A Look At The Draft

I think the Rockets should go after a center with their lottery pick,because there aren't good C's in the Free Agency since Kandi and Clark are going to resign with theirteams and I don't like the idea drafting Marcus with the Toronto Pick!We should pick the best center available at 5 or 6 and look to trade fo Odom or to sign with Lewis!!!!!But i like Caron Butler!

 

As much as we need a 3 man, centers are getting rare in the league. There for a quality center is worth alot more then a 3 man. If we were to get high enough to get Ming, we could look at trading him for a high quality 3 man plus more and we could still pick a center with the Toronto pick. There has to be more options then just drafting rookies all the time.

 

For what it is worth, my choices are Amare and Marcus, Ely or anyone of those guys in the 250lb, 6-10 plus range. I am just not concerned about the SF spot. I am way more intrigued by taking a good look at Amare. Assuming his head is straight, could this guy be as good as EG, three years from now? I am not talking about his hitting threes. I am talking about shot blocks and rebounding. Could this guy more comfortably put on size and bulk than EG. Would he be able to develop a potent low post game and reduce our urgent need to have EG do the same and instead allow EG to be more of a 4 and creating a deadly combo in 2004. No SF today give me that warm feeling about 2004.

All this means is that we would replace high priced Willis with a solid senior big man like Marcus or Ely who can sit on the bench and learn the game. At the same time we, with the #5 or higher pick, take a player who talent wise is in the neighbour of EG, Chandler, Curry and Brown. In addition we have experience taking care of 19 year olds.

 

The following players saw time at the 3 this year:

Rice
TMo
Mobley (small ball)
KT (albeit very limited)
OT (small ball when Cat was resting)

All should be back next year. If EG works on his 3 skills over the summer, there would be one more player to add to the list.

Next year, half of the Rocks roster could log minutes at the 3.

I do not see the Rock drafting a 3 with the 5/6th pick of the draft. They are more likely to draft a 5 (Stoudemire, a 4/5 actually). The only exception may be if Qyntel Woods (a 2/3) is still on the boards.

 

I say if we can't get Ming, we draft Woods and then Amare.Sign Willis for another year to help out.Hell, sign Willis to be an assistant.

 

THat is the way to go we need to take Amare Soudemire. When Mo contract is up we wil lhave a good Front court. Amare is the way to go. Dear Rock I think you are really right. He has alot of talent. Think of a black, 19 year old, Zhi Zhi WAng. Who knows how to speak english. THats who at this stage of his career I would compare him too.


VC15

 

dont be sure about the resinging of olowokandi

http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/0405/1363780.html

 

VC15-

Uh...Mo has another 5 years on his contract. Stoudemire would be a free agent the same time as Mo.

How do you see Zhi-Zhi Wang and Stoudemire as similar? One is a kind of thin 7'1'' whose forte is his outside shot, but not much of a force down low. The other is a thick 6'10'' with absolutely no outside shot, and only effective down low.

Based on the couple of HS all-star games plus dunk contest, here is what I think of Stoudemire:
1.) Very questionable he'll be able to play center-he's not long like Griffin (also not a center), and while he may grow, assuming that he will is very risky. Think a younger Shawn Kemp. To me, he's got a prototype PF body.
2.) Raw-no shot. Great athleticism, probably the sickest dunks I've ever seen from a guy with his size, but that's about the extent of his ability, and he doesn't have Shaq's size. Griffin's offense is light years ahead of his, and EG is the better shotblocker.
3.) Doubt he'll end up a Rocket-I definitely would not take him with the #5 pick, and I'll be very surprised if he's still available at #14 or 15.

If we don't get lucky, and can't move up for Ming, we're in a funny situation. If we're #5, we've got the last pick of the upper tier (Gooden, Ming, Wagner, Williams, Woods), and the BPA is likely to be someone who just doesn't fit (Gooden/Wagner). Therefore, the pick would have trade value. I'd trade out for a SF, or down for Caron Butler.

With the Toronto pick, then it's necessary to take a center. I'd prefer Borchardt-he provides the best change of pace with Cato-but he'll be gone before then. Most likely, either Melvin Ely or Chris Marcus will be there, depending on what the teams right before us (mainly the Clips) want.

