Are we dreaMING? or will we cross the line, and get caught JAY-walking?

My thoughts are is that Cato didn't dominate at Iowa State. I just feel people over value Cato is being avg along with over the hill Rice. I'm willing to bet that we had the worst production out of those two spots than any team in the league, especially our conference. Cato has shown his mettle which isn't much. He had every reason to come in camp fit and play aggressive, but didn't unless it was close to the trading deadline.

To tell you the truth, Ming doesn't have to be Hakeem ,Shaq, or Duncan. He may have a different impact on the game than some of those guys. Posters always want to use the word potential, but what player has more potential than Ming? He is the largest, most fluid player player we have seen in a long time this side of Shaq. Will he be Shaq or better? Maybe, maybe not, but how good will the other guys be. With any player there comes a risk involved. Looking at Kandi, how come it takes him a contract yr to wake up and play? Odom is one of my favorite players, but he has issues with drugs. Show me another player that you'll be willing to draft that would fill a need for us either at 3 or 5 and i'll show you a question mark. Over the past 15 yrs, there have only been a handful of sure things at the top pick or number 5 as far as that go.

You can scan the league and see players that was taking and the risk didn't pan or did pan out.Throw the players back in the pan and see what comes out. Would anyone take Camby over J'Oneal or Kittles over Kobe? Why did Finley go 27th? What about Bradley going in front of penny and mashburn with Marshall at number 5? How about Tony Battie 4th or Van Horn 2nd and Chancey Billips 5th. I could go on and on from yrs and yrs but thats what i'm saying. Anyone you draft or trade for is going to be a risk. I just think if he's as good as Brad Daughtery was before his back went out, then this could be a title contender real soon.

 

daughtery was awesome in his prime, i don't know if ming could even be that, but a smits type is possible.
i agree with you, cato couldn't dominate the cba like ming. his rebounds and blocks would be higher but he has no where near the touch that ming displays. this guy shoots 70% from the field and almost never dunks!?! i don't mind taking ming at all, it's a good gamble but if we can somehow can get odom and kandi from the clips than i'm more for that.
kandi is continuing to develop and he already has the big body to work down low. odom is my ideal man for the three spot.

 

leebigez, I agree their are no sure-things in this draft (including ming), so outside of drafting ming, the point should be trading for a sure-thing.

Marion, Odom, etc.. have already proven themselves. Odom smoking pot is a moot point. Who hasn't smoked pot. I would only be worried if he was doing a serious drug, that could cause him to be suspended for a long time.

I am still 50/50 on the ming deal. I agree with Pops that he will not be an impact for a couple of years. Here is why: 1. Will not work out with Rockets in off-season, 2. Will not participate in summer leagues/camps, 3. Will not be available for training camp (to learn game/build team chemistry), 4. Will not be available for pre-season games, 5. Does not like to lift weights (he will be slamed dunked until he bulks up), 6. Will probably miss several months in the first of the season (see wang), 7. Can be summoned back to china for any reason (see Rudy grooming Griffin)

Those are big risks to consider for a #1 pick. Nobody thinks he is going to dominate the NBA (in the paint) for many years (if ever), and he will look very similiar to wang (slightly better) - very soft with a great outside shot. Remember Wang dominated the CBA too.

I am totally confused of what the Rockets should do. But if we walk out of the draft with Marion & Amare/Nino/etc. - then I can live with that.

 

Agreed.

I would trade the pick or the player or whoever for established players and draft a big man at 15.....we might be able to get a 7 footer with off the bench inside presence...

I like Odom and Kandi too!!!

Poll it...

 

Ming went 21 for 21
That impresses me. . .
Hell . . put cato in a gym by himself and he could not
go 21 of 21 from the field.
much less in a game.

Most folx could not go 21 for 21 on the Jordan JAmmer

Does it say he is an allstar
NO!!!!!!!
Does it say he has a nice touch . . .
YES!!!!!

Rocket River

 

Odom and their 12 and 8 picks for our 1, 15 and someone to make the salery work.

We could use the 8 on Borchardt if he is still their and if not then maybe we could get Tsiki.

A team with Francis, Cat, Odom, Griff and Borchardt would be very athletic and have the potential of being a good defensive team.

That would give us a lot of flexibility to draft Tsiki or Stoudamire (if they are still there) at 12 and allowing them to develope over the course of a couple of years. Imagine if Stoudamire developed into a stud center.

We could even take the 12th pick and offer it to Memphis to clear up our dept and preserve next years number 1.

 

crash- that is the most realistic trade i've heard since we got the pick. we could throw in collier to make the salarys work, since i think his matches with odom. if butler can fall to 8 i'd draft him for one hell of a bench. i wouldn't mind marcus at 12 but that's probably a bit early.

 

If Odom is the only player the Clips are giving us, then there is only one possibility of what we can send: KT + Collier + Morris. A problem with doing a deal with the Clips for just Odom is that we don't have much in low dollar fodder. We have some high dollar fodder, but you would not think Sterling would want to take on that, especially when it is now time for him to start handing out extensions.

 

My vote for worst thread title ever.

 

Ming has much more potential to be a stud center than Stoudemire. I think the odds of Ming developing more strength on an already 7'6'' 300 pound frame are a lot greater than Stoudemire learning how to shoot and pass.

Please, be aware of the Tsakalidis factor-for those who can't remember 2 years back, Jake Tsakalidis was (is) a 7'1'' 260 pound center from overseas, shrowded in mystery (inconsistencies when he was born, given name, etc. Clutch's profile was interesting). Most projected him to go in the top 8 or so. Then his team allegedly sent out that they weren't going to let him play...turns out, Phoenix drafted him in the 20s, and he WAS able to play-and about 15 teams were played for fools.

What's the "win-now" obsession. This isn't Utah-our core revolves primarily around a 25 year old, followed by a recently turned 20 year old, then a 26 year old. If Ming will be the real deal, best center behind Shaq/TD in 2-3 years. He's worth the wait.

Who's to say Ming won't reach Shaq or Dream-like status. He certainly has a ceiling to do so. I think he'll be a little better than Rik Smits with shot blocking, more mobility (no foot problems), and better passing. Jerry West said his passing is on the Vlade Divac level.

 

#1 and 15 + KT for 8 and 12 and a player.
Player=Kandi
8=Caron Butler or Tskitishvili,preferably Butler.
12= Stoudamire.
If we don't have to give up KT great but if we do have to throw him in I would do it.
Add Jerome James with the MCE,unless Cato gets in a big man camp or CD and gets in top physical shape.

 

Sane, great cheese. Reminded me of a classic SNL skit with Ben Affleck where a bunch of podunk movie reviewers (like myself) kept trying to come up with ways to put movie titles in their accolades.

"WhyI'ld, WhyI'ld ought to inWESTigate why no one went to see Wild, Wild, West"

 

This is about the third time someone has said he doesn't like to lift weights....... How and the hell do we know this ...

From what I gather, I bet he will do anything to improve.

just my 2 cents.