over the place and they change by the minute, like the stock market. I don't think Stone can use the media consensus as his security blanket this time.
Why is a wing with size the perfect player for us? I mean I'd still be fine with Risacher, but I think it's pretty obvious our greatest area of need, other than just a star player in general, is a backcourt player.
The media feeds that narrative. You can never have too many long, athletic players... except when you have our roster.
Agree. Knecht reminds me of someone Miami would draft and he would be a key role player in a championship run. He's older, but solid and can contribute immediately.
I mean if that was what they wanted. It’s not against the rules to trade any of them or even two of them.
Yeah, Risacher is a better ball handler than given credit for. There's a video I saw a while back - that I cannot fond now - with about a dozen or so possessions of Risacher as the ball handler in pick and roll situations. Not only was he able to create his own shots, but he was also creating highlight reel finishes for others. It was very high level stuff .... He just wasn't asked to do it often - that doesn't mean he can't do it. Comparing him to Jabari really isn't fair to either of them, they are totally different players. - the only real comparisons are they are both good shooters and tall. Risacher is more of a SF who can play up a spot while Jabari is a PF that can play down a spot.
Agreed, I've even seen Risacher described as a wing, meaning there's some level of belief he could slide down as far as shooting guard. He is nowhere near the level of rebounder that Jabari is, and Jabari is not as good of a ballhandler or passer. If we get Risacher and he's eventually taking somebody's slot, it's much more likely to be Dillon Brooks than anybody else.
https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/st...aft-2024-debating-need-value-30-round-1-picks Our usual NBA mock drafts lean heavily on intel to make projections for the players and the 30 teams. This isn't that: ESPN draft analysts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo explored the first round from two differing perspectives: selecting for team need, versus drafting for best available. Of course, the philosophical question of drafting for need versus value isn't clear-cut. In reality, they work together: situational factors from team to team can lead to drastically different valuations of each prospect. So when both lines of thinking lead to the same answer, it's usually a good sign. The following mock draft isn't what we project each NBA team will do, but it's a useful way to think about the 2024 NBA draft, its eligible players, and how front offices might be thinking through it as the two-day event draws closer. Givony drafted players for each team prioritizing need, while Woo selected players matched with teams angling for value. Here's what happened: 3. Houston Rockets (via Nets) Givony's pick that fills the biggest need: Risacher The Rockets have stockpiled young talent at all positions, but like every NBA team, could stand to add another wing who can make shots off movement, defend point guards through power forwards, get out in transition, and have the feel for the game and unselfishness to operate alongside other good players. Risacher, with a developing frame, has significant upside to tap into with the passing ability he has flashed in other settings; for example, the French Espoirs league, where he posted 4.4 assists per game last season. Woo's pick that gets the best value: Clingan Many teams view Clingan as one of the draft's best picks because he has the tools, talent and competitive makeup to be a high-end defensive center. Some scouts say he has a valid argument to be drafted at No. 1, and any scenario in which he falls to No. 3 and onward would make for an excellent value play here for the Rockets.
Can we trade back into the late first and grab Topic to stash for a year or two? Feel like Tate/Holliday/Landale + Rando pick could be useful to some team that needs to bolster their bench unit.
IDK but it seems the wing position is one with a lot of quantity but a lot of guys are below All Star quality or too young. Brooks (not in long term plans) Amen - guard hybrid, non shooter Tari - more disruptor and glue guy than a real swiss army knife Bari - hybrid big guy, face up game Tate - one dimensional Cam - still in development Jeff - on his last legs Bullock jr - not sure how to describe his usefulness
While this is obvious to you and me, you have to realize that the people who put together a lot of these things may have never watched the Rockets and likely have but a tenuous grasp of who is on the roster. That's how you get suggestions that the Rockets greatest needs are a 3rd string center or yet another wing to throw on the pile.
Yeah if there's a player archetype the Rockets need more than any other....is another defensive oriented wing that can't shoot straight. Don't have any of those on the roster.