 

If we assume that all the teams stay in their current draft order, this is how I see the top 13 & us at 15 falling:

1) Chicago-Ming (The Chicago media has been hinting that Krause is interested in Ming)
2) Golden State-JW
3) Memphis-Woods
4) Denver-Trades the pick to the Clippers for Odom/#8 pick & the Clippers pick Wagner.
5) Houston-Marcus (They might be tempted to take Stoudamire, based on his potential & the success of Griffin. Borchardt is also a real possibility)
6) Cleveland-Gooden
7) New York-Borchardt or Marcus (Whichever one is left)
8) Denver-Stoudemire (projected to play center)
9) Phoenix-Ely (They desperately need some size down low)
10) Miami-Jeffries
11) Washington-Rush
12) Clippers-Gadzuric
13) Milwaukee-Wilcox (They're desperate for a center & might seek a trade to move up & get one)

15) Houston-Tayshaun Prince

Of course, all of this could change by draft day. There are several positions that haven't been nailed down yet & the lottery drawing could jumble up things. Then, you have to throw in the players that will come from no where & jump into the top few picks.

 

Hottoddie,
why would Chicago take Ming,they have with Curry and Chandler
two future C's!I think they would rather take JWill and why would Memphis take Woods,they have with Gasol,who gets time at 3 and 4,and Battier,who gets time at 2 and 3 and even Dickerson who gets his major mins at the 2 so there aren't any minutes for Qyntel!Also,I don't see Wilcox falling so much!

 

Toddie, I honestly can't see Marcus going that high. Aside from his physical size he's got limited offensive game, has chronic injuries with his feet, slowed down his College team so he definately would slow down an NBA one. Unless he shows a lot in the draft camps and workouts, I don't think he'll go that high....

I also think Wilcox won't drop that far, if he's out of the top 10 he's better off staying another year and developing his game more. Waiting another year and mroe than likely being a top 5 pick would make him more money.

As for Stoudemire, from all I've read and seen the kid's a huge talent, unfortunately he's extremely raw, noticably more so than Kwame was last year. I don't know if waiting that long for development would be the best idea, if winning immediately is the goal.

Plus you're forgetting Butler as another player who could easily declare and knock a lot of players down a spot.

 

German, you are so right. Ming is going to Chicago and I am lost as to why Memphis would take JW and not have a real center.

Nike, you evaluation of Amare seem so harsh for a 19year old with little real bball experience. If I know Rudy and CD well Amare is too intriguing for them to pass.

 

I don't like the idea of drafting a player simply because he's fat. So, I say no thanks to Marcus. Especially not with the fifth pick, but maybe with the 15th. He probably won't even be near as effective as "Big Country" Reeves or Jahidi White. I really just think the age of the 7' 280lb center is over. I would definitely take Stoudamire over Marcus. One reason the Rockets aren't a running team, is because NONE of our big men run the court. Marcus would slow us down even more. Wilcox and Stoudamire run the court better than just about anyone. And Stoudamire, unlike Wilcox, can actually dribble the ball up court (which is just plain ridiculous, though not really important).

There's only really one team where there lack of bulk and two inches of extra height would hurt the Rockets, and that's the Lakers. What other NBA centers are we really worried about that are just so overpowering we must have a 300 pounder? But, I bet when its all said and done, Stoudamire will end up going before the Rockets even have a chance to pick, so I stand by my choice: WILCOX!!! Unless of course, the Rockets can get Ming and he already has agreed in writing to play for the Rockets NEXT season and he passes a rigorous set of physicals.

But like someone alreay said, I don't think two rookies will helps us at all. I'm still hoping the Rockets can pull a trade for a small forward and get a center in the draft.

 

I see Stoudamire WOWing in his workouts and going high in the draft. The same thing happened last year to an even greater degree. I also see Gooden slipping, and I'm pretty sure Rudy would take Butler over Woods. However, I think there's going to be trades all over the place this draft, so my picks are just based on each team drafting for themself.

1) Chicago - Ming
2) Golden State - Wagner
3) Memphis - Williams
4) Denver - Stoudamire
5) Houston - Butler
6) Cleveland - Woods
7) New York - Wilcox
8) LA Clippers - Rush
9) Phoenix - Gooden
10) Miami - Jeffries
11) Washington - Marcus
12) LA Clippers - Borchardt
13) Milwaukee - Ely

 

Why would we draft a 3?

If the Chronicle's writer is correct...if we actually draft a small forward...then you might as well trade our picks for Lamar Odom. That's IF Odom is OK after surgery. But, dammit, WE NEED SIZE. Not just moosehead, fat-ass size, but some talent in the post.

If you draft a 3, then what to do with Rice?

Keep in mind that KT and Mooch could be put on the block if the price is right.

I read somewhere that Krause might want to put together a really tall team with Jalen Rose at the point, ERob at 2, Chandler at 3, Curry at 4, and Kandi or Ming at the 5. Of course Jamal Crawford has played well recently at the 1.

I don't know. Yao Ming might be too much for Chicago to pass up. Supposedly every Chinese with a TV will be tuned in to watch him play, despite the time difference (much of Japan stays up to catch Ichiro Suzuki's Mariners).

