It seems like Westbrook is definately gone. Too bad for the Rockets. http://www.clutchfans.net/news/1472/draft_day_trade_could_be_rush_order/ http://blogs.indystar.com/pacersinsider/archives/2008/06/westbrook_wont.html
excellent. thanks for posting the links. good finds. interesting that only second round picks have been liked to rocket workouts. my guess is that all of the talk about moving up is a smoke screen to moving down and possibly adding some extra compensation in the process. a lot of teams seem to covet adding another first round pick. the cavs, mavs, pacers, lakers, wolves, and suns so far have come forward and said it. if i had to speculate (translation - i love to speculate) i would bet on a trade with the wolves who have #31 and #34 available for a first round pick. maybe morey feels that adding two non-guaranteed contracts is better than making a 4 year commitment. i can also resurrect a trade that i posted about a month ago: head, #25 ---> mccants, #34
Current Guaranteed Contracts: Rafer/Brooks/Francis/Jackson McGrady/Head Battier Scola/Hayes Yao We have 5 open roster slots, but we also have Landry, Novak, Harris, and Woods to consider (Novak is a team option, Harris and Woods are on non-guaranteed deals), plus Mutombo. That's 5 players right there, not even counting our first rounder or any outside free agents. If you're trading from 25 down for 2 draft picks, either you plan for one of the draft picks to be stashed in Europe, or both guys must be better than Harris and Woods. That may not sound like much, but if a mid 2nd round pick has a career like Loren Woods', it was a pretty decent pick. McCants is a nice thought, but I think you're underestimating how much he'll cost. The guy scored at a pretty prolific clip on very good percentages and is only 23.
I hate to add to what you've said, but isn't there a third option? We just waive the rights of the player drafted? Personally I'd love to get those 2 early second round picks and look at Jason Thompson and George Hill in summer league. If those guys had played at bigger colleges, they'd be locks in the first round. Perhaps they don't have what it takes - but we lose nothing by grabbing them early in the second and working them out with the squad over summer.
great points nike. on this one, i think he is more available than people think... if they end up with mayo. there are some decent bigs that should be available at #25. if the wolves go with mayo at #3 they would still be looking to add size. plus the wolves will get the most out of luther, playing him next to taller guards with PG ball handling skills. just saying, it would happen.
I'd pick him at 25. I'm totally sold on him making it in the NBA 6'11/ 250/ athletic/ great scoring touch + instincts/ strong rebounder. He'll certainly need some coaching on the defensive end - but to have Ming/ Mutumbo in training has to help?
In my humble opinion........... Brandon Rush CDR Courtney Lee and all decent swingmen will be gone by #25. In fact, I think there is a high probability that Mario Chalmers may already be gone by #25. In my opinion, if this happens and we cannot trade the pick for an established vet that will help us, then we should trade out of the first for multiple second round choices where we target: 1. George Hill 2. Malik Hairston 3. J.R. Giddens 4. Richard Hendrix
http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Word-on-the-Street-The-Home-Stretch-2939/ Robin Lopez getting a green room invite is good. Brandon Rush's invite kills the Rocket's hopes of getting him. I wonder if Battier could snare no.8 pick in this draft? Probably not.
Part of me wonders if we will revisit Mike Miller. I ran into one of the dudes from either 610 or 790 or whatever, said he saw Miller at Buffalo WW with Shane some weeks ago (not recently, but recently enough). Especially if you're talking Luis + Bjax. I don't want to lose Luis, but I'd place him fourth most important player on this team. If a diamond in the rough is there for #25 (Jason Thompson, for example), who knows, just maybe.
Battier is a valuable defender,and could be an important piece to a team trying to improve their defense and chemistry,but I don't think he can get a lottery pick let alone the 8th spot. The reasons for that is his lack of athleticism,almost non-existent ball handling,and an inability to do more than hit the corner 3 along with the occasional cut to the basket. Most GM's don't want to do that.
Guys like Jason Thompson are nice,but Luis is a sophisticated offensive scorer who works hard despite his limitations on defense.Mike Miller can do more than just shoot and does try to play defense despite his weaknesses on that end but he is not tough enough. Keep Luis,Keep Landry and add a role player SG/SF if possible.I'm not implying that's going to be enough by any means.We all know that the Rockets are in a difficult spot.
I think what you are saying is highly probable.I'm not sure that a player like Devon Hardin will be picked at 25 for example. I wouldn't be surprised if the Rockets went after Ryan Anderson with a high 2nd rounder either.All of the players you mentioned could be on DM's list as well.
Almost exactly my plan too. I would add DeMarcus Nelson, Devon Hardin, and James Gist (redundant if we keep both Landry and Hayes) to the list of 2nd round targets.
doesn't make any difference really. they invited d.jordan and rumors have him falling into the late first round. whereas at least one of kufos, spieghts, and ajinca could have worked their way into the 12-14 (lotto) range.
At first glance I agree, however what if that's what it takes to drop Redd's contract off the books? He's owed nearly $16M next year, $17M+ the year after and then $18M+ in his final year. All of a sudden swapping all that for B-Jax's expiring deal, Battier's serviceable $6-7M a year deal and picks/expirings becomes an option you might want to consider. Unlikely, I realize. Although, other star players were traded for a lot less.