If we're stuck drafting #6 and #14, take a look at Wilcox, Borchardt, and Marcus, uh, what's-his-name.

 

I gotta competely agree here. Amare has completely sick and wrong open court talent. The Rocks will be lucky to see him still on the board at the 5/6th pick. For the doubters in the crowd, Darius Miles came out of nowhere to be a top 5 pick solely on his unreal open court game.

If Woods can really play the NBA 2 as well as 3, that might give him a slight advantage over Bulter. Butler's D may swing it back to his favor, at least in the eyes of Rudy T. Neither would be a bad pick

 

He didn't dominate the game. He's not just rough around the edges, he's like a jagged rock. No range, not much footwork, and it'll take time for him to develop that. Compare that to EG-a jump shot, good footwork, a year in college and just needs to gain weight, which he's taken strides in doing. Amare showed some things in the dunk contest, but very little of it translated to the game. Guys like Miles lit up the McD's en route to the NBA. Last year's bulky HSer, Eddy Curry, was light years ahead in footwork.

My history of Rudy and CD tells me that they go for guys with experience or have proven themselves on a big stage (see EG averaging 18-10-4). Not to mention they usually go for kids with their heads screwed on straight (which is why Griffin was a surprise at first, but not once everyone saw how calm he actually is). Amare isn't going to the NBA because he knows he's a lotto pick-he's going because he already has so many rule violations, it's highly unlikely he'd be allowed to suit up for a college game.

Maybe something strange will happen, and we'll slip to the #7 or #8 where Amare will be the BPA. I'd take him with the Toronto pick, but he's simply got too many question marks to be considered top 5 material, unless he absolutely DOMINATES the workouts. That was how Bender got to #5: didn't he hit something like 29/30 3s in the Pacers workout?

 

I believe that Memphis would take Woods, because they have Battier playing SG, Gasol at PF, Wright at center, & could plug Woods in at the SF position. They've been playing Buford, Solomon, & Long in a platoon rotation. It's as if they are trying to find the right player to fill the SF role. Dickerson could be platooned at the SG position with Battier, or traded.

As for your question about Chicago drafting Ming, I base my opinion on this article about 3 weeks ago. If Krause was willing to make the trip, there must be some interest in Ming. Otherwise, that's a pretty expensive smoke screen.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/bulls/cst-spt-bullnt241.html

Krause may target Olowokandi

March 24, 2002

BY ROMAN MODROWSKI STAFF REPORTER


ATLANTA-- Phil Jackson said Jerry Krause is likely to make a play for Los Angeles Clippers restricted free-agent center Michael Olowokandi this summer, according to Sports Illustrated.

Jackson said Krause has been intrigued by Olowokandi since his days at Pacific, although the 7-foot, 270-pounder will come at a steep price. According to the article, Olowokandi's agent, Bill Duffy, will seek the max for his client, which means a seven-year deal starting at $10.6 million.

The Bulls will have nearly $5 million in cap space this summer.

The Clippers told SI they'll match any deal offered to Olowokandi, whose contract could set the tone for future Clippers free agents, including Elton Brand (a free agent in '03), Lamar Odom ('03), Darius Miles ('04), Corey Maggette ('04) and Keyon Dooling ('04).

Clippers owner Donald Sterling is notoriously thrifty, but he finally has a team challenging for the playoffs, so he may loosen his purse strings. Olowokandi is averaging 9.7 points and 8.9 rebounds in his fourth season.

Duffy also represents Antonio Davis and was furious with how Krause treated his client as a free agent last summer. Duffy also is hoping to represent China's 7-6 center, Yao Ming.

CHINESE FOOD FOR THOUGHT: The word out of China is that any team interested in Yao's services might have to travel to China for an exhibition game against the Shanghai Sharks and conduct a clinic for the Chinese coaches.

''Let's go,'' Bulls coach Bill Cartwright said. ''I've never been there, and I'd love to see what they're doing over there.''

There's no guarantee the Sharks will allow Yao to play in the NBA next season, although he will be drafted. The Sharks, reportedly, would like to see Yao play for a major-market team with a large Chinese population, and Chicago qualifies. Krause recently traveled to China to scout Yao, and he was impressed, according to a league source.

NUMBER MANIA: Scottie Pippen said he expects the Bulls to retire his No. 33 because Krause told him he would, but Pippen added with a laugh, ''But he's been known to lie, too.'' Krause said he hasn't given the subject any thought and the decision belongs to Jerry Reinsdorf.

Cartwright wants the Bulls to hang a banner in honor of Johnny ''Red'' Kerr, and Charles Oakley thinks the team should retire Cartwright's No. 24. Cartwright played on three championship teams and was an assistant coach for two more.